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Events

Run the Red to Celebrate Wyoming Public Lands Day with Community Events in South Pass City

Posted on by John Burrows

Hundreds of runners from across the nation and their families, members of the public, speakers, and Tribal members will kick off the Wyoming Public Lands celebration on September 25 in South Pass City. This holiday recognizes the millions of acres of public lands in Wyoming that belong to everyone. The celebration coincides with Run the Red, where runners race across the desert, competing in half marathon, 50K, and 100K distances.

Gov. Mark Gordon in March 2019 signed legislation that recognized the fourth Saturday of each September as a day to celebrate the public lands that are central to Wyoming’s quality of life, economy and heritage. Wyoming was the third state in the country to declare a state public land’s day.  The public is encouraged to attend or simply get outside to enjoy a national forest, national monument, wildlife refuge, or any public land. 

Run the Red began in 2014 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act of 1964 and the 30th anniversary of the Wyoming Wilderness Act. In 2019 the race was also coordinated to celebrate the inaugural Wyoming Public Lands Day. The event has grown over the years, starting with just 30 runners and growing to over 200 with multiple courses. Last fall, a short film from Patagonia further elevated the race to a national profile. Run the Red begins in the former gold mining community of South Pass City and takes runners through the Northern Red Desert — a maze of buttes, canyons, badlands, wilderness study areas, and miles of open country. Parts of the course even traverse the Oregon, California, and Mormon trails where some 500,000 emigrants traveled in search of new beginnings in the 1800s. 

In addition to the races, a series of tours, speakers, music, and food is planned for the day. Beginning at 6:30 a.m., a pancake breakfast will be served for volunteers and members of the public and numerous nonprofit organizations will be tabling including the Equality State Policy Center, Citizens for the Red Desert, Red Desert Audubon, and others. The bulk of the family and community events begin around 9:30 a.m., which include tours of the Carissa Mine and the Flood & Hindle Trails, a nature hike lead by ethnobotanist John Mionczynski, and an Oregon Trail presentation by Randy Weiss. Kids will also be able to enjoy gold panning, and a kids fun run will be held around 10:30 a.m. Two local food trucks — Hungry Buddha from Rock Springs and Monahooboo Hut from Wind River — will provide food options for the public and beer will be served by Square State Brewing from Rock Springs.

Big Wind Singers, a traditional drum group, and dancing by the Wind River Dancers will kick off the main celebration at noon. Following the cultural celebration, members of the Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho Tribes will speak about the cultural significance of the Red Desert and the meaning of their dance and song. Elected officials and state leaders have been invited to speak about the importance of public lands to all people. Music by Ten Cent Stranger begins at 2 p.m. and an old time piano and accordion performance by John Mionczynski will wrap up the celebration in the evening. The festivities are open to all. To see the full schedule of events, go to www.runthereddesert.com

Let’s vote, Wyoming! Here’s everything you need to know.

Posted on by Alan Rogers

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The nights are turning crisp, hunting season is in full swing, and around Wyoming the aspens are turning fiery orange and gold. It can only mean one thing: Election Day is almost here!

Although the hoopla of the presidential campaign attracts an outsized share of the public’s attention, Wyoming citizens also have the responsibility to select many other local, state, and federal officials that represent our communities, manage our public resources, and make decisions every day that impact Wyoming’s future and the conservation issues you care about. That’s why it’s essential to educate yourself about all the candidates on the ballot and cast a vote that ensures your values are represented at all levels of government. 

The mission of the Wyoming Outdoor Council is to preserve our state’s quality of life now and for future generations, and voting is one way to meet that challenge. We’ve collected the information below to make sure you have the tools to get out to vote on (or before!) Nov. 3. 

Before we get started, remember that your county clerk is your best resource if you have questions about voting. The state of Wyoming also launched a new website this year — www.letsvotewyo.org — with information on how to register, find your polling place, request an absentee ballot, learn about COVID-19 precautions, or contact your clerk’s office. 


