|
Contact: Public Affairs Office, 307.739.3393
Grand Teton National Park will waive entrance fees (including commercial tour fees) on Saturday, September 28 in recognition of National Public Lands Day, 2013. All national park sites typically offer free entry on this day in an effort to encourage individuals, families and communities to explore and appreciate America's great outdoors. The fee for a 7-day pass into Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks by single, private vehicle is normally $25. National Public Lands Day is also a time for individuals across America to volunteer their time and energy through beneficial projects. To celebrate National Public Lands Day, join the Jackson Hole Wildlife Foundation, National Parks Conservation Association, and Grand Teton National Park for a fence improvement project to benefit wildlife. Volunteers will modify an old fence on the Elk Ranch by replacing a lower strand of barbed wire with wildlife-friendly smooth wire. The height of the wire will also be raised to enable pronghorn to safely crawl under. Volunteers will also install wooden top rails and "calf jumps" to help bison, elk, moose and deer as they migrate across park land. The project will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., however, even a half day of work is appreciated. Since parking is limited at the work site, volunteers are asked to meet at one of two carpool areas: 8:00 a.m. at Home Ranch parking lot or 8:15 a.m. at Gros Ventre junction. Participants should wear long pants and appropriate footwear for hiking, and bring water, sunscreen, raingear, protective sunhat and sunglasses for eye protection; lunch and work gloves will be provided. To RSVP as a volunteer, please go to jhwffencepull@gmail.com. For more information, go to http://www.jhwildlife.org. "Our heartfelt thanks go out to the many volunteers who have done extensive work to protect the health and safety of wildlife in and around Grand Teton," said Superintendent Mary Gibson Scott. "Since 2002, more than 35 miles of barbed wire fence have been removed through the hard work of dedicated people who care deeply about this national park and its wild inhabitants." National Public Lands Day began in 1994 with a purpose to increase awareness of the value of all public lands, to foster shared stewardship of America's national resources, and to encourage people to volunteer their time. Many people will lend a hand to help the land and spend part of their day participating in work projects across the country. Volunteers are expected to plant trees, clean watersheds, remove invasive plants, replace signs, and otherwise beautify 2,000 public sites. Visit www.publiclandsday.org for more information. National Public Lands Day is the only time that entrance fees are systematically waived on ALL public lands across America. Fees will be waived at national park units, as well as other land management sites including the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and U.S. Forest Service areas. In addition to National Public Lands Day, United States veterans are admitted free to national parks each year during Veteran's Day weekend in November. Visitors are reminded that the fee waiver applies to entrance fees only and does not include use fees for camping or boating. For more information on fee-free opportunities in park units around the U.S., visit www.nps.gov/findapark/feefreeparks.htm. |
Last updated: February 24, 2015