Great Basin National Park Foundation
Great Basin National Park Foundation was established by Bonnie Bryan, Nevada's First Lady and wife of Governor Richard Bryan, twelve years after Great Basin National Park was founded. Since 1998, the Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has raised over three million dollars to help Great Basin National Park. Their mission is to enhance, preserve, and interpret the starry night skies, wide-open scenery, cultural heritage and diverse native ecosystems of Great Basin National Park.
The Foundation's projects include: construction of a new Visitor Center in Baker, Nevada; maintenance of and increased access to park trails; preservation of the cultural heritage of the Great Basin through an oral history project; and expansion of the Park's astronomy programs, which eventually led to the most ambitious venture to date—the planning, building, and oversight of the Great Basin Observatory (GBO). As the first research grade astronomical observatory ever built in a U.S National Park, the GBO is a robotic, remote-internet accessed telescope that allows researchers and students worldwide to access the most outstanding night sky conditions in the lower 48 states.
The mission of Great Basin National Park Foundation is to enhance, preserve, and interpret the starry night skies, wide-open scenery, cultural heritage and diverse native ecosystems of Great Basin National Park.
Great Basin National Park Foundation’s Work
The following are a couple highlights of the impactful work of Great Basin National Park Foundation.
Astronomy & the Great Basin Observatory
GBNPF funded, constructed, and operates the Great Basin Observatory, the only research-grade observatory in a US national park. The remotely-operated telescope allows researchers from around the United States to utilize the Great Basin’s pristine night skies.
Astronomy education provides an avenue for students to learn critical math and science concepts while considering their place in the universe. Their cutting-edge Double Star Research Program allows middle school and high school students to conduct astronomical research and write a peer-reviewed, published scientific paper under the guidance of college professors. Reach for the Stars is our astronomy education program, which uses lesson plans, Star Boxes of materials, and the support of university professors in order to teach K-12 students throughout the Great Basin about dark sky preservation.
The Foundation has funded and managed numerous Park upgrades in order to enhance visitors’ experiences. This includes the construction of a living museum exhibit on the Bristlecone loop trail, installation of a new wayside experience at Mather Overlook, trail improvement projects, and more. They support Park staff members who connect with thousands of visitors, including multiple AmeriCorps interns each year. The Foundation also supports popular Park events, such as the annual BioBlitz and Astronomy Festival and Artist-in-Residence program.
Park Experience
Outreach
The Great Basin Explorers program brings young people from underserved communities in Salt Lake City and Las Vegas to Great Basin National Park for multi-night camping trips. The Foundation provides funding, materials, and logistical support to the organizations that know these young people best. This collaborative approach combines everyone’s expertise to ensure that underserved young people are able to experience the Park.
Great Basin National Park Foundation works to ensure that members of the tribes located nearest to Great Basin National Park are able to experience this place and share their knowledge about the area. They provide logistical support and funding so that tribes can participate in multi-day camping trips in the Park, including lessons for young people from their own elders about the area. They are also working on a project that will better integrate tribal stories in to the Park’s exhibits and interpretation.
Great Basin National Park Foundation understands that students are the next generation of Great Basin National Park stewards. Reaching thousands of students each year, they work to inspire, educate, and connect students to Great Basin National Park through place-based, Next Generation Science Standard-driven educational programs.
Education
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75% of this month's donations will go towards this month's partner
This month and every month, Wild Boyz Photography will be partnering with one nonprofit. 75% of any donations that we receive during the month will go to the nonprofit. Help Great Basin National Park Foundation to provide high quality environmental education.