REGISTERING TO VOTE

You can vote if you’re at least 18 years old on Election Day, a U.S. citizen, and reside in Wyoming. You must also be registered to vote. Fortunately, Wyoming has same-day voter registration, meaning you can register at your polling location and vote immediately. 

Of course, you can register in advance by visiting your county clerk’s office. Applications can also be submitted by mail, but you’ll need to have your application form notarized if you go this route.

Regardless of when and where you register, you’ll need to provide some form of ID. A Wyoming driver’s license is easiest, but you can also use a state, tribal, student, or military ID, or a passport. If you don’t have a Wyoming driver’s license you’ll also need to know the last four digits of your Social Security number. If you don’t have a driver’s license or a Social Security number you’ll need to contact your county clerk’s office for help registering. 

Wyoming purges its voter rolls after every general election to remove citizens who did not participate. If you didn’t vote in the 2018 election you’ll need to re-register before you can vote in 2020. You must also re-register if you moved to a different county. If you moved within the same county you can update your current registration at the polls or your clerk’s office. 

OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES

College students can register to vote in either their hometown or the community where their school is located, whichever they consider their primary residence. 

Members of the military can register and vote absentee in their home community. There are also special considerations available for military spouses and children of service members. 

People experiencing homelessness must provide a physical location and mailing address. Shelters can often be used for voter registration locations. 

People who have been convicted of a felony cannot register to vote in Wyoming unless they have had their voting rights restored. For non-violent, first-time offenses this process has been automated since 2010. If you completed probation, parole, or a prison sentence prior to 2010 you need to apply to have your voting rights restored through the Department of Corrections. 


VOTING BY MAIL

This election season, many Wyomingites are opting for the convenience of voting by mail to avoid visiting a crowded polling location amid the pandemic. This has long been a popular choice in the state, where rural living can make access to the polls challenging. And there’s a real added benefit: Voting by mail lets you spend as much time as you need with your ballot, so you can research candidates you aren’t familiar with and make thoughtful choices instead of being left puzzled by judicial retentions or a proposed constitutional amendment. 

Absentee ballots must be received before polls close at 7 p.m. on Nov. 3. The Equality State Policy Center recommends that voters mail their ballots no later than seven days before the election to ensure on-time delivery. If you miss this deadline, or just want to save a stamp, you can drop off your absentee ballot in person at your county clerk’s office. 

You can request an absentee ballot by mail, email, phone, or in person. The last day to request a ballot is October 20, but you can still vote early in person between then and Election Day. Be sure to read the instructions on your ballot, and call the clerk’s office if you have any questions. 


VOTING EARLY

Wyoming also offers in-person absentee voting, commonly known as early voting. You can vote before Election Day at your county’s early voting location: Frequently this is the county clerk’s office, but some counties set up an early voting center elsewhere. Voting early is a great option if you prefer to vote in person but your work or family schedule will make it difficult to get to the polls on Nov. 3, or you want to avoid a crowd or possible long lines. 


VOTING ON ELECTION DAY

Election Day during the COVID-19 pandemic will function like in years past, but with a few changes. Just like your local grocery store, surfaces will be sanitized frequently and voters will be asked to stand six feet apart while waiting in line. Face coverings aren’t required for voters but, since you’re already doing your civic duty, why not wear a mask to help keep your neighbors safe?  

Even if you’ve been visiting the same polling location for years, it’s a good idea to look up your polling place through your county clerk’s website or www.letsvotewyo.org. Some locations have changed temporarily due to the pandemic, and some communities have closed or consolidated polling places in recent years. 

Identification is not required to vote but be sure to bring your ID if you need to register at the polls. And, most importantly …


MAKE A PLAN!

It’s not rocket science, but it is scientifically proven that you’re much more likely to follow through on your intentions to vote if you make a specific plan. 

Decide (right now is a great opportunity!) exactly how and when you’re going to vote. Making a plan is especially important if you have obstacles that make voting difficult. Maybe you work long hours, live far from your polling place, or are busy with your kids’ after-school activities. Choose a specific time when you’ll visit the polls or mail your ballot, put it on your calendar, and share your plans with family or friends to keep yourself accountable. 


