Teton Family Summer 2023 Issue No. 39

RANGE GRAZING

A history of sharing forest lands

WHERE WILL YOU HANG YOUR HAMMOCK?

SOME MORE S’MORES!

Check out our twists on this campfire favorite

Adventure on the edge.

Discover the all-new 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness.

Explore new, undiscovered territory in the 2024 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness. Our most capable Crosstrek yet is packed with upgrades to its off-road capability, plus exclusive technology and safety features. Standard Symmetrical All-Wheel Drive, 9.3 inches of ground clearance, a 182-horsepower SUBARU BOXER® engine, and improved gearing help you climb the toughest trails. With a roomy right-sized interior, stunning 11.6-inch touchscreen, and enhanced EyeSight® Driver Assist Technology1, you’ll love seeing what’s beyond the far boundaries of the map in the rugged Crosstrek Wilderness.

32 —

MOUNTAIN STYLE

Neighborhood food trucks build community, one bite at a time

Teen style has a new set of terms, but is reminiscent of blasts from the past

TABLE TALK

Young people and their parents are driving a shift in thinking, hoping to break the “transgender” stigma

SLOW HOME

Hammocks have a multi-cultural and utilitarian past. Where will you hang yours this summer?

ON THE FARM

A history of range grazing and sharing public lands

WELLNESS WIRED

Rhythmic eating takes cues from Ayurveda as a way to combat inflammation

IN SEASON

Move over sweet pastries— savory international flair graces your dinner table

40

LIFT LIKE A MOM

Local mothers make strides in weightlifting, proving strength training should be a part of any woman’s daily routine.

By Deb Barracato

48

CHILD CARE

The struggle is real for parents, as limited child care options draw high demand. Still, some families and facilities are making it work.

By Cherisé Forno

56

SOME MORE S’MORES!

Our twists on this classic campfire favorite include unexpected additions.

By Paulette Phlipot

On the Cover: Samantha, Andrew, and Charlotte Nock (of Jackson) enjoy their backyard Shangri-La, complete with two different types of hammocks.

Photo by Kristin Halsey

Photos:Paulette Phlipot (top); Katie Cooney (center); Kathryn Ziesig (bottom)

I recently viewed an Instagram reel that showcased how children in Tokyo—some as young as five or six—commute to school by riding the subways on their own. The youngest ones wear yellow hats for safety at crosswalks, and to let adults know they may need extra help. The artist who posted this content, Timm Chiusano, comments, “Children in Japan have a tremendous amount of independence because they have decided, as a society, it is their collective responsibility to keep their children safe.”

It is their collective responsibility to keep their children safe. I ruminate over this statement as I digest the news of the 376th school shooting in our nation. What has happened to our societal obligation (taking the Second Amendment discussion off the table)? Why can’t our children navigate the streets of, say, New York, L.A., or Chicago, without our fear that something bad may happen? Maybe … because it sometimes does.

When I look at Japan’s societal gains and then try to equate them to ours in the States, time and time again, I come back to our small communities. If we can’t collectively support our children “out there in the big world,” at least we can instill community values right here at home. In Jackson and Teton Valley, children as young as five or six often

bike, or even snow machine, to school, without fear of their neighbors (or what may happen to them once they get there). As a mountain community, we take pride in our safe towns; we let our kids ride the shuttle to the ski resorts or take public transportation—sometimes over a mountain pass in blizzard conditions—to get to school. We trust our fellow locals to keep our children safe. And it shows in our actions. Take, for instance, Driggs Mayor August Christensen, and Kristi Meston, who spearheaded the Collaborative for Early Learning to combat the daycare crisis in Teton Valley, Idaho. (See page 48.) Or Cheyenne SyvertsonHagestuen and Stephanie Brill who have established safe spaces for transgender and gender diverse kids and their families in Jackson. (Page 13.)

As a publication, we feel it’s our societal obligation to produce content that unites a community around the importance of keeping our kids, our culture, and our surrounding wild spaces safe. It’s a communal value that I don’t—even for one second—take for granted.

As we enter into the “free range-ness” of summer, let’s be sure to have our children’s backs. And not just our own, but all the children in our community. By doing so, we will foster their independence (just like the Japanese) and make a small dent in an important shift in consciousness— one that’s been lost, but is what small-town living is all about.

Contributing WRITERS

Molly Absolon writes to support her outdoor habit. She’d rather be hiking, biking, or skiing in the mountains than doing just about anything else. A former outdoor educator and current mother of a college kid, Molly lives in Victor, Idaho, with her husband.

Deb Barracato visited a friend in the Tetons more than thirty years ago and never left. She appreciates the flexible lifestyle her remote work as a communications strategist, writer, and editor allows. Deb’s free time is spent building quality memories with her son, Nathan.

Cherisé Forno traded the beach for the mountains, when she moved from California to Jackson. She is the copy editor for regional publications, and is the associate editor of Patio & Hearth Products Report. When she isn’t working, Cherisé enjoys hiking and playing soccer with her son.

Kristine Kopperud is a writer, editor, and end-of-life doula in Florida, with a layover of nearly twenty years in local-foods farming in the Midwest. She was a managing editor of Teton Valley Magazine, and is now a contributor for Becoming Jackson Whole. Follow her at kristinekopperud.com.

