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

Bicyclist Injured in Collision w/ Delivery Truck

May 11, 2011
11-31

A 54-year-old Jackson, Wyoming resident received multiple injuries when he was struck by the rearview mirror of a delivery truck while biking on Highway 26/89/191, about 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday,
May 11. The delivery truck, driven by a 54-year-old Jackson man, and the bicyclist were both northbound on the highway when the accident occurred approximately one mile north of the Airport Junction in Grand Teton National Park. The cyclist was wearing a bike helmet.

After making contact with the bicyclist, the driver of the truck quickly stopped and made a 911 call on his cell phone to summon help. Teton Interagency Dispatch Center received the rerouted 911 call from the Teton County Sheriff’s Office at 9:19 a.m. and a park ranger immediately responded to the accident site.

The ranger provided emergency medical care to the bicyclist and sent him by park ambulance to St. John’s Medical Center in Jackson.

Further details about this incident will be available at the conclusion of an accident investigation.

About 3.8 million people travel by vehicle on Grand Teton National Park roads each year. While accidents between vehicles and bicycles or pedestrians are rare, park managers completed a transportation plan in 2007 that included, among other goals, a system of multi-use pathways within the park to separate pedestrians and bicyclists from vehicle traffic.

Construction of a separated pathway running parallel to Highway 26/89/191 is scheduled to begin on June 1, and a 6.3 mile pathway segment from Moose Junction to the Gros Ventre River will join a pathway system being built from the Town of Jackson toward the park. Once constructed, the entire pathway (approximately 12 miles) will provide a measure of safety, separating non-motorized users from motorists on Highway 26/89/191.

Fleet of Hybrid Vehicles Arrives in Grand Teton

May 10, 2011
11-30 

Grand Teton National Park recently accepted delivery of five, 2011 Ford Escape hybrid vehicles through a program sponsored by Yellowstone-Teton Clean Energy Coalition (YTCEC). Purchase of the hybrid vehicles—worth $146,175 dollars—was made possible through a $547,645 grant secured by YTCEC in partnership with Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks. The program and grant were developed to support a variety of clean transportation projects in the Greater Yellowstone Area (GYA).

The five hybrids provided to Grand Teton National Park replace older, less efficient vehicles used by the park’s Wildlife Brigade: a corps of paid and volunteer staff whose primary duties are to respond to wildlife jams and enforce food storage at campgrounds, picnic sites and other developed areas. The vehicles will see thousands of hours of operation in their first season and reduce fuel use by an estimated 30% over conventional vehicles.

YTCEC Executive Director Phil Cameron stated, “An exciting aspect of the grant is the ability to support Grand Teton’s existing green initiatives, address their fleet needs, and provide a fantastic opportunity to showcase cleaner, more efficient vehicles to park visitors. These vehicles will have high visibility and we hope that visitors walk away realizing that hybrids represent a viable, effective means to reduce fuel consumption.”

“We appreciate the assistance provided by Phil Cameron and the Clean Energy Coalition in securing a grant to purchase hybrid vehicles for use in Grand Teton National Park,” said Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott. “The new Ford Escapes will go a long way toward reaching our goal of reducing energy consumption 20% by 2012. This initiative and its partnership program are instrumental in achieving conservation goals that protect not only park values but also America’s energy resources.”

As regional designee of the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Clean Cities Program, YTCEC worked with both Grand Teton and Yellowstone to identify and sponsor appropriate projects under a new Clean Cities/National Parks Initiative designed to reduce petroleum use and improve air quality, as well as educate the general public about alternative fuels and advanced technology vehicles. 

Under the same grant, Yellowstone National Park will purchase two hybrid transit buses that will perform a variety of functions, from employee shuttles to visitor transportation opportunities. Additionally, the park will purchase and deploy an electric utility vehicle, with solar charging station, to be deployed at the Lamar Buffalo Ranch. Total allocation for Yellowstone is $280,000.

The remaining funds ($121,470) will be used throughout the GYA to advance clean vehicle technologies. This will include the purchase of two additional hybrid vehicles and idle reduction technologies, and launch an educational program about unnecessary idling. YTCEC will also provide ongoing support as these various projects are implemented throughout the various GYA federal and state agencies.