BUDDY UP AT THE BALLOT BOX

Now that you have a plan to vote, how else can you make an impact? Bring a friend! 

In any given election, only about half of Wyoming voters actually participate. To help increase voter turnout this year, we created a tool that will encourage you to pick a voting buddy and make sure they cast a ballot. (It might help you remember to get to the polls, too!)

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It’s pretty simple — just complete the form with the name of someone that you will personally commit to remind to vote. You’ll receive two customized emails in the coming weeks reminding you to reach out to your voting buddy, and some voting-related resources to ensure that your buddy has all the information they need to make their voices heard at the polls this year. Don’t worry, we won’t ask you for their contact information or any other personal details, and we won’t save their names after the election is over; this is just for you! 

So, what are you waiting for? Make sure you’re registered, educate yourself about your local races, make a plan, and vote! Wyoming will be better for it. 

 

 

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Conservation advocacy in a time of quarantine: we’re going remote!

Posted on by Kristen Gunther

The current COVID-19 pandemic is dramatically reshaping everything about how we live, work, recreate, and spend time with our families. At the Wyoming Outdoor Council, much of our work involves traveling to communities around the state and ensuring that you have the tools and information necessary to be an informed, engaged citizen and conservation advocate. Over the last few weeks, we’ve been challenging ourselves to think about how we can continue to do this work and we’re excited to offer the below new events and resources. We encourage you to stay tuned as we’ll be reaching out to you in new ways, too! 

We’re also taking this opportunity to announce a new way that we’ll be talking about our community engagement work. From now on, you can find information about conservation leadership training, volunteer and internship opportunities, public events, citizen workshops, and more, under a brand new page we’re calling FIELD — Fostering Impact through Environmental Leadership Development.

To learn how you can take action “in the field” with our citizen engagement programs, check out the new FIELD page. 


Virtual community engagement events 

This week, we’re holding our first-ever, all-online Beers & Bills! This Friday, join us at 3:30 p.m. for a “happy hour” Beers & Bills (it’s BYOB this time!) where we’ll recap the 2020 Wyoming Legislative Session, follow up on bills that we worked on throughout session, and answer your questions about what happened as well as what’s next. 

We’ll continue hosting “drop-in” events and brown bag lunches, too — they’ll just be online! Keep your eyes on your inbox for special invites to roundtable, conversational events where we discuss some of the most pressing conservation issues in your community.


NEW! Live from the FIELD: Lessons for K-12 Wyoming students

Are you a parent looking for engaging educational content for your kid? Are you a student curious about conservation issues and science in the state? Join us for online lessons about topics ranging from mule deer to climate change to wildlife disease! We’re kicking things off next week with two lessons about mule deer with two Wyoming migration scientists, one for elementary schoolers and one for high schoolers. Visit our FIELD page for more information and to RSVP.


Conservation leadership training goes online!

In 2018, the Outdoor Council conducted our first 8-week conservation leadership training in Lander. In 2020, we will be offering this course again … now online, and open to a statewide audience! If you’re interested in learning the nuts and bolts of policymaking, developing a toolbox of organizing and advocacy skills, and getting field-tested advice from Wyoming organizers and leaders, watch your inbox for information on how to apply in the coming weeks. If you have questions in the meantime, drop me a line.


Remote public comment opportunities

While much of our normal lives has slowed or stopped, some important state and federal processes affecting our natural resources continue to move forward  — meaning that it’s just as important as ever that you raise your voice for Wyoming conservation values. We’ll work to provide resources online and by mail to help you weigh-in to ensure that wildlife, public lands, and clean air and water in Wyoming receive the robust protections that Wyomingites favor. Make sure we have your contact information correct and up-to-date here!

Have an idea? A lesson for K-12 you’d like our help with or that your kids are interested in? A topic or issue you’d like us to address with some remote programming? Email me and let me know — we want to know how we can best help you! 

While we’re all wrestling with the big changes that COVID-19 has brought to our lives, the Outdoor Council is committed to doing all that we can to bring resources to Wyoming communities. We’ll continue working daily to protect Wyoming conservation values. Thank you for standing alongside us through this uniquely challenging time — your support and membership makes our continued advocacy possible.

