Message from the President

There was a buzz around town in early fall. Not because everyone was gearing up for the first big snowfall, but because Grand Teton was prominently featured in Ken Burns’ latest series, The National Parks: America’s Best Idea. Watching this captivating documentary made me want to take a road trip, and I’m certain I’m not the only one. National parks around the country are expecting increased visitation next summer, believing record numbers of people will explore the mountains, deserts, and canyons they’ve seen in Burns’ film.

I was moved by the cinematography, but it’s the personal stories people revealed that really made me think. I, too, have vivid park memories, and they are some of the most important of my life. Summiting the Grand and looking across the still valley far below. Early morning backcountry skiing in the Tetons. The chills I felt as I walked through Gettysburg. Running around the Mall in Washington, D.C. and feeling proud to be an American. Practically everyone I know has a favorite park experience that inspired a career, an accomplishment, or simply a perfect day outdoors. Giving us a backdrop for unforgettable moments—this is the magic of our national parks.

Parks were created for the benefit of the people but nearly a century later, these protected landscapes have become an essential part of our lives. I’m thankful I live near Grand Teton and can connect with hundreds of Foundation supporters to better this special place. This year, we’ll focus more on technology as we continue to reach out to others and grow our network of friends. We’re also hoping to wrap up fundraising for the visitor center’s auditorium by summer, and, of course, the Youth Conservation Program and wildlife initiative will remain priorities.

Thank you for your interest and support of the work we do. You’re the reason we can introduce many worthwhile projects and help keep Grand Teton vibrant and moving forward.

Leslie Mattson
President

Message from the President

For many people in Jackson Hole, spring officially arrives on the day Grand Teton plows the main park road. For one vehicle-free month, we bike, stroll, and rollerblade the most scenic stretch of asphalt in the country while catching up with friends and collectively celebrating the change of season.

With the economy on everyone's mind, our spring tradition felt even more comforting to me this year. Over the past few months, I've come to realize why venturing out on a familiar park road was more appealing than ever before: It was a moment I could count on in an era when nothing else seemed certain.

Now more than ever, people I know relish the small, but extraordinary, natural events that show us we still have continuity and structure. The Tetons have emerged from winter and the bears are fattening up again, just like they always do. Lupine will bloom in the sagebrush meadows beside Antelope Flats Road. And, soon, osprey parents will coax babies out of nests high off the valley floor and teach them to dive and fish. Whether the stock market goes up or down, the never-ending cycle of birth, growth, and hibernation assures us that many truly important things remain unchanged.

Nature's enduring quality is only one of many reasons Foundation members are dedicated to protecting the park's wild spaces. Gifts, large or small, benefit Grand Teton. Your support preserves critical wildlife and quiet beauty, helping us all experience nature's promise that sunnier days are always on the horizon.

Leslie Mattson
President

P.S. Be sure to check out the National Parks: America's Best Idea, a six-episode series directed by Kens Burns and written and co-produced by Dayton Duncan. The series is coming to PBS on September 27th. For more information, visit www.pbs.org