You belong to an extraordinary group of people who help protect our wild.
Making a Difference for Wilderness
Bound by a shared commitment to The Wilderness Society, our President’s Circle members represent the organization’s most generous philanthropists and ambassadors. Your exceptional commitment to our mission sets the standard for giving and sustains our work, enabling The Wilderness Society to protect wild public lands for all people to enjoy for generations to come.
Our Vision:
A future where people and wild nature flourish together, meeting the challenges of a rapidly changing planet.
Collective Impact Results:
These are the five key results we aim to achieve by 2030 along with partners. Learn More
Contact Us
As a member of the President's Circle, you have a team of staff members at your service. Please feel free to reach out to us anytime:
Leadership Giving and Benefits
Recent Events
June 8, 2022 – President’s Circle call: Urban to Wild, Tackling Inequitable Access to Nature in the Southern California Mountains
Join The Wilderness Society’s regional experts on a virtual visit to the Southern California Mountains, a place defined by unparalleled biodiversity and proximity to a population of 20 million. Federal lands comprise 75% of the region, yet only 30% is currently protected—making it one of the top five landscapes around the country where we are prioritizing our work to protect and connect wildlands, fight climate change and advance equitable access to nature.
On a visually stunning journey with maps, film, and photography, we will step into the urban edge of this mountainous landscape, a portion of which was designated as the San Gabriel Mountains National Monument in 2016. This achievement empowered a community-led effort to make these protected wildlands available to park-poor residents of Los Angeles County. Known today as our Urban to Wild program, it has transformed the way we work with community partners to press for policies that ensure all can benefit from local public lands—such as securing transit-to-trails shuttles, increased visitor services, educational programming, and support for tribal stewards.
See Event Here:
https://youtu.be/8TWSFu2j7-c
April 8, 2021 – “In Our Nature” exclusive Youth in Wilderness film screening
Join The Wilderness Society and Ironwood Tree Experience for a screening of the short film, In Our Nature, spotlighting our Youth in Wilderness program partner in Tucson, AZ. April 8, 2021. 4pm PT/7pm ET
See Event Here: https://youtu.be/wCKVg51Ga84
April 20, 2021 – Bears Ears Virtual Tour
Join us for a virtual tour of one of America’s iconic natural and cultural landscapes and a priority place for protection for TWS and our native partners. The multi-media tour will be hosted by local Navajo guide, Louis Williams of Ancient Wayves Adventures. April 20, 2021. 9am PT/noon ET
See Tour Here: https://youtu.be/Q_h7-jr62l4
April 22, 2021 – KEEN x Garcia Present: Rainforest Benefit Concert, Protect the Tongass
With their new Jerry Garcia product line, KEEN is supporting The Wilderness Society as they highlight the urgent need to protect America’s old-growth forests, chief among them—the Tongass National Forest in Alaska. On Earth Day (4/22), tune in to hear an exceptional lineup of musical artists and celebrate the joys of nature. Hosted by MC and TWS Governing Council member, Dave Matthews, the event will feature a live Q&A with Trixie Garcia and Jamie Williams. April 22, 5pm PT/8pm ET
See Event Here: https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?v=302057278167174&ref=watch_permalink
April 27, 2021 - Understory: Film Screening and Discussion about the Tongass
The Wilderness Society is proud to sponsor a short film about the Tongass National Forest titled Understory, which is currently screening at various film festivals and events around the country. The film follows three women as they sail around the Tongass, capturing the unrivaled beauty and bearing witness to the destruction, meeting with local advocates and formulating their own plans to try to stand up to protect this place. April 27, 5pm PT/8pm ET
See Event Here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=knFORZBuw4c
February 9, 2022 - U.S. Climate Action Can Start on Public Lands Now
Pledging to take urgent action on climate, the Biden administration took early steps to outline its aggressive climate and conservation goals. But a year later, action is wanting and the window to tackle the unfolding crisis is closing fast. Fortunately, U.S. public lands provide many avenues of climate action, and all are available to President Biden—if we can pressure him to act and soon.
See Event Here:
https://wilderness.zoom.us/rec/share/l7eyUPdcnG1qMH_PSN_kDxmWFhBawT7rOXn6G22d0dnyGwUowGyUtyfyEpdyQ4WN.mKFxBhMLSmlxcGt2 Access Passcode: ^wH1t6hi
Insider Updates for the President's Circle
Read the latest from Jamie Williams, TWS President
In-Conversation Series with Leaders and Experts
Our In-Conversation discussions provide a unique and exciting platform where prominent leaders and experts discuss current events, politics and challenges to some of the most pressing issues facing our national wild lands. We aim to broaden the conversation and explore solutions to help secure the long-term health of the nation’s natural resources, wildlife, and landscapes for the benefit of all people.
In July 2020 we co-hosted a 3-part speaker series “Public Lands: We the People” with the acclaimed Aspen Institute. This powerful series culminated in a report with tangible policy recommendations.
Read Stories From Members Like You
Your generosity helps preserve and protect the places you love, from the remote wilderness of Alaska's Arctic to the serene lakes and rivers of Maine's north woods. With your commitment, you follow in the footsteps of giants like Bob Marshall, Margaret "Mardy" Murie and Aldo Leopold to protect wilderness and inspire others to care for our wild places. Thank you for being a significant partner in our work.
“I want to ensure that wild places will
always be available for my grandchildren, for us, for
plants and animals—no matter what.”
— Marsha McMahan Zelus
Read stories from other donors in our latest Annual Report
The Look of Wilderness Protection
We all know how compelling great visual elements can be and our program staff often employs extraordinary visual elements to make powerful statements and convey complex messages succinctly.
Photographs
Often going where few have ever been, landscape photographer Mason Cummings brings to life some of our nation's most remote wildlands. His ability to capture the beauty of wilderness inspires us day after day; so we've made a few highlights available for anyone to use as computer desktops, or backgrounds for video calls. You can take a look here. We’re delighted to find the backgrounds were featured in a recent Washington Post story.
Film
Through the immersive experience of film, stories come to life. They are not only a highly effective means of communication but can create understanding and empathy in ways no other media can. Take for example a trio of short films Where Life Begins, Welcome to Gwichyaa Zhee and We Are Abel offering insights on the Gwich'in people and the importance of protecting the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
