NEWS from the PARKS: John Colter Day to Tell Story of Mtn Man History in JH

Dead Drift Fly Fishing Spring 2016 WLM

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The Colter Stone

John Colter Day to Tell Story of Mountain Man History in Jackson Hole

MOOSE, WY —The annual John Colter Day will be held Monday, June 27, at Colter Bay Visitor Center in Grand Teton National Park. Colter explored the vast Yellowstone country during the winter of 1807-1808, and was likely the first European to ever travel the region. This marks the ninth year that Grand Teton has offered special presentations to highlight the life of John Colter and the mountain men of the 1800s.

John Colter Day highlights include:

Colter Stone Display — June 24-July 5, 2016
This stone—on loan from the Teton Valley Historical Museum in Driggs, Idaho— is a piece of rhyolite lava carved in the shape of a human head and engraved with the name John Colter, and year 1808. Discovered in Tetonia, Idaho in 1933, the stone, if authentic, represents the only solid proof of the route followed by trapper and explorer John Colter. As a member of the famed Lewis and Clark expedition from 1804 to 1806, Colter was given an early discharge from the Corps of Discovery. He set out on his own from a fur traders’ fort in the southern Montana territory and he traveled south to present-day Cody, Wyoming. On his return, he passed through an area that is now part of Yellowstone National Park. A section of his journey may have brought him through Jackson Hole, over Teton Pass, and along the western slope of the Tetons.

Presentations at Colter Bay Visitor Center — June 27, 2016

11:00 a.m. – The Story of the Colter Stone
Ranger Naturalist Dan Greenblatt will detail the legend and history of this fascinating artifact.

2:30 p.m. – John Colter: Mountain Man Superhero
Dr. Barbara Mueller, professor of anthropology at Casper College, will discuss the life of John Colter, widely considered to be the first mountain man of the American West.

5:30 p.m. –The Story of Sacagewea
Local author, historian and storyteller, Ken Thomasma, will talk about Sacagewea, a Shoshone woman who accompanied the Lewis and Clark expedition across the western United States from 1804-1806.

7:00 p.m. – Mountain Man of Jackson Hole
Ranger Naturalist Andrew Langford will re-create the rugged life of a mountain man, enduring brutal winters and physical dangers in the unmapped West during the 1800s.

9:00 p.m. – Run for Your Life: Then and Now
Dr. Barbara Mueller, professor of anthropology, will discuss historic adventures.

For more information about the Colter Day events, please call the Colter Bay Visitor Center at 307.739.3594.

FROM THE PARKS: Fourth Graders Welcome at GTNP!

 

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Grand Teton National Park Welcomes Fourth-Grade Students

New Program Encourages Families and Classes to Visit National Parks

MOOSE, WY — Grand Teton National Park invites all fourth-grade students to visit the park for free as part of the White House’s new Every Kid in a Park program. Fourth-grade students can visit https://www.everykidinapark.gov/ to complete an activity and obtain a voucher for a free annual entry pass to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas and lands, including national parks.

Grand Teton National Park Superintendent David Vela said, “We invite all fourth graders and their families, as well as fourth-grade classes, to the park to discover, learn and have fun.” Vela said one of the goals of the program is to connect young people with the great outdoors.

To receive a voucher for their free pass for national parks, fourth graders can visit the Every Kid in a Park website and play a game to access their special voucher. Fourth graders and their families can then obtain a pass for free entry to national parks and other federal public lands and waters across the country from now through August 31, 2016.  The website also includes fun and engaging learning activities aligned to educational standards, trip planning tools, safety and packing tips and other important and helpful information for educators and parents.

In addition to providing every fourth grader in America a free entry pass for national parks and federal public lands and waters, fourth grade educators, youth group leaders and their students can participate in the program through field trips and other learning experiences.

Grand Teton National Park offers a “Weather Wonders” snow science field trip for fourth-grade classes and geology field trips in the fall and spring.  The distance-learning program “Snow Desk” broadcasts live to schools around the country during the winter.

Park personnel will be at Colter Elementary in Jackson Hole to share information at the fourth-grade parents’ night on Wednesday, September 16 from 6-7 p.m. Other schools and fourth-grade teachers that are interested in the program should contact Megan Kohli at grte_education@nps.gov or call 307-739-3656.

Information about additional educational opportunities with Grand Teton National Park such as curriculum materials, field trips, traveling trunks, distance learning and more is available at http://www.nps.gov/grte/learn/education/for-teachers.htm.

The goal of the Every Kid in a Park program is to connect fourth graders with the great outdoors and inspire them to become future environmental stewards, ready to preserve and protect national parks and other public lands for years to come.  The program is an important part of the National Park Service’s centennial celebration in 2016, which encourages everyone to Find Your Park.

Every Kid in a Park is a government-wide effort, launched by President Obama, and supported by eight federal agencies, including the National Park Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of Education, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

WY Beef Summer WLM 2015

 

NEWS FROM THE PARKS: Nuisance Black Bear with Cub Captured & Relocated to Zoo

Nuisance Black Bear with Cub Captured & Relocated to Zoo

From National Park Service

MOOSE, WY — On Wednesday afternoon, August 19, Grand Teton National Park biologists captured a female black bear and her cub that on numerous occasions acquired human food items left unattended by visitors to the String, Leigh, and Jenny Lake areas.  Due to a long history of nuisance behavior, this bear and her cub were removed from the park and relocated to the Great Plains Zoo in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Saturday, August 22. The decision to remove the bears from the park was made out of concern for public safety.

On Friday afternoon, August 14, park rangers hazed the adult black bear away from the String Lake picnic area. The two bears then ventured into the Teton backcountry where, later that weekend, the mother black bear was photographed tearing into a backpack and stomping on a tent at a backcountry campsite in her search for food.