Run the Red 2019 was the biggest on record, and it’s not over yet

Posted on by John Burrows

DECEMBER 2019 UPDATE: In early 2020, the Bureau of Land Management anticipates releasing the long-awaited draft land use plan for the Red Desert and surrounding areas. The plan will determine which resources are protected and which areas are open to industrial development. This means that important wildlife, cultural, scenic, and archeological resources — like Steamboat Mountain and its resident desert elk herd, the Red Desert to Hoback mule deer migration corridor, Native American petroglyphs and sacred sites, and historic trails like the Oregon and Mormon trails — could be at risk. Stay tuned for updates on the draft and for opportunities to tell BLM and Governor Gordon to stand up for balanced use and to protect the Red Desert. 

The Red Desert is a land of extremes and poetic contrasts. Depending on the time of year, you could find yourself panting for breath in oppressive heat, stuck axle deep in the mud, or shivering despite being bundled in every layer you own. These challenges — and the chance to test one’s mettle against them — are what make the rugged Red Desert the perfect place to host Run the Red, one of Wyoming’s emerging endurance races.

Run the Red is Wyoming’s only ultramarathon designed to raise awareness and advocacy for the Red Desert. This year’s race was held on the state’s first Wyoming Public Lands Day on September 28, with a newly designed course that started and finished at historic South Pass City. Two new distances were also added — a 45K and 90K — so that participants could experience the best of the Northern Red Desert:  imposing views of Continental Peak, the towering Oregon Buttes, and undulating high desert bisected by the Sweetwater River. Despite the challenging weather, which shifted from snow to rain to wind to sun, this year’s race was the most successful on record, bringing 155 runners from all over Wyoming and as far away as Texas and Oregon. 

“Wyoming people are tough,” said Shaleas Harrison of the Wyoming Wilderness Association. She organized this year’s race and the Wyoming Public Lands Day events that followed at South Pass City, along with partners from NOLS and the Wyoming Outdoor Council. The day was full of wet, smiling runners, laughs from hardy aid station volunteers, memories made around drum circles and banjos, and, most importantly, a deeper appreciation for a wild place many Wyomingites hold dear. 

Following the race, runners and locals from Lander and Rock Springs enjoyed a series of events  to celebrate the newly created Wyoming Public Lands Day. A range of speakers — including representatives from the Northern Arapaho and Eastern Shoshone tribes, state legislators, Red Desert experts, and sponsored athletes shared their perspectives about the importance of landscapes like the Red Desert in maintaining Wyoming’s quality of life, wildlife, and rich outdoor heritage. 

Although the race has changed over the years, the goal of Run the Red — to build a connection to a wild landscape — has remained the same. Jonathan Williams, Environmental Stewardship Coordinator for NOLS, couldn’t have said it better:

“The great thing about Run the Red is that it gives people the opportunity to create a deep sense of place for themselves and then carry that forward as advocates for the desert.” 

– Jonathan Williams,
Environmental Stewardship Coordinator for NOLS

In coming months, the Bureau of Land Management, will release its revised land-use plan for much of the Red Desert. There’s a lot at stake. Our hope is that all the runners, volunteers, and participants — along with anyone who cares about this wild landscape — will weigh in and urge the BLM to protect what makes this place so unique. Stay tuned … the race isn’t over yet!

Learning the art of advocacy

Posted on by Kristen Gunther

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Citizen advocates converge for WOC’s inaugural Conservation Leadership Institute

On a November evening at the Lander Library, Mike Burd, a sportsman and trona miner from Green River, spoke to a group of 17 students about the value of partnerships. More than a decade ago, when labor union leaders sat down with hunters and conservationists to discuss potential oil and gas development in the Wyoming Range, they all agreed about the need to protect this special area.

“We all wanted a clean environment, safe places to live, and some places set aside from development,” he said. Despite having wildly different backgrounds and experiences, the key to success, Mike suggested, was finding common ground.

