Membership and Picnic Fundraiser

FTRNP hosted a membership picnic and fundraiser in Bismarck on June 13th at Sertoma Park. Retired North Dakota state geologist John Bluemle spoke on the geology of the badlands and gave an enticing preview to his forthcoming book. The silent auction offered many interesting items to the good turnout. Also attending was Wendy Ross, the newly appointed TRNP Superintendent.

Members of FTRNP are invited to attend the upcoming Dakota Nights Astronomy festival at Theodore Roosevelt National Park on Sept 11-13 in Medora. FTRNP will be selling rockets on Saturday and Sunday mornings of the festival and there are activities and speakers for all ages. Full information on the festival is available by clicking HERE!

Part-Time Employment Opportunity

Friends of Theodore Roosevelt National Park is looking for a motivated person to work approximately 20 hours per month as an Administrative Assistant. Duties include handling correspondence, coordinating memberships, making bank deposits, planning events, organizing meetings, maintaining the organization’s Facebook site, fundraising, and other administrative duties.

Good interpersonal and computer skills are critical.

This work can be done at home under contract.

Pay: $15 per hour

For more information, contact FTRNP President Alice Nix at (701) 751-7501

Résumés (including contact information for references) should be sent to Alice Nix at dnix15@bis.midco.net or 525 Dohn Ave, Bismarck, North Dakota, 58503. Include a cover letter describing your interest in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, your enthusiasm for the mission of Friends of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, and reasons why you are interested in the position.

Application Deadline: October 15 or until filled

The Board of Directors of Friends of Theodore Roosevelt National Park recognize and are grateful to the Saint Paul Foundation, through the Hoeschler-O’Brien Fund, and the Alice M. O’Brien Foundation for their generous support. Their contributions provide partial funding for the $5,000 matching Park Partners grant from the National Park Foundation.

The O’Brien family resides in St. Paul, MN and loves Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Terry O’Brien and sons William and Jack have hiked the Achenbach Trail loop in the North Unit. On separate occasions, each son was only 6 years old when he completed the hike—likely the youngest hikers to ever complete the Achenbach. In the summer of 2011, the high waters of the Little Missouri River caused Jack to wrap his arms around his father’s neck in order to cross the river. In August 2014, the yellow clover was taller than William and covered many wooden posts marking the trail. Despite these barriers the O’Briens finished their hikes. The family would especially like to recognize the service of Rangers John Heiser and Eric Haugland. The Friends Board thanks the Theodore Roosevelt Nature and History Association and the O’Brien family for permission to use this information.

The Park Partners grant will conclude this fall. Board members will have a workshop in Dickinson with the consulting group contracted by the National Park Foundation. The purpose of the grant is to provide funds for capacity building activities such as strategic planning, website revision, membership expansion, and marketing materials. The Friends group hopes to raise visibility of our organization, sponsor membership events and provide greater support to Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

FTRNP Receive Park Partners Grant

Last fall the Friends of Theodore National Park (FTRNP) was one of eight Friends Groups to receive a grant from the National Park Foundation’s Park Partners Project. The grant includes consulting and coaching to improve governance, park relationship, fundraising, and membership outreach. A $5,000 matching capacity-building grant will be given to the FTRNP upon successful completion of the year-long project.

Like just about everyone, coming off winter I look back and think next year will be different. I will make sure I get all those inside projects done before spring pulls me outside for good. So here is my excuse; according to my journal I spent 11 days skiing the south unit of TRNP and suffered not an ounce of guilt as a result. It was absolutely fantastic. Actually, come to think of it I am going to hold off doing any those inside projects until after that Mayan Calendar thing in 2012. I think that just makes good sense. Wow, I truly did have a great winter in the park.

There was however one project while not complete has made some very good progress this winter and that is our Friends of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We are now officially a 501(c)3 (non-profit) organization, we have a fantastic Board of Directors in place, some great events planned for this summer, an ambitious website under construction, this newsletter, and an enthusiastic

group of members and supporters.

FTRNP, as I see it, will probably never be complete but with our love of the Badlands we can turn this into a 4- season project. Wow, I am going have great summer in the park and I invite all of you to join me. Thank you all for your hard work, generous support and help.