Olivia McGuire is a junior at Teton High School in Driggs. She enjoys being on the soccer field above all else, but can also be found downhill mountain biking at Targhee, paddleboarding the Teton River, and making sure her friend group’s style is always up to par.

Sue Muncaster is a freelance writer and communications consultant inspired by the mental, physical, and spiritual practices of a values-driven outdoor lifestyle. She lives in Teton Valley, where she serves on the Victor City Council. Follow her at suemuncaster.substack.com.

Fresh, healing food and recipes continue to connect Paulette Phlipot to her Teton family and friends, no matter how many miles separate them. She inspires wellness worldwide with her FoodAsArt® fine art photography collection and vivid photographs for editorial and commercial clients.

Tibby Plasse moved to Idaho in 2006 after dropping out of a Ph.D. program to snowboard. She found her way to Teton Valley and spent ten years dairy farming instead. Tibby lives at the base of the Big Hole Mountains with her son and two spoiled dogs, and contributes to regional publications.

Melissa Snider is an elementary teacher/librarian who wants to know what you’re reading. Her favorite adventure companions are her husband and two daughters. With both Adirondack and Rocky Mountain roots, Melissa’s happy place is lakeside with a great book.

Editor photograph by Shannon Corsi

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Christina Shepherd McGuire christina@tetonfamilymagazine.com

Art Director

Samantha Nock

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Cherisé Forno

Contributing Photographers

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Matt Donovan

Kristin Halsey

Reed Mattison

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Paulette Phlipot

Hannah Sourbeer

Kathryn Ziesig

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Teton Family is published two times a year and distributed at more than seventy-five locations for free throughout the Tetons. To request copies, call (307) 732-5903. Visit tetonfamilymagazine.com

© 2023 Teton Media Works, Inc. All rights reserved. Reproduction of this magazine’s original contents, whether in whole or in part, requires written permission from the publisher.

Photograph by Paulette Phlipot

GRAZING RIGHTS

Building community, one bite at a time

By Melissa Snider // Photography by Matt Donovan and Reed Mattison

Many of us live for summer in Jackson Hole. After a long winter of bundling our children—and ourselves—in multiple layers for every excursion, enjoying a sunshiny-summer evening with friends at the park is an absolute joy. It’s a treat to let kids run wild on the playground, have (mostly) uninterrupted conversations, and revel in the gorgeous weather. And imagine—what if you could have all of this, and someone else made dinner, too?

This dream-come-true can be yours at Grazing Rights, a weekly Jackson Hole neighborhood food truck series, now in its second year. Last summer, creator Matt Donovan worked with local officials to coordinate dinners at May Park and other public town parks, following two years of record-breaking visitation. The number of tourists forgoing plane travel during COVID-19, and instead, arriving in cars and campers in 2020 and 2021, resulted in a downtown that was more than just bustling—it was a 24-hour traffic jam. While a positive boost for the economy, residents trying

to eat out were unable to compete with visitor activity.

“There was no space at the table for locals to have dinner, much less places we felt we could take our families,” says Donovan. He noticed that parks in various parts of town were often empty in the evenings, and started forming his business concept as one solution to the problem he and many others were experiencing.

“We focused on residents, open spaces, and community, and how we could reconnect those things,” he says.

In 2022, the series served more than 5,000 meals at three weekly events, mostly to locals. Participants in this year’s Grazing Rights events can expect to see about a dozen food truck vendors throughout the summer, serving up everything from tacos to pizza to pulled pork sandwiches.

“It is a slightly free -range, family-friendly offering to the community,” says Donovan, whose own young family joins him for many of the events. “This idea is simple in its nature, and now it

feels like it can be as easy as it’s designed to be.”

Flo McCall, Melody Ranch resident and member of the HOA Board, feels Grazing Rights is a rare benefit for locals. There is no messing around with traffic, crowds, or high prices—just socializing in the summertime while grabbing great food.

“I love it more than anything,” says McCall. “What a positive thing to add to a growing contemporary life in Jackson Hole. It’s affordable, and a good way to support local business.”

Food Truck owners in Jackson balance the challenges of extreme seasonality and limited opportunities to operate their businesses. Dan Quirk, co-owner of Chompers Southern-inspired food truck, is excited to participate in the series again this year. He likes how summer food trucks allow people to hang outside with a bit more freedom to roam, while providing casual, inexpensive dining options. Quirk applauds having multiple food trucks in one location, when possible.

“You’re not committing to one meal,” he says “You’re going to bounce around and truly graze.”

“One of the reasons we wanted to be a part of Grazing Rights is because we’re meeting people where they already live. They can just walk or bike right out of their homes and have dinner together as a community.”

For the May Park event in particular, those returning from a bike ride up Cache Creek or Nelson Trailhead can swing by and grab some food to refuel before heading home.

Additionally, diners can peruse the information tent, take advantage of a free bike tune with Hoback Sports, or let their youngest riders try the “Strider Course.” The positive environmental impact of participants walking or biking to the events speaks for itself.

