Along with working to raise $23 million so the National Park Service could acquire the 640-acre Antelope Flats parcel in Grand Teton National Park, the Grand Teton National Park Foundation provided another $5.3 million in funding for a variety of programs/NPS

How valuable are national park friends groups? You can put a dollar figure on it in some parks. At Grand Teton National Park, for instance, the Grand Teton National Park Foundation provided just about $5.3 million in funding last year for a wide range of programs.

And that's not counting the $23 million it helped raise in just eight months to match $23 million in federal funds so the Interior Department could buy a 640-acre inholding in the park at Antelope Flats. This park inholding was threatened with potential sale and development. Foundation donors rose to the challenge to ensure prime habitat will be protected forever.

Through private support, the Foundation enabled an extensive list of visitor service, conservation, and improvement projects and assisted the park in offering high-quality interpretation, recreation, and education to visitors. The Foundation funded the work entirely through generous gifts from the organization’s national network of donors.

The projects spanned a wide range of enhancement and education initiatives that connect visitors to Grand Teton and improve resources:

• The Youth Engagement Initiative consists of 5 diverse programs that have introduced over 1,000 participants to career opportunities in Grand Teton while also gaining valuable work experience.
• 222 Hammer Corps volunteers provided 3,000 hours of work to protect and improve multiple historic structures and sites including the Mormon Row Historic District.
• Forty-five bear boxes were purchased for installation at various frontcountry campsites and picnic areas throughout the park.
• Construction at Jenny Lake continued as part of the Foundation’s Inspiring Journeys campaign. Backcountry improvements focused on the viewing area below Hidden Falls, the west shore boat dock, and the trail on the south side of Cascade Creek. Frontcountry work concentrated on scenic lake overlooks and trail improvements at South Jenny Lake.
• The Foundation continued to provide regular grooming of the Nordic ski trail between Bradley-Taggart trailhead and Signal Mountain on Teton Park Road.
• Funding for the wildlife initiative supported wolf research, animal migration studies, grizzly bear conservation, habitat restoration, and native fish habitat improvements.

“It was an amazing year for the Foundation and we are very grateful to have worked with our supporters on such a wide range of projects,” Foundation President Leslie Mattson said. “The protection of the Antelope Flats parcel displayed the passion of our donors and brings inspiration as we enter the 20th anniversary of our organization in 2017. We look forward to continuing our partnerships and friendships as we work to protect Grand Teton National Park.”

To learn more about the Foundation and how you can help it help Grand Teton National Park, visit its website.