Jackson Hole groups join to get children outside

JACKSON, Wyo. — In an age when many kids favor video games and high-fructose corn syrup over trees and fresh air, a collection of Jackson Hole organizations hopes to instill in children an appreciation for the outdoors.

Under the banner of Teton 10, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, Teton Science Schools and Center of Wonder are coordinating efforts to get students in grades three to 12 connected with companies and organizations that specialize in outdoor pursuits.

After a pilot program this past summer, Teton 10 got its official start recently.

Some kids "have never been out hiking or been in a canoe or on a river," said organizer David Cernicek, river manager for the Bridger-Teton National Forest. "Obesity rates are high. Attention spans are troubling."

Teton 10 is an attempt to remedy those maladies by providing outdoor opportunities.

The effort, spawned by the No Child Left Inside movement, is funded by a grant through the U.S. Forest Service and is part of the Bridger-Teton's Children's Forest.

The idea is to get organizations to share resources, Cernicek said.

"I may have a national forest with a trail, someone else may have kids who are at risk and need a project to do. Somebody else may have incredible expertise with the outdoors," he said.

So far, 21 organizations — including Grand Teton National Park, Jackson Hole Shooting Experience, Teton County Youth and Family Services and Boy Scouts of America — have joined the Teton 10 effort.

Students can participate in activities divided into 10 different categories: adrenaline, art, creatures, culture, fire, night, peaks, service, trails and water. An adrenaline activity might be downhill skiing; a night activity might be stargazing.

Once a child has participated in all 10 types of activities, they are dubbed "ambassadors" and become eligible for rewards. Ambassadors can also apply for a Teton 10 college scholarship.

"The goal is that a kid participates in one program under every category so their experiences are diverse," said Teton 10 coordinator Teddi Hofmann.

Hofmann helped out with several activities during the pilot program this summer. One activity, Pura Vida, gave predominantly Latino children a week in Grand Teton National Park.