Michael Coleman Bronze Sculpture Donated to Grand Teton National Park

Bronze sculpture of bull moose attracts both kids and photographers.

August 5, 2011
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Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott is pleased to announce that a bronze sculpture of a mature bull moose was recently donated to the park by two members of the Grand Teton National Park Foundation, Steve and Roberta Denning. The statuesque moose stands near the courtyard of the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center and serves as a symbolic ambassador for Grand Teton as it greets visitors from near and far.

Thanks to the Denning’s generous donation, park visitors are charmed by a realistic replica of one of the park’s most iconic animals. Titled ‘September’ by American artist Michael Coleman, the life-size moose sculpture stands over nine feet tall at its antlers. This imposing sculpture has quickly become a fascinating attraction for kids and adults alike. Many visitors stop to snap a photograph standing next to the bronze moose before they venture into the visitor center.

The Dennings donated the statue through the Grand Teton National Park Foundation, the park’s primary fundraising partner. With one hundred percent funding by Foundation donors, a new state-of-the-art auditorium was recently added to the Discovery Center and dedicated on July 6.

As the ‘September’ moose sculpture continues to be a popular attraction for visitors, it seems only fitting that it resides in Moose, Wyoming at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center: a facility that the Foundation was instrumental in helping to fund and open in 2007.

“It’s been fun to watch the reactions and expressions of kids, teenagers and adults when they come face to face with the life-size moose sculpture,” said Superintendent Scott. “The Dennings have given the park and its visitors a unique and enduring gift. Their donation will likely provide not only photographic memories, but also a greater appreciation for native wildlife. This moose sculpture also offers visitors a great opportunity to view one of the park’s largest animals at close range, in complete safety.”  

Selection of New Concession Contract for Services in Rockefeller Memorial Parkway

August 3, 2011
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The National Park Service (NPS) selected Flagg Ranch Company, an affiliate of the Grand Teton Lodge Company, to provide lodging, food and beverage, campground, retail, service station, and other related visitor services in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway under concession contract JODR002-11. NPS Intermountain Regional Director John Wessels made the announcement today in Denver, Colorado. The contract will begin November 1, 2011 with a term of 15 years.

Under the new contract, the NPS will require Flagg Ranch Company to undertake a number of projects, which include upgrades to some lodging rooms, the addition of camper cabins and a coffee shop, and the replacement of the diesel and unleaded gas pumps. 

The John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway—a separate park unit that adjoins Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks in northwestern Wyoming—is managed by the superintendent of Grand Teton National Park.

 “We are pleased that Flagg Ranch Company was awarded a new concession contract by the Regional Office,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott. “We look forward to working closely with Flagg Ranch Company to usher in a new era of expanded and improved services for visitors to the Rockefeller Parkway.”

International Leisure Hosts, Ltd. currently provides visitor services at Flagg Ranch under a concession contract that took effect in 1990. International Leisure Hosts did not wish to continue services at this location and declined to submit a proposal for the new concession contract.

The NPS solicited proposals for this business opportunity through a prospectus issued August 17, 2010. Proposals were accepted through March 21, 2011. A review team of industry experts and NPS employees analyzed the proposals based on criteria specified under the provisions of the 1998 Concessions Management Improvement Act. The 1998 Act made a number of changes in how contracts are awarded with the intent of insuring quality visitor services, protecting park resources, and enhancing the competitive contract process for NPS concession contracts.

Guidelines used to evaluate proposals can be found online at www.nps.gov/commercialservices.

Summer Speaker Series Continues

July 29, 2011

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A series of special presentations that began in June will continue throughout the month of August in the new auditorium at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. Starting Wednesday, August 3, local residents and park visitors can join a captivating group of speakers to learn about western culture and folk music, climate change and Teton weather, as well as the intriguing story of Sacajawea. All talks are free to the public.

Lectures will be presented by various experts who will share their knowledge and perspectives on a range of topics. The speakers will also lead discussions about Grand Teton National Park’s natural and cultural resources. The scheduled August lectures include: 

August 9 – 6:30 p.m.