One of 87 Clean Cities Coalitions across the country, YTCEC’s mission is to displace the use of petroleum in the transportation sector, reduced harmful emissions and improve air quality, increase energy security through promotion of alternative fuels and vehicles, integrate transportation systems, and provide conservation strategies and technologies that benefit the public and the environment. YTCEC works with a diverse array of stakeholders throughout the GYA as the DOE’s on-the-ground advocate for petroleum displacement activities.

For more information about this project, please contact Phil Cameron at phil@ytcleanenergy.org, 307.413.1971, or visit www.ytcleanenergy.org. 

"Go Wild, Go Birding!" on Migratory Bird Day

The 2011 International Migratory Bird Day poster.

May 6, 2011

11-29 

Grand Teton National Park will celebrate International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) with a bird-watching caravan on Saturday, May 14, 2011. Park ranger naturalist Andrew Langford will visit areas throughout the park that provide excellent opportunities to locate, identify, and record birds as part of the North American Migration Count. The free activity begins at 8 a.m. in the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center at Moose and finishes by 4 p.m. at Christian Pond near Jackson Lake Lodge. Reservations are not required.

Anyone interested in birds is welcome to participate in the annual bird count and bird-watching excursion hosted by Grand Teton. Throughout the day, participants will take short walks at various locations, so those attending should wear comfortable shoes and bring a lunch, drinking water, warm clothing and rain gear. Bird field guides, binoculars and spotting scopes are also recommended items.

“Go Wild, Go Birding!” serves as the theme for the 2011 IMBD observance. This declaration highlights an attempt to engage new audiences—young people and adults alike—in learning about bird-watching and bird conservation. Participants in Saturday’s bird-watching caravan will learn about the latest programs and activities designed to create new enthusiasts and introduce them to birding as a worthwhile and pleasant pastime. Participants will also gain basic skills and techniques for identifying birds by their size, plumage and calls.

Observed each year in May to celebrate and support bird conservation, IMBD serves as the hallmark outreach event for Partners in Flight—an international conservation program whose goal is to reverse declining populations of migratory birds by bringing attention to factors that may contribute to worldwide declines. This year marks the 21st anniversary for Partners in Flight.

For more information about International Migratory Bird Day and the North American Migration Count, please call the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center at 307.739.3399. Participants of the IMBD activity are reminded that park entrance stations are open; therefore, they will need to present a park pass to travel through these entrance gates.

Teton Interagency Fire Managers Plan Spring Prescribed Fires

Teton Interagency firefighter uses
a drip torch to start a prescribed fire.

May 3, 2011

11-28

Teton interagency fire managers plan to conduct several prescribed fires during the month of May. If weather conditions are conducive, fire managers for Grand Teton National Park and the North Zone of the Bridger-Teton National Forest will initiate the following projects:

• Lava Creek—this prescribed fire, primarily on the Bridger-Teton National Forest, contains 226-acres (including 20 acres in Grand Teton National Park) within the Buffalo Valley Fuels Management Project area. The location includes pockets of dead and down wood, continuous sagebrush, and some conifers within aspen stands. The project is designed to maintain or increase aspen coverage and reduce the potential for high-intensity fires.
• Shadow Mountain—this 46-acre prescribed fire is designed to reduce fuel in wildland areas adjacent to the Shadow Mountain residential development. In conjunction with a recently completed fuels reduction project, this burn will break up the continuity of sagebrush and increase the ability to control a wildfire before it reaches private structures. The prescribed burn will also reduce the risk to firefighters by reducing the potential for a high intensity fire. 
• Elbo West—this 48-acre project was developed in conjunction with a multi-stage restoration plan to convert 4,000 acres of pastureland back into native vegetation. The site is south of Teton Science School Road and north of Kelly. The project is also part of a joint Grand Teton National Park/National Elk Refuge management plan for bison and elk.
• Upper Palmer Creek—the Jackson Ranger District of the Bridger-Teton National Forest plans to implement this prescribed fire in early May, contingent upon weather and fuel conditions. Managers plan to include approximately 400 acres during this treatment, in an effort to rejuvenate aspen groves, reduce sagebrush fuels and increase defensible space around the community of Hoback Junction. This is the first step in implementing the larger Hoback Junction Fuels Reduction Project. Visitors to the area can expect temporary, short-term closures of the Palmer Creek Trail during burn implementation.
• Lower Gros Ventre—if suitable weather and fuel conditions exist after May 16, interagency crews will continue the Lower Gros Ventre Prescribed Fire, a project that began last summer. The target area is located north of Lower Slide Lake and Gros Ventre Road, south of the Ditch Creek drainage, and east of Grand Teton National Park. Fire managers will burn the remainder of a 17,000-acre area. Crews will use fire to create a mosaic pattern of burned and unburned vegetation which should increase the availability of wildlife forage and improve the diversity of vegetation on an important wildlife winter range. Crews will also use fire in select portions of aspen stands to remove conifers and rejuvenate aspen growth. No closures for the area are planned after May 16; however it may be necessary to apply a temporary closure for public safety at a later date.