For more on the Grazing Rights

Neighborhood Food Truck series, follow the gathering on Instagram and Facebook @grazingrights.

Donovan expanded the event by inviting local nonprofits to spread the word about their work while diners mingle. Friends of Pathways, which supports sustainable transportation and healthy recreation in Jackson Hole, was one natural pairing for the event. Friends of Pathways

Communications Director Sam Petri sees their presence as a “value-add.”

Annie Riddell, May Park resident and parent, loves seeing nonprofits like Slow Food in the Tetons, Spread the Love Commission, and others in action at the events.

“They help entertain kids and add a fun dimension to the gatherings,” she says, describing the food truck series as a “gift” to East Jackson.

“I loved seeing May Park—a sometimes under-utilized public space—used in such a positive way,” says Riddell. “What’s more community-building than breaking bread with neighbors under Jackson Hole summer skies?”

So, grab your bike, blanket, and beverage of choice. Meet us at the park—rain or shine—and set your kids loose as you take a rare moment to appreciate the opportunity to gather and graze. tf

DEFINING THE DRIP

By Olivia McGuire // Photography by Hannah Sourbeer

Teen style is unique. One of a kind.

The things teenagers wear today come from every time period of style imaginable. And the key word to describe it is “drip.” Your grandpa’s jeans—those are drip. The Birkenstocks your dad wore in college—those are drip. Your vintage Rolling Stone t-shirt that’s 30 years old, well, that’s as drip as it gets! As teenagers, we express ourselves with our style. It’s what makes us feel good. It’s how you fit in—or stand out. It’s what makes you, you.

I’m here to give you—the parents—a little insight. Insight into what drip even means, and why your kids think jeans that are ten sizes too big for them are cool.

The Lingo

First, let’s define the term “drip.” To you, it may seem like your kids are speaking a foreign language. Drip essentially means that you have on a good outfit. It’s peer-approved. You’re doing it right. You look cool. Any of these phrases can

be switched out for the word drip, but let’s be honest, drip is so much cooler to say and saves you a couple of breaths.

When teenagers use the word, they may say something like, “Your fit is drip today” or “I like your fit, it’s drippy.” But drip doesn’t always apply to your entire outfit, oftentimes your shoes can be drip. The sweater your teenager took out of her dad’s closet can be drippy, or even the camo pants she bought from the thrift store. This phrase is used freely and widely when it comes to teenage style and slang.

The Style

Teenage girl and boy styles vary so much, so let me differentiate the two.

In 2023, if you catch your teenage daughter wearing her grandpa’s pants, her dad’s oversized band tee from college, and an old worn-out pair of Chuck Taylor Converses, she’s probably got drip. She’s doing it right, even though sometimes she may look like a little skater.

Generally, in teenage girl style, there’s one rule of thumb:

LITTLE SHIRT CONCERT T-SHIRT

BAGGY SHIRT

BAGGY PANTS

HOODIE

LEGGINGS

Little shirt, baggy pants, or baggy shirt and leggings. There’s really no in-between when it comes to this rule. And, as much as we would love to dress like a boy every day, part of us still wants to look like a girl with good style. So, when you see your daughter dressed in big pants and a little crop top, she’s pulling it off no matter what, and she looks cute.

Teenage girl style doesn’t vary much from girl to girl. Look at a handful of them, and I bet they will all be wearing the same thing with just a little difference. Unique, yet one of a kind. We know. You get the point.

When it comes to teenage boys, the rule of thumb is: “I don’t really care, as long as I’m comfortable.” Nine times out of ten, you will see a boy wearing sweatpants and a hoodie—maybe with a vest over it—and the newest Nike Jordans that just dropped, because they need to make their “basic outfit,” look—well—“not so basic.”

Every once in a while, you might see a boy pull his nice Dickies pants out of the bottom of his drawer, and a band tee he got at Pac Sun a few months ago. If so, congratulate him for dressing just like his girlfriend! (Nothing new there.) Teenage boys aren’t too diverse or one of a kind. So trust me, next time you tell your son he’s leaving the house looking homeless, every other boy his age is dressing like that, too.

The Shoes

Finally, we are onto the shoe category. This topic can truly start a disagreement within the teenage population. We take shoes so seriously! So, what are the drippy shoes in this day and age?

Well here’s one popular option: Nike Jordans—low or high—are in, and most teenagers own at least one pair. What’s so special about these shoes? No one can put their finger on it. Maybe it’s the wide variety of colors

available? Maybe they just look retro old-school? We may never know.

But what we do know, is if you don’t have crease protectors in your shoes, you’re not doing it right. (Like my brother.) The world might just end if you don’t have a small, plastic splint in your shoes to prevent the annoying, non-appealing crease at the toe line of your shoe. We don’t care if you’re walking weirdly, the crease is nearly unacceptable!

In teenagers’ minds, shoes are worn to be cool, not for the practical use of protecting your feet. Duh! They are strictly for style; nothing else.

So … now that you understand teenage drip, and what to expect, you should have no issue deciphering your teenager’s style before they walk the door in the morning.

You’re welcome.

