Flathead Rivers Alliance River Ambassador Program

Flathead Rivers Alliance (FRA) is ramping up for the 2025 river season and recruiting 30-40 volunteer team members! Are you passionate about the river system that inspired a national protected Wild and Scenic River system? We’re expanding our River Ambassador program – join us to make a difference and give back to the river you love!

Do you love connecting with people and spending time at the river? Join our River Ambassador team and serve as liaisons with the public at popular river access sites along the Three Forks of the Flathead Wild and Scenic River. This summer volunteers will help:

• celebrate outstanding remarkable values of the river system;

• provide safety, ethics, and etiquette tips;

• offer information on river rules and regulations;

• reference maps to suggest floats;

• collect access site user related information;

• offer loaner life jackets through our partnership with MT FWP;

• and more!

There are a number of ways to give your time including helping with our volunteer programs on the North, Middle and South Forks of the Flathead River. Save the below dates and RSVP HERE if you’re interested in our volunteer program training.

• April 15th, 2025 6:00-8:00 pm River Ambassador Classroom Training (required *Hosted at Glacier Outdoor Center, West Glacier, MT) Representatives from Flathead National Forest, Flathead Rivers Alliance, Glacier National Park, & Montana FWP will provide attendees with history of Flathead Wild & Scenic River, overview of volunteer program, current rules & regulations and species of concern, best practices, and additional information related to our award winning program.
  RSVP to help us with estimated head count:
  https://forms.gle/BRHoi9P6XV1cGdqYA

• TBA River Ranger Classroom Day (optional for enrolled River Ambassadors *Hosted at Hungry Horse Ranger Station)

• May/June 2025 Final River Training (required) *You will be able to select from several river location and date options for this one-hour training.

• June or July 2025 (TBD) Whitewater Float with Glacier Raft Co Lead Guide & Guest Presenters (optional) *Volunteers who have completed required trainings will have opportunity to join custom float down the Middle Fork whitewater section where we’ll learn more about the history, hydrology and management of river system.

Questions before signing up for a training? Join one of our Volunteer Program Teaser sessions hosted on Zoom or send email HERE.

MEET YOUR APRIL 15, 2025 RIVER AMBASSADOR AGENCY TRAINERS

MONTANA FISH, WILDLIFE & PARKS
Leo Rosenthal, Flathead East Fisheries Management Biologist, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Ben Chappelow, Game Warden, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, Region 1

FLATHEAD NATIONAL FOREST
M.J. Crandall, District Recreation Staff, Flathead National Forest, Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District
Jessica Swanson, Wildlife Biologist, Flathead National Forest, Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District

LEO ROSENTHAL

Leo Rosenthal has been the Flathead East Fisheries Management Biologist for Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks for the past 18 years. His management area includes the South and Middle Forks of the Flathead River and the Swan River drainages. Hailing from Butte, America, Leo received an  undergraduate degree from the University of Montana in 1997, and an MS in Fish and Wildlife Management from Montana State University in 2007. Leo has worked in almost every part of Montana but has spent a considerable portion of his career working with bull trout and westslope cutthroat trout. Recent projects he has been working on include lake trout suppression in Swan Lake to benefit native bull trout, monitoring the bull trout fishery in the remote South Fork Flathead drainage, and examining the effects of increased angling on westslope cutthroat trout in the forks of the Flathead River.

M.J. CRANDALL

Bio coming soon!

JESSICA SWANSON

Jessica Swanson is the wildlife biologist on Hungry Horse-Glacier View and Spotted Bear Ranger Districts. I have been in this position since 2022 but been working for the Flathead National Forest since 2012. I enjoy spending time on our public lands with my family and seeing what the critters of our forest are up to!

BEN CHAPPELOW

Bio coming soon!