Lead Poisoning in Wildlife & Non-Lead Program

Join Bryan Bedrosian, avian program manager with Craighead Berengia South, for a discussion about his research related to the presence of lead in the environment from hunting and fishing activities and how that affects wildlife. Bryan worked for Teton Science Schools before volunteering for Berengia South to conduct studies on raptors and ravens. His research data indicates that lead levels in the blood of bald eagles, ravens and other scavengers elevates during the fall hunting period. As a result of his study, a non-lead program was begun.

August 17 – 6:30 p.m.

Climate Change: Observed Trends and Future Impacts on North American Climate & Weather

Join National Weather Service Meteorologist Arthur Meunier for a presentation about large-scale changes in weather and observed climate trends. Meunier will describe how global changes may affect or influence the plants, animals and other resources in Grand Teton National Park, and across the State of Wyoming and the Intermountain West. A discussion will follow on climate change, mitigation strategies and effectiveness.

August 22 – 6:30 p.m.

Sacajawea

Listen to author and storyteller Ken Thomasma as he recounts the fascinating tale of Sacajawea, the fifteen-year-old Shoshone woman and wife of a French-Canadian fur trader, who accompanied the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery Expedition of 1804 –1806. Thomasma has been an educator for over 44 years and is the three-time winner of the Wyoming State Children's Book Award. He is the author of several books about remarkable Indian children, and regularly captivates audiences with his wealth of historical knowledge.

August 24 – 6:30 p.m.

Local Folk Music and Western Culture

Listen to local musician and school teacher Dan Thomasma as he shares his knowledge of folk songs and the creative process of making music. Thomasma has been writing original songs for decades and creating a local following in Wyoming and across the country. His love for Grand Teton and western history radiates through his music, especially through original songs such as Teton Waltz. Thomasma will share both his music and his knowledge of the western culture that exists in Jackson Hole, often coined the ‘Last of the Old West.’

August 30 – 6:30 p.m.

Teton Weather

Attend a presentation by National Weather Service Meteorologist Chris Jones who will bring to life how the unique topography of Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole influences weather patterns. Through a multimedia presentation designed to explain the "whys" behind Grand Teton's weather, Jones will talk about water, wind, lightning, fire and how they all play a role in shaping the landscape.

For more information about the lecture series, call the Colter Bay Visitor Center at 307.739.3594, or the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center at 307.739.3399.

Film Festival Highlights Nature & Celebrates New Craig Thomas Visitor Center Auditorium

Yosemite: The Fate of Heaven, a stunning and artistic piece
on this beloved icon aires Thursday, July 7 at 8 p.m.

Sky Island about New Mexico's Jemez Mountains &
narrated by Meryl Streep aires Saturday, July 9 at 8:30 p.m.

American Beaver by Jackson filmmaker Jeff Hogan
aires on Saturday morning, July 9 at 10 a.m.

June 28, 2011
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Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott invites the public to a special three-day film festival to be held on July 7 – 9 in the new Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center auditorium at Moose, Wyoming. Modeled after similar events like the Telluride and Banff film festivals, the inaugural Grand Teton Film Festival will feature an exciting slate of films profiling environmental issues, and highlighting parks and protected areas from the Alaska Peninsula to North Carolina's Outer Banks, and from the high Sierras of California to the high desert of New Mexico. All films explore and interpret humankind's place in the natural world, and most will be screened in high definition. The festival offers an opportunity for visitors and area residents to experience the visitor center’s new 150-seat auditorium with its state-of-the-art projection and large screen. The festival is free and open to the public, with seating available on a first-come, first-served basis.

Grand Teton National Park thanks the Grand Teton National Park Foundation for their help in making this film festival possible through generous financial assistance.

The Grand Teton Film Festival schedule includes:

Thursday, July 7 — 8 p.m.
Yosemite: The Fate of Heaven (60:00)
Quite possibly the finest film ever made about the National Park Service (NPS) and its seemingly paradoxical mission, Yosemite: The Fate of Heaven is also an illustration of how a non-fiction film can transcend its documentary format to attain an artistic level. Intelligent, funny, poignant and beautiful, this film about a beloved international icon was featured on PBS' American Experience and won an Earthwatch Film Award for master documentarian Jon Else. The chance to experience comments by Carl Sharsmith—longest serving ranger in NPS history—is a delight. Robert Redford's acquaintance with Sharsmith led to the production of this brilliant film.

