Our Impact

2020 Impact Report

2019 Impact Report

2018 Impact Report

“At a time when funding for our local public land agencies is critical, I am proud of Grand Teton Association as it continues to adapt to provide enduring support for its partners.”

GTA Board Member

SUSTAINING PROJECTS

Educated Visitors

Partnership: Bridger-Teton National Forest

Educated visitors through volunteers at the Snake River, helping it lead the nation with its river operations-COVID-19 safety standards.

The Grand Teton Guide offers vital information to every visitor of the park. GTA helps produce these comprehensive guides to provide year-round single and multi-day visitors with up to date information on natural history, visitation considerations, and scheduled events. The Grand Teton Guide continues to be one of the best ways to reach everyday visitors and enhance their park visit. In 2020, GTA printed and distributed 250,000 copies of the Grand Teton Guide, 10,000 backcountry guides, and 7,000 Junior Ranger Booklets andBadges to national park visitors.

Elk GPS Collar Research

Partnership: National Elk Refuge

Grand Teton Association continued its partnership with the National Elk Refuge by providing funds to purchase GPS collars for cow elk in order to provide important location information. Elk location data collected from the collars help wildlife managers map elk movement and habitat use, design hunting seasons to meet objectives, monitor the effects of wolves on elk density, and evaluate the effects of elk density on potential disease transmission.

BTNF Forest Friends Ambassador Program

Partnership: Bridger-Teton National Forest

Sponsored by Grand Teton Association, Friends of the Bridger-Teton became a freestanding 501(c)3 in 2019. Through education and community mobilization, Friends of the Bridger Teton partners closely with the BTNF staff to address increasing visitor use at areas like Spread Creek, Toppings Lake, and Shadow Mountain through signage, a volunteer camping ambassador program, and other infrastructure supports.

PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Supported Interpretive Programming

Partnership: National Elk Refuge

Supported interpretive programming on the National Elk Refuge by funding three Naturalists, who hosted 1,500 participants forprogramming both on and off-site.

Enabled Cultural Programming

Partnership: Grand Teton National Park

Enabled cultural programming in the national park in the form of the Guest Artist Program, one of the only cultural programs to run in 2020.

National Elk Refuge Employee Housing

Partnership: National Elk Refuge

With GTA support, the team at the National Elk Refuge relocated and renovated a donated house through a partnership with Shacks on Racks to provide housing for permanent employees.

Support for the Snake River Stays Strong

Partnership: Bridger-Teton National Forest

Paycheck Protection Program Funds Supported the National Elk Refuge

Partnership: National Elk Refuge

GTA Contribution: $14,281

In 2020, GTA was awarded a Paycheck Protection Program loan of $273,861. 51% of this loan was directed to our agency partners, including $14,281 for the National Elk Refuge.

Paycheck Protection Program Funds Supported Grand Teton National Park

Partnership: Grand Teton National Park

GTA Contribution: $92,396

In 2020, GTA was awarded a Paycheck Protection Program loan of $273,861. 51% of this loan was directed to our agency partners, including $92,396 for Grand Teton National Park.

Paycheck Protection Program Funds Supported Bridger-Teton National Forest

Partnership: Bridger-Teton National Forest

GTA Contribution: $32,284

In 2020, GTA was awarded a Paycheck Protection Program loan of $273,861. 51% of this loan was directed to our agency partners, including $32,284 for Bridger-Teton National Forest.

OUR IMPACT

Interpretive staffing support for the busiest season on record

GTA Associate Luxianna Watkins joined Grand Teton National Park full time in 2021 as a media associate.In this role, she works on a variety of print and digital projects to create engaging, informative, and enjoyable media for the park and help visitors memories for a lifetime.

Supporting the education and interpretive needs of increased visitation

GTA supports the publication of educational and interpretive materials for all our partner agencies as they meet the changing needs of visitors. During the COVID pandemic, visitation to public lands dramatically increased. Often this was a first time visitor to public lands. In response, Grand Teton Association developed this resource to deepen visitors understanding of the differences in land use regulations with our three agency partners.

GTA Mobile Interpretive Van meets the needs of visitors where they are

In response to increased visitation during a second summer of COVID and changes in visitor use patterns, GTA collaborated with agency partners to pilot a mobile unit to provide essential information and interpretive producta at high use public land sites.

Spreading Teton Creativity Throughout the World

Mountain towns often have a way of attracting fiercely independent creatives, and Jackson Hole is no exception. Grand Teton Association began to take note of the many local artists in the area, and to envision what it would look like to bring their creativity into their retail locations. Not only would this be more environmentally friendly, it would also support and help boost the local “makers” economy.

GTA’s Sustainability Efforts

GTA steps up their environmental efforts.Part of the privilege of supporting the vibrant future of this incredible landscape means that GTA’s daily decisions have a great impact on the long term health of the area. GTA takes their stewardship role of this place very seriously.

Telling our Story Through the GTA Brand

For over 80 years, Grand Teton Association (GTA) has supported the educational initiatives of its agency partners by contributing 100% of sales profits from its retail locations. In 2019, GTA began working with local marketing and creative agency, Cultivate. These efforts identified an opportunity to increase organization impact by clarifying GTA’s mission and strengthening its organizational brand. GTA firmly believes that when visitors better understand the positive impact their purchase has in support of public lands, they would choose a GTA retail location over other businesses.

OUR IMPACT

Interpretive staffing support for the busiest season on record

GTA Associate Luxianna Watkins joined Grand Teton National Park full time in 2021 as a media associate.In this role, she works on a variety of print and digital projects to create engaging, informative, and enjoyable media for the park and help visitors memories for a lifetime. Read More

Supporting the education and interpretive needs of increased visitation

GTA supports the publication of educational and interpretive materials for all our partner agencies as they meet the changing needs of visitors. During the COVID pandemic, visitation to public lands dramatically increased. Often this was a first time visitor to public lands. In response, Grand Teton Association developed this resource to deepen visitors understanding of the differences in land use regulations with our three agency partners. Read More

GTA Mobile Interpretive Van meets the needs of visitors where they are

In response to increased visitation during a second summer of COVID and changes in visitor use patterns, GTA collaborated with agency partners to pilot a mobile unit to provide essential information and interpretive producta at high use public land sites.Read More

Spreading Teton Creativity Throughout the World

Mountain towns often have a way of attracting fiercely independent creatives, and Jackson Hole is no exception. Grand Teton Association began to take note of the many local artists in the area, and to envision what it would look like to bring their creativity into their retail locations. Not only would this be more environmentally friendly, it would also support and help boost the local “makers” economy.Read More

GTA’s Sustainability Efforts

GTA steps up their environmental efforts.Part of the privilege of supporting the vibrant future of this incredible landscape means that GTA’s daily decisions have a great impact on the long term health of the area. GTA takes their stewardship role of this place very seriously.Read More