Mather High School Visits Western Parks

Mather students, alumni and staff, and NPS staff, pose for a group photo at Grand Tetons National Park

NPS

Students and recent alumni from the Stephen T. Mather Building Arts and Craftsmanship High School in NYC recently participated in a three-week excursion out West in Yellowstone National Park and Grand Tetons National Park. Over the course of the three weeks, students completed historic preservation work on the Museum of the National Park Ranger in Yellowstone, as well as completing the B.E.S.T Preservation Workshop – Fundamentals of Historic Preservation while in Grand Tetons.

Beginning their experience in Yellowstone, two alumni interning with the Traditional Trades Advancement Program and seven current students who were members of the Student Conservation Association, spent two weeks camping while simultaneously completing historic preservation projects on the Ranger Museum. The Museum of the National Park Ranger is a National Historic Landmark nestled in the Norris Geyser Basin area of Yellowstone, tucked behind a collection of lodge pole pine trees the museum itself is of log cabin design, with some of the extended log ends needing historic preservation attention. Students were accompanied by staff from Yellowstone, the Historic Preservation Training Center, the National Parks of New York Harbor, and Mather High School, as they were taught the proper preservation techniques to restore the log ends and reglaze windows. Al Williams, a retired employee from Grand Tetons and the Historic Preservation Training Center was a mentor and instructor for the work done in Yellowstone. Under his instruction students used traditional hand tools to build their own saw-horses, de-bark logs, axe log ends, chisel out notches, and they built up their own confidence in their abilities and skills. By the end of the two weeks students had accomplished every project that had been tasked with, having properly replaced 5 rotted log ends and reglazed multiple windows of the museum.

While camping in Yellowstone with the students were overwhelmed by the generosity shown to them as each night dinner was provided for them by various divisions of Yellowstone staff. Each night the students in staff would share a meal, discuss the multitude of paths NPS employees can follow, and share stories about the differences in life between urban and rural settings. Friendly competition between the Yellowstone divisions on who could cook the best meal led to playful debates around the dinner table and campfire. The students felt an immense deal of gratitude and pride in their accomplishments as they then continued on to the Grand Tetons for the last leg of their adventure.

Arriving to the White Grass Dude Ranch of Grand Tetons the students were treated to luxurious living, with log cabins and beds replacing the tents and sleeping bags of their previous two weeks. After a few long showers the students then participated in the B.E.S.T Preservation Workshop – Fundamentals of Historic Preservation, with instructors Kelly Clark, Erin Gibbs, and Katherine Wonson all sharing their impressive knowledge and expertise. While on a field trip to Mormons Row the students were able to share their experiences with park Superintendent Chip Jenkins and a local radio reporter, Hanna Merzbach. (The radio interview was published on July 24th and can accessed here:‘A dying art’: East coast students learn how to preserve historic buildings in the Tetons - KHOL 89.1 FM (891khol.org))

After successfully completing their training, the students were treated to a day exploring various sites in the park led by Katherine Wonson, and a refreshing swim in String Lake. When it came time to leave for their return to NYC many of the students were lamenting having to leave such a beautiful part of the country with such clean air and open spaces. Many of the students have already begun planning a return trip with their families and friends, while others hope to one day return as permanent NPS employees.

This life changing experience could not have happened without the support and assistance of so many individuals from across various parks and divisions. It is simply too numerous to name every single person who had a hand in crafting this experience, but please know your support did not go unnoticed and we cannot thank you enough for your part in making this possible.