National Smokejumper Center, Phase 1
by Carl Gidlund
The National Smokejumper Center (NSC) was “born” during a meeting at the USFS West Yellowstone Smokejumper Base on April 27, 2006.
We envision a financially independent organization that educates, interprets and displays the past and predicts the future of the smokejumper program. It would help ensure the program’s survival through public presentations, youth educational activities, fire area tours, museum displays, films depicting the smokejumper role within the wildland firefighting community and, perhaps, demonstration jumps. Our vision includes a model smokejumper base with loft, training tower, and airplanes.
The NSC would be non-governmental, completely separate from federal smokejumper bases and would not impede the operations of the West Yellowstone base. We suggest locating the NSC at West Yellowstone purely for access to the greatest number of tourists: 3 million people from around the world visit Yellowstone National Park each year, and 75 percent of those drive through West Yellowstone. Town officials believe, as we do, that the NSC would become an immediate popular destination for tourist families.
The NSC hopes to bring together many veteran smokejumpers to “work” at the NSC as volunteers or employees. When not informing the public about smokejumpers they will be reconnecting with old friends.
The initial Board of Directors opened a bank account and also wrote vision and mission statements for the NSC. Jim Kitchen, West Yellowstone Smokejumper Base Manager, has provided the initial idea, spirit, USFS contacts and energy for this visionary organization. The Board has applied for an IRS tax number and non-profit status. We know there will be lots of planning, organizing, fund raising and personal time commitments to bring this concept to reality. We can use your help.
If you’re interested in helping or want to know more about it, call Doug Houston at 406-370-9141 or Barry Hicks at 406-244-5025 or Steve Nemore at 208-384-8563, OR write to NSC, PO Box 264, West Yellowstone, Montana, 59758, OR visit us at smokejumpercenter.com. If you would like to make a donation, send to: NSC, PO Box 264, West Yellowstone, Montana, 59758