Your friend,

Gerry Reichert,

Glendive, MT

Past-President, Friends of Theodore National Park

My first experience with TRNP occurred during a business trip in November, 1999. I'm the CEO of a public relations/advertising agency in Columbus, Ohio. One of my clients at that time, Log Cabin Syrup, was in the midst of a partnership program with the National Park Foundation to help restore historic log cabins throughout the National Park system. Theodore Roosevelt's Maltese Cross cabin was selected to be showcased as part of this program, and we were sent to Medora to obtain pertinent information to develop our communications materials.

Driving west from Bismarck (this was also my first trip to North Dakota), I was amazed when the rolling plains opened up and exposed an incredible badlands terrain. Being born and raised in Ohio I had never seen such a landscape outside of TV westerns. And while the place was seemingly barren and uncompromising, it had an instant appeal to me. The cabin and its history were incredible of course, and when we entered the park the wildlife appeared as if on some magical cue -- bison, elk, wild horses, turkeys, deer, coyotes, porcupines, hawks, eagles, prairie dogs, etc. There was something different around every corner. I was truly experiencing the West without leaving the Midwest!

I fell in love with the park (and the state) that day, and have returned many times over the years with my wife to hike the trails, camp and visit new friends. The park has become a very special place for me, and truly serves as a refuge for my soul.

Neil Mortine

Columbus, OH

It was summer 1973. My parents and I took our standard 2-week vacation around the American West, that year to Wyoming, Mount Rushmore, the South Dakota Badlands, and finally to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We didn't spend much time – in fact, my mother wanted to leave as soon as she got to the park. But the place captivated me. I'm not sure that I had ever been truly captivated by anyplace before and I wanted to return. Six years later, I was paging through a booklet full of volunteer opportunities in parks and forests. An internship at Theodore Roosevelt National Park caught my eye, and I listed it as the first choice on my application. I was fortunate to spend the summer of of 1979 as a volunteer, and to get hired the next two summers as a seasonal park naturalist.

Somehow, a fellowship to study wildlife in the North Dakota badlands through the University of North Dakota fell into my lap, and I spent two more summers in the park working on research for my master's degree.

It was spring 2003. After a 20 year career working my way up in many wonderful national parks throughout the western U.S., I returned to Theodore Roosevelt National Park as Superintendent. I have always compared all other parks to this one – my first, my standard, my best. I am honored to serve as the park's manager, and am pleased to call myself a Friend of Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

Valerie Naylor

Medora, ND

Former Superintendent, Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Liaison, Friends of Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Issues of Concern: Position Statement on Gas Flaring in western North Dakota

The negative impact of natural gas flaring at well sites near Theodore Roosevelt National Park is real and imminent.  A Bismarck Tribune editorial dated August 1, 2012 described parts of the oil patch at night in the western part of the state as looking "like a war zone".  After dark, park visitors can see almost two dozen oil flares from Buck Hill, the highest viewpoint in the South Unit.  Numerous flares are also visible from the Scenic Drive in the North Unit.  One estimate puts the ultimate number of wells in the state to be in the neighborhood of 50,000 so we are just beginning to see the impact of gas flaring.

Flaring natural gas is a waste of a natural resource, but it also impacts the national park, which is also a valuable natural resource to the state.  Tourism is one of the top industries in the state and the park contributes to that industry.  So far the impact mainly affects the park's view shed; especially the vast and beautiful night sky.  A secondary issue is the impact of air quality on the 500 species of plants and the wildlife living within and near the park.  Air quality is routinely monitored by park staff.

We are realists and recognize that the oil boom is very important to the economy of  North Dakota and it could not be stopped even if one had that outcome as a goal.  It is not our mission, nor do we have the technical skills or business savvy to promote or endorse any particular technology or company. However we are encouraged by the following efforts:

Suggestion from EmPower North Dakota Commission, a public-private energy advocate, to the state Legislature to invest in other uses of natural gas.

The announcement from CHS, one of the Nation’s largest farmer owned cooperatives, to build a plant at Spiritwood, ND to convert natural gas to fertilizer.

A proposal by a New York company, N-Flex LLC, to build a portable fertilizer plant which could be moved among oil wells until or if pipelines are built to reach new wells.