Crown of the Continent (28:00)
Alaska's Wrangell-St.Elias National Park is a wild, remote alpine landscape of incomprehensible grandeur, containing the highest coastal mountains in the world, peaks with greater vertical relief than the Himalayas, and the greatest assemblage of glaciers outside the polar icecaps: a national park larger than Switzerland, with higher mountains. Follow one man's journey back to his own childhood when his father brought the family to Alaska after being inspired by the writings of Jack London and expeditions of Israel Russell.

Friday, July 8 — 8 p.m.
Red Gold (54:00)
The Bristol Bay region of southwest Alaska is home to the most prolific sockeye salmon runs in the world. Two mining companies have proposed what would be the largest open-pit copper and gold mine in the world at the headwaters of the salmon rivers between Lake Clark and Katmai national parks. The estimated value of the minerals is more than $300 billion; the value of the salmon run to commercial and sport fishermen, and to the cultural identity of the Alaska natives of the region, is incalculable. Red Gold is alternately disturbing, hilarious, melancholy and hopeful. Considering the genius of this film, it is surprising to learn that the two young producers, Travis Rummel and Ben Knight, had no formal training in film-making—just a deep love of fly fishing and a dedication to telling a complex story with wit, verve and beauty.

Katmai Country (25:00)
Award-winning filmmaker and NPS producer John Grabowska will show clips from an environmental film currently in production on Katmai National Park and the Alaska Peninsula. This evolving video highlights the greatest concentration of the largest bears on earth: bears that depend as much on the red salmon runs as do the people of the region.

Saturday Morning, July 9 — 9:30 a.m.
Lost but Found, Safe and Sound (12:00)
This charming video follows seven-year-old Kelly on a camping trip with her family. When she runs ahead and gets off the trail, she remembers the time that a park ranger came to her school and explained to her class what to do if they ever got lost in the woods. A smart girl and a search and rescue dog make for a happy ending. Produced by the Association of National Park Rangers.

American Beaver (45:00)
Castor canadensis attracted the first mountain men to the valley that became known as Jackson Hole. This classic wildlife film, shot in Grand Teton National Park, follows nature's tireless engineer as it struggles to survive while facing the challenges of predators and the difficulties of weather and natural elements. Using a custom-designed camera system, Jackson filmmaker Jeff Hogan tracked the American beaver for one year to discover how its constant need to build changes its habitat and affects other species.

Wings of Thunder (28:00)
The abundance, beauty and fragility of life on the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge are portrayed in this breathtaking film of avian life in Utah. The title comes from a journal entry by explorer John Fremont, who described Bear River Bay as "animated with multitudes of waterfowl...rising for the space of a mile...with noise like distant thunder."

Showdown at Elktown (7:00)
A raucous look at how not to photograph wildlife during the fall rut. Filmed at Mammoth Hot Springs in Yellowstone National Park.

Saturday Afternoon, July 9 — 1 p.m.
Rivers and Tides (90:00)
Who would meticulously create astounding sculptures out of natural materials, only to watch them disintegrate with the tide? The ephemeral environmental art of Andy Goldsworthy is all part of the mystery and allure of this captivating, meditative, meandering journey through an artist's personal relationship with the natural world. Through the course of this gorgeously photographed film, you will see nature through Goldsworthy's perceptive and subtle eyes, while admiring his beguiling sculptures made from leaves, dandelions, rock and thorns.

The Plow That Broke the Plains (27:00)
A classic of documentary film about uncontrolled and unsustainable farming techniques that combined with an economic and ecological breakdown to create the Dust Bowl. This landmark conservation film of the Dirty Thirties was captured in iconic images by filmmaker Pare Lorentz, whose free verse script was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for poetry. The film summarizes President Roosevelt’s New Deal. It broke new cinematic ground and influenced Hollywood from image-making to film scores. Virgil Thomson's expressive music is a lesson in Americana; with wit and affection, it quotes traditional folk songs and religious hymns from "Praise God, from Whom All Blessings Flow" to "Streets of Laredo."

