– By Monika Bittel, FMCBC Director, Recreation & Conservation Committee –

Across British Columbia, FMCBC members and volunteers do far more than participate in outdoor recreation. Through trip leadership, skills training, mentorship, safety initiatives, stewardship, and hands-on trail and hut projects, they become informed and effective advocates for self-propelled outdoor recreation.

By working directly on trails and in parks, members gain first-hand knowledge of local recreation areas and ecosystems. They understand the condition and accessibility of trails, signage, and infrastructure; the importance of access roads; patterns of recreational use; and the ecological values that require protection. Their experience deepens awareness of community recreation needs and highlights opportunities to expand and diversify outdoor experiences.

This knowledge is powerful. It fuels engagement, motivates action and influences decision-makers by shaping priorities, planning, and land-use policies. It inspires mentorships that break down barriers, making self-propelled recreation more inclusive and accessible.

The Advocacy in Action Spotlight (AAS) series will share stories about the often-unseen efforts driven by volunteers whose vision, time, expertise, and commitment inspire and sustain the trails, huts, and parks we enjoy or drive outdoor mentorship programs.

These spotlights demonstrate how volunteer-driven initiatives have inspired inclusive and accessible recreation opportunities and have created and protected recreation assets now recognized as community amenities, cultural landmarks, and contributors to regional economies. From well-known destinations to lesser used but equally important places, these stories reveal both achievements and challenges, strengthening the case for greater recognition, funding, and long-term support for outdoor recreation groups and volunteers.

The series begins with the Ancient Forest/Chun T’oh Whudujut Park, located between Prince George and McBride on Highway 16, in the traditional territory of the Lheidli T’enneh. The park protects the world’s only inland temperate rainforest, home to thousand-year-old western red cedars and a rich biodiversity in plants, mosses, lichens, and fungi. What started as a desire to explore new terrain evolved into a community-driven effort to protect this globally significant ecosystem, including the creation of a 450-metre universal-access boardwalk built by volunteers. The Ancient Forest is a compelling example of advocacy in action—showing what is possible when local knowledge, passion, and collaboration come together.

Across BC, many trails, huts, and unique ecosystems await similar volunteer-driven transformation, appropriate investment and recognition. With sustained support, these places can become valued community amenities and destinations that foster connection to nature while supporting regional economies.

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About the author of our first story: Maria Osipova joined FMCBC as an Individual Member to give back to the trails and places she loves. An avid hiker and outdoor enthusiast, she is also a co-founder of TrailQwest, where she helps share the stories behind British Columbia’s trails. This spotlight was inspired by her visit to the Ancient Forest, where learning the trail’s history motivated her to capture and share its story.