The efforts of Staoil, and international oil company operating in North Dakota, to use captured natural gas from flaring to help power local drilling rigs and generator.

The fact that more and more natural gas is being captured as new technologies are implemented and the infrastructure is built to move the gas to market.

Park staff work with oil companies as much as possible to minimize impacts on the park.  This Friends group is anxious to work with any group, organization, company, or governmental agency to mitigate the environmental impact of gas flaring on the park.

Don Carey

Board Member FTRNP

Theodore Roosevelt’s Elkhorn Ranch: The Crown Jewel of Theodore Roosevelt National Park

By Clay S. Jenkinson

What exactly is the Elkhorn Ranch and where is it?

The Elkhorn was the second of two ranches Theodore Roosevelt established in Dakota Territory. His first ranch, established in September 1883, was called the Maltese Cross (or Chimney Butte). Roosevelt did not name it. It was located seven miles south of the Northern Pacific Railroad track on the east bank of the Little Missouri River. The Maltese Cross cabin, built for TR by his ranch hands Bill Merrifield and Sylvane Ferris, now rests on the grounds of the visitor center of Theodore Roosevelt National Park in Medora.

The following year, consumed by grief after the simultaneous death of his wife Alice and his mother Mittie on the same day, Valentine’s Day 1884, Roosevelt returned to Dakota Territory (in June) and sought out a remote place of solitude to serve as a second cattle ranch. He found his ideal location 35 miles north of the little village of Medora, on the west bank of the Little Missouri River. He chose to call the ranch the Elkhorn because when he was exploring the site he found the interlocked antlers of two bull elk. They had fought until their antlers were entangled so completely that they could not extricate themselves, and they died of starvation. This suited TR’s mood precisely. Roosevelt operated both ranches throughout his time in Dakota Territory—between September 1883 and the spring of 1887. The historical records indicate that the Elkhorn was his principal or home ranch. It was there that he had his hired men Wilmot Dow and Bill Sewall construct what was for the time a rather luxurious frontier cabin, 60 feet by 30, including a veranda along the entire eastern face of the cabin, a private bedroom for himself, and even a bathtub (made of rubber).

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Named #5 on the New York Times' "52 Places to Go in 2016"

January 7th, 2016 — Medora, ND

Read the article at the New York Times website.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Releases Environmental Assessment for Cell Tower Replacement

January 25th, 2016 — Medora, ND

Contact: Bill Whitworth, Bill_whitworth@nps.gov, 701-623-4466

Theodore Roosevelt National Park invites the public to provide feedback on an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the replacement of its North Unit communications tower. The current tower provides communication functions essential to public safety and efficient operations for the park and the U.S. Forest Service (USFS). It is located within the park boundary on the east side of Hwy 85 in McKenzie County, just north of the park entrance.

The NPS will issue a permit to Verizon Wireless to replace the existing 220 foot tall guyed radio tower with aviation safety lighting with a 190 foot guyed tower without a flashing red light. Verizon Wireless will co-locate its telecommunications equipment on the tower and construct a slightly larger support shed to accommodate National Park Service (NPS), USFS, and Verizon equipment. Gravel will be added to the existing access road.

“Allowing Verizon to co-locate its equipment will eliminate the need to construct a second, highly visible telecommunications tower in the area”, said Chief of Resource Management Bill Whitworth. “Because of the tower’s reduced height, a blinking light on top will no longer be required, improving the quality of the viewshed to those visiting park wilderness and other backcountry sites. Given the rate of development in the Bakken, this is a rare opportunity to share resources and reduce cell tower proliferation in the region.”

The public is invited to provide comment on the EA through the NPS Planning Environment and Public Comment System (PEPC) at http://parkplanning.nps.gov/parkHome.cfm?parkID=167.

The website provides links to the document and its attachments and instructions on how to comment in the public comment database. The comment period is from January 22 to February 22, 2016. If you are unable to view the document or provide comments before February 22 and still desire to do so, please contact the park to request an extension. Comments may be submitted directly on the website database or by letter addressed to

Theodore Roosevelt National Park

Superintendent

P.O. Box 7

Medora, ND 58645.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Welcomes 4th Grade Students through Every Kid in a Park Initiative

September 2nd, 2015

New National Program Encourages Families and Classes to Visit National Parks

Theodore Roosevelt National Park invites all 4th grade students to visit the park for free as part of the White House’s new Every Kid in a Park program. Starting September 1, 4th grade students can now go to the Every Kid in a Park website to complete an activity and obtain a free annual entry pass to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including national parks.

