STORY AND PHOTOS BY KAREN BOSSICK

The green bumper sticker plastered on the silver Toyota sitting outside a home in the Hailey suburbs said simply, "Camp-Hike-Vote."

That pretty much sums it up for the Conservation Voters for Idaho, whose leaders had come to Hailey to talk about what they do to keep Idaho's public lands healthy and accessible.

"This is a bipartisan organization--not Democrat, not Republican. It's open to the best conservation practices,” Hailey supporter Susan Giannettino told those who had come to learn about the organization.

Conservation Voters for Idaho (CVI) was founded to protect the clean air, land and pure water that its supporters think make Idaho a great place to live. Its supporters believe the best way to do that is to elect government representatives who want to work to protect the environment.

The organization is also in the business of educating voters and elected officials and holding the elected officials accountable.

It’s the only statewide non-partisan political voice for protecting the environment. Its motto: "Creating the political environment to protect the natural environment."

Courtney Washburn, the executive director, moved over to CVI from the Idaho Conservation League where she had worked for three years.

The Boise-based CVI spends a lot of time doing voter control, she said: "We don't just talk to our members. We talk to likely voters across the state. We work on those doing harm to the environment."

The group works to replace representatives it believes are doing harm to the environment.

"We question candidates with classic questions, such as climate change and salmon. Increasingly, we're asking where they get their information, as that indicates how they would be likely to govern," said Washburn.

Data shows that access to public lands, which make up 34.5 million acres in Idaho, is a big deal for Idahoans, said Washburn. But voters don't know who their public officials are and what they stand for.

"We can argue about the details of public lands, but we do know they're valued. Conversation funding is super popular with Idaho voters but elected officials are dragging their feet. Even the more conservative folks are not happy with what's going on," she added.

That said, climate change is not in the list of top 10 issues Idahoans are concerned about, even though farmers south of Sun Valley are changing their practices because of warming temperatures, according to Dist. 26 Rep. Sally Toone.

"People are suffering in Idaho. They're desperate for health care. They're aware that education is underfunded and that we're losing teachers like crazy," said Washburn. "The challenge when we approach voters on climate change is that it's an uphill battle. We prefer to start with issues at the top and work our way down."

The average age of CVI's board members is 40. Kathleen Eder, who fought a tightly contested election for a House seat representing District 26, is among the new board members. CWI endorsed her campaign after incumbent Rep. Steve Miller took some positions that didn’t sit well, including trying to quash legislation directing the state to make a map showing public access sites.

Eder is primarily concerned with educating voters and elected officials.

"I couldn't just quit after losing in last year's election," she said. "I still have a lot of energy. I like their mission statement about creating the political environment to protect the natural environment.

"This is a way I can make a difference," she added. "What we have now is not acceptable."

CVI took three young conservationists to Capitol Hill this summer to meet with Idaho’s Congressional Delegation. Among them: Andres Morales Lopez, who was raised in Mexico but moved to Hailey when he was 8. He currently is attending Boise State University and plans to attend law school.

Most young voters want to be engaged, Washburn said.

CVI’s website includes a “Bill Tracker,” which describes bills in simple terms, tells of recent activity concerning the bills and names the bills’ sponsors. CWI puts a happy face, sad face or neutral face alongside each bill, offering a quick way to see the organization’s position.

“I respect this organization so much,” said Sen. Michelle Stennett, who represents District 26. “They keep us informed every day.”

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Go to www.cvidaho.org or call 208-342-1264.