For the students, his advice wasn’t just conceptual. This was a session of the Wyoming Outdoor Council’s first Conservation Leadership Institute, a free eight-week course designed to introduce aspiring grassroots leaders to the tools of organizing, and to help build stronger connections with one another.

History and goals

WOC’s CLI was modeled on a program created by the Jackson Hole Conservation Alliance. We tailored the program for Fremont County, bringing in experienced Eastern Shoshone and Northern Arapaho tribal leaders as speakers, recruiting a variety of conservation and outdoor recreation stakeholders in the region, and distilling lessons from advocacy practices from around the state. CLI introduces emerging advocates to the basics of organizing, from leading a successful meeting to crafting a letter to the editor, and emphasizes community and relationship building, especially within the group.

Our syllabus was made up of eight action-packed weeks covering everything from Wyoming’s election laws to effective communications. We also asked each student to workshop a project to test concepts learned in class.

WOC’s first CLI class

Lander was ready for a program like CLI — the class filled in a matter of days. The 17 students who enrolled represented a range of experiences, backgrounds, ages, and connections to Wyoming. Some students were new to Lander and wanted to meet like-minded community members; others had deep Wyoming roots and wanted to build skills to support their passions. Their diversity is evident in their array of projects (see some examples on page 9).
The eight weeks were packed with guest speakers and information — covering everything from how to run a Facebook page to tips for approaching legislators about a policy issue.

Guests, too, represented a range of experiences, coming from groups such as the Wyoming Education Association, The Wilderness Society, and the Wyoming Trial Lawyers Association. There was plenty of opportunity for fun, too. Students practiced short, fast pitches before experienced Wyoming lobbyists and learned the basics of campaign planning through a Lord of the Rings framework. (“One does not simply walk into Mordor.” Before setting off to reach a goal, you must analyze the landscape, gather allies, and make a plan of approach.)
One success of CLI 2018 was the connections students made with one another. Their mutual support and friendships will strengthen their projects and their communities into the future. To us, that’s the most valuable lesson: advocacy in Wyoming is all about building relationships and finding common ground.

Interested in CLI? We’re planning for 2019! Email Kristen Gunther —
kristen@wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org.

Image: Claire Cella

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Wade Lippincott, who owns a roofing company and lives in Thermopolis, is forming a collaborative group to conduct recreational planning and development in Hot Springs County.

Eryn Pierce, NOLS’s art director, is building a grassroots network of local artists to volunteer time to advocacy or nonprofit groups in Fremont County.

Skyler Dixey, executive director of the Wind River Native Advocacy Center, wants to enhance the effectiveness of the group’s outreach and programs.

Aaron Foster, district supervisor of Fremont County Weed and Pest, wants to improve local participation in the “Play, Clean, Go” campaign to reduce the spread of noxious weeds.

Luke Stacy, a Creative Energies employee, is volunteering with the Wyoming Wildlife Federation to expand their Hunters for the Hungry food donation program.

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Running the Red Desert for conservation

Posted on by Claire Cella

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“I’ve always been attracted to the Boar’s Tusk,” Wyoming Outdoor Council member Daniel Dale said after finishing a challenging 23-kilometer run that took him past the iconic Red Desert landmark. “Now I have a personal story to go with it.”

Fostering personal connections to this stunning — and threatened — landscape is what Run the Red is all about. The sandy, hilly terrain draws athletes eager for a challenge. Since its creation five years ago by the Outdoor Council and partners from NOLS and the Wyoming Wilderness Association, the race’s primary goal has been to help people create their own stories about this unique place, so they might better advocate its protection.

The Red Desert needs as many advocates as it can get. As oil and gas leases are fast-tracked on public lands under a new “energy dominance” mandate, the fate of this rugged, wild landscape hangs in the balance.

Right now, the Bureau of Land Management is revising its land-use plan for much of the desert. That plan will determine how multiple activities — including energy development — are balanced with conservation for the next 15 to 20 years. Some of the BLM’s proposed activities could limit public access and threaten important wildlife habitat in the desert.

And in a particularly troubling move, the BLM has proposed offering oil and gas lease parcels inside the one-of-a-kind Red Desert to Hoback mule deer migration corridor — the longest mule deer migration ever recorded, and a lifeline for deer populations as well as a wealth of other Wyoming species.

