2017 ANNUAL REPORT

1 Our Mission: The Mission of the Grand Teton Association is to increase public understanding, appreciation, and enjoyment of Grand Teton National Park and the surrounding public lands, through aid to the interpretive, educational, and research programs of these partners.

Celebrating the Past The Grand Teton Association (GTA) was established in 1937 as an important National Park Service partner to support projects and programs that increased public understanding and appreciation of public lands. By inspiring appreciation of the unique natural and cultural features of the area, GTA seeks to instill an understanding that provides an important bridge between visitors and conservation of the environment.

In September of 2017, Grand Teton Association (GTA) celebrated its 80th year in partnership with Grand Teton National Park and almost forty years with the National Elk Refuge and Bridger Teton National Forest. This rich history is reflected in the quality of programs and products that enhance the education and interpretation of our local and regional landscapes. Our board and staff strive for organizational excellence while building on our rich and respected history.

Looking towards the Future Grand Teton Association is now the oldest non-profit in Jackson, Wyoming. With a budget of over $4.1 million dollars, three public land partners, and over a dozen interpretive retail locations with a 15 full-time staff and over 50 seasonal staff, the organization continues to evolve to best support our federal partners.

Another exciting change occurred in February 2018, when April Landale joined GTA as its new Executive Director. With 25 years in non-profit management, leadership, and education, along with well-established agency partnerships, April is well suited to support and lead Grand Teton Association. She brings integrity, proven leadership, and renewed energy to the association.

With a long and successful history, innovative partners, and a committed staff and board, Grand Teton Association looks forward to a busy and successful next year.

Sincerely, Amy Brennan McCarthy Mark Aronowitz GTA Board Co-Chairs

Grand Teton Association is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization and uses tax deductible contributions to support the education, research and interpretation of Grand Teton National Park, Bridger-Teton National Forest and the National Elk Refuge. 2 Grand Teton Association Programs & Events Grand Teton Association supports the Jackson community by participating in a number of local events as well as sponsoring two major events.

Grand Teton Association’s 80th Birthday The Grand Teton Association turned 80 in 2017! To commemorate this milestone, GTA hosted a public celebration at the Wort Hotel in October. Partners and the Board of Directors spoke about the impressive work of the association.

Artist in the Environment Workshop Series Throughout the summer local authors, artists and photographers share their knowledge and expertise with the public. These free interactive programs serve to increase public understanding and appreciation of Grand Teton National Park and surrounding public lands. The annual Artist in the Environment program takes place on the second Saturday of each month June through September with workshops conducted at various locations within Grand Teton National Park.

Annual Community Events Each year the Grand Teton Association participates in a number of community based events: • Elk Fest • Eco Fair • Old Bill’s Fun Run • Wild Science • Junior Ranger Day 33 Plein Air for the Park The 2017 Plein Air event brought over 40 artists to the park for a week in July. This unique event allows visitors to see the park through the eyes of an artist. Visitors enjoyed both watching the artist create a work of art in an outdoor setting and being able to interact with the artists. The art sale during the event was a important event for the association with gross revenue exceeding $84,420.