A Place in the Land (32:00)
Nominated for an Academy Award for Documentary Short Subject, A Place in the Land examines the history of conservation stewardship in America as reflected at Marsh-Billings-Rockefeller National Historical Park, and through the work of George Perkins Marsh, Frederick Billings, and Laurance S. Rockefeller who were successive residents of the estate. Produced by Charles Guggenheim.

Canyon Voices (22:00)
The striking Edward Curtis photographs of Canyon de Chelly established in the public mind a romanticized image of the Navajos and their vanishing world. This quiet, modest, graceful film listens carefully to the Diné people who still live in, and treasure this captivating space—the heart of the Navajo homeland. Canyon Voices makes you feel completely at home while transporting you to a place utterly foreign to most of us.

Saturday Evening, July 9 — 8 p.m.
Ribbon of Sand (26:30)
The famed Outer Banks of the Carolina coast are a slim and moving line of sand in the open Atlantic. Many travelers think they know these islands, but south of Ocracoke Inlet there rises a luminous bar of sand almost sixty miles in length, with no roads, bridges or hotels. The wild, remote beaches of Cape Lookout are one of the few remaining natural barrier island systems in the world. At once an exaltation and elegy, Ribbon of Sand profiles this seascape and the transitory islands at risk of disappearing. The film features writings by environmental pioneer Rachel Carson and is narrated by Academy Award-winner Meryl Streep. The Washington Post describes this film as, "poetic, sensitive, both intimate and sweeping.” Produced by John Grabowska and coordinated by Grand Teton National Park Deputy Superintendent Bob Vogel, who served as superintendent at Cape Lookout when the film was made.

Sky Island (26:30)
In Northern New Mexico, a range of mountains rises up from the high desert. The volcanic Jemez Mountains are isolated from all the nearby ranges: an island in the sky surrounded by a desert sea. Sky Island profiles an enchanting landscape—a wild, rugged land of the Faraway Nearby—as it explores humans and their place within it, and describes the dramatic climate change that affects the transformation of desert and alpine ecosystem. The Smithsonian described it, "As much art film as documentary, a lyrical and expressive portrait of a landscape." Narrated by Academy Award-winner Meryl Streep and Pulitzer Prize-winning Native American author N. Scott Momaday, and presented by filmmaker John Grabowska.

Environmental filmmaker and NPS producer John Grabowska served as curator for the selections offered during the three-day Grand Teton Film Festival. Grabowska will present the films, including his new production Sky Island, which Jackson area audiences will see in a sneak preview just before its national premiere on PBS.

Grabowska has produced films from the subarctic to the subtropics that have won awards at festivals around the world. His work is often broadcast as prime time specials on PBS. Grabowska has been a guest lecturer at the National Geographic Society and the Smithsonian Institution and led environmental media workshops in Argentina and Panama. He also co-founded the American Conservation Film Festival. The Washington Post describes him as "one of the virtuoso environmental filmmakers in the country." Grabowska has been producing environmental films with the Harpers Ferry Center of the National Park Service since 1991.

Grand Teton to Welcome Dr. Bob Smith as Part of Summer Speaker Series

June 27, 2011
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Grand Teton National Park will welcome Dr. Bob Smith, distinguished professor and professor emeritus of geology and geophysics at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, to the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center auditorium at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday evening, June 30 for a retrospective presentation on his prominent work in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.  The lecture is the third in a new summer speaker series sponsored by the park. Smith’s presentation titled, A Living, Breathing, Shaking Career, will provide a window into his career researching and studying the powerful forces that have shaped the Teton and Yellowstone landscapes.

Dr. Smith has made outstanding contributions in the field of geology, specifically in association with Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. Smith’s lengthy career in studying and interpreting earthquakes, fault zones, and volcanoes—and their impacts on the geologic evolution of northwestern Wyoming—has generated a greater appreciation for, and increased knowledge of, the dynamic forces at work in the physical landscape of the world-renowned Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

Smith holds a Ph.D. from the University of Utah and has served as a visiting professor at Columbia University, Cambridge University and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland. His popular book with Lee Siegel, Windows Into the Earth: The Geologic Story of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks (2000, Oxford University Press) explains the geology of the parks, and he regularly provides ‘real-time’ feedback to personnel in both parks about seismic events throughout the region to encourage effective response planning to natural geologic hazards.

