Mel Yackley

Board Member, Vice President, Outreach Committee Chair, Crew Leader

Mel has been active in BWAC since 2021, starting as a clearing trip co-leader.  She has taken responsibility for leading the Outreach and Recruitment Committee since 2022, increasing the awareness and reach of BWAC. 

Mel recently stepped up to serve as club Vice President.  She was elected to the Board of Directors at the Feb 1, 2024 Annual Meeting.  All of these accomplishments led to her being named the BWAC 2023 Volunteer of the Year. 

Mel is passionate about building leadership and raising trail awareness to help ensure BWAC has a bright future making trails accessible for future wilderness trail adventurers.

Sara fulcher

Board member, Treasurer, Crew Leader

Sara Fulcher has been a dedicated volunteer with BWAC since 2018. She has extensive knowledge of the Powwow Trail, having surveyed and cleared on all sections through-out the years of regrowth.

 Sara currently serves as the Treasurer and Finance Committee chair, and was elected to the Board of Directors on Feb. 1, 2024.

Susan PolLock

Board Member, Past President, Crew Leader

Susan Pollock has been a Crew member, Steering Committee member, crew leader, event planner, and most recently, as the 2021 - 2022 BWAC President. She enjoys introducing new BWAC members to backpacking and trail advocacy, and the chance to be with members and friends on and off trail.

Susan is on the Board of Directors because she believes strongly in the BWAC mission of preserving Minnesota’s wilderness trails that have been so important to her personally. She started as a wilderness paddler when her children were young, added solo backpacking, and progressed to restoring Boundary Waters trails. It is important to Susan that BWAC is 100% volunteer. She wants to work to keep BWAC relevant, rewarding, and fun.

Lucas Raudabaugh

Board Member, President, Crew Leader

Lucas Raudabaugh has been volunteering with BWAC since the spring of 2017, first as a crew member on several trail clearing trips, then as leader in 2018.  Lucas is serving currently as President / Trail Committee chair, and participates on the Outreach Committee.

Through BWAC, Lucas has learned the importance of volunteers maintaining and advocating for wilderness trails.  As a new BWAC board member Lucas believes in the mission of BWAC and will support its future goals.  He also wants to modernize, streamline, and continue the growth of BWAC, while remaining an all-volunteer, non-profit organization.

Mark jurmu

Board Member, BWAC liaison with the USFS, Toolboss, Crew Leader

Mark Jurmu has been active with BWAC since 2018, leading many surveys and clearing trips over the years. Mark is our club liaison to our USFS contacts - filing required forms, trips plans, and reports. He compiles our yearly trail stats, and trains our volunteers on Trail safety and standards. Mark manages, stores, and distributes BWAC clearing tools and safety equipment to our crew leaders. During trips, Mark is the daily check-in /out contact.

Mark was elected to the Board of Directors on Feb. 1, 2024

Valentin Povarchuk

Board Chairman, Crew Leader

Valentin Povarchuk has been involved with BWAC since 2016.  Valentin volunteers by going on trail-clearing trips and by providing advocacy and legal advice to BWAC.  He has worked on improving BWAC's relationship with the Forest Service, negotiated a Volunteer Service Agreement, drafted advocacy letters, and updated BWAC's Bylaws.

Valentin keeps coming back because he yearns for punishment and really believes in the mission of BWAC - to restore and preserve Boundary Waters hiking trails, which are a unique national treasure, for current and future generations of hikers and backpackers.

As a member of the Board of Directors Valentin has a lot to contribute to BWAC's governance due to his legal skills and experience serving on other boards. Valentin describes himself as both prudent and passionate about enabling BWAC's mission.

Zach thorson

Board Vice chair, Outreach Committee co-chair, Digital Committee chair, Crew Leader

Zach Thorson has been volunteering for BWAC since 2018 as a trail-clearing member, crew leader, and website administrator. He enjoys spending time on the trail and getting to know the enthusiastic volunteers that allow BWAC to succeed. He is currently serving as the Board Vice chair, the Outreach Committee co-chair, Trail Committee, and helps maintain mapping and administrative data.

Zach believes strongly in the benefits that remote wilderness trails can provide and supports BWACs mission of preserving them for everyone to continue to enjoy. As a board member he hopes to keep BWAC going by continuing to introduce new volunteers to hiking and maintaining these unique trails.

verena walther

Board Member, Crew Leader

Lynn Schwartz

Board Member, Secretary, Crew Leader

Lynn Schwartz has been volunteering with BWAC since 2008.  She has been club Secretary since 2009.  Lynn started with the group as a crew member, then got involved with leading crews and club administrative work.  She has written grants, political letters, and helped out on various committees.

Lynn is thankful to BWAC for teaching her how to backpack on wilderness trails.  She believes in the importance of preserving the trails for future generations to enjoy and enjoys working with like-minded volunteers to achieve that mission.  As a new Board member, she hopes that she can help BWAC continue to strengthen relationships with the USFS and other trail advocacy groups.