“The Red Desert to Hoback mule deer migration is a unique feature of this landscape,” WOC conservation advocate Kristen Gunther told Run the Red participants on June 2. “If oil and gas operators are allowed to drill inside the narrow corridor that these animals depend upon for survival, our ability to maintain healthy mule deer numbers in Wyoming will be severely threatened.”

This year, runners wrote postcards to Governor Matt Mead requesting that he ask the Interior Department to defer oil and gas leasing in the migration corridor. Dozens of postcards were collected at the finish line, filled with fresh stories of people’s newfound love and appreciation for the Red Desert, its beauty, and its ecological, cultural, and historical significance. These messages will be forwarded to the governor and other state elected officials.

For more information about how you can help advocate for the Red Desert, visit runthereddesert.com.

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Scott Pies, from Rock Springs, came in first place in the 50K with a time of 04:00:02. Erik Aanerud, also from Rock Springs, won the 23k with a time of 01:00:55, and John Raymond, from Farson, came in first in the 5K with a time of 00:26:29. (For complete results, visit ultrasignup.com and search “Run the Red.”)

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Thank You for Celebrating With Us!

Posted on by Amy Rathke

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Thanks to everyone who joined us this past weekend to celebrate our 50th anniversary! We were delighted to connect with our Wyoming community, meet new folks who love the outdoors, celebrate decades of conservation, and think together about our vision for the future.

We couldn’t have done any of it without you. As we said throughout the weekend, our membership is, and always has been, the backbone of the Outdoor Council. So, if you haven’t already, please join us or renew your membership!

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In the spirit of kicking off the next 50 years, we’d love your feedback. You can help us improve future events as well as share highlights from the weekend by filling out this quick survey.

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We’ll be posting photos and videos from the weekend soon, in addition to sharing additional resources from our Citizen Advocacy Summit workshops. Stay tuned to our Facebook event page and our blog for more in the coming days.

Wyoming will continue to be a great place to live, work, and play for the next 50 years—and beyond—because of you. Thanks for supporting the Wyoming Outdoor Council!

Warmly,

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Jalan Crossland Band’s “last big hurrah” this Friday in Lander

Posted on by Amy Rathke

A once-in-a-lifetime event is taking place at the Lander Community & Convention Center this Friday night… and you’re invited!

Not only will we be kicking off our 50th Anniversary Celebration and Citizen Advocacy Summit, but we’ll also be hosting the final performance of Wyoming’s own Jalan Crossland Band.

Described as “a grand experimenter” (Northern WY Daily News), a mixture of “raw talent and obvious practice with passion, whimsy, and a feel for what people want to see and hear” (‘The Ear,’ Park City, UT) and “an endemic Wyoming Treasure” (Rita Basom, Wyoming Arts Council), Jalan Crossland does more than put on a show that’s toe-tappin’-good; he creates an experience.

Just ahead of this Friday’s show—his last alongside his bandmates Shaun Kelley and Pat Madsen—Jalan kindly took the time to speak with us and reflect on where he is now, where he’s headed next, and how he’ll feel stepping off the stage this Friday night.

Wyoming Outdoor Council:
Your show in Lander on September 22 marks the end of your band’s journey together. Why did you and the band choose this particular event and location for the last performance of the Jalan Crossland Band?

Jalan Crossland:
It was a most fortunate serendipity that Lander was the last confirmed booking on the calendar when our drummer, Pat Madsen, made the doleful announcement that he would be moving back East, rendering it impossible for us to accept any further gigs as a band. But I can think of no more suitable place for our farewell show. We have loved playing in Lander for years and years. The good people there have always been supportive of us and our music and we are happy to hold the last big hurrah there with all of our friends.

WOC: What are you looking forward to about the “next step” from here?

JC: I’m looking forward to performing as a soloist for awhile, taking it back down home to the basics, the simplicity. I’m eager to write and record an album of new, solo songs, with the only instrumentation being a guitar, or a banjo, a harmonica, a boot stompin’ on a porch’, and a high lonesome voice, just like old times.