In 2008, he retired from teaching at the University of Utah, where he was a key founder of the university’s seismic network—a system that operates more than 200 regional and urban seismic stations serving Utah, eastern Idaho, and western Wyoming (including Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks). Smith was a founder of, and remains a coordinating scientist for, the Yellowstone Volcano Observatory—a facility that monitors volcanic and seismic activity in the greater Yellowstone area. He has also been integrally involved in planning and implementing the National Science Foundation-led EarthScope initiative, which uses high-precision instrumentation to explore the structure and evolution of the North American continent and the processes responsible for earthquakes and volcanic eruptions.

In acknowledging Smith’s impressive work, Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott said, “Dr. Smith supplies invaluable scientific information to help our staff, partners, and the visiting public better understand the physical forces that influence the landscapes that define this natural area”.

The discussion is free and open to the public. Seating is available for the first 150 guests on a first come-first served basis.  For further information, please contact the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center at 307.739.3399.

Fourth Annual Grand Teton Music Festival Concerts in the Park

June 24, 2011
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Grand Teton National Park and the Grand Teton Music Festival have once again joined together to host the fourth year of special programs promoting the connection between nature and music. Created through a special partnership, the “Music in Nature” concert series runs from June 28 through July 22. The Grand Teton Music Festival’s Axiom Brass Quintet will perform 30-minute programs of music inspired by nature; a park ranger will host each performance. The concerts are free and open to the public. 

Inaugural performances of the brass quintet will take place at the Colter Bay Visitor Center amphitheater Tuesday, June 28 and Wednesday, June 29 at 11:30 a.m., with a second performance at 12:30 p.m. each day. These musicians will delight listeners through their recitals, continuing a musical tradition inspired by the beauty of Grand Teton National Park and its majestic scenery.

“The ‘Music in Nature’ concerts create a unique, relaxing atmosphere that allows visitors to enjoy the picturesque Teton landscape in a truly personal and moving way,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott. “We are excited to partner again with Grand Teton Music Festival to bring a special musical experience to our visitors.”

Concerts are scheduled for the Colter Bay Visitor Center auditorium, Jackson Lake Lodge lobby, and the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose. Time and locations of concerts are:

Tuesdays and Wednesdays beginning June 28
11:30 a.m. Colter Bay Visitor Center Amphitheater    
12:30 p.m. Colter Bay Visitor Center Amphitheater     

Wednesdays beginning June 29

5:00 p.m. Jackson Lake Lodge lobby

6:00 p.m. Jackson Lake Lodge lobby

Thursdays and Fridays beginning June 29

11:30 a.m. Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center (Moose)
12:30 p.m. Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center(Moose)                                                

Summer Speaker Series Begins

June 24, 2011
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Grand Teton National Park will host a series of special presentations this summer in the new auditorium at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose, Wyoming. Beginning Monday, June 27, local residents and park visitors can join a fascinating group of speakers to learn about migration corridors, regional and park history, geology, and meteorology. All talks are free and open to the general public.

Lectures will be presented by specialists in a variety of subject areas; speakers will share their expertise and knowledge on a range of topics and lead discussions about various changes affecting the park’s natural and cultural resources. Lectures begin in late June and continue through August. June and July lectures include: 

June 27 (3 p.m.) — Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative

Conservationist and photographer Harvey Locke will explain the importance and value in preserving a continuous wildlife corridor that connects Yellowstone National Park with the Yukon country in Canada. Locke is recognized as a global leader in the field of parks, wilderness and large landscape conservation issues. Additionally, Locke was named one of Canada’s 21^st century leaders by Time Magazine Canada.

June 28 (3 p.m.) — Two Toms: Lessons from a Shoshone Doctor

Anthropologists and authors Tom and Helen Johnson will recount a tale about Tom Wesaw, an 83-year-old Shoshone doctor and religious leader from Wyoming’s Wind River Reservation. When Wesaw could no longer drive and make house calls, young Tom Johnson drove him to his patients and cooked, pumped water, and built fires for sweat lodges. In exchange, the elder Tom showed Johnson his medical skills. The Johnsons’ will share details about Shoshone culture, as they chronicle the story of the friendship between these two men.  A second program will take place at 7 p.m. at the Colter Bay Visitor Center auditorium. 

