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Our Mission & Vision

Mission: We inspire connection, stewardship, and responsible use of the vast and diverse public lands of the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

Vision: A future where all people feel a deep connection to the Bridger-Teton National Forest through education, partnerships and action, ensuring sustainable human uses exist in balance with land, water, and wildlife.

Our Mission & Vision

Our Story

The idea began in the early 1980s: Teton County locals wanted to donate money to make improvements to trailheads and other projects to support and enhance their favorite national forest. However, it’s not possible to donate money to the U.S. federal government. We needed a nonprofit to support the Bridger-Teton National Forest.

Friends of the Bridger-Teton was officially founded in 2019. Since then, we’ve used grants and donations—both monetary and in-kind items (like bear-proof trash cans and fire rings) to support the BTNF and help promote responsible recreation so that we can all enjoy the forest’s diversity and wealth of resources now and into the future.

In March of 2022, the Jackson Hole Travel and Tourism Board (JHTTB) awarded FBT $1 million of grant funding to support marketing and communications efforts focused on responsible recreation and on-the-ground ambassadors on the BTNF. This injection of grant funds into our organization represented a turning point and significant expansion of the impact FBT could have on the forest. The JHTTB continues to be a partner and funder of FBT’s work as an important pillar in visitor management and education in Teton County, Wyoming

Our master agreement with the USFS puts us in a unique position to help fill gaps in funding and capacity so we can do projects similar to the very projects our friends in the 1980s envisioned for the Bridger-Teton National Forest and more. We partner with businesses and NGOs to make stuff happen. Our forest ambassadors work diligently to educate visitors and prevent things from happening (like wildfires and human/wildlife conflicts), and our educational videos and materials help people prepare before they enter the forest.

 

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Infinite Opportunities for Exploration

The 3.4 million acres of the BTNF cross five counties and are managed by six ranger districts. The BTNF is the single largest mass of public land within the 15-million acre Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, itself the largest intact ecosystem in the Lower 48.

Videos de habilidades del senderismo

Estos videos explicá ¿cómo prevenir accidentes? ¿Cómo dejar un lugar mejor de como lo encontraste? ¿Qué encargar para una caminata? ¿Y cómo protegerse de y cohabitar con osos?

Videos de habilidades del senderismo

About the BTNF

The Bridger-Teton National Forest is bigger than Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks combined, and home to some of the wildest landscapes in the Lower 48. It has 3 Wilderness areas and more than 2,500 miles of trails, and contains the headwaters of the Green and Snake Rivers. People recreate, recharge, and find refuge on the BTNF. If you haven’t, please explore the forest, whether by skiing, hiking, hunting, fishing, or collecting firewood. Humans aren’t the only users of the BTNF, though: 74 species of mammals, 355 species of birds, six species of reptiles, and 25 species of fish live within its borders.

Our Staff

Cheyenne Sterck

Development Coordinator

Samantha

River Steward

Jack Lahey

Mady Fowler

Intern

Parker Romero

Intern

Carlie Ideker

Program Manager

Shane O’Brien

Project Manager

Scott Kosiba

Executive Director

Jennifer Ricupero

Partnership Manager

Dina Mishev

Communications Manager

Our Board

Linda Merigliano

Karla Bird

Lisa Franzen, Co-Secretary

Kathy Gross

Marshall Durston

Chuck Butterfield

Tim Gardiner, Vice President

Marc Domsky

Ian MacLeod, Treasurer

Sharon Smitherman

Steve Markason, President

Karen Daubert, Co-Secretary

Ellen Fales, Board Member Emeritus

Forest Corps

We’re excited to introduce the Forest Corps, a new seasonal initiative designed to help fill critical gaps.

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Era Coriz

Ellie Zaher

Mickey Atkins

Abby Franklin

Ash Gunter

LeeAnn Shelton

Elly McFarland

Forest Corps Crew Lead

Monica Elliott

Partners

It takes a community to protect an ecosystem.