WOC: Your show on the 22nd is part of the Wyoming Outdoor Council’s 50th anniversary celebration; what do you admire most about the Council’s work to protect public lands in Wyoming?

JC: Wyoming offers some of the mostest vastest expanses of public land in the lower 48. We all benefit from this feeling of freedom in the great outdoors. It’s among the main reasons that I remain in Wyoming. Sure as hell ain’t the weather. If the Wyoming Outdoor Council is endeavoring to preserve this heritage, then I’m with them.

WOC: As a Wyoming native, what are some of your favorite parts of the state? What is it about this part of the world that makes it so magical and special?

JC: I love all of Wyoming’s natural places, from the high, pined mountains, to the lonesome, sweeping prairies, to the mean ol’ badlands. As I said, it’s the feeling of freedom that can yet be experienced here, amidst the rapid encroachment of Civilization with all of its strictures. In Wyoming, it’s still possible to step out into untamed nature and feel like a wild, hot blooded hominid, with your bare skin touching everything from the earth to the stars.

WOC: As a band, are you doing anything special to commemorate your last show together?

JC: Yes, for the first time in our career, we intend to catch all of our cues and make all of the chord changes at the correct times. I will remember all of the words to ‘Trailer Park Fire’ and perform them in the correct order. Give or take.

WOC: After you’ve played that final song, and heard the last echoes of the applause from the crowd… how do you hope to feel as you’re walking off stage together, one last time, as the Jalan Crossland Band?

JC: I’m sure that we’ll all feel some melancholy. We’ve been partners, brothers, and friends, as they say, making music together for over 12 years. But we’ll be satisfied that it was a dang good run. There’s no time for dwelling on the past anyway. The future will need more songs.”

Don’t miss out on your last chance to see the Jalan Crossland Band, this Friday night at the Lander Community & Convention Center!!

The schedule for Friday night’s free festivities includes:

  • 5 p.m. – Doors open
  • 5 p.m. – Community mural project, hosted by local artist Virginia Moore and the Lander Art Center (learn more here)
  • 5:45 p.m. – Low Water String Band
  • 7 p.m. – Jalan Crossland Band

But the fun doesn’t stop there! Tickets for Saturday’s anniversary celebration events, including a host of engaging workshops and a delicious harvest dinner, are on sale now!

We’ll see you this weekend in Lander… we can’t wait to celebrate!

See you in one week for the Outdoor Council’s 50th!

Posted on by Amy Rathke

We are excited to welcome you to Lander for our 50th anniversary gathering in one week on September 22 and 23! We’ve provided some helpful updates below to ensure everyone has a fantastic time.

  • Friday night’s free community concert is shaping up to be a rip-roaring good time. Come out to Lander City Park and enjoy music from Low Water String Band and the final performance of the Jalan Crossland Band! Local food and drink vendors will be on site. The music starts at 5:45 p.m., but come by earlier to take part in a community mural project hosted by local artist Virginia Moore and the Lander Art Center.
  • The menus for Saturday evening’s Tom Bell Memorial Cocktail Hour and Harvest Dinner are sure to whet your appetite! See them here.
  • Be sure to head over to our silent auction website and check out the great donations. From a Nordic ski coaching session with a Winter Olympian to a guided fishing adventure, there’s something for everyone. Local auctioneer Layne Weber will facilitate a lively “live WOCtion” on Saturday night.
  • See our recently updated schedule for updates to our workshop lineup. Drawn to the Outdoors I & II are the only workshops with attendance limits, and they are full. Feel free to pick and choose among the other options, regardless of what you originally signed up for.
  • Unfortunately, the Photography and Social Media workshop leader canceled due to a scheduling conflict, but we have added new sessions that we know you’ll enjoy, including a Conservation Journalism Roundtable.

As always, please let me know if you have any questions. Thanks for your continued support of the Wyoming Outdoor Council. I look forward to seeing you next weekend!

Warmly,
Amy

P.S. Tickets are still available, so if you have friends and family that would like to attend, be sure to share the event with them!