June 30 (6:30 p.m.) — A Living, Breathing, Shaking Career

Dr. Bob Smith will deliver a retrospective of his distinguished and lengthy career conducting research on the dynamic forces (earthquakes, fault zones, and volcanoes) at work in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Smith holds a Ph.D. from the University of Utah and has served as a visiting professor at Columbia University, Cambridge University and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich, Switzerland. His popular book with Lee Siegel, Windows Into the Earth: The Geologic Story of Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks (2000, Oxford University Press) explains the geology of the two national parks, and he regularly provides ‘real-time’ feedback to park personnel about seismic events throughout the region to encourage effective response planning to natural geologic hazards.

July 13 (3 p.m.) — John Colter: Mountain Man Superhero

Dr. Barbara Mueller, professor of anthropology at Casper College, will describe the life and travels of John Colter, widely considered to be the first mountain man of the American West. Colter was a valued member of the famed Corps of Discovery Expedition with Captain Meriwether Lewis and Captain William Clark. After the expedition ended, Colter spent time exploring and fur trapping across the Wyoming territory, and his travels likely brought him through parts of present-day Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks.

For more information about the summer speaker series, call the Colter Bay Visitor Center at 307.739.3594, or the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center at 307.739.3399.

Grand Teton Offers Free Entry in Celebration of Summer Solstice

Historic entrance station near Jenny Lake. Entry fees
will be waived on June 21 to mark the first day of summer.

June 16, 2011
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In celebration of summer solstice and the first day of summer, Grand Teton National Park—along with other national parks across the country—will offer free entry on Tuesday, June 21. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar directed the National Park Service to waive entrance fees on several days during 2011 as part of an initiative to encourage people to visit, explore and enjoy America’s national park areas. 

“The longest day of the year is the perfect time to take a short trip. Celebrate an extended Father’s Day with dad, the start of summer break with the kids, or a job well done with your favorite graduate,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “With 394 national parks across the country, you could opt to visit an old favorite or explore a new place. Find a reason to get outside and enjoy the extra sunshine at a national park near you.”

To further highlight the first day of summer and free entry into Grand Teton, park rangers invite visitors to join them in family-oriented activities that focus on First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move Outside” initiative: a national campaign to end childhood obesity within a generation. This program is underway in national parks across the United States. Several programs designed to promote  healthy lifestyles and physical activity in the great outdoors will take place in Grand Teton on June 21st and throughout the summer months. These include:

• Taggart Lake Hike: Trek to scenic Taggart Lake at the base of the Teton Range and learn about the geology and biologic communities that adorn the Teton Landscape. Bring water, binoculars, cameras, rain gear and insect repellant. Meet 9 a.m. at Taggart Lake trailhead for a three-mile hike (moderate difficulty).
• Swan Lake Hike: Walk through forest and wetland communities while learning about the plants and animals living near Jackson Lake and Colter Bay. Bring water, binoculars, cameras, rain gear and insect repellant. Meet 8 a.m. at Colter Bay Visitor Center flagpole for an easy three-mile hike.
• Inspiration Point Hike: Trek to Hidden Falls and a viewpoint above Jenny Lake to learn about Teton geology and the work of glaciers. Meet 8:30 a.m. at the Jenny Lake Visitor Center flagpole for an uphill two-mile hike (moderate difficulty).

“The Teton Range is just beginning to emerge from an unprecedented winter snowpack, and the snow-covered peaks create a sharp contrast against the greening Jackson Hole valley. Early season wildflowers  and newborn wildlife add a special touch to visiting Grand Teton National Park at this time of year,” said Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott. “The first day of summer is an ideal time to visit the park, and free entry provides an added bonus to the annual June attractions.”

Additional fee free days in 2011 are scheduled for National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 24 and Veterans Day weekend from November 11-13.

National Park Foundation Awards Grant To Grand Teton National Park

Pura Vida participants learn about radio telemetry and
wildlife tracking with park biologists on a chilly spring day.

