Message from President Leslie Mattson

Lately, I’ve been intrigued by good ideas that spread in a multitude of directions. The Foundation is an example of this—we were formed to build the visitor center but that one monumental undertaking branched into a wealth of projects and thousands of supporters.

When visitor center donors wanted to do more, funding was directed to wildlife research, allowing park biologists to significantly contribute to the knowledge building within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The information not only benefits this region, but it informs national decisions and helps other biologists who are facing similar challenges around the world.

Our donors also believed that pairing teens with the outdoors would be a worthy concept to support. Their gifts brought the first youth crew into the park to work on trails and learn about conservation in 2006. This project led to a flourishing multicultural program that is helping Grand Teton attract a young, diverse audience. Addressing diversity challenges sparked this spring’s NPS Academy, a career prep initiative that introduces college students to jobs at national parks. Mary Gibson Scott talks about this incredible effort in her column, but the exciting takeaway is that the academy is already poised to expand well beyond Grand Teton’s borders.

And, finally, one of the best developments this year is that we have been able to leverage your private sector dollars to help the park receive federal grants, which doubled funding for important youth and wildlife programs during a time of significant budget cuts.

Your gifts to the Foundation often reach farther than we ever expect. They bring your favorite programs to life, but they also lead to opportunities we never imagined and touch many people along the way. Thank you for supporting our work in the park; we can’t wait to see how it grows!

Leslie’s column

I continue to be fascinated by the people I meet when I travel around the country. They care deeply about Grand Teton and a trip to Wyoming is their ultimate escape; the place where they can truly catch their breath before tackling life again. I’ve lived a few miles from the park for nearly twenty years, and like so many of the local park lovers I know, I’m still struck by Grand Teton’s incredible appeal. For everyone who dreams about the next good hike or the park’s stunning scenery during the morning commute, these mountains provide some of the best moments life has to offer.

One of my favorite park friends lived on the East Coast for most of the year but always had her heart firmly planted in the Tetons. Deborah Howell passed away last winter, and I thought of her and her husband often this summer as I explored the trails they’d hiked together. She was an amazing woman who thrived on reporting a good story, and she will long be revered in the newspaper world. Deborah remembered the Foundation in her will; her presence and kindness will be felt here, too, for a long time to come.


Estate planning is one of many ways our donors are assuring the park will have a bright future and its unique features will be accessible for everyone. In the six years I’ve been with the Foundation, I’ve watched our network of friends continue to grow as more people acknowledge the challenges parks face and choose to improve education, trails, and the experience of millions of people. With our most ambitious project coming to an end this spring—the completion of the visitor center—we’ll not only toast the auditorium’s opening, we’ll celebrating the people who love this park. Thank you all for making a difference in Grand Teton!

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