Tag Archive for: 2021

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.

The communications she produces are also important to help communicate safety messaging, especially during fluctuations in COVID protocol, high fire danger, and migration seasons. In her work, she also draws from her experiences as a NPS Academy intern in Grand Teton National Park in 2017 and previous experiences at Craters of the Moon, Canyonlands, and the National Capital Region. Grand Teton Association and Grand Teton National Park are excited to have Luxianna as part of the team!

NPS:$117,000
BTNF:$25,434
NER: $46,500

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.

2021 Interpretive Materials Support
NPS: $40,288
BTNF: $131
NER: $1,411

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.

Staffed with enthusiastic GTA volunteers, this van spent most of the summer at Mormon Row in Grand Teton National Park. Settled there, thousands of visitors could learn the history of the Mormon settlers and gain essential information to support their visit.

During the month of August, the van was located at the base of the clock tower at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort where Bridger-Teton National Forest volunteers joined GTA to volunteers supported visitors with information and interpretive products.

The van was a huge success meeting visitors in where they were. Grand Teton Association looks forward to providing another year of support in 2022.