2017 Eclipse The total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 was a major event that required intensive planning and preparation to meet the challenge of dramatically increased visitation across the region. The Grand Teton Association provided vital support to meet this challenge. The association supplied education materials, mementos, temporary booths, personnel, and most importantly safe eclipse viewing glasses, 21,900 pairs sold and 3,100 donated. GTA was instrumental to the success of this rare event. 4 4 Conferences and Events “Grand Teton Association continues Grand Teton National Park provided a world class to excel as a premier cooperating experience for viewers of the total solar eclipse. On association in Grand Teton National eclipse day, August 21, 2017, the park welcomed Park. I feel deep gratitude, great pride over 38,000 people - the busiest single day in park and eternal joy in working closely with history (a 40% increase over the same days in the amazing staff and board at the 2015 and 2016). This memorable event succeeded because of support from the GTA team: Association. Thank you for all that you • Assisting in management of four official viewing do for interpretation, education, and areas providing approximately 7000 visitors research in Grand Teton National Park.” with interpretation of the event including solar - Victoria Mates, Chief of Interpretation & telescopes (provided with GTA donation funds). Partnerships, Grand Teton National Park • Staffing a contact facility in the largest viewing area on the Gros Ventre Road. • Suppling eclipse glasses to those in need. Other special events are possible because GTA Interpretive Information and funded associate positions assist with school visits Programs Grand Teton and special immersion programming. Highlights are: • The 2017 NPS Academy introduced 15 students Grand Teton Association continues to provide National Park from across the country to park service careers. invaluable support for distance learning programs 7 NPS Academy interns will complete their especially in funding the technology components. summer internships in Grand Teton and others The programs include: will serve many different park sites. • The winter Snow Desk program reaching over 40 • Mountains to Main Street, a program born from schools across the US and internationally. the nationwide Urban Agenda, connects • Behind the Flat Hat, a look at the work of public Education and Research underserved urban populations to resources servants at Grand Teton in a variety of fields and professions, utilizes GTA funded. Contributions to park research and reporting that preserved in NPS park sites. In 2017, 15 young • Ask a Ranger, a program driven by the interest would not be met without GTA funding include: professionals came to Grand Teton to learn and the students participating in the broadcast. • The Boyd Evison fellowship awarded to Danielle about national parks along with community Fagre in 2017. Her research project focuses on engagement and planning skills. These the abundance of grassland songbird species in ambassadors will perform community-based relation to bison grazing intensity in Yellowstone service projects with other participating NPS National Park. Fagre’s study will measure sites. Last year more than 500 people attended Training and Staffing bison grazing intensity in songbird habitat, the programs led by the ambassadors at 18 The Grand Teton Association’s funding provided: record songbird abundances, and statistically urban NPS units with more than 1,700 social • 6 Summer associates for visitor services and relate the two variables to examine whether media contacts. interpretation positions in 2017. Associates there is an association. This will contribute to provide ranger-led programs and staff visitor understanding the ecological interactions that center facilities. result from current bison management. • 3 Winter associates delivered education • The annual Vital Signs Report would not be programming and along with the permanent possible without GTA funding. The report rangers reached nearly 8,000 students. Winter details the status and management of natural GTA Associates also: and cultural resources in the park. Please see ◦ Led snowshoe hikes for visitors. the 2016 edition at https://www.nps.gov/grte/ ◦ Provided valuable administrative task learn/nature/vital-signs.htm. assistance from answering park telephone inquiries to mailing information requests.5 5 Training and Staffing “We’re so appreciative of the Grand GTA’s funding provided: Teton Association’s additional funding • Three seasonal winter naturalists to provide and commitment to educating our educational/interpretive programming and visitor visitors through high quality visitor services. Some highlights include: services.” ◦ 6 Craft days with 161 participants. - Lori Iverson, Outreach & Visitor Services, ◦ Informal “Feature Creature” table staffed by a National Elk Refuge naturalist with 745 participants. ◦ 2 Full Moon walks with 14 participants. ◦ At least 21 special request programs for visiting groups or schools with 1,458 participants. Education and Research ◦ 35 Refuge-led wildlife excursions with 164 The National Elk Refuge purchased 30 GPS elk participants. collars with release mechanisms. This aid from the • Expenses for the three winter naturalists to attend association is instrumental not only for research but training at the Yellowstone Institute. also in informing management decisions. • Expenses related to hosting a Greater Yellowstone Coordinating Committee meeting at the Refuge. National Elk • Recognition items and banquet for the extensive refuge volunteer program. Refuge • Printing training and resource material for the historic Miller House. • Security upgrades for non-government computers used by interagency visitor center staff. Conferences and Events Interpretive Information and With contributions from the Grand Teton Programs Association, the National Elk Refuge supports The National Elk Refuge used Grand Teton conservation, educational activities, and Association funding to provide: conferences. This included: • Critters of Wyoming books to Teton County School • The Public Lands Alliance Conference. District second grade program participants. • Jackson Hole Wildlife Symposium. • 162 Prizes for children participating in the sleigh • 22 in 21 Conference, focusing on community. ride bingo program. • Kid’s Fishing Day, sponsored by the Wyoming • Weekly Teton Raptor Center demonstrations at Game & Fish Department. the visitor center including: • Donation to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. ◦ 9 Talon Tuesdays during the summer with • Donation to the Ducks Unlimited annual banquet. 1,018 participants. • Don’t Poach the Powder campaign, sponsored by ◦ 15 Feathered Fridays during the winter with the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance. 2,652 participants. • Purchase of eclipse glasses for staff and • Refreshments and recognition items for volunteers, helping with the event. Groundworks USA, a youth work group that • Hosting a community celebration for retiring helped repost hunt boundary signs on the Refuge Manager, Steve Kallin. Refuge. Infrastructure and Capital Projects • Advertising for the Jackson Hole & Greater The Grand Teton Association financed the Yellowstone Visitor Center in Explorer Magazine replacement of the wallpaper at the historic Miller and the Jackson Hole Picture Map. 6 House. • An educational booth at the Eco Fair. 6 Training and Staffing “The Grand Teton Association is a Education and Research GTA is supporting the forest with development of critical partner that supports the ability Along with the Forest Service, the Grand Teton a Bridger-Teton friends group to promote land and to expand capacity, leverage dollars Association supported the Blackrock Field Camp water stewardship, economic sustainability, and and provide a public lands connection where more than 500 children from the Shoshone community connections divided into 3 chapters to the local community and visitors to and Bannock tribes spent the day learning about focused on the iconic landscapes and community the area. Without their support and early tools, connection to the land, natural history characters of Teton/Gros Ventre, Wyoming Range, and forest service careers. GTA funded grants, and Wind River mountains. flexibility BTNF’s capacity would be provided participants with educational items, and greatly reduced.” assisted with food purchasing— things that are - Mary Cernicek, Public Affairs Officer, hard for a federal entity to provide but contribute Bridger-Teton National Forest to the success of the event.