No one organization can steward a landscape as marvelously expansive, diverse, and complex as the Bridger-Teton National Forest. Always with the best interests of the BTNF in mind, we work with more than 100 partner organizations, including nonprofits like Friends of Pathways, Teton Adaptive Sports, and Tip Top Search and Rescue; government offices like Sublette County Weed & Pest, the Town of Jackson, and the USDA Forest Service; and also private companies like Kate’s Real Food, Roadhouse Brewing Co., and Dometic.

Our ability to be good stewards across a forest the size of Connecticut depends heavily on our ability to work with partners with shared values and priorities.

A huge thank you to all of our partners.

Interested in being a partner of Friends?

Become a Partner

FBT News

Stage One Fire Restrictions

Stage 1 Fire Restrictions for Teton Interagency Dispatch Area in Effect Starting July 22, 2026 The Teton Interagency Dispatch Area includes Grand Teton National Park, the Bridger-Teton National Forest, and...

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Ambassadors at work on Shadow Mountain

Sitting just outside the boundary of Grand Teton National Park and with stunning views of the Tetons, Shadow Mountain is the busiest designated dispersed camping area on the Bridger-Teton National...

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Shadow Mountain Camping

Is this the most gorgeous free camping area in the country? If it’s not, sitting on the BTNF’s Jackson District directly across from the main peaks of the Teton Range...

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Meriglianos Receive Teton Conservation Vision Award from Teton Conservation District

In early July, Teton Conservation District announced that FBT Board member Linda Merigliano and her husband, Dr. Mike Merigliano, were the recipients of its 2026 Teton Conservation Vision Award. Together...

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The Four Ws: Ways of Life—Cultural Wisdom and Heritage

The 58-mile long Green River Drift cattle trail, which takes place in and around the Upper Green River Valley in the BTNF’s Pinedale District, has been continuously used since the...

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The Four Ws: Wildlands

The BTNF is special for as many different reasons as users who enjoy it. But there are Four Ws—Water (and snow), Wildlife, Wildlands, and Ways of Life—that make it truly...

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The Four Ws: Water

The BTNF is special for as many different reasons as users who enjoy it. But there are Four Ws—Water (and snow), Wildlife, Wildlands, and Ways of Life—that make it truly...

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The Four Ws: Wildlife

The BTNF is special for as many different reasons as users who enjoy it. But there are Four Ws—Water (and snow), Wildlife, Wildlands, and Ways of Life—that make it truly...

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Wyoming Range 100

The first time Denis Cook visited the Wyoming Range, one of the six mountain ranges within the Bridger-Teton National Forest, he was invited by friends who promised, “we won’t see...

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May is National Wildfire Awareness Month

A mild winter with little snowpack created an earlier than normal fire season this year. Fire and wildfire professionals in and around the BTNF are already preparing for the wildfire...