Fire managers will proceed with prescribed fire ignitions when favorable weather and fire behavior conditions exist. Smoke will be visible the day of the burn, and may persist for several days, especially in mountain valleys during early the morning and evenings. Please use caution in the area of the fires and be aware that minimal restrictions may be implemented to allow for public and firefighter safety and fire equipment access.

For more detailed information, please go to www.tetonfires.com.

Public Comments Sought for Moose Area Wastewater & Water Systems Project

May 2, 2011

11-27

Grand Teton National Park Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott announced today that an environmental assessment/assessment of effect document is being prepared to analyze a range of project alternatives for replacement of a wastewater system near park headquarters in Moose, Wyoming. The project will also address critical deficiencies in the water system serving the Moose area. The National Park Service requests that public comments on the Moose Wastewater and Water System EA/AE projects be submitted no later than June 2, 2011.

The current wastewater treatment plant at Moose was built more than 50 years ago; it is both challenging and expensive to operate because of its outdated design and antiquated technology. The plant is nearing its daily capacity, and treatment demands are expected to increase in the future. In addition, the wastewater treatment plant is located less than 200 feet from the banks of the Snake River. Any malfunctions could potentially affect the Snake River, which was designated as a wild and scenic river in 2009.

Identified options include replacement of the existing wastewater treatment plant with a larger, modern facility located further away from the Snake River, or construction of a 12-mile-long buried pipeline that would transport wastewater to the Town of Jackson’s secondary treatment facility.

The 50-year-old water system at Moose is too small to reliably meet current needs. In addition, the underground pipes leak, and often lose more water than they deliver. Multiple options are being considered to upgrade the water system’s wells, pipes, pumps, and storage tanks.

Issues to be addressed in the Moose Wastewater and Water System EA/AE will include public health and safety, water quality, park operations and efficiencies, floodplain capacity, wildlife and cultural resources, and visitor experience.

Public comments can be made online on the National Park Service Planning, Environment and Public Comment (PEPC) site at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/. Additional information on these projects is also available on the PEPC site. Comments may also be sent to the following address: Moose Wastewater and Water System EA/AE, Grand Teton National Park, P.O. Drawer 170, Moose, Wyoming 83012.

Stefan Ekernas Receives 2011 Boyd Evison Graduate Fellowship

Stefan Ekernas awarded 2011 Boyd Evison Graduate Fellowship.

April 28, 2011

11-26

Grand Teton National Park and the Grand Teton Association (GTA) are pleased to announce that Stefan Ekernas has received the Boyd Evison Graduate Fellowship for 2011. Ekernas, the seventh recipient of an Evison Fellowship, is currently pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Wildlife Biology at the University of Montana in Missoula. He plans to use his fellowship award to study the impacts of climate change on food webs in the southern Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), looking specifically at white-tailed jackrabbits (Lepus townsendii) and pronghorn (Antilocapra Americana). The Evison Graduate Fellowship began in 2005 to support studies throughout the Greater Yellowstone Area.

Ekernas received a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Dartmouth College in 2001, a Master of Arts in Conservation Biology from Columbia University in 2005, and a Master of Science in Organismal Biology and Ecology from the University of Montana in 2010. He served as research director for WildMetro, a non-profit group in New York City focused on urban ecology, and he worked as an adjunct lecturer at Baruch College in Manhattan. Prior to moving to Montana, he worked as a research associate at Christian Medical College in Tamil Nadu, India. His past research focused on the effects of urbanization on small mammal communities in New York City, and the interface between conservation and public health in India.