Conferences and Events With vital contributions from the Grand Teton Bridger-Teton Interpretive Information and Association, the Bridger-Teton National Forest support partnerships, stewardship groups, events, National Forest Programs and conferences. This included: • Partnering with the Bridger-Teton NF, GTA met • Hosting the week-long International Tramway with forest leadership to review the partnership Authority Board Meeting focused on technical initiatives and pledge continued support to forest advances and safety. Now in its 66th year, this outlets and interpretation goals. annual meeting, is hosted in the U.S. once every • After 10 years of discussion, involving 4 Forest 10 years with participants from 23 countries. Supervisors, GTA opened a sales outlet at Instrumental support from GTA allowed the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort for the summer Bridger-Teton to meet this task. of 2017 to provide natural history, public land use • Supporting the 2017 Total Solar Eclipse Event ethics, and bear safety information. with 887,120 visitors utilizing public lands in New outlet visitation- June: 309 contacts Teton, Sublette and Lincoln counties. To meet July: 517 contacts this demand the forests with GTA assistance August: 690 contacts provided: ◦ 40,000 visitor contacts on the Bridger -Teton with 114 employees working the week of August 21 after 16 months of planning. Infrastructure and Capital Projects ◦ 9 information booths positioned around GTA supported the vision and facilitated the opening the forest supplied important information, of the interpretive product sales area in the newly interpretive merchandise, and donation boxes built Bridger-Teton Supervisor’s Office. The August that garnered $6,000 to support forest projects. open house drew local and state dignitaries including ◦ Coordination of 800 tram riders at the Jackson Senator Barrasso, Teton County Commissioners, Hole Mountain Resort for eclipse viewing. representatives for Senator Enzi and Representative ◦ 3500 eclipse glasses were provided to visitors Lummis, along with Grand Teton Association staff by the Bridger-Teton National Forest. and board. The forest was proud to host the fall ◦ 330 phone calls per day were supported Grand Teton Association Board Meeting in the newly across the Forest. finished meeting room. 77 Grand Teton Association Sales It was hard to imagine that 2017 sales could be higher than 2016’s NPS Centennial year, but that was exactly what happened. The August 2017 Solar Eclipse which drew record visitors to the region. 2016 sales revenue was $4,032,763 and 2017 sales revenue was $4,291,866.

2017 Sales by Department 2800 Stationary-Postcards, Stickers, New Directions Calendars, Bookmarks Books 9 1 Several new initiatives have resulted in a more targeted approach to Posters/Prints interpretative product offerings. 3 • Regular analysis of location and product performance resulted in a more focused scope of sales where products are aligned with the interpretive Outdoor gear-Bear Spray, characteristics of the location. Flashlights, aterbottles Children & Youth • There has been a strategic reduction in product line offering to best align 8 8 scope of sales with product performance. • Having interpretive items at all price points is still important. However, sales of high price point items have been particularly successful.

Remembrance Items- Magnets, Key Chains, year Sales Comparison of Departments Patches, Pins 19 1.2 M Apparel 26 1 M

.8 M Multi Media-Audio, DVDs 1 ewelry Convenience Items-Maps, Soaps .6 M 5 Food 3 . M

.2 M

0 Merchandising Improvements In 2016 GTA chose to reduce the volume of items in two interpretive retail locations with the hope that there would not be a significant drop in sales. At the end of the year, both locations actually showed an increase in sales even with a reduction of inventory offered. 2017 ,289,002

2013 2,69,003

2011 2,1875,78 Grand Teton Association Financial Dashboard

Revenue Payroll Epenses 5 M 5 M .5 M .5 M M M 3.5 M 3.5 M 3 M 3 M 2.5 M 2.5 M 2 M 2 M 1.5 M 1.5 M 1 M 1 M .5 M .5 M - -

Direct Aid to Partners Sales & perating Epenses 350 K 250 K

300 K 200 K 250 K

200 K 150 K

150 K 100 K 100 K 50 K 50 K

- -

Natonal Park Service National Elk Refuge Sales Expenses Operating Expenses

Direct Aid to Partners: Operating Expenses: Prior to FY 2012, the National Elk Refuge recieved a majority of support as Prior to FY 2015, as well as FY 2017, operating expenses included a significant indirect aid from the Grand Teton Association. investment in board and staff professional development. The Bridger-Teton National Forest recieves a majority of support as indirect aid from the Grand Teton Association. 99 PO Box 170 Moose, WY 83012 Phone (307) 739-3606 Fax (307) 739 -3423 www. grandtetonpark.org Shipping: Grand Teton Association GTA Warehouse/1 Park HQ-170 Moose, WY 83012 email: [email protected]

Board of Directors Grand Teton Association Staff Mark Aronowitz, Co-Chair April Landale, Executive Director Amy Brennan McCarthy, Co-Chair Marjie Pettus, Director of Operations Franz Camenzind, Secretary Erin O’Brien, Director of Retails Operations Annie Band, Director Judy duPied, Accounting Manager Ed Krajsky, Director Jacob Gampe, IT and Inventory Specialist Amy Williams, Director Lori Dreger, Inventory Manager Mary Gibson Scott, Director Bridget Bottomley, Event and Outreach Coordinator Sarah Adams, CTDVC Supervisor Amy Hinnenkamp, JHGYVC Supervisor

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