NIKE JORDANS

CONVERSE CHUCK TAYLORS

THEY, THEM, THEIRS …

Eliminating the stigma surrounding gender diversity

By Molly Absolon

Alex was 13 when they first told their parents they might be gay. Six months later, Alex asked Sarah and Steve to use “they/them” pronouns, saying they identified as nonbinary or genderqueer. Currently, a few years later, they are self-identifying as transfeminine or trans.

“It’s a journey, not a straight line,” Sarah says. “It’s been an exploration; they’re trying on different identity terms. But just because those terms have changed, the process, the exploration, the search for who they are is very real. Our child does not fit into the binary gender system. The term they use to express themselves is not as important as it is to understand and embrace our child for who they are.”

Most of today’s parents came of age at a time when no one talked much about gender identity or sexual orientation, so the conversations happening among today’s youth can make older generations feel out of touch, ignorant, and maybe a little threatened.

As recently as 20 years ago, things were pretty black and white: you were male or female, and either hetero or homosexual, at least according to societal norms in the U.S. Today, that has changed.

Younger people are helping to drive a shift away from binary thinking about gender. A 2015 Fusion Millennial poll found that of 1,000 people between the ages of 18 and 34 questioned, 50 percent believed gender is a spectrum, and that some people fall outside conventional categories.

“Gender diversity has always been a part of humanity,” says Lewis Smirl, a Jackson therapist at Teton Wellness Affiliates. “The data is really strong across cultures and history, as far back as the human record goes. Gender fluidity was often celebrated, and in many cultures it still is.”

That history doesn’t make it easy for parents faced with a questioning child, whether that child is exploring their own gender identity or wondering about things they’ve heard or seen at school. Sarah and Steve said they weren’t that surprised by Alex’s announcement that they were genderqueer, but they also weren’t sure what they were supposed to do. So, they did

* All names have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals and their families.

what any loving parent would do when confronted with an issue they didn’t fully understand: They started reading. They looked for a therapist. They sought out support.

“When your child is depressed, anxious, having outbursts, and not sleeping or eating, you feel like a terrible parent,” Steve says. “You feel helpless. There’s no road map for this.”

LANGUAGE

The LGBTQIA+ acronym is a mouthful and seems to be constantly evolving, or growing. Part of the shift in labels reflects a shift in understanding. Terms are added to capture different experiences along the gender spectrum. But this constant language evolution can be confusing.

The important thing is to try to understand and use language in a respectful, open way. If in doubt, ask. If you find it hard, practice. Language has power and can shape the way people feel about themselves and each other.

Alex faced bullying and intimidation because of their nontraditional gender expression. They said they were terrified to go to school. But they were also a teenager, acting out, misbehaving. At times it was hard for Sarah and Steve to know what was related to Alex’s gender identity, and what was just regular adolescent angst. But it was becoming clear that school was not a safe or welcoming place for their child.

“We kept insisting that they go to school without realizing how much anxiety it caused,” Steve says. “In retrospect there are three things I wish I’d known. One: Don’t force them to go to places they don’t feel safe, including school. … Until our schools become safe and truly welcoming places, sending our gender-diverse kids there may risk their mental health.”

“Two: A llow for self-expression,” he says. “We came to realize that what our child wears and their personal sense of style is not something we should be trying to control. Like everyone else,

they should be entitled to selfexpression that feels good and natural to them.

“And three: G et over the pronoun problem. Whatever someone wants to call themselves, let them. Why does it matter?”

Not all people are as accepting as this family.

As the current political climate shows, many are disturbed by what they see as a kind of contagion of socially de viant behavior. But Jackson therapist Cheyenne SyvertsonHagestuen (Teton Wellness Affiliates) pushes back against labeling gender fluidity as something new or abnormal.

“We’re seeing more because it’s something that is opening up,” Syvertson-Hagestuen says. “It’s something people are allowed to express in ways that we weren’t, or I was not, when we were young. For some people it feels as if there are suddenly so many genderdiverse youth and kids that we didn’t have before, but we did. It was there. It’s always been there. People were just coming out later in life, living dual lives, or perhaps never coming out at all because it wasn’t safe.”

“It’s normal and developmentally appropriate for children to explore and wonder about their gender,” she says. “If your child is exploring their gender, that is ok, and you can best support them by saying, I’m here for you. I believe you, I trust you, and I support you.

Talk about it. Understand the risk & impacts.

Understanding THC and its impact

THC is a psychoactive drug, which changes the function of the nervous system and, in turn, a person’s mental state, it alters the senses, alters the perception of time, changes moods, impairs body movement, increases difficulty with thinking, problem-solving, and impairs memory.

THC impacts individuals, families, schools and communities. Start the conversation.

THC isn’t new, but High-Potency THC is and the conversations about it should be.

… It’s a journey for a child, and a journey for a parent. … Parents may wonder, or even doubt, that their child is sure they’re genderdiverse, but the benefits of being with them on their journey, no matter what the outcome, are powerful.”

Syvertson-Hagestuen trained with Stephanie Brill, the author of “The Transgender Child” and “The Transgender Teen,” and founder of the group Gender Spectrum. When Brill moved to Jackson in 2017, she said most therapists were sending families to Salt Lake City or Denver for therapy because they did not feel as if they had the training and experience necessary to deal with transgender or gender-diverse patients.