Once captured, the female was identified as one that has gotten into coolers, backpacks, picnics, trash bags, and tote bags in search of human food on 17 occasions between 2012 and 2014. This behavior indicated the bear had become conditioned to associate humans with food. She was teaching her young cub that same undesirable behavior. Park managers welcomed the opportunity to relocate both of these bears to the same zoo as the alternative would have likely included separation of the cub from its mother and euthanization of the adult.

It is worth noting that failure by park visitors—including local residents—to properly secure food items and other scented items led to this action to remove the bears from their native habitat. This female bear has repeatedly gotten into backpacks and coolers left unattended by people who were swimming and picnicking in the String Lake and Leigh Lake areas.

In the past three years, park staff have seen numerous food storage violations by visitors using the String Lake beaches and picnic areas. People have left unsecured food items unattended while they enjoy wading, swimming, and boating on String Lake, and there have been many reports of black bears receiving human food. Because of this pattern of careless food storage, park officials are considering management actions including a prohibition against food items in this area.

Although cliché, it is too often true that a fed bear is a dead bear. A human food-conditioned female black bear was euthanized in mid-June out of concern for public safety after it climbed into the trunk of a vehicle and attempted to enter cabins at Jenny Lake Lodge. Fortunately, this newly captured black bear and her cub will not suffer that same fate. However, placement of wild bears in zoos is not always a viable option, and park visitors must realize that careless actions can lead to the death of bears that have been corrupted by human food. Once a bear acquires human food, it loses its fear of people and may become dangerous. Human carelessness doesn’t just endanger people; it can also result in a bear’s death.

Park officials strongly remind local residents and visitors that proper storage of food items and disposal of garbage is vitally important. With simple actions, people can help keep a bear from becoming human food-conditioned and possibly save its life. Detailed information about how to behave in bear country is available at park visitor centers and online at www.nps.gov/grte.

NEWS FROM THE PARKS: Caution Floating the Snake

WY Beef Summer WLM 2015

Rangers Caution Visitors Floating the Snake River Between Deadman’s Bar and Moose Landing

MOOSE, WY Grand Teton National Park / National Park Service — After a recent spate of incidents on the stretch of the Snake River between Deadman’s Bar and Moose Landing, Grand Teton National Park Rangers are cautioning boaters to choose segments of river that are appropriate for their experience and ability level. Rangers have conducted rescues on the Snake River near the Bar BC Ranch for five separate parties since August 1, 2015. Though nobody was seriously injured in the incidents, the consequences of such accidents on the Snake River can be catastrophic.

Though the Snake River in Grand Teton National Park does not consist of any whitewater, it is a complex and unpredictable braided river. A strong current, shifting channels, numerous logjams, eddies, and snags all combine to make floating the Snake a challenging proposition.  These obstacles often require floaters to set up maneuvers well in advance, and inexperienced pilots often make maneuvers too late.

A raft hung up on a snag in the Snake River near Bar BC Ranch. National Park Service Photo.
A raft hung up on a snag in the Snake River near Bar BC Ranch. National Park Service Photo.

Rangers have assigned difficulty levels to the various stretches of river in the park. The section from Deadman’s Bar to Moose Landing, where all of the recent incidents have occurred, is rated “advanced.” In all five incidents, the parties involved likely did not possess appropriate skill and experience to be floating an advanced section of river. Good alternative river segments include Pacific Creek Landing to Deadman’s Bar (rated “intermediate”) and Jackson Lake Dam to Pacific Creek Landing (rated “beginner”).

The five incidents fortunately did not result in significant injuries to those involved. However, the incidents did result in several minor injuries, damaged equipment, and in one case a destroyed vessel. The five parties were respectively operating a canoe, a kayak, a raft, and two drift boats. Some of the visitors involved were local residents. In some cases, the parties were able to self-rescue and were floated to safety by rangers. In others, rangers rescued the visitors hung-up on obstructions using swift water rescue techniques. Grand Teton Lodge Company and Triangle X river guides assisted with two of the rescues.

Rangers urge all visitors planning to float the Snake River to select their river segment based on an accurate assessment of their group’s ability level. River information can be obtained at all park visitor centers. Both a park boat permit and a State of Wyoming Aquatic Invasive Species (AIS) decal are required before launching on any park waters. Additionally, all watercraft entering the park are subject to an AIS inspection when checkpoints are operating.

NEWS FROM THE PARKS: Ride Menor’s Ferry at Grand Teton National Park

WY Beef Summer WLM 2015

FROM GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK:  Ride Menor’s Ferry & Experience Early Method of River Crossing on the Snake

MOOSE, WY — Ever wondered how Jackson Hole’s early settlers crossed the Snake River before bridges? Beginning Monday, July 20, visitors can take a ride on a replica ferry boat and experience crossing the Snake in the same fashion provided by Bill Menor through his routine ferry service of the late 1800s and early 1900s. Park ranger naturalists will offer free rides daily from 9:00–10:15 a.m. and 1:15–2:15 p.m., as well as before and after the ranger-led program, “A Walk into the Past,” that occurs each day at 2:30 p.m.  Call 307.739.3399 for additional operation times.

The wooden ferry boat serves as a central feature of the Menor/Noble Historic District, located just north of the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Grand Teton National Park.  Ferry rides transport visitors across the Snake River from Menor’s general store on the west bank of the river to Dornan’s on the east bank—and back.

 

Menors Ferry July 2015

Menor’s Ferry consists of a wooden platform deck placed upon two pontoons for flotation. The ferry is tethered to a cable system that spans the river and operates by directing the pontoons toward the opposite riverbank, allowing the power of the current to push the craft across the river channel. The system uses river power—rather than motor power—to push the ferry across the water. This type of river travel existed in ancient times and was widely used throughout the United States.