June 15, 2011

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Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott announced today that Grand Teton National Park was chosen to receive a grant sponsored by the National Park Foundation (NPF) to support an innovative program for multi-cultural youth. This grant is part of the NPF’s America’s Best Idea  initiative: a nationwide program that connects underserved populations across the United States with national parks through meaningful and innovative ways.

The NPF grant will fund a Pura Vida Youth Leadership Program recently launched at Grand Teton with assistance from the Grand Teton National Park Foundation (GTNPF). This program is designed to encourage multi-cultural students to become leaders in their local community in support of park stewardship. The grant will augment support already provided by GTNPF, Teton Science Schools, Teton County School District, and other generous donors.

“We’re pleased to receive such a beneficial grant,” said Superintendent Scott. “Through our Pura Vida program, we’ll be able to engage students from diverse cultural backgrounds and help them to become leaders in their local community. We hope to inspire these young people and expand their understanding and support for conservation efforts. We also hope they will become ambassadors for national parks and serve as future community leaders.”

Pura Vida Youth Leadership Program is a year-long course aimed at empowering multi-cultural youth to become active leaders in their community. Participants will gain an understanding and appreciation for the significance and purpose of the National Park Service, and learn about career opportunities in the Service. More than half of the participants for the year-long program will be selected from a two-week Pura Vida program in July, which is affiliated with Michelle Obama’s “Let’s Move Outside” initiative. The July Pura Vida session is specifically designed to reach out to the Latino population in the park’s gateway communities and introduce youth to the park’s unique resources while providing leadership development and mentoring opportunities. The rest of the students for the year-long program will be selected from various local youth groups.

“We must create opportunities for all Americans to have access to and enjoy their national parks,” said Neil Mulholland, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “With these grants, we’re connecting more and more people to the national parks, while building and strengthening long-lasting support, appreciation and commitment to protecting ‘America’s Best Idea’.”

Inspired by the epic Ken Burns documentary The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, the NPF, in partnership with Lowe’s Charitable and Educational Foundation, the Anschutz Foundation and the Ahmanson Foundation, awarded America’s Best Idea grants to 19 national parks across America. The NPF grants support interactive and engaging projects that strengthen Americans’ connection with their national parks. A full list of grantees and project descriptions is available on the NPF website at http://www.nationalparks.org/.

Chartered by Congress, the NPF is the official charity of America’s national parks. The NPF works hand in hand with the National Park Service to connect all Americans to their national parks, and to make sure that they are preserved for the generations who will follow. The National Park System includes 84 million acres of the world’s most treasured landscapes, ecosystems, and historic sites—all protected in nearly 400 national park units.

For further information about this grant and others with the NPF, contact Alanna Sobel, 202.354.6480, asobel@nationalparks.org. Join NPF online at http://www.nationalparks.org/, or on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/nationalpark, and Twitter http://twitter.com/goparks.                                    

Annual Cattle Drive to Cause Minor Traffic Delays near Moran Junction

Pinto Ranch wranglers drive cattle to
Elk Ranch pastures in Grand Teton National Park.

June 7, 2011
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Motorists may experience a minor travel delay along Hwy 26/89/191 from Moran Junction to the Elk Ranch flats (one mile south of the junction) on Saturday morning, June 11, between the hours of 6:45 and 8:30 a.m. The temporary delay will allow for the safe movement of cattle from the Pinto Ranch of Buffalo Valley to the Elk Ranch pastures, which lie south of Moran Junction and the Buffalo Fork River. Park rangers will provide traffic control for the cattle drive. 

Pinto Ranch wranglers will drive a herd of about 250 cattle westward from the ranch using a right of way along Highway 26/287. When the cattle drive reaches Moran Junction, the animals need to cross the Buffalo Fork Bridge, causing a delay of 30 minutes while cattle clear both the bridge and a swampy area just south of the bridge.

To avoid the temporary road delay during the cattle drive, local residents and park visitors may choose to travel an alternate route through Grand Teton National Park using the Teton Park Road between Jackson Lake Junction and Moose Junction.

Every effort will be made to minimize any inconvenience to travelers who may be using Highway 26/89/191 to access Moran Junction during the early morning cattle drive on Saturday.

Several years ago, Grand Teton officials requested that the Pinto Ranch shift their cattle from an historic, free-range Pacific Creek grazing allotment north of Moran to the fenced Elk Ranch pastures in order to minimize potential conflicts with predators in the Pacific Creek drainage.

