Jeanne Knapp
10/20/09

Jeanne Knapp an educator and Forest Service Volunteer
Jeanne [not sure of spelling] has been a Volunteer for well over 15
years spending the summers working in our Stanislaus National Forest,
Emigrant Wilderness.

The last 3 to 4 years Jeanne has been participating in the "Wilderness
Journey" education programs for both children and adults. As an
Interpreter, Jeanne teaches children about "Keeping the Wilderness
Wild". What it means and how to do it. Aimed primarily at adults, Jeanne
also takes visitors on the Geology Walk. A short 1/2 mile walk in which
she teaches about the various local wildlife, flora and fauna; and their
origins.

According to Jeanne the Serra Nevadas were not inhabited by man until
approximately 10,000 years ago when the Indians [North American
Aborigines] moved in and began to utilize the forests' resources.
However, since the Gold Rush of 1848 there has been a continuing growth
activity in the Wilderness areas which has greatly reduced the large
animal populations. In 1964 Congress passed the "Wilderness Act" setting
aside large tracts of land to preserve and protect our natural
wildernesses. The United States is the only country which has set aside
tracts of wilderness for this purpose. Each wilderness area is specified
as a "Wilderness Unit". California has by far the largest number of
Wilderness Units in the country. However, Alaska's wilderness units are
larger than California's and has more actual Wilderness land.

The Wilderness is open to the public. However, a permit is required to
enter and hikers & campers are requested and required to "Leave No
Trace" of their visits. People, often ignore the "Leave No Trace" rule
and the volunteers go into the Wilderness and try to clean up after
them. Last year nearly 1 ton of trash was removed from the Emigrant
Wilderness alone.

The environmental ban on clearing under brush has been lifted and
volunteers are beginning to "clean up" the forests to minimize the
number of forest fires and allow for new growth. Fires in Wilderness
territories are largely ignored as they are generally natural and help
to clean up the old under growth. However, lost hikers and campers have
been known to start forest fires to summon help to come rescue them
Volunteers are always needed. There are a wide variety of jobs to be
done and volunteers can choose how they want to participate.

Meeting notes by S.P.

Photography by Charles Guest of Memorable Places Photography
© Copyright 2009-2010

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