Menor’s Ferry played a vital role in providing safe transport for passengers over the swift-flowing Snake River before construction of a bridge. Prior to the ferry’s existence, the Snake River was essentially impassable from Wilson to Moran—except during low water periods in the fall and winter months. As a man of vision, Bill Menor saw the need for a more convenient access across the Snake River and consequently built and operated his ferry from 1894 until 1918 when he sold it to Maud Noble. Maud operated the ferry until 1927 when its use became obsolete after a steel truss bridge was constructed across the river, allowing for vehicles and foot traffic to cross without the assistance of a ferry service.

Although transportation has changed over time, Menor’s Ferry offers a chance to step back into the past and experience a bygone time and historic mode of river passage.

 

  Menors Ferry July 2015 2

Menors Ferry July 2015 3

From the Parks: Two Temp Exhibits Celebrate Wyoming at Natl Elk Refuge

 CLICK HERE & READ OUR NEW ISSUE ONLINE!

 

WY Beef Summer WLM 2015

A reproduction of Rock Springs' Andrew Kneeland's Duck Stamp award-winning acrylic painting.
A reproduction of Rock Springs’ Andrew Kneeland’s Duck Stamp award-winning acrylic painting.

Two temporary exhibits will be on display next month at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, located at 532 N. Cache Street in Jackson. The public is invited to view the colorful exhibits, which celebrate Wyoming successes.

From the National Elk Refuge … The first exhibit commemorates the 125th anniversary of Wyoming statehood. Wyoming became the 44th state admitted to the Union on July 10, 1890. An interactive display will give visitors an opportunity to learn more about the state’s history and fun facts. Both a Wyoming and National Elk Refuge time line will be featured, along with coloring sheets, state logos, and a Wyoming quiz. Small Wyoming flags will be given to the first 200 families that visit the exhibit, which will be in the upstairs theater from July 2 through July 12.

Later in the month, visitor center staff will add a second exhibit to the upper level of the visitor center. The Wyoming Junior Duck Stamp 2015 Artwork Tour for the Top 100 entries and National Best in Show will move from its current location at the Campbell County Public Library in Gillette to the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center from July 9 through August 2.The exhibit features an acrylic painting of two wood ducks by Andrew Kneeland, age 17, of Rock Springs. Not only was Kneeland awarded top honors in the state competition, but his artwork was judged the winner among best–of–show entries from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. His design will appear on next year’s Federal Junior Duck Stamp, scheduled to be released in June 2016.

The Junior Duck Stamp Conservation and Design Program is a dynamic educational program that uses both conservation and design principles to teach wetland habitat and waterfowl biology to students from kindergarten through high school. The program incorporates both scientific and wildlife management principles into an engaging visual arts curriculum. At the completion of their studies, participants complete a Junior Duck Stamp design, which is submitted to a state or territory contest. Top entries move on to the national competition.

 

Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center hours are from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm.

 

ART IN WYOMING: Sheridan Photography Show, Grand Teton Native American Arts, WYOmericana Caravan, Lander Art Center features Wyoming Art Party

With This Ring 2015

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First Juried Photography Poster May 2015

SHERIDAN:  FIRST ANNUAL JURIED PHOTOGRAPHY SHOW, SAGEBRUSH ART CENTER

Sagebrush Art Center is pleased to host its First Annual Juried Photography Show this May.  Juried by well-known photographer Adam Jahiel, the exhibition features 38 photos by 30 local and regional photographers, and will run May 4th-May 30th.  The reception & awards ceremony takes place May 15th, from 5-7pm.  The reception is open to the public; wine and hors d’oeuvres will be served.

The Sagebrush Art Center is located in the Historic Train Depot at 201 E. 5th street in Sheridan, Wyoming.  Summer hours begin in May: Tuesday-Saturday, 10-5 pm.  Operated by SAGE (Sheridan Artists’ Guild, Et, al), the art center also houses a Member Gallery.  The Sagebrush hosts a variety of classes in several mediums, including 2-hour painting workshops for beginners of all ages.

This project is supported in part by a grant from the Wyoming Arts Council, through funding from the Wyoming State Legislature and the National Endowment for the Arts.

 

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LANDER:  An exhibition of the Wyoming Art Party

Lander, WY- The Lander Art Center is pleased to present “A Portrait of Wyoming” a collaborative art project by The Wyoming Art Party featuring the work of 38 Wyoming artists, writers and craft folk. This traveling exhibition will open its Lander showing on Friday, May 22 from 6-8pm at the Lander Art Center. This reception is free and open to the public.

The Wyoming Art Party is an organization started by two local Laramie artists, June Glasson and Meg Thompson, whose mission is to organize art projects and shows that connect individuals, scattered throughout Wyoming, who work in different regions, disciplines (fine arts, writing, music, craft) and from different backgrounds, with the aim of creating work that truly represents art in Wyoming as it is, rather than as it is thought to be.

For this show the participants where invited to create a “Portrait of Wyoming” in whatever medium they chose. They were then paired with another artist whom they would trade pieces with and finish each other’s piece. The aim was to connect individuals from across the state who don’t usually work together and to encourage artists to create something outside their day to day work. The heart of this project is collaboration.

Exhibition on display from May 22 – July 4, 2015.

 

WYOMericana 2015

CHEYENNE:  WYOmericana Concert May 30, Atlas Theater

We’re always excited to promote this fabulous, annual summer concert series featuring Wyoming artists! Check out their full schedule, and the Cheyenne event, May 30 at the Atlas Theater!

GRAND TETON NATIONAL PARK:  AMERICAN INDIAN SUMMER ART PROGRAM ANNOUNCED

MOOSE, WY —For the past 40 years, artisans from diverse American Indian tribes have demonstrated their traditional and contemporary art forms in Grand Teton National Park. This annual program provides visitors a chance to gain greater appreciation and understanding of American Indian cultures that are still alive and active today.