Ekernas’ research in the GYE will focus on both food webs and climate change as he seeks to investigate species interactions within and beyond protected areas. He and his team will explore the relationships between white-tailed jackrabbits, wolves, coyotes, and pronghorn—with a specific focus on jackrabbits and pronghorns.  A key member of the food web, jackrabbits have already disappeared from parts of the ecosystem. To investigate the impacts of climate change on food webs, Ekernas will look at the relationship between decrease in snowpack and jackrabbit population. When completed, he will make his findings available to Grand Teton and to the public. He also intends to give public lectures as his research progresses.
        

The Evison Fellowship was established in memory of Boyd Evison after his death in October, 2002, and created to honor Boyd’s extensive and dedicated service to both the National Park Service (NPS) and the GTA. Evison retired in 1994 from an exemplary 42-year career with the NPS and soon after began a second career as executive director for the GTA—a non-profit park partner dedicated to aiding interpretive, educational, and research programs for Grand Teton National Park.

The Evison Fellowship program encourages scientific and conservation-related research in national parks. It invites highly motivated, graduate students to conduct research in Grand Teton and throughout the Greater Yellowstone Area; and it supports study leading to a master’s or Ph.D. degree in the biosciences, geosciences or social sciences. Upon program completion, Evison recipients provide a copy of their thesis to the GTA and often share their results through oral presentations to park staff and partners.

An Evison Fellowship provides tuition assistance and a yearly stipend to cover travel and field research costs; Grand Teton National Park offers housing and office space for students during field sessions. To inquire about applying for a Boyd Evison Graduate Fellowship—or to donate funds toward this worthy program—please contact Jan Lynch, executive director, Grand Teton Association by mail at P.O. Box 170, Moose, Wyoming, 83012, or by phone at 307.739.3406.

Snowdesk Broadcasts Reach out to Distant Classrooms Across the U.S.

Clay Hanna & Kristen Dragoo broadcast from their snowdesk
located outside of the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center.

April 27, 2011
11-25

Over the past few months, ranger naturalists brought the winter world of Grand Teton National Park to classrooms across the United States. Rangers made “virtual visits” to classrooms in Florida, Illinois, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Wyoming by using video conferencing technology. Although some of the locations were experiencing more spring-like weather, students were transported live to Moose, Wyoming where temperatures were generally sub-freezing during broadcasts outside of the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center. Each classroom held a special connection to Grand Teton because their teachers were past participants in the National Park Service (NPS) Teacher to Ranger to Teacher (TRT) program.

The TRT program provides an opportunity for teachers to work as national park rangers during summer months and take their newfound knowledge of national parks back to classrooms for the school year. Teachers develop and present curriculum-based lesson plans that focus on their park experience and participate in distance learning sessions via video broadcasts. Because of their summer work in Grand Teton, each teacher was able to prep their students with pertinent information before the virtual visit and also extend the learning experience after the broadcast.

 

Through this unique distance learning program, over 500 students were able to learn about and connect with Grand Teton National Park—a place that few of the students have ever visited. Youngsters from 3rd through 10th grade interacted with rangers who broadcasted live and outside with the snow-covered Teton Range and Jackson Hole valley as a backdrop. Rangers created a frozen stage by leveling out an area in the snow for demonstrations and by carving a “snow desk” complete with an NPS arrowhead. From this frozen stage, and the “snow desk,” rangers taught the students about animal survival during the harsh winter climate of Jackson Hole and demonstrated each adaptation using props. Students learned how winter conditions change the way everything (plants, animals and people) survives in Grand Teton.

During the 35-minute video conference broadcast, rangers and students were able to interact visually and verbally. To enhance the learning experience and reach different learning styles, each classroom was also provided with props such as animal pelts, wildlife photographs, park maps and educational newspapers. To facilitate the broadcast, each classroom only needed a computer with access to the internet, a web cam, microphone, speakers, and the appropriate video conference software.

The success of this program is tribute to the TRT participants who worked hard to fit this innovative program into their specific school curriculum and busy schedules. With past successes and potential new TRT participants, Grand Teton rangers hope to expand the “snow desk” broadcasts to other schools and students next winter.  

To learn more about TRT programs, visit http://www.nps.gov/learn/trt/.   

