Grand Teton to Host America’s Best Idea Events

September 10, 2009
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Over the next several weeks, Grand Teton National Park will highlight the significance of national parks and their importance to our Nation’s rich heritage by offering several special programs in advance of the television broadcast on WyomingPBS of Ken Burns’ new documentary titled, National Parks: America’s Best Idea. These programs are free and open to the public.

September 12: Old Bill’s Fun Run. Join park ranger naturalists for fun, educational activities at Grand Teton Association’s booth during the community event on the Jackson Town Square. For more information, phone the Jenny Lake Visitor Center at 307.739.3392.

September 14-18: Untold Stories Film Festival. Watch selections from Ken Burns’ Florentine Films that highlight diverse groups who have been instrumental in the creation of America’s national parks. Viewings occur daily in the Craig Thomas Discovery Center at
10 a.m. and in Colter Bay Visitor Center at 4 p.m. For details on these films, call the Colter Bay VC at 307.739.3594 or the Craig Thomas Center at 307.739.3399. Films include:
· City Kids in National Parks
· Manzanar: “Never Again”
· Mount Rushmore: Telling America’s Stories
· San Antonio Missions: Keeping History Alive
· Yosemite’s Buffalo Soldiers

September 17: Nature Journaling and Sketching. Join rangers at the Laurance Rockefeller Preserve to learn about journaling techniques and how to make sketches of natural objects. All experience levels are welcome, but space is limited; to reserve a spot, call the LSR Preserve Center at 307.739.3654.

September 24: Book Club Discussion. Attend a fireside conversation on "Creating the National Parks: the Missing Years" by Horace Albright & Marion Albright Schenk at the Laurance Rockefeller Preserve Center’s Resource Room from 4-6 p.m. For more information, phone the LSR Preserve Center at 307.739.3654.

September 26: A Grand Day of Public Service for America's Best Idea: the National Parks Join park staff for a public viewing of This is America, a 45-minute film by Ken Burns, followed by volunteer projects (fence removal on Antelope Flats, reduction of social trails on LSR Preserve & other trails rehab projects, painting projects, etc.) The day of service culminates with a picnic sponsored by the Grand Teton Association. The film debut starts at 8 a.m. at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose, and the picnic will conclude about 2 p.m. To sign up for this community volunteer day event, please call the Craig Thomas Discovery Center at 307.739.3399.