 

Participating artists demonstrate and share the cultural traditions of their tribes through art forms such as painting, weaving, pottery, beadwork, and musical instruments. Guest artists exhibit daily during open hours at the Colter Bay Visitor Center. Artists also offer their finished items for purchase. The 2015 schedule includes:

May 9 – 25 Debbie & Willy LaMere Shoshone/Bannock Beadwork & Flint Knapping
May 26 – June 1 Jola LaBeau Eastern Shoshone Beadwork & Other Crafts
June 2 – 8 Amanda Coby Shoshone/Bannock Beadwork
June 9 – 15 Ted Moran S’Klallam Northwest Coastal Carving
June 16 – 22 Kelly Looking Horse Lakota Sioux Drums, Antler & Hide items
June 23 – 29 Guillermo Martinez Tarascan-Apache Handmade Flutes & Drums
June 30 – July 6 Gale Self Choctaw Silver & Turquoise Jewelry
July 7 – 13 Andrea Two Bulls Oglala Sioux Beadwork & Painting
July 14 – 20 Monte Yellowbird Arikara/Hidatsa Ledger Art
July 21 – 27 Lovey Two Bulls Oglala Sioux Beadwork, Jewelry, Artwork
July 28 – August 3 DG House Cherokee Painting & Printmaking
August 4 – 10 Paul Hacker Choctaw Ledger Art, Knives, Flutes
August 11 – 17 Debbie & Willy LaMere Shoshone/Bannock Beadwork & Flint Knapping
August 18 – 24 Jola LaBeau Eastern Shoshone Beadwork & Other Crafts
August 25 – 31 Juan & Josie Broncho Shoshone/Paiute Beadwork
September 1– 7 Nancy Nacki & Clyde Hall Shoshone/Bannock Beadwork, Silver & Pottery
September 8 – 14 DG House Cherokee Painting & Printmaking
September 15 – 21 Maynard White Owl Nez Perce/Cayuse Beadwork
September 22 – 28 Andrea Two Bulls Oglala Sioux Beadwork & Painting
Sept. 29 – Oct. 12 Debbie & Willy LaMere Shoshone/Bannock Beadwork & Flint Knapping

 

FROM THE PARKS: Migratory Bird Day

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2015credit – Grand Teton National Park

 

Come Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day, May 9

 

MOOSE, WY —Visitors and local residents are invited to celebrate International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD)  at Grand Teton National Park by joining a bird-watching caravan on Saturday, May 9th. Park Ranger Andrew Langford will visit several park areas that provide the best opportunities to locate, identify, and record birds as part of the annual North American bird count and annual IMBD observance.

Anyone interested in birds is welcome. The bird-watching excursion begins at 8 a.m. from the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose and finishes by 4 p.m. at Christian Pond by Jackson Lake Lodge. This public activity is free and reservations are not required. Participants of the IMBD activity are reminded that park entrance stations are open; therefore a park pass is required for travel through any fee station.

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.

The 2015 IMBD theme, “Restore Habitat, Restore Birds,” focuses on the loss and degradation of bird habitats around the world. Urbanization and climate change are two of the primary threats to bird populations. To foster conservation efforts, IMBD suggests ways to get involved in habitat restoration projects at home, in communities, and further afield. Each habitat illustrated on the 2015 IMBD poster provides a colorful view of the places migratory birds seek for nesting, wintering, or as stopover sites during migration. Grand Teton National Park provides critical habitat for a host of migratory birds, as well as year-round species. The arrival each spring of sandhill cranes, mountain bluebirds, western tanagers, meadow larks and other charismatic and fascinating birds brings delight to park visitors and local bird watchers alike.

As always, the annual theme is relevant to host organizations and participants throughout the world. Participation in Grand Teton’s IMBD tour offers a chance to learn about the benefits of birds and their unique contribution to the health and beauty of the natural areas in northwestern Wyoming.

Observed each year in May to support avian conservation, IMBD serves as the hallmark outreach event for Partners in Flight—an international conservation program with a goal to reverse dwindling populations of migratory birds by bringing attention to factors that contribute to worldwide declines.

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. To learn more about the IMBD organization, go to http://www.migratorybirdday.org/

ARTS in WY: Plein Air in Wyoming

Bighorn National Forest Plein Air Celebration of Wildflowers

From June  25-28, the first Bighorn National Forest Plein Air Celebrations of Wildflowers was held at Spear O Wigwam, Mountain Campus in the Bighorn Mountains.  The spring wildflowers were spectacular and all were inspired.

The Powder River Energy Best Artist of the Workshop $400 Cash Award was presented to Gayle Barnett a watercolor artist from Meeteetse, Wyoming.

The Hospital Pharmacy, Daily Best  Awards of $125 each, were presented to:  Ruth Beckwith of Sheridan, Sally Labore of Sheridan,  Maya Gilmore of Sheridan and Gayle Barnett of Meeteetse.

Next year’s event will be held June 22, – 26, 2015 — All you artists out there, carve out time for this in your summer!

The four Hospital Pharmacy, Daily Best Award winners -- Ruth Beckwith, Sally Labore, Maya Gilmore and Gayle Barnett
The four Hospital Pharmacy, Daily Best Award winners — Ruth Beckwith, Sally Labore, Maya Gilmore and Gayle Barnett

Professional Artists to Capture Teton Scenery & Wildlife at Annual ‘Plein Air for the Park’

MOOSE, WY — Grand Teton National Park will serve as both the inspiration and location for the third annual ‘Plein Air for the Park’ fine art exhibition co-hosted by Grand Teton Association (GTA) and the Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters. Over 40 professional artists from across the United States will spend two weeks (July 7-20) painting in the park, as they capture on canvas the spectacular Teton landscape, wildlife and wildflowers.  All sessions/events are free and open to the public.