Facility Opening Dates for 2011 Season

April 26, 2011
11-24

The official 2011 opening dates for facilities in Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway are as follows:

Roads

The Teton Park Road and Moose-Wilson Road will open on Sunday, May 1. The Grassy Lake Road in the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway opens on June 1; however deep snow may limit the extent of accessibility.

Motorists are advised to drive cautiously and be aware that wildlife are migrating throughout the park. Animals are crossing roads, especially during dawn and dusk hours. In addition, springtime repair work may be underway on any park roads. For current road conditions, call the park’s road information hotline at 307.739.3614.

Entrance Stations

The Moose, Moran and Granite Canyon entrance stations are open. Fee options include:

$12: 7-day permit for foot/bicycle entry into Grand Teton & Yellowstone national parks

$20: 7-day permit for motorcycle entry into Grand Teton & Yellowstone national parks

$25: 7-day permit for vehicle entry into Grand Teton & Yellowstone

$50: Grand Teton/Yellowstone Annual Pass valid for one-year entry into both parks

$80: Interagency Annual Pass valid for one year to all federal lands

Bicyclists are reminded that they must stop and show an entry pass before proceeding through the gates, just as vehicles are required to do.  NOTE: New this year, an automated self-serve machine will be placed on the multi-use pathway adjacent to the Moose Entrance Station. People traveling on the paved pathway by foot, bike, or rollerblade will be required to stop and pay $12 for a 7-day entry permit, or have in possession a previously purchased pass. Personal identification is required with any pass that requires a signature. The pathway will become accessible as the snow cover naturally melts.

Visitor Centers

The Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center is open daily, year-round. Other visitor information centers open on the following dates:

Colter Bay Visitor Center	May 7
Jenny Lake Visitor Center	May 13
Jenny Lake Ranger Station	May 21
Laurance S. Rockefeller Preserve Ctr.	May 22
Flagg Ranch Information Station	June 6

Ranger-led activities begin Monday, June 6. An activity schedule can be found in the park's newspaper, Grand Teton Guide, or online at www.nps.gov/grte.

Campgrounds

The following campgrounds open:

Gros Ventre	May 6
Signal Mountain Jenny Lake	May 6 May 13
Colter Bay	May 26
Colter Bay RV & Trailer Park	May 26
Flagg Ranch RV Park	June 1
Lizard Creek	June 10

At any of the concession-operated campgrounds within Grand Teton National Park, fees for individual campsites run $20-$35 per night, and hiker/bicyclist camping fees cost $5-8 per site. All campgrounds, except the RV parks, operate on a first-come, first-served basis.

Group sites at Colter Bay and Gros Ventre campgrounds are available by reservation at a cost of $25.00 per reservation and $5.00 per person, per night. Tent cabins, including bunk beds and wood stoves, are available at Colter Bay for $50.00 per night with a charge of $12.00 for each additional person over two. Reservations may be made by calling either 307.543.3100 or 800.628.9988. Tent sites, including showers, are available at Flagg Ranch Resort for $35.00 per night with a charge of $5.00 for each additional person over two; make reservations by calling either 307.543.2861 or 800.443.2311.

Reservations can also be made for RV camping at either Colter Bay or Flagg Ranch RV parks; added fees are charged for RV campgrounds with hook-ups. Camping sites, including showers, are available at Flagg Ranch Resort for $35-$64 per night; call either 307.543.2861 or 800.443.2311 for reservations. Fees for Colter Bay RV & Trailer Park run $55 per night; call 307.543.3100 or 800.628.9988 for reservations. 

Camping is also available outside the park in nearby forest areas and at other public and private facilities.

Backcountry campsite reservations may be made until May 15 with a $25 non-refundable fee. Reservations can be made online at www.nps.gov/grte/, by fax at 307.739.3438, or by mail to Grand Teton National Park, Backcountry Permits, P.O. Box 170, Moose, WY 83012. After May 15, all backcountry site permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

Lodging

The following concessioner-operated facilities will open:

Signal Mountain Lodge	May 6
Flagg Ranch Resort	May 16
Jackson Lake Lodge	May 20
Colter Bay Cabins	May 26
Jenny Lake Lodge	May 30

For additional information about activities and services within Grand Teton National Park or the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, please visit the park's website www.nps.gov/grte, stop by any visitor center and ranger station, or call 307.739.3300.