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Snapshot Date Founded: 1972 Location: Stanley, Idaho Website: http://discoversawtooth.org/ Mission: To protect and advance the natural and cultural history of Idaho’s Sawtooth – Salmon River Country through preservation and education. Board and Staff: 12 board members, 10 staff, and a plethora of volunteers!  Primary Partner: U.S. Forest Service Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sawtooth-Interpretive-and-Historical-Association-SIHA/136291496386822

Q. What is the focus of the Redfish Center and Gallery and why was it created?

A. Sawtooth Interpretive & Historical Association (SIHA) has operated the Redfish Center since 2011. The building was constructed by the U.S. Forest Service as a visitor center in 1964; it is the second oldest Forest Service visitor center in the country and the oldest in the “lower 48”. SIHA has a 20-year Special Use Permit with the Forest Service to manage the building and provide interpretive programming and visitor information.

Forest Service funding has been on a steady decline over the last two decades. They had cut back operations to weekends only and were considering shutting down the Redfish Center entirely, so they came to us in 2010 and asked if we could take on the program, (SIHA has managed the Stanley Museum in the historic Valley Creek Ranger Station under a similar arrangement since the 1980’s). The SIHA board carefully considered whether or not to invest in this and, after developing a partnership agreement with the Service that includes providing housing for seasonal Naturalists and a clear division of responsibility for maintenance and repair of the building, we signed our first permit in 2010 and began operations in June of 2011.

2015 is our fifth season of operation at the Redfish Center. In addition to the SIHA bookstore, we also operate a gallery featuring local artists that use the Sawtooth National Recreation Area as their inspiration. We have a staff of seven naturalists who conduct four to six interpretive programs per day and we are open seven days per week from mid-June through mid-September.

Q. What types of opportunities do you have for visitors at this center and what can they look forward to this season?

A. We create stationary interpretive displays for the center, and provide a variety of on and off-site interpretive programs, including: guided walks, Discovery Stations, patio talks, Junior Ranger and Wilderness Explorer programs, boat tours, children’s programs at local resorts, evening marshmallow roasts and campfire talks, and we conduct roving interpretation at the Redfish Lake campgrounds.

We also work closely with the Forest Services’ Wilderness Education program and provide LNT contacts at Wilderness portals, and for other venues. We host guest speakers on a variety of subjects from wildlife, photography and hiking to environmental issues pertaining to central Idaho.

Q. What was your success like last year? Do you expect a similar outcome this year?

A. In 2014 we opened on June 13th and operated seven days per week through September 14th. The center staff added new displays and conducted guided programs. We had six energetic naturalists on staff and served 10,508 visitors at the center. SIHA hosted an additional 8,348 avid learners at 487 interpretive programs. We added well-received talks at Galena Overlook.

The Redfish Center supplemented its regular offerings with special evening programs featuring local trail guide author Margaret Fuller and photographer Ed Cannady. Board member Tori Madsen managed the gallery and added four “Scones & Scenery” events to highlight the gallery with free scones and mimosa’s. The gallery features mountain and natural history themed art from Idaho artists, including the Idaho Plein Air Painters.

We do expect to have similar success in 2015.

Q. Is there a "visitor favorite" among programs at the center?

A. The favorite programs seem to be the Junior Ranger and Wilderness Explorer programs and Discovery Stations which are conducted on and off-site. Discovery Stations subject matter is up to each naturalist but popular topics include Idaho wolves, beavers, raptors, and history of the Redfish Lake Lodge. The only program that is not free is the boat tours, which we operate in partnership with the marina staff at Redfish Lake Lodge -- it is also very popular.

Q. What kinds of partnerships help make the center successful and who do you partner with?

A. In addition to the Sawtooth National Forest and Sawtooth National Recreation area, we have a variety of private sector supporters and donors including the Stanley Chamber of Commerce, the Val A. Browning Foundation, Idaho Rocky Mountain Ranch, and the Redfish Lake Lodge who provide financial and logistical support.

We are also supported by the grant programs of the Idaho Heritage Trust, the Idaho State Historical Society and the Idaho Humanities Council. In 2015, SIHA received the Sister Alfreda Elsensohn Award from these three organizations for “exemplary work preserving and interpreting local and regional history.”

Q. Why visit Sawtooth National Recreation Area in Stanley, Idaho?

A. Often referred to as the “heart of Idaho,” the Sawtooth National Recreation Area (Sawtooth NRA) is a high elevation mosaic of gem-colored lakes, aspen woodlands, sagebrush flats, and rushing streams. The glacier-carved lake beds and lodgepole pine-carpeted moraines are a delight to photographer and sight-seer.

Contained within its 756,000 acres are four mountain ranges (Sawtooth, Boulder, Smoky, and White Clouds), the headwaters of four major rivers (Payette, Salmon, Boise and Big Wood), hundreds of alpine lakes, over 1,000 miles of streams and 50 peaks over 10,000’ in elevation. 2/3rds of the NRA is roadless, creating an abundance of pristine wildlife habitats, including the 217,000 acre Sawtooth Wilderness.

 
Fish and wildlife abound; commonly sighted are mountain goats, pronghorn, gray wolf, elk, mule deer, osprey, bald and golden eagle, and a variety of songbirds. The Sawtooth NRA boasts the largest whitebark pine in North America, the cleanest airshed (Sawtooth Wilderness) and longest salmon migration (900 miles) in the continental US.

Three Scenic byways converge on the small town of Stanley (population: 63). Uncrowded recreation, hundreds of miles of trails, and dozens of campgrounds make Stanley a wonderful, four season recreation destination. Stanley has a variety of quality restaurant and lodging options. While the Redfish Center is not open in the winter, a variety of winter recreation activities are popular.

Q. Anything else you would like to add about SIHA or Sawtooth NRA?

I am really proud of the success we have had in giving our naturalists experiences that help them launch their careers in the interpretive world – three in particular, I would like to mention, who were all sponsored by SIHA for the Bridge To Tomorrow program:

1. Jess Haas, was with SIHA from 2011 through 2012, is now program manager for youth and college programs with the Yellowstone Association, and a board member of SIHA,

2. Lin Gray, who was with SIHA from 2011 through 2013, is now Director of the Sacagawea Nature Center in Salmon, Idaho, and

3. Kialey Day, who was with SIHA from 2013 to 2014, is now a Park Service Interpreter at Mesa Verde NP.

Terry Clark is the Executive Director of Sawtooth Interpretive and Historical Association and is a former U.S. Forest Service employee who committed a 34-year career to National Forests in six states. Learn more about him and his team's work at discoversawtooth.org.