In accordance with the 1950 Grand Teton National Park enabling legislation, certain historic grazing privileges were retained. Since that time, the fenced and irrigated Elk Ranch pastures have been used for cattle grazing.

Annual Roadside Clean-up on Thursday, June 9

June 7, 2011
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Grand Teton National Park employees will join with park partners and concessioners to conduct the annual roadside clean-up on Thursday, June 9 from 8 a.m. to noon. This date is a bit later than previous years due to late season melting from a record winter snowpack.

Anyone driving through Grand Teton during Thursday morning should be alert for people walking along the roads and give clean-up crews a wide berth. Slow moving and parked vehicles may also be encountered. 

Each year before the summer season is in full swing, park staff and Grand Teton Association  employees—along with staff from the Grand Teton Lodge Company, Signal Mountain Lodge, Triangle X Ranch, and Flagg Ranch Resort—set aside a day to remove trash and unsightly debris from roads and turnouts to beautify Grand Teton before summer visitors arrive. 

"Visitors and local residents can keep roadsides clean throughout the year by taking the time to place litter in garbage cans and dumpsters located throughout the park. As an added benefit, this simple, but responsible act also helps reduce the chance that bears may get food rewards,” said Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott. “Everyone is encouraged to do their part in keeping Grand Teton National Park free of unsightly litter.”

The Craig Thomas, Jenny Lake, Colter Bay, and Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve visitor centers and park bookstores, as well as the interagency communication center and law enforcement patrols will continue normal operations while the clean-up work is underway.

American Indian Guest Artists 2011 Schedule

Indian artists demonstrate their traditional & contemporary art
throughout the summer at the Colter Bay Indian Art Museum.
Photo is a cradleboard from the David T. Vernon Collection. 

May 16, 2011
11-32

Each year, Grand Teton National Park sponsors a program for visiting American Indian artists at the Colter Bay Visitor Center and Indian Arts Museum. For the past 36 years, artists from diverse tribes have demonstrated their traditional and contemporary art forms, providing visitors an opportunity to gain a greater appreciation for, and understanding of American Indian art and culture.

Artists participating in the program represent tribes from across the United States. Art forms include painting, weaving, pottery, beadwork, and musical instruments. Guest artists exhibit daily, Monday through Sunday, from approximately 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the lower level of the Colter Bay Indian Arts Museum. Artists also offer their finished items for purchase.


Dates and guest artists scheduled for the 2011 season are: 

May 10-29	Willie & Debbie LaMere	Shoshone	Beadwork & Flint Knapping
May 30-June 5	Jola LeBeau	Eastern Shoshone	Beadwork
June 6-12	Maynard White Owl	Nez Perce	Beadwork
June 13-19	Charlotte Tendoy	Shoshone	Beadwork
June 20-26	Guillermo Martinez	Tarascan-Apache	Handmade Flutes & Drums
June 27-July 3	DG House	Cherokee	Oil Painting
July 4-10	Ted Moran	S’Klallan	Northwest Coastal Carving
July 11-17	Cecilia Lovey Two Bulls	Ogalala Sioux	Beadwork, Painting
July 18-24	Dolly & Bonnie Woodie	Navajo	Weaving,Clothing, Beadwork
July 25-31	Willie & Debbie LaMere	Shoshone	Beadwork, Flint Knapping
August 1-7	Paul Hacker	Choctaw	Flutes, Knives, Pottery
August 8-14	Andrea Two Bulls	Ogalala Sioux	Beadwork, Painting
August 15-21	Jola LeBeau	Eastern Shoshone	Beadwork
August 22-28	Gale Self	Choctaw	Silver Jewelry
Aug. 29-Sept 4	Josie & Juan Bronco	Paiute	Beadwork
Sept 5-11	Clyde Hall & Nancy Nacki	Shoshone	Beadwork, Quillwork
Sept 12-18	Andrea Two Bulls	Ogalala Sioux	Beadwork, Painting
Sept 19-25	DG House	Cherokee	Oil Painting
Sept. 26-Oct 3	Willie & Debbie LaMere	Shoshone	Beadwork, Flint Knapping