ICL has worked to protect and restore the clean air, clean water, wildlands, special places, fish, and wildlife that give Idahoans such an exceptional quality of life for over 50 years. And in each and every of those years, we’ve relied on our members to make this work possible. Our accomplishments do not just fall on the shoulders of our staff—the work of staff relies on our conservation community, made up of dedicated members, advocates, and volunteers. Our members are at the core of our conservation mission, and are the heartbeat of our organization. In appreciation of these behind-the-scenes “Faces of ICL”, we showcase the stories of our members on a monthly basis, shining a spotlight on their unique contributions, experiences, and reasons for supporting conservation in Idaho.
This piece was written by ICL supporter Andy Munter.
I grew up in Duluth, Minnesota and moved to Ketchum in the late ‘70s. I was attracted to Ketchum by being a ski bum for one year, and it just stuck — I’ve been here ever since. When I moved here in the ‘80s, Ketchum was filled with mountain-loving people, and because of that, of course you joined the Idaho Conservation League. Many of those people are still some of my best friends.
I bought Backwoods Mountain Sports in Ketchum in 1983 and ran it for decades. I just recently transferred final shares to my partners and I am now retired. My customer base were people who love the mountains, who love the rivers, and who love the wilderness. In the late ‘80s, we (Backwoods Mountain Sports) had a grassroots conservation month in November where we promoted conservation and wilderness organizations, gave people discounts, and did some marketing around conservation — all with the goal of raising awareness of the importance to be members and supporters of these conservation groups. It has always been easy to stay professionally and personally involved in the conservation of the places I love through ICL.
Being from Minnesota, I naturally got involved in the Wilderness area designation of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. When I got here to Idaho, I got involved with ICL in wilderness pushes here, including with the White Clouds and the Pioneers. This volunteer work even took me and others to Washington D.C. I also participated in a few hikes led by ICL with politicians — like with Mike Crapo in the Antz Basin in the White Clouds, now thankfully part of the White Clouds Wilderness Area after many years. These experiences were not only amazing insights into this work, but incredible bonding experiences with a bunch of ICL friends.
What I really appreciate about ICL is that they have made and continue to make a huge impact. ICL has been able to grow with all of the issues throughout the decades. Where I live in Central Idaho is a real hot spot for conservation issues, wilderness protection, and endangered species with wolves and salmon, sage grouse, and now wolverines. ICL has been great advocating on those issues as well as others, like mining. I also appreciate the enormity of the work to clean up the Snake River as it flows through southern Idaho. But my biggest cause I’ve supported in the last 20 some years is the fight to save our salmon. Removing those dams and replacing the services they provide can bring salmon back to the paradise that awaits them in Idaho — free-flowing, cold, clear waters.
What I love most about Idaho is its natural beauty; the mountains, river canyons, desert. To me, it’s the most incredible, diverse, and beautiful state out there. I hope, for the future of Idaho, that we grow sustainably, and that people realize that conservation isn’t just for lovers of wilderness or wildlife — conservation supports our entire state. We can make wise decisions about our resources while still being productive. We may have to do some mining, logging, and irrigation, but we have to do it responsibly — after all, nothing is more important than clean water to drink and clean air to breathe. ICL serves as our voice for these shared values, and as a watchdog for Idaho’s environment.
Supporting conservation efforts is as simple as getting involved: Become a member of Idaho Conservation League and support the efforts of other organizations working to protect the environment. And understand that we have a responsibility to not just support these efforts in terms of activism, but also with our pocketbooks. It just doesn’t happen without financial support. And if you aren’t in a position to give financially, then there are other ways to get involved — attend an event in your community, volunteer, or take an advocacy action.
Each of our members brings a unique perspective and a distinctive connection to our mission, creating a collective commitment to Idaho’s air, land, water and wildlife that is backed with a culture of caring. The diversity in why people support ICL is just as diverse as the landscapes and natural heritage of our great state. This diversity also reflects the huge breadth of issues ICL works on, and the collaborative and creative ways we work to get things done for our environment. Interested in sharing your ICL story? Contact Development Assistant, Jess McFarlane by email at jmcfarlane@idahoconservation.org or phone at 208.345.6933×227.
Not an ICL member yet but want to be? Or are you already a member and know someone who loves Idaho’s lands, waters, fish and wildlife? Become a member today and share the love of Idaho with others!