An interview with Grand Teton National Park Foundation President, Leslie Mattson

In 1997, a small group of advocates gathered together with this intention: “Grand Teton National Park should have a visitor center that rivals its magnificence.”  

Ten years and and $25 million later, the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center was built —a state-of-the-art facility funded through a combination of congressional appropriation and private-sector gifts. The project garnered national attention and laid the groundwork for the Grand Teton National Park Foundation.

Over the years, the Foundation has championed numerous initiatives for park improvements, protection, research, and education. Today, through an array of innovative fundraising efforts, the Grand Teton National Park Foundation has raised more than $50 million for park projects.

On August 25 of 2016, the National Park Service celebrates its centennial birthday, which means it’s a perfect time to honor the impact of the National Park Service. It is also a time to lay the groundwork for continued conservation efforts and park enjoyment in the next 100 years.

To share in the celebration, we bring you the voice of Grand Teton National Park Foundation President Leslie Mattson who not only champions conservation and improvement efforts, but is also a dedicated educator and advocate for the organization.

Happy Birthday to the National Park Service from one of the 307.2 million who delved into your wonders last year.

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Leslie Mattson, President Grand Teton National Park Foundation

PRE: Tell us a bit about your background and how you came to be involved with the Grand Teton National Park Foundation.

Leslie Mattson: I’m passionate about protecting this area’s beautiful open spaces. I spent 13 years overseeing the Jackson Hole Land Trust and joined the Foundation in 2004. Educating people about National Park support has been a great way to give back to a place that has played a huge role in my life. I want people to care about these special landscapes and be inspired by them.

PRE: Describe some of the primary efforts funded by your organization.

LM: GTNPF funds projects that enhance the Park’s cultural, historic, and natural resources as well as initiatives that improve visitor experiences and engage young people.

On an annual basis, we support wildlife research and protection, youth programs, and historic preservation. We are also approaching the end of a major capital campaign—Inspiring Journeys: A Campaign for Jenny Lake—to improve Grand Teton’s most iconic destination in celebration of the National Park Service centennial on August 25th. This $18 million public-private effort is restoring backcountry trails and front country visitor services for the next 100 years at Jenny Lake.

PRE: What initiatives are you most excited about/working towards in 2016?

LM: Our newest initiative is an effort to raise $23 million by the end of 2016 to help purchase state-owned land that lies in the heart of Grand Teton National Park. The parcel, known as Antelope Flats, is 640 acres and valued at $46 million.

We are working with the Washington DC-based National Park Foundation to raise half of the purchase price by the end of the year. The other half, $23 million, will come from the federal Land and Water Conservation Fund. If we do not meet our goal, the land could go to auction and has the potential to be developed.

Elk are just one of many species of wildlife that utilize the Antelope Flats Parcel. 

PRE: The National Park Service turns 100 on August 25, 2016. Can you tell us about your new programming, and how these efforts support the goals set forth in the NPS 2016 Call to Action Plan?

LM: A main focus of the NPS centennial is engaging the next generation of park stewards who reflect the diverse population of the US. To achieve this goal, we are supporting two additional youth programs. Mountains to Main Street Urban Ambassador Program actively engages urban youth through leadership of young adults who are serving as park ambassadors. We also support a Student Conservation Association trail crew that is currently working to improve over 50 miles of trails in the park.

Incredible views on the Hermitage Point trail. 

PRE: How can individuals and organizations can contribute to the Grand Teton National Park Foundation?

LM: Individuals and organizations can contribute to the Foundation by supporting a specific program area—like Prugh Real Estate who generously supported our winter grooming program last season—or by giving to our annual fund that helps cover the Foundation’s operations. In addition, individuals and organizations can give in-kind gifts, such as materials for our Jenny Lake renewal project or outdoor gear for our youth trail crew.

PRE: How else can people get involved with your organization?

LM: Get involved with the park. Throughout the summer and fall, there is a community volunteer day each Thursday where people can help improve trails throughout Grand Teton. We also post other activities and events throughout the year on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter—follow along for the Foundation’s most up-to-date news.