“During the National Park Service’s centennial celebration, we want everyone to get to know their national parks, and we’re offering a special invitation to fourth graders and their families to discover everything that national parks offer,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “We hope these free passes for fourth graders will introduce 4th graders, their classes, and families to our national treasures, places where they can run and play, explore and learn.”

Theodore Roosevelt National Park offers a variety of activities that fourth graders and their families can enjoy, including the annual Dakota Nights Astronomy Festival on September 11 - 13, a Junior Ranger Program, astronomy programs and full moon hikes during the summer, and Family Fun Packs to borrow.

To receive their free pass for national parks, fourth graders can visit www.everykidinapark.gov and play a game to receive a pass voucher. Fourth graders and their families can then exchange the voucher for the free pass, which will provide entry to national parks and other federal public lands and waters across the country from September 1st, 2015 through August 31, 2016. The website also includes fun and engaging learning activities aligned to educational standards, trip planning tools, safety and packing tips and other important and helpful information for educators and parents.

In addition to providing every fourth grader in America a free entry pass for national parks and federal public lands and waters, fourth grade educators, youth group leaders and their students across the country will also participate in the program through field trips and other learning experiences. Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s website features a virtual tour of Theodore Roosevelt’s Maltese Cross Cabin, curriculum materials, and field trip guides for educators.

EXPERIENCE YOUR AMERICA™

The National Park Service cares for special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage. The goal of the Every Kid in a Park program is to connect 4th graders with the great outdoors and inspire them to become future environmental stewards, ready to preserve and protect national parks and other public lands for years to come. The program is an important part of the National Park Service’s centennial celebration in 2016, which encourages everyone to Find Your Park.

Every Kid in a Park is an administrative-wide effort, launched by President Obama, and supported by eight federal agencies, including the National Park Service, the Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, Department of Education, Fish and Wildlife Service, Forest Service, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Wendy Ross Selected as Superintendent of Theodore Roosevelt National Park

June 20th, 2015

Wendy Ross, a 21-year veteran of the National Park Service (NPS), has been selected as the new Superintendent of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Ross has served as the Superintendent of Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site in Stanton, North Dakota since April 2011. She spent the last eight months as the Acting Superintendent at Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Ross begins her new assignment July 12, 2015.

“I am pleased to welcome Wendy Ross as the next Superintendent of Theodore Roosevelt National Park,” stated Midwest Regional Director Cameron Sholly. “Wendy is an outstanding leader and will do a tremendous job in this position. She has a great blend of experiences and a proven track record of solving complex problems through innovation and relationship building.”

Ross said, “I have an intense personal connection to Theodore Roosevelt National Park. Like President Roosevelt, I found solace in the badlands when I was young and impressionable. My father's ashes rest among the colorful buttes overlooking the Little Missouri River at Wind Canyon. Words cannot express how honored I am to manage this magnificent landscape.”

Born in Tacoma, Washington, Ross earned her Bachelor of Arts in Northern Studies through Middlebury College in Vermont. Ross began her NPS career as an Air Quality Technician and later became a Visitor Use Assistant at Yellowstone National Park. She served as a Resource Management Specialist at Shiloh National Military Park, North Cascades National Park Complex, and Glacier National Park. She was a Management Assistant at Glacier National Park before becoming Superintendent at Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site. Prior to her NPS career, Ross served as a Peace Corps Volunteer, facilitating an agricultural loan program for rural farmers in Radawana, Sri Lanka. As a result, she speaks the Singhalese language fluently.

Ross is married to Scott Ross, a journeyman electrician and native of Cheyenne, Wyoming. They are avid outdoor enthusiasts and enjoy spending time skiing, biking, hiking, fishing and camping.

Theodore Roosevelt National Park Photo Contest Winner 2015

Dave Bruner of Grand Forks, ND won First Prize with this scenic photo entitled, “Sunset at Wind Canyon.” Bruner’s photo will be featured on the park’s 2015 Annual Park Pass.

Archived Park News

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