 

Top 5 Reasons to Attend the Outdoor Council’s 50th Anniversary Celebration

Posted on by Amy Rathke

In just two weeks, we’ll be gathering in Lander to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wyoming Outdoor Council. Whether you’re making plans to join us both days (Friday and Saturday, September 22 and 23) or simply stopping in for a workshop or two, we’re excited to see you there!

As we get closer to the date of the celebration, here are five features we’re feeling particularly delighted to share more information about:

Award-winning artist Bethann Merkle

 

1. The opportunity to be “Drawn to the Outdoors” through a two-part workshop series.

We’re thrilled to feature Bethann Merkle, an award-winning artist who uses her work to communicate important messages about conservation, in our Citizen Advocacy Summit. Not only does Bethann create “quirky-yet-elegant” illustrations to improve scientific literacy and encourage advocacy, but she’s also passionate about helping even the most novice of artists unlock their inner illustrator. During her two workshop sessions on Saturday (“Drawn to the Outdoors Part I: Field Journal and Observational Sketching Basics” from 10 a.m.–12 p.m., and “Drawn to the Outdoors Part II: Field Journaling on Red Butte” from 1–4 p.m.), you’ll receive a professional-quality, field-ready sketching kit, learn how to use it, then put your new skills directly to work on location as you venture out onto Lander’s iconic Red Butte. Space is limited; register today!

 

 

2. You can join in and help create a community mural.

During Friday night’s concert in City Park, local artist Virginia Moore will be creating a stunning mural… and she’ll need everyone’s help to complete it! The mural, representing the Outdoor Council’s values and depicting our work over the past 50 years, will be facilitated by Virginia, making it easy for all ages to participate. Paint and brushes will be provided! Come and be part of creating a special piece of history in our community.

 

3. The live and silent auctions offer the chance to win incredible, one-of-a-kind items and experiences.

Ranging from a full-day fishing adventure with Sweetwater Fishing Expeditions, to stunning original artwork (including pieces by Laney Hicks, Fred Kingwell and Virginia Moore), to a curated collection of western-themed books (written by 12 Wyoming authors, including Jeffrey Lockwood, Robert Kelly and Mary Beth Baptiste) our auctions offer items for every taste. Some of the most unique items up for bid include:

        

A hand-carved canoe paddle by Lander artist Tim Hudson; a one-week stay at a luxury Granite Ridge home in Jackson Hole’s Teton Village; and a four-night stay for four people at the HF Bar Ranch, a guest ranch where a slow pace is the norm and adventures in horseback riding, fly fishing, and hiking await.

 

4. We will be presenting a conservation award to Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia.

Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia

Patagonia has been one of the most vocal for-profit companies in the preservation of public lands, and we’re honored to be able to present Chouinard with this award for his work. The ceremony, which will feature two additional conservation award presentations, will take place during the harvest dinner (a locally sourced spread prepared by Lander’s Cowfish restaurant) on Saturday, September 23. We’d love for you to join us in applauding Chouinard’s efforts to help protect the public lands we love. Reserve your tickets now for the award ceremony, the dinner, and the keynote address!

 

 

 

 

5. Friday night will mark the final performance of the Jalan Crossland Band.

Jalan Crossland of the Jalan Crossland Band

One of Wyoming’s most beloved home-grown bands will be taking the stage one last time on Friday, September 22, in Lander’s City Park. Settle in with your favorite chairs or blankets for a night of rollicking tunes, and be part of a crowd the band will surely never forget.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The five features above are just a curated selection taken from a full schedule of fantastic experiences we cannot wait to share with you during this weekend-long celebration in Lander. We invite you to join us in celebrating 50 years of keeping the best parts of Wyoming wild and wonderful, just as they were made to be, and learning how we can best ensure this critical work will continue for years to come.

Tickets for our 50th Anniversary Celebration and Citizen Advocacy Summit are on sale now at https://woc50th.splashthat.com, and workshop spaces are filling up fast! Sign up today to reserve your spot.

For a complete list of the weekend’s events, visit https://wyomingoutdoorcouncil.org/about/50-years/.