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/gtnpf/?fref=ts

Twitter – https://twitter.com/GrandTetonFdn

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/grandtetonfoundation/

Grand Teton National Park – https://www.nps.gov/grte/index.htm

The first of its kind, Vertical Harvest set out to prove that the origin of our food not only shapes our health, but our community as well. Providing a sustainable solution for fresh produce in the Town of Jackson, Vertical Harvest caught the eye of filmmaker Jennifer Tennican.

Filming the first year of operation, Tennican takes us behind the scenes of co-founders Penny McBride and Nona Yehia’s work to bring the multi-story greenhouse to life in the Town of Jackson, WY in Hearts of Glass.

Prugh: What do you hope to achieve with this film?

Jennifer Tennican: With “Hearts of Glass” we hope to introduce the world to a highly visible, controversial, expensive, and ingenious project of Vertical Harvest of Jackson Hole. In addition to providing a year-round crop of vegetables and fruits to community members, the project was developed to offer consistent, meaningful jobs to Jackson residents with disabilities.

One thing we are excited about is telling the story from various points of view, including some of the employees with disabilities. These are voices we don’t hear from regularly in the media. By giving these folks the chance to speak for themselves, we can deepen the public’s awareness of their capabilities, desires, and needs.

P: What attracted you to do a film on Vertical Harvest?

JT: As a storyteller, I look for engaging characters and untold stories. The common theme running through all my work is community.  My films explore how we achieve a sense of belonging and what that gives us.

Vertical Harvest is a project that has engaged and at times polarized the community. The project’s goal is to improve our town by providing literal and figurative nourishment (food and jobs).  Whether it will achieve its goal is part of the drama that will unfold over the first year of operation.

Most of all, it’s unique, timely, and in my backyard.  The story is chock full of interesting people. It’s THE film for me to make right now with the help of Slow Food in the Tetons.

P: What message do you want viewers to walk away with from the film?

JT: This kind of feels like a spoiler to me.

I would like viewers to walk away from the film feeling a couple of things:

Whether or not viewers agree that Vertical Harvest was a good idea (fiscally, socially, etc.), I hope they can recognize the value of such a visible, expensive and controversial project in bringing a spotlight to members of our community with disabilities.  As Eileen Prugh said “it is a gift to a small town.”

If they donated to make the film a reality, I hope they’ll feel proud they helped create a terrific independent documentary.

P: What is your favorite story from filming this?

JT: We filmed the employee orientation several weeks ago and during the presentation Joelle Lazzareschi (Educational Coordinator) and Caroline Croft Estay (Employment Facilitator) played a short video called “Don’t Limit Me.” (Watch the Don’t Limit Me Video)

The YouTube video features Megan Bomgaars, a cast member on the television show “Born This Way.”  Megan is a high school student with Down Syndrome and in the video she addresses her school’s faculty. She asks them to teach her life and work skills so she can be independent, to respect her, and to have clear and reasonable expectations for her. Her big message is “everyone matters.”

Many [employees] had a story to share about people having low expectations, saying unkind things or “not getting them.” Watching the video and the reactions of Megan’s audience reminded me of my unconscious biases and the real effect they can have on people.

P: What sort of push-back did you witness from the community concerning Vertical Harvest?

JT: It’s a controversial project in many ways – it’s expensive, it’s untested, it’s a public private partnership – so it’s hard to imagine that there wouldn’t be opposition.

I think that was the time when hard questions were asked about the economic feasibility of the project and whether the use of the land was appropriate.  As I understand it, various proposals were in competition, including affordable housing. The selection of Vertical Harvest created some conversation about priorities in the community.

Our goal is to tell a nuanced story about the challenges of the greenhouse’s first year of life through various characters.  Those characters will range from enthusiasts to skeptics.

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Filming  is underway as the Vertical Harvest staff ramps up for the anticipated opening in June. Fundraising and filming will happen concurrently throughout the first year of operation. Post-production will occur during the summer/fall of 2017. Visit www.facebook.com/HeartsOfGlassFilm

Jennifer anticipates a finished film by winter of 2017/spring 2018. Gifts in support of Hearts of Glass should be directed to Slow Food In The Tetons/ attn: Hearts of Glass, Slow Food In The Tetons, PO Box 1087, Jackson, WY 83001.