The ‘Plein Air for the Park’ event and art sale will include an opening reception on Wednesday, July 16, at 7 p.m.  in the Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center at Moose, Wyoming. A fine art show and sale will take place from July 16-20, also at the Discovery Center. The two-week-long event will culminate with a quick draw at 9 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, in the Menor’s Ferry Historic District. Park visitors and local residents are invited to watch paintings created from start-to-finish. All paintings may be purchased for a fixed-price immediately following the quick draw.

Plein air artist Wes Newton_2012 Quick Draw
Plein air artist Wes Newton_2012 Quick Draw

Forty percent of the proceeds from sales made during ‘Plein Air for the Park’ will benefit GTA and help fund  ongoing educational, interpretive and scientific programs in support of Grand Teton National Park.

“We look forward to welcoming the Rocky Mountain Plein Air Painters who will share their creative and artistic talents with our park visitors throughout much of July,” said Grand Teton National Park Superintendent David Vela. “This free public event offers a unique opportunity to glimpse the power, beauty, and inspiration of the Teton landscape through the eyes of an artist.”

 

2014 EVENT SCHEDULE:
For complete information visit  
www.pleinairforthepark.org

JULY 7-19:
Artists paint in and around Grand Teton National Park and Jackson Hole.

 

SATURDAY, JULY 12:
Artists in the Environment Demonstration
3 –  6 PM:  Bradley/Taggart parking area & Cottonwood Creek picnic area

 

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16:
Full exhibition opens to the public.  Reserve works will be available for viewing and purchase.
12 Noon:  Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Center
7 – 9 PM:  Gala Opening Reception
7:45 PM:  Announcement of Awards

 

THURSDAY, JULY 17:
Group Painting Demonstration
5 – 8 PM: Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Area Visitor Center, North Cache Street in Jackson

 

SATURDAY, JULY 19:
Quick Draw & Sale
9 AM – 12 Noon:  Menor’s Ferry Historic District/Chapel of the Transfiguration. Sale immediately following.

 

ART IN WYOMING: Plein Air Elk Refuge, The Culture Trip Visits Cheyenne, GTNP Art, Laramie Mural Project

Click the image at left for tickets, info, schedule & more for our Food & Photo Festival, May 30 & 31 in Laramie!

 

Plein Air Painters at Natl Elk Refuge Visitor Center May 13

A group of painters will use the backdrop of the National Elk Refuge as artistic inspiration on Tuesday, May 13, giving visitors an opportunity to watch and ask questions as the artists create their works.

The artists are part of the Teton Plein Air Painters, a group of artists who meet once a week from May – October in the Teton environs. Starting with two people during the summer of 2012, the group now has a communication list of over seventy. Typically, three to ten people are onsite to paint, referencing the landscape for motifs. Art mediums include oil, acrylic, watercolor, and pen and ink.

The group will spread out in the area of the visitor center, located at 532 N. Cache Street in Jackson. Weather permitting, likely locations will include the visitor center lawn, the covered upper deck of the facility, and the remote viewing deck across the lawn next to the wetlands area. Current visitor center hours are from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, but visitors are welcome to stroll through the grounds after hours to enjoy the art session.

En plein air is a French expression which means “in the open air” and is used to describe painting done in an outdoor setting. The artists paint natural light, using color to define form. Depending on the light and weather, plein air paintings are generally done in one session. Artists may add final touches to their work once back in the studio. For additional information on the Teton Plein Air Painters and Tuesday’s session, contact Bobbi Miller, Facilitator, at 307 / 543 2910.

Artful Hand Gallery

Cheyenne’s 10 Contemporary Art Galleries: Wyoming Art Guide on The Culture Trip

Click the title above to connect with The Culture Trip and their review of contemporary art galleries in Cheyenne. They write, “Though Wyoming is known for its rural landscapes and cowboy character, its capital, Cheyenne, named for the Native American people of the Great Plains, is culturally diverse and heavily populated. We examine the budding cultural scene of this Western state with a look at the top ten galleries in its largest city.”

Grand Teton National Park: American Indian Guest Artists 2014 Program in Grand Teton National Park

Provided by Grand Teton National Park

MOOSE, WY —For the past 39 years, artisans from diverse American Indian tribes have demonstrated their traditional and contemporary art forms in Grand Teton National Park. This annual program provides visitors a chance to gain greater appreciation and understanding of Indian cultures that are still alive and active today.

Participating artists demonstrate and share the cultural traditions of their tribes through art forms such as painting, weaving, pottery, beadwork, and musical instruments. Guest artists exhibit daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Colter Bay Visitor Center. Artists also offer their finished items for purchase.

May 11 – 26 Debbie & Willy LaMere Shoshone Beadwork & Flint Knapping
May 27 – June 2 Amanda Coby Shoshone Beadwork & Weaving
June 3 – 9 Kelly Looking Horse Lakota Sioux Drums, Antler & Hide Items
June 10 – 16 Guillermo Martinez Tarascan-Apache Handmade Flutes & Drums
June 17 – 23 Kelly Looking Horse Lakota Sioux Drums, Antler & Hide items
June 24 – 30 Ted Moran S’Klallam Northwest Coastal Carving
July 1 – 7 DG House Cherokee Painting & Printmaking
July 8 – 14 Andrea Two Bulls Oglala Sioux Beadwork & Painting
July 15 – 21 Monte Yellowbird Arikara/ Hidatsa Ledger Art
July 22 – 28 Gale Self Choctaw Silver & Turquoise Jewelry
July 29 – August 4 Lovey Two Bulls Oglala Sioux Beadwork, Jewelry & Art Work
August 5 – 11 Debbie & Willy LaMere Shoshone Beadwork & Flint Knapping
August 12 – 18 Paul Hacker Choctaw Ledger Art, Knives & Flutes
August 19 – 25 Jola LaBeau Eastern Shoshone Beadwork & Other Crafts
August 26 – Sept.  1 Josie Broncho Shoshone/Paiute Beadwork
September 2 – 8 Nancy Nacki & Clyde Hall Shoshone Beadwork, Silver & Pottery
September 9 – 15 Maynard White Owl Nez Perce/ Cayuse Beadwork
September 16 – 22 DG House Cherokee Painting & Printmaking
September 23 – 29 Guillermo Martinez  Tarascan-Apache  Handmade Flutes & Drums
Sept. 30 – Oct. 13 Debbie and Willy LaMere Shoshone Beadwork & Flint Knapping

Laramie Main Street Alliances Downtown Mural Project Naming Contest

Join the Laramie Main Street Alliance in celebrating the fourth year of the Laramie Mural Project!