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@bridgertetonfriends This week’s @jhnewsandguide includes an article about how BTNF staff and volunteers are working to educate campers on the busiest designated dispersed camping area on the forest, and how both neighboring Grand Teton National Park and the BTNF are experiencing and educating an increasing number of visitors. From the article: Despite some of the misbehavior that has transpired this summer — including, notably, a party cutting down eight aspen trees on Shadow to get a better view of the Tetons — forest officials are glad to have visitors enjoying public land. “Yes, there are some issues, but I want to emphasize that a lot of people are coming here and having fun and doing their thing and having an awesome time, which is absolutely what we want,” BTNF Jackson District Ranger Todd Stiles said. “We’re just trying to do the best we can to hold the line and to let people love it here, enjoy it, have this camping experience and not have it become somewhere people don’t want to come in 10 to 20 years.” Read the entire article in the link in our bio. Yes, it rained on much of the BTNF this morning, but the fire danger rating for the Teton Interagency Dispatch area remains at “high,” meaning wildfires can start easily and spread quickly. Stage 1 fire restrictions went into effect on the Forest at 6 a.m. this morning (July 22). What does this mean? On the Bridger-Teton National Forest: Lighting, building, maintaining, attending, or using a fire (including fires fueled by charcoal or briquettes) is prohibited, except if it is in: A permanent metal or concrete fire pit or grate that the Forest Service has installed and maintained at its developed recreation sites listed in the link in our bio. A device solely fueled by liquid or gas that can be turned on and off used in an area that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials within three feet of the device. A fully enclosed metal stove with a chimney at least five feet in length and a mesh screen spark arrestor with a screen opening of a ¼ inch or less used in an area that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials within 10 feet of the device. NOTE that fires are NOT allowed in any stone fire ring, regardless of how long they have been established, nor in any wilderness area. Additionally: * Smoking is prohibited, except in an enclosed vehicle or building, a developed recreation site, or while stopped in an area at least three feet in diameter that is barren or cleared of all flammable materials. * Welding, or operating acetylene or other torch with open flame is prohibited, except if in a cleared area of at least 10 feet in diameter and a chemical pressurized fire extinguisher (with a minimum 8 oz. capacity and rating of Class 2A) is kept with the operator. * Possessing, igniting, discharging, or using any kind of fireworks or explosives is strictly prohibited on public lands. Violations of these prohibitions are punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of up to $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for up to six months, or both. See link in our bio for additional info on Level 1 Fire Restrictions Extremely excited and thankful to announce our first partner for “Grounds For Good” @brandingironwyo! “Grounds For Good” is a program where we partner with local coffee companies that already love and support the BTNF and increase their support by having a portion of a specific drink to help fund different projects across the BTNF. Go get some of the best empanadas and shakes of your life made by the best in the business, Jen and Matt! P.S. our favorite empanada is the rhubarb! Migration tracking week 9 🦌🦌🦌🦌 Deer 665 has arrived on summer range! She reached Teton Valley, Idaho on June 8 and gave birth to twin fawns on June 9. Amazingly, June 8 is also the date she arrived on summer range in 2024 and 2025. MIGRATION SUMMARY All told, this spring Deer 665 migrated about roughly 197 miles in 61 days, with 45 of those days foraging in stopover habitat. That’s almost three-quarters of her migration spent selecting for the most nutritious springtime sprouts. These plants set her up for successful birthing, lactation, and survival in the coming winter. Across Deer 665’s full spring migration, she made seven crossings of four highways, along with navigating more than 100 fences, swimming the Green River and Snake River and traversing an arm of the Continental Divide. Starting from winter range in Superior, Wyoming at 7,100 feet, her lowest elevation on the migration trail was 6,070 feet during her nighttime crossing of the Snake River. Her highest elevation traversed was about 9,200 feet on a ridge south of Teton Pass. Graphic and text from @migrationinitiative #deer665 #wyomingmigrationinitiative #wyomingmuledeer #publiclands Jules, a native of Connecticut, moved to Jackson Hole in 2014 (after 20 years of being an annual visitor). Her husband Chris started visiting Jackson Hole while in utero—his family has ties to Dubois, Wyoming, going back three generations—and he finally moved to the valley (from Illinois) more than 30 years ago. Unlike many Ambassadors, Jules and Chris are not retired. Jules is a writer and editor and Chris is a master finish carpenter and project manager. “I am thrilled to serve the BTNF as an Ambassador,” Jules says. “Educating the public on the proper ways to extinguish campfires and employ safe food storage and answering questions on wildlife and the Teton area is a most rewarding summer experience.” Chris says, “I wanted to become an Ambassador to enjoy nature better and help educate campers/visitors on how to camp responsibly and protect this valuable resource.” Our Ambassadors for Responsible Recreation program includes full- and part-time summer and winter positions as volunteers for the USDA Forest Service on the BTNF. This summer there are 40 volunteer Ambassadors for Responsible Recreation across all six districts of the BTNF. They are supported by local lodging tax dollars, Friends of the Bridger-Teton, and private donations. #bridgertetonnationalforest #bridgertetonfriends #nationalforests #nationalforest #publiclands publicland getoutside responsiblerecreation keepwildlifewild jacksonhole

We acknowledge with respect that our facilities are situated on the aboriginal land of the Shoshone Bannock. Eastern Shoshone. Northern Arapaho. Crow. Assiniboine. Sioux. Gros Ventre. Nez Perce.

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