ST. GEORGE — The playbook for top projects in Zion National Park championed by its nonprofit partner is out. The Zion Forever Project 2024 Field Guide features a broad view of the field of work that the nonprofit funds.

Tiffany Stouffer, director of development for the Zion Forever Project, told St. George News that the report only covers some of their work. The report showcases over 20 critical projects across Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Pipe Spring National Monument and the Dixie National Forest.

She said the guide covers conservation and funding efforts that require public support to preserve these treasured landscapes. Printed copies of the field guide are available at the Zion Forever Project office and on its website. 

“There is so much more that the Zion Forever Project does outside of this book’s cover and the pages,” Stouffer said. “But this is what storytelling pieces are the best and the most understandable to donors and organizations that we work with for grants or funding.” 

Natalie Britt, president and CEO of Zion Forever Project, said in an email to St. George News that the release of the 2024 Field Guide marks a pivotal step for the nonprofit due to a new partnership with the U.S. Forest Service. She added that the group’s continued dedication to land conservation reflects its unwavering commitment to preserving Zion’s natural and cultural treasures and beyond.

“These projects are not just about maintaining our public lands; they are about investing in the future, ensuring that these beautiful and irreplaceable landscapes remain vibrant for generations to come,” Britt said.

Stoffer said the U.S. Forest Service partnership expands Zion Forever Project’s stewardship to include the Dixie National Forest. Stouffers said this collaboration opens new avenues for visitor education and resource protection across millions of acres of public land.

“On Pine Valley and Cedar Mountains, there is a wide variety of project types and activities that our organization helps support here for recreation access and for people of all ages,” Stouffers said.

The field guide has two main goals, Stouffer said.

The first is to create awareness of the parks’ needs. The Zion Forever Project sponsors Zion National Park, Cedar Breaks National Monument, Pipe Spring National Monument and now Dixie National Forest. She said each entity submits projects for which they know they need funding.

“These are things that go above and beyond what the federal government is able to provide,” Stouffer said.

The second part of the field guide’s role is to spread awareness. It’s a way for the nonprofit to tell the park’s stories and raise funds to meet its needs.

“We’re really blessed to live in such a gorgeous area where recreation is abundant, but we seek to ensure that access, availability and proper recreation are all available,” Stouffer said. “And so this field guide helps us do that.” 

The Zion Forever Project prioritizes projects by contacting the parks early in the fall and asking what projects are planned for the following year. Stouffer said those division heads meet, rank and submit applications to her organization. She added that the Zion Forever Project then works in tandem with the forest supervisor and the park superintendent.

The next step is for the Zion Forever Project to prioritize which projects will be successful as storytelling and awareness pieces. The organization could also apply for funding through grants or speak to donors specifically one-on-one because the project might be geared more toward one’s person-specific interests.

Public support and donations are crucial to the success of all these undertakings. Stouffer said the educational experience at all the parks is “super important,” whether it’s a night sky program at Cedar Breaks, a holiday celebration at Pipe Spring or a school field trip to Zion National Park.

“All of those things are made possible because of donor support. So the federal government is unable to pay for all of those services and all of the staffing needs, the material needs, the bus fees, all of that,” Stoffer said. “So anytime you interact with any of those three parks, that’s made possible because of the fundraising that our organization provides.”

Critical Projects for 2024 include:

• Floor of the Valley Trail Initiative: Addressing bike and pedestrian traffic safety concerns and improving sewage infrastructure.
• Extension of the Pa’rus Trail: This trail will connect with the Floor of the Valley Trail and impact travel through Zion Canyon.
• Cedar Breaks Visitor Center: Opening in August, the new visitor center features location and historical preservation elements.
• Dark Sky Education Expansion: This will focus on the importance of night sky programs, differences in programs across parks and their impact on visitors and local communities.
• Mountain Lion Research in Zion: The research’s purpose and goals are to track and study mountain lions’ habits and impacts.

For more information about the Zion Forever Project and to view the 2024 Field Guide, click here.

Copyright St. George News, SaintGeorgeUtah.com LLC, 2024, all rights reserved.