Now through the end of June, take a selfie with your favorite mural and post it to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram using hashtag #laramiemural for a chance to win mural themed merchandise!

Then, visit the artists painting behind Altitude (starting next week) and suggest a name for our new mural! You can post your suggestions to our Facebook page, “Downtown Laramie” or email them to downtownlaramie@gmail.com.

Suggestions will be compiled by the artists and the top three will be posted the first week of June with voting opened up to the public. The name will be announced at our dedication party for the mural on Friday, June 13th from 5 to 7 p.m. behind Altitude Chophouse, 320 S. 2nd Street.

For more information about the Laramie Mural Project, visit: www.laramiemuralproject.org or call 307-760-3355.

NEWS FROM THE PARKS: Junior Ranger Day April 26

National Park Week begins Saturday, April 19, making this a wonderful time for an early season getaway to experience the wonders of Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Visitors can participate in special National Junior Ranger Day programs on Saturday, April 26. Join us for fun and free activities for the whole family, starting this weekend.

The theme for this year’s National Park Week invites visitors to Go Wild! for history, nature, culture, wildlife, and fun in America’s national parks. “National Park Week is a great time to discover the diverse wildlife, iconic landscapes, vibrant culture, and rich history found in our national parks,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “Every park offers a different experience so I invite everyone to join the celebration and get to know a park.”

The entry fee for a private, non-commercial vehicle to Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks normally costs $25 for seven days.

National Park Week wraps up with a celebration of National Junior Ranger Day on Saturday, April 26. Free events will take place at the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center (CTDVC) in Moose and children who participate in at least three of the activities will earn a Junior Ranger badge or patch. From 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., families can explore rescue vehicles and equipment used in park operations including fire engines, ranger patrol cars and snowplows. Visitors are also invited to:  participate in physical games testing their skills in an obstacle course; compete against the natural abilities of wildlife in Animal Olympic Games; listen to tales about Grand Teton in the story corner; touch animal furs, feathers and bones or dress up in a real ranger uniform; and spring into fitness with St. John’s Medical Center Wellness Services staff.  Bird handlers from the Teton Raptor Center will be present from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to provide information and demonstrations with live birds of prey.

Junior Ranger Day is made possible in part with funding by the park’s long-time partner Grand Teton Association (GTA), who will offer a 15 percent discount in the CTDVC bookstore. Participants can buy educational materials, books and other merchandise like videos, posters, and plush animals by using this special discount.

Thanks to the GTA, free shuttles will also be available to transport families from Jackson to the CTDVC for the Junior Ranger Day events. Space on the shuttles will be limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.

For more information about Junior Ranger Day activities or about the free shuttle service, please call the CTDVC at 307.739.3399.

Additional information about National Park Week, including a list of nationwide events can be found online at www.nationalparkweek.org.

Opening dates for seasonally operated facilities and roads in Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway are as follows: 

Roads

 

Teton Park Road May 1
Moose-Wilson After snow melt—date to be determined (TBD)
Grassy Lake Road June 1; remaining snow drifts may limit access
Signal Mountain Summit TBD

 

Paved multi-use pathways will be fully accessible for use once the snow melts naturally.

 

Visitor Centers & Ranger Stations

 

Craig Thomas Discovery & Visitor Ctr. Open
Colter Bay Visitor Center May 10
Jenny Lake Visitor Center May 16
Laurance S. Rockefeller (LSR) Preserve Center May 31
Flagg Ranch Information Station June 2
Jenny Lake Ranger Station June 6

 

Campgrounds

 

Gros Ventre May 2
Signal Mountain May 9
Jenny Lake May 9
Colter Bay May 22
Colter Bay RV Park May 22
Headwaters Campground & RV Sites June 1
Lizard Creek June 13

 

All backcountry camping permits cost $25, whether advanced reservation or walk-in. Backcountry reservations may be made until May 15 with an additional $10 fee for advanced booking. Reservations can be made online at Recreation.gov. After May 15, all backcountry site permits are issued on a first-come, first-served basis.

 

Lodging

 

Signal Mountain Lodge May 9
Jackson Lake Lodge May 19
Colter Bay Cabins May 22
Triangle X Ranch May 25
Jenny Lake Lodge June 1
Headwaters Lodge at Flagg Ranch June 1

Entrance Stations

 

The Moose, Moran and Granite Canyon entrance stations are open. Fee options include:
$ 12 for a 7-day permit to enter by foot/bicycle into Grand Teton & Yellowstone national parks

$20 for a 7-day permit to enter by motorcycle into Grand Teton & Yellowstone national parks

$25 for a 7-day permit to enter by vehicle into Grand Teton & Yellowstone national parks

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

$80 for an Interagency Annual Pass valid for one year entry to

all fee areas on 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.  An automated self-serve machine is located on the multi-use pathway adjacent to the Moose Entrance Station. People traveling on the pathway by foot, bike, or rollerblade will be required to stop and pay $12 for a 7-day entry permit, or have a valid pass in possession.