“It came from the goodness of their hearts,” Brill says. “They wanted families to be with a therapist with experience, but imagine being told you have to drive four hours to get therapy. You’re being told you don’t belong here.”

Brill helped establish virtual support groups for families and kids in Jackson, Teton Valley, and across Wyoming. She provides learning opportunities for therapists and resources for families, so they don’t feel as if they must leave the area to find guidance. Now Syvertson-Hagestuen and Smirl are among the small, but growing, number of therapists in the area trained to work with gender-diverse clients and their families.

“In the past, a lot of transgender and nonbinary community members felt so uncomfortable they moved away,” Brill says. “My feeling is that people shouldn’t have to choose between the land they love and the community they grew up in, and being themselves.”

Still Sarah and Steve think their child will probably need to leave the area to really thrive, at least for a while. Right now, they say the political climate in both Wyoming and Idaho is hostile and unwelcoming, even though their child has found a network of accepting friends and attends support groups for gender-diverse youth in Jackson Hole that has helped them gain confidence.

“It’s scary,” says Sarah. “It feels as if government is trying to come

between you and your child and your doctor. The message these bills send out to our kids is that they shouldn’t exist, that something is innately wrong with them.”

Salix is a junior in high school. Salix identifies as genderqueer and uses “they/ them” pronouns. Salix is also gay. They say they can’t ignore the politics.

PRONOUNS IN EMAIL SIGNATURES

More and more often individuals are opting to include their pronouns in their email signatures. For cisgender people, this may seem unnecessary. But it’s not. You should never assume another person’s identity based on their appearance or name. Furthermore, it can be awkward and uncomfortable for people to have to ask or tell everyone they’ve ever met or worked with to use pronouns that may not be readily apparent. So, help people out. Just make note of your pronouns. It sends out a message that you are a safe and welcoming ally to all people, regardless of their gender or sexual identity.

“It’s hard to see the people that we’ve elected—well not me, I’m only 16, but the people my town has elected—it’s hard to see them make these decisions that are either directly or indirectly harmful.

“All I’ve really wanted is respect,” Salix says. “Sure, I’m gay, but I’m also a human being. We are all humans.”

Respect, according to Salix, comes down to listening and trying.

“What matters to me is not that you are 100 percent perfect, but that you are trying,” they say. “I can tell when someone is trying and that means a lot to me.”

“I don’t think parents have to fear change,” Brill says. “Our kids live in a more complex world than we grew up in. It can be a monumental task to know how to parent in this time.

But kids need the same thing from us that they have always needed. They need our ear, they need boundaries, they need unconditional love and support, and they need a safe place to work through challenges.”

Statistics show that genderdiverse youth are vulnerable. The Trevor Project, a group dedicated to ending suicide among LGBTQ young people, conducted a survey in 2022 that showed 45 percent of LGBTQ youth had seriously contemplated suicide, while more than half of all transgender and nonbinary youth have had suicidal ideations. Such young people are at risk, not because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, but because of the way they are mistreated and stigmatized by society.

“Being gender-diverse in and of itself does not elevate risk. Rather it’s ignorance, rejection, and stigmatization that makes this population more vulnerable,” Syvertson-Hagestuen says.

Sarah and Steve do worry. People notice Alex. They have piercings and colorful hair, and sometimes dress in a way that pushes the boundaries of gender expectations.

“It’s important to support Alex in who they want to be, that’s the job of all parents, but we have fear—fear of how others will

If I had one wish, in their words...

Teton Youth & Family Services is here for you. Any Day. Any Time.

Offering case management and therapeutic support for young children navigating trauma to residential and wilderness-based opportunities for teenagers facing an array of challenges.

Helping children and families find their way. Reach us at 307.733.6440 or visit TYFS.ORG

treat our child,” Steve says. “Alex has to remember that outside our house, they are a target. Self-expression is great as long as you feel safe. We discuss safety plans in ways we wish we didn’t have to. But that’s the reality. Our child is a target just for being themselves.”

“We have a really amazing kid,” Sarah says. “They are smart, artistic, funny, athletic. Being trans is just one thing about them; it’s not even the most interesting thing about them.

“We want people to realize that those of us raising trans and nonbinary kids are not so different, so scary, so ‘other,’” she says. “We are just families trying to do what is best for our kids.” tf

LOCAL SUPPORT GROUPS

Parents and Caregivers of Transgender, Nonbinary, Gender-Expansive, and Questioning Children and Teens Virtual Support Group: Zoom meetings held the third Tuesday of each month 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. MST. sbrill@genderspectrum.org

Virtual Support Group for Transgender, Nonbinary, and Gender Questioning Teens and Adults: Zoom Meetings held the second Tuesday of each month 6:30 to 8:00 p.m. MST. tinyurl.com/3dyv33vr

Gender Diverse Youth Meet-Up, adult supervised: Meetings held once a month, irregular dates. tinyurl.com/3dyv33vr

A PLACE TO HANG YOUR HAMMOCK

By Tibby Plasse // Photography by Kristin Halsey

Hammocks might as well be the universal symbol of leisure. Sketches on cocktail napkins often depict a hammock swinging between palm trees with a summer hat peeking out on one side. This type of leisurely suspension is not just a simple reading reprieve, however. It’s actually quite functional and rooted deeply in certain cultures.

I was first introduced to hammock camping while traveling in Latin America. I wanted a minimal, but better, option than sleeping on the ground. (Just thinking about the diversity of spiders and bugs kept me up all night!) I opted for a hammock made from parachute cloth that folded into a pocket. I still have it, though one of my NRS straps is completely intertwined with the weave, so they are married for life. It no longer packs away neatly, but twenty-five years later, it’s still a family favorite.

An Essential Tool

I wish I had stumbled upon 24+ Ways to Use Your Hammock in the Field (Field Guide to Hammock Use) by Don Paul earlier. In his book, Paul says hammocks exceed the path-finder standard for carry-with-you gear.

“Hammocks blow rifles away! They trap for you, fish for you, hide you in camouflage, steady your rifle for long

shots, store your gear, turn into stretchers, and carry a wide range of heavy loads anywhere,” he writes. “Of all the gear in the field you can’t do without, hammocks practically head the list.”

The origins of the hammock can be traced back to Central and South America where some theories state that Yucatán Peninsula fishermen used tightly woven fabric, instead of knotted ropes, as fishing nets. The nets doubled as beds, and served as protection from the ground creatures below.

During the end of the 15th century, it’s thought that Christopher Columbus introduced the hammock to western culture. Then, about a century later, this minimalist setup replaced the Royal Navy’s traditional wooden sleeping berths. The new bedding option rocked with the seas and saved room on deck.

Civilian use of the hammock gained popularity in the early 1900s as a way to enjoy the muggy climate of the Carolinas. South Carolinian riverboat captain Joshua John Ward is actually credited for the design of a well-known style, the Pawleys Island Hammock complete with spreader bars.

A Style for Everyone

Why are hammocks so effective? To be fair, usefulness depends both on the hammock’s style and the materials used.

The traditional Mayan hammock is made from a triple weaved cord. But, many looking for an alternative to a box spring and mattress opt for the Brazilian style, with its thicker, more cloth-like, design. The Venezuelan

Eno DoubleNest

Triple Weaved Cord

hammock—a backyard favorite—incorporates fringe and spreader bars.

Today, these traditional designs have morphed into several different models, and are offered in a wide range of hybrids. Each fabric—woven or rope—serves different purposes.

The gathered-end hammock is a descendant of the traditional Mayan design, and the most simplistic of the bunch. This style is made from tightly woven fabric that is gathered at each end.

The bridge hammock is modeled after the suspension bridge, and offers a head-to-foot flat lay. A spreader bar is incorporated into the design to reduce shoulder curvature.

A suspension hammock is non-confining with rising sides. This design uses less fabric, but is weighty due to the required framework.

Single-point hammocks are commonly used in mountain climbing, as their design works well for hanging off cliff faces. This style requires a high hang point, and has a crow’s-nest shape, so it’s rarely packed for regular camping trips.

The Sag-Factor

Considering the angles, layers, and connection points is important when shopping for a hammock. Typically, hammocks are 9 to 15 feet in length, and 4 to 10 feet wide, depending on its occupancy single or double.

Leaning toward a wider and longer version might seem excessive, but sleeping in a hammock is not meant to

Traditional Mayan Hammock

Double Occupancy

For more than fifty years, Teton Science Schools has connected learners of all ages to each other and to the natural surrounding environment.

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be done parallel to the guyline. Instead, you should sleep diagonally to achieve better comfort with a flatter surface.

But if you’re going to find happiness while swinging in the trees, it really comes down to the right angle and the perfect sag. According to the hammock guru, Derek Hansen, author of “The Ultimate Hang,” an easy check for the perfect angle of 30 degrees is found at your fingertips.

“Point your hand out straight with your thumb extended. Draw an imaginary line from the tip of your thumb to your index finger to approximate 30 degrees,” he writes.

And the depth of the hammock’s sag (specifically for gathered-end hammocks) determines how flat you lay.

“Most hangers find a hammock ridgeline length of 100 inches about perfect. You can adjust the ridgeline to achieve the ‘right’ sag for you,” Hansen advises. The ridgeline (the cord that ties between the two ends of your hammock) is

WHERE TO BUY

The Eno Double Nest packs up small into a pocket. Find it at Skinny Skis in Jackson. skinnyskis.com

Teton Hammock Company in Idaho Falls will customize your hammock to spec. They also have made-to-order three- and four-season tarps to go over it. tetonhammocks.com

Montana-based company, Beartooth Hammocks, designs its hammocks for resiliency and easy management with a unique custom strap system. beartoothhammocks.com

Fancier-stay-in-place setups can be found in nearly every garden store, like MD Nursery in Driggs. mdlandscaping.com

looped into the hammock’s suspension cords, connecting the two endpoints. It helps assure that the hammock isn’t too taut to enjoy.

Leaving No Trace

In the second volume of Hansen’s book, there are over 300 pages of knot variations, storage solutions, and suggestions for bunking hammocks in the same campground, as well as some key points about no-trace hammock use.

Webbing straps are one of his big suggestions, as webbing places less pressure on trees. Breakfast in bed is ill-advised while camping, as it breaks the “sleep 200 feet away from your kitchen” rule, and no one wants a four-legged wild resident lapping up crumbs under their bed. Also, be mindful of the surroundings you choose to swing in. Be sure you’re not set up near a disc golf course, if you’re inbounds. Take note of the surrounding plants (don’t hang your hammock near poison hemlock). And, consider where you’re putting your feet down when you disembark—look for ant hills, jagged rocks, and mud.

The wild consciousness of hammock use guarantees you can always find a reprieve in the woods—without bumping into others—just by setting up shop a little ways off the trail. So, ditch your tent for a sleep-under-the stars experience the next time you venture out camping. Trust me. It’s worth it. tf

MIXED USE

A History of Range Grazing and Sharing the Forest Lands

By Kristine Kopperud // Photography by Katie Cooney

If you hike regional trails during the height of summer, there’s a good chance you’ll be sharing them with cattle or sheep. Maybe you’ve slowed to a standstill on Ski Hill Road, once or twice, to yield to a herd of cows (some with bells on!). Or maybe you’ve come around a bend in the Big Holes and been swept directly into a wooly sea of ewes and lambs. Whatever your opinion of cow pies (and what happens when a bike tire hits one at top speed), range grazing on state and federal lands is branded into this region’s identity.

The practice dates back to the early 1900s, when fledgling land management agencies started keeping track of how much forage (grass, forbes, and shrubs) actually grows on an acre of range, and how much grazing said land would support in a given growing season (generally June through September). Over time, the

United States Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Idaho Department of Lands, Wyoming State Lands and Investments, and livestock producers settled on a rate of land rent in terms of an animal unit month (AUM), or, in layman’s terms, the forage to support a cow and her calf, or a ewe and her lamb(s), for one month.

Producers apply for a permit to graze a defined area, known as an “allotment,” once every decade, and then file a management plan (which discusses which parts they’ll graze when), and pay their annual fees per head of livestock. Range specialists, like Matthew Makinson of the U.S. Forest Service, spot-check for compliance throughout the season, ensuring lands aren’t overgrazed (meaning, plants aren’t browsed so short that it kills or stunts regrowth) and that animals go out to pasture, and come back off again, when producers say they will.

“But that’s where the paper trail ends and living history begins,” says Jay Pence, district ranger for the Teton Basin.

“On the books, grazing permits look like really inexpensive feed for livestock, compared to the cost of leasing private land,” he explains. “But there are several conditions [and several time-tested skills] that don’t meet the eye that make range grazing—and doing it well—pretty impressive.”

First, only animals owned by and bearing the brand of the permit holder are allowed on any given allotment. In fact, the permits on public record don’t even name names, just the brand(s) and their location on the animal (i.e., left hip).

Secondly, the permit holder must also own qualifying “base acres” in the valleys, ensuring the animals have winter feeding grounds and a safe haven, in the event they must be removed quickly, due to drought, fire, or flooding on the range.

Finally, permit holders must maintain internal fences on the

allotment, as well as water troughs, mineral feeders, and any other management structures, and be well-equipped to check on and move the livestock on rugged terrain, often on horseback.

These requirements prevent absentee livestock investors—like the roving herdsmen valorized in the 2003 movie Open Range from grazing forage needed by locals, or, in modern times, from monopolizing permits on public land. The brand-land relationship also makes it pretty rare for permits to change hands, so range grazing is often a generational family business.

Billie Siddoway’s family (featured in our last edition) has been running herds of sheep on the southwest rim of Teton Valley since the 1880s. Today, their 7,000 sheep graze 400,000 acres a combination of land managed by the Forest Service, BLM, and the State of Idaho, in addition to owned or leased private land. A napkin average of forage available, divided by forage needs of the animals, suggests that the sheep are using just 2.25 percent of what the lands could produce, estimates Siddoway. This low-

impact grazing system moves the needle toward the two big goals of grazing public land: Forest and forage health, and watershed improvement.

Cattle and sheep eat “fine fuels” (those that would burn one hour after being soaked by rain), Pence explains. This may reduce the intensity of forest fire or slow its spread. Having diverse, healthy ground cover in the forest holds moisture and prevents erosion due to rain or snowmelt. Water filtration through healthy soil can also improve water quality. Finally, livestock browsing and movement helps keep trails and popular vistas clear and accessible. When the area became a destination for the 2017 total solar eclipse, for example, permit holders were asked to graze off popular camping and hiking areas a few weeks beforehand to cut down fire fuels.

“Forage improves with utilization,” says Siddoway. “Rangelands that are not grazed for extensive periods can become dominated by invasive weeds and brush. For example, I live in Victor, in an area that we used historically when moving sheep out of the forest. Since the 1950s, it had been grazed heavily for a few days each September.”

“A few years ago, the Forest Service asked that we transport the sheep from the other side of the highway to avoid traffic impacts. Within two years, grasses were thinning in what had been a lush meadow. I brought in some sheep and goats to graze, and the range has returned to its healthy, diverse state.”

Grazing on forest lands is not without controversy, Ranger

Pence adds, citing livestock predation by reintroduced gray wolves, expanding grizzly bear habitat, and concern over contamination of wild species by domestic herd disease. In addition, Idaho and Wyoming are still “fence out” states, meaning that landowners adjacent to forests must maintain boundary fences to prevent herds from accessing their property.

And despite the historical use of large dogs to guard herds of sheep on forest allotments, it’s still common for trail users to misunderstand the dogs’ job and training.

“Guard dogs out on the range are not enthusiastic to interact with people,” says Siddoway of the four Great Pyrenees her family places with each of their herds. “When a person is recreating near sheep—even a mile away—a guard dog may approach, bark to let the person know she is there, and watch to assess whether the person is a threat. If the situation looks non-threatening, the guard dog will wander away.”

“As mountain biking became popular, we started riding bikes around the dogs so they would recognize them as non-threatening,” Siddoway explains. “We also operate motorcycles, chain saws, and other equipment that they might encounter. If a dog appears aggressive, it is probably because the person is doing something unfamiliar to which the dog has not been socialized. The best thing is to appear more like a regular person (getting off of a bike and walking, or removing an odd hat or jacket) and then walking slowly away from the dog.”

While sheep herds often have a dog, or a human herder,

BEST PRACTICES FOR SHARING TRAILS WITH LIVESTOCK

(aka, mutual respect goes a long way.)

1. Get out the map. Jackson Hole and Teton Valley are comprised of a patchwork of private and public lands. Boundaries aren’t always fenced. Make sure you know where you’re going before you set out.

2. Pay attention to gates. If you pass through a gate that is closed, close it behind you. If a gate is open, leave it open. (This will be obvious.) Open gates allow livestock to move to fresh pastures and access water sources.

3. Listen up! Don’t use earbuds or headphones while on the trails. Listening for livestock in the brush (or for the bells on their collars) may prevent you from startling or colliding with them.

4. Minimize stress. Manage your speed to allow livestock, or riders on horseback, to get off the trail before proceeding. Remember— cattle, sheep, and horses have a strong flight instinct as prey animals, and can spook at sounds and movements that make them feel threatened. Avoid pushing them down the trail ahead of you. This could move a herd into an unintended grazing area, or separate young animals from their mothers.

5. Be savvy of guard dogs. Many sheep herds employ large dogs that stay with the sheep for protection from predators. They are not pets, but they are highly conditioned to humans. If you encounter a guard dog, proceed slowly while talking to the dog to let it know you’re human and not threatening to the herd. When biking, get off and walk, keeping the bike between you and the dog. If a dog continues to investigate you with suspicion, walk slowly away from it. Don’t run or ride away quickly, as this might entice the dog to chase you. In most cases, guard dogs will watch you for a few minutes, then wander away.

6. Keep dogs leashed. Do not allow them to chase or harass livestock or wildlife.

7. Don’t tamper with waterers, mineral feeders, or fences. These resources are managed by grazing permit holders and are critical to livestock health.

8. If you see something, say something. If you see anything unusual—like dead or injured livestock, or if you witness harassment of livestock or wildlife—notify the Forest Service or BLM.

keeping them together on the range, cattle are more independent grazers, requiring management on horseback.

“We’re out riding the allotments most every day, looking for any sickness in the animals, and making sure they’re not overgrazing,” one local rancher explains. “We’re also checking that cattle aren’t beating up creek beds by lingering in the water.”

“Downhill trails often create challenging trail-sharing situations for cattle,” this rancher adds. “If a bike comes flying down, there’s going to be a ‘Hail Mary.’ It’s really hard for either cattle or horses to get off the trail before they run into you.”

Moral of the story: Expect to encounter cattle, other riders, or wildlife and adjust your speed accordingly.

Grand Targhee Resort, nestled in the CaribouTarghee National Forest, borders grazing allotments, usually stocked in the summer months with cow-calf pairs.

“We’ve always had a good working relationship with permit holders,” explains Mark Neff, director of mountain operations, though occasionally cattle wander onto the resort’s slopes, or find some other hole in a fence. “I just call up the producers, and they’ll say, ‘Give me half an hour,’ and there they are on horseback, moving the herd without any issue.”

Neff, also an avid trail user and road cyclist, knows firsthand how treacherous a cow patty can be for a 23-millimeter tire traveling at 25 miles per hour, but the benefits (cattle keeping tall grasses in check and reducing other thick vegetation) outweigh any annoyance.

“If you look at the big picture,” he says, “it’s a successful thing, and it needs to continue.” tf

For more information on rangeland recreation (which can pertain to both Idaho and Wyoming), visit the Idaho Rangeland Resources Commission at idrange.org/recreation.

I don’t do restricted eating.

I’ve tried springtime cleanses and detoxes only to end up feeling worse coming out then I did going in. I’ve dabbled in a three-day juice fast, which led to a migraine so bad that I had to break the fast with several days of Advil. Hardcore cleanses don’t work for me or my body, and restricting food groups, like carbs, fats, and dairy, only leads to disrupted hormones and tapped adrenals, in my experience. (I do recognize that not everyone has this occurrence, however.)

Last spring, I was introduced to a process called “rhythmic eