Project Manager Qualifications 
 
Project Manager, Chris Knopf, is the Executive Director of Friends of the Boundary Waters Wilderness. For more than 25 years, Chris has worked to protect, preserve, and restore our wild places. Prior to joining the Friends, Chris practiced environmental attorney and served as a state director for The Trust for Public Land. He graduated from Georgetown University and received his J.D. from University of Virginia School of Law. 
 
Organization Description  
 
The mission of Friend of the Boundary Waters Wilderness (the “Friends”) is to protect, preserve and restore the wilderness character of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness and the Quetico-Superior ecosystem. The Friends was established in 1976 to help bring full wilderness protection to the Boundary Waters, culminating in the passing of the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Act in 1978. Our work focuses on protecting the Boundary Waters from activities that erode its wilderness character and working to ensure that the Superior National Forest and broader Quetico-Superior ecosystem are managed according to sound conservation principles. The Friends also fosters the next generation of Boundary Waters outdoor enthusiasts by connecting students and young adults to the Boundary Waters through wilderness canoe experiences and wilderness conservation volunteer programs.