 

Personal identification is required with any pass that requires a signature.

 

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, or call 307.739.3300.

 

NEWS FROM THE PARKS: Teton Park Road Now Open for Non-Motorized Spring Season Activities

Teton Park Road Now Open for Non-Motorized Spring Season Activities

images by Grand Teton National Park — taken from the Mount Moran scenic turnout on the Teton Park Road in GTNP — April 2, 2014

Grand Teton National Park road crews cut through the deep snowpack on the Teton Park Road between the Taggart Lake parking area and Signal Mountain Lodge—a distance of 15 miles— and completed this portion of the annual spring plowing on Friday, April 4. The Teton Park Road has now melted down to pavement and is currently open to non-motorized recreation such as walking, roller-blading, and biking. However, road crews are still in the process of clearing the Jenny Lake scenic loop road, as well as other auxiliary roads and wayside areas.

Because the annual snow removal operations are still underway, anyone using the Teton Park Road for springtime recreation must be alert for and be prepared for sharing the road with heavy equipment, large trucks, and other park vehicles that will regularly travel this roadway as the spring opening continues. As a safety precaution, visitors to this area must stay at least 500 feet back from the large rotary snow removal equipment at work.

The annual plowing of the Teton Park Road is a process that can take several weeks to complete, depending on the depth and consistency of the snowpack. Due to the exceptionally deep and dense snowpack this year, snow removal on just the principal Teton Park Road has taken the better part of two weeks. Still, springtime visitors can look forward to access on this park road for more than three weeks before it opens for the summer travel season.

The Teton Park Road will open again to private vehicle use on Thursday, May 1, 2014. Visitors are reminded that dogs are permitted on the Teton Park Road. Owners are required to keep pets on a leash no longer than six feet in length, and are required to use waste disposal bags to pick up after their dogs. Mutt Mitt stations are in place at the Taggart Lake parking area.

REMINDER: Bears are now out of hibernation and active again in Grand Teton National Park and the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway. Consequently, park visitors need to be alert for bears and take appropriate precautions when using the Teton Park Road and other park areas. Visitors should exercise common sense and good judgment, stay alert, and follow these recommended safety tips while biking, hiking or spring skiing:

• Make noise

• Travel in a group of three or more

• Carry bear spray and know how to use it

• Maintain a 100-yard distance from bears at all times

• Never approach a bear under any circumstances People should also report any bear sightings or sign to the nearest visitor center or ranger station. Timely reporting will help park staff to provide important safety messages about bear activity to other visitors.

Liberty Lausterer: Hitch Your Wagon to the Stars

visit our website & read the new Sprinter 2014 issue!

Our guest blogger, Liberty Lausterer, is back with another introspective look at our square state. Liberty moved to Wyoming within this past year, and offers us her perspective at life in the Cowboy State from a new resident’s eyes.

 

HITCH YOUR WAGON TO THE STARS

Here’s a scary thought. According to Tyler Nordgren, author of Stars Above, Earth Below: Astronomy in the National Parks, 50% of children born this year will never see the Milky Way. I’m no astronomer, but I’d say that’s pretty tragic news.

At a recent talk Nordgren gave at UW, he shared how light pollution is quickly turning the night sky into a rare commodity. We have now entered the era in which families across the U.S. will have to pack their kiddos into a car and drive a lengthy distance to a national park (spending lots of money on gas and lodging and drive-through meals), all so their kids can see the stars. And in some cases (such as Great Smoky Mountains National Park) not even the parks are immune to the devastating effects of light pollution.

The good news is we in Wyoming don’t have many city lights. It’s one of the many things I love about living in a sparsely populated state! But what our children, and our children’s children, will see in the coming generations depends a lot on the choices we make today. From the lights we install in our yards to light up our walkways, to the street lights we approve as communities, the fate of Wyoming’s night sky rests in our hands.

image by Tyler Nordgren

John Muir, the naturalist, said “When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the universe.” My husband and I have stopped turning the front porch light on when we leave for the evening. I guess you could say it’s our small act of gratitude for the gift of this incredible Wyoming sky we share. So hitch your wagon to the stars!

 

 

NEWS FROM THE PARKS: National Elk Refuge Celebration, GTNP Looking for Youth for Summer 2014

Visit our website & read the current issue – Spring 2014 issue will be coming out soon!

image from National Elk Refuge website

National Elk Refuge:  NER to Celebrate the National Wildlife Refuge System

The National Elk Refuge is pleased to offer an opportunity this month to celebrate several significant dates in the history of the National Wildlife Refuge System. From Friday, March 14 through Sunday, March 23, displays and naturalist presentations at the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center will focus on the conservation efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The events listed below will run daily throughout the ten–day celebration and are free of charge. The Visitor Center is located at 532 N. Cache Street in Jackson and is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily.

President Theodore Roosevelt established the nation’s first wildlife refuge on March 14, 1903 at Pelican Island National Bird Reservation in Florida. Since then, the National Wildlife Refuge System has grown into a vast network of habitats that benefits wildlife, provides outstanding outdoor experiences, and protects a healthy environment. To show how large the national wildlife refuge system has grown, National Elk Refuge naturalists will display a large U.S. map in the Jackson Hole & Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center, showing the location of all the refuges (over 560) throughout the country. Visitors will be asked to place a pin on the national wildlife refuge closest to their home. On March 24, the refuge receiving the most pins will be announced on Facebook and Twitter.

Guests can learn more about the establishment of the National Wildlife Refuge System through two displays set up in the small theater located on the top level of the Visitor Center. The first exhibit will be a time line showing significant dates throughout the history of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, along with a brief description of each event. The second display will highlight the 80 year history of the Federal Duck Stamp program. President Franklin Roosevelt signed the Migratory Bird Hunting Stamp Act, popularly known as the Duck Stamp Act, on March 16, 1934. Originally created as a license required for hunting migratory waterfowl, Duck Stamps have a much larger purpose today. They serve as a vital tool for wetland conservation, with 98 cents out of every dollar generated by the sales going directly to purchase or lease wetland habitat within the National Wildlife Refuge System. The sale of stamps is not restricted to hunters; many non–hunters collect the beautiful stamps and purchase them to support wildlife conservation. Refuge naturalists will share images of some of the previous Duck Stamps from throughout the years.

Visitor center staff will run a video entitled “America’s Darling: The Story of Jay N. Ding Darling” continuously during the celebration to honor the conservation achievements of the man that designed the first Federal Duck Stamp. In addition to his Duck Stamp art, Darling authored two books and twice won the Pulitzer Prize for cartooning, in 1923 and again in 1942. He used his satirical pen to promote issues of conservation and to bring national attention to environmental concerns. On Sunday, March 16, naturalists will set up a table with art supplies and reference books outside of the theater, allowing children and adults to design their own Duck Stamp.

More information on the National Wildlife Refuge System can be found at www.fws.gov/refuges/about/index.html. To inquire about the Visitor Center events, please call 307.739.9322.

National Park:  Youth Conservation Program Recruits Wanted!

Grand Teton National Park Recruits for 2014 Youth Conservation Program

MOOSE, WY —Grand Teton National Park is recruiting participants for the 2014 Youth Conservation Program (YCP). Funding for this youth employment opportunity comes from the Grand Teton National Park Foundation through generous contributions by their donors. Applications must be postmarked by March 14, 2014

The YCP is a summer program for high school students, ages 16 to 19. The 2014 program will span ten weeks from June 16 through August 21. This marks the ninth year that Grand Teton has conducted the program, and trail supervisors hope to enroll 15-25 short-term positions during this recruitment period.

Participants must be at least 16 years of age by June 16, and live locally as housing is not provided. Applicants must also be United States citizens and students in good standing. Other qualifications include good team skills, a willingness to learn about Grand Teton National Park and its trail system, and the ability to work at a physically demanding job which may involve lifting 30-40 pounds. Wages for participants in the YCP program are set at approximately $11.00 per hour.

YCP enrollees develop an understanding of National Park Service (NPS) conservation ethics as they assist with critically-needed maintenance and rehabilitation on park trails and pathways. Participants work alongside NPS crew leaders and become familiar with NPS stewardship goals, while learning essential trail maintenance skills. YCP participants will work 30-50% of their time with several of the other park divisions (i.e. Science and Resource Management, Interagency Fire, Interpretation, and Visitor and Resource Protection). Students will also meet experts in all aspects of public lands conservation.

During the course of their day, YCP participants may answer basic visitor questions and serve as ambassadors for the park as they complete project work on some of the most visible, and most impacted, park trails. Most of the work will be focused on projects dealing with rehabilitation of trails and backcountry areas through activities such as brushing, hazard tree removal, and construction of water bars and drainage swales. In addition to the project work, environmental education programs and several recreational opportunities are also offered.

As an extension of their mission to support innovative projects that add value to Grand Teton National Park, the Foundation provides funding for salaries, work boots, work pants, tee-shirts, and free transportation to and from Jackson for YCP participants. For more information about this youth program and how to contribute to future YCP activities, or other Foundation programs, contact Leslie Mattson by email at leslie@gtnpf.org or phone 307.732.0629.

To obtain an application or get further information about the 2014 YCP, please call Stacy Myers in Grand Teton National Park at 307.739.3379, or write to YCP Program, GTNP, Drawer 170, Moose, WY 83012.  Applications are also available online at http://www.nps.gov/grte/supportyourpark/ycp.htm

 

Gain Free Entry into Grand Teton National Park on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

MOOSE, WY — Grand Teton National Park will waive entrance fees on Monday, January 20, 2014 in recognition of the Martin Luther King, Jr. federal holiday. Grand Teton will join the more than 400 other units of the National Park System to acknowledge this special day as part of an effort to encourage families and individuals to visit and experience the wonders of their national parks. The entry fee for a private, non-commercial vehicle to Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks normally costs $25 for seven days.

In addition to waiving entrance fees during this upcoming holiday, Grand Teton will also offer free admission on eight other days throughout 2014. The additional fee-free dates for the calendar year include:

•             February 15-17 (President’s Day weekend)

•             April 19-20 (National Park Week opening weekend)

•             August 25 (National Park Service’s 98th anniversary)

•             September 27 (National Public Lands Day)

•             November 11 (Veterans Day)

Weekend visitors to Grand Teton can enjoy winter activities from auto-touring, wildlife viewing and photography to cross-country skiing, skate skiing and snowshoeing across the snow-covered landscape.  A popular winter trail—that spans the unplowed Teton Park Road from Taggart Lake parking area to Signal Mountain Lodge—is open, and although not machine groomed, it is packed and tracked by previous skiers.

In addition to skiing, photography and wildlife watching, ranger-led snowshoe hikes take place each Tuesday, Friday and Saturday day at 1:30 p.m. from the Taggart Lake parking area. The two-hour guided walks offer an opportunity to learn about snow science and winter ecology. Previous experience is not necessary, and snowshoes are available for a rental fee of $5 for adults and $2 for children, 8 years or older. Reservations are required and can be made at 307.739.3399.

For complete information about winter activities in Grand Teton National Park or the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, go to http://www.nps.gov/grte/parknews/upload/Winter_Guide_14.pdf. Visitors can obtain winter season information about Grand Teton and the JDR Parkway in the following ways:

  •  The park’s website at www.nps.gov/grte.
  • The Jackson Hole and Greater Yellowstone Visitor Center on North Cache Street in Jackson.
  • The park’s information line at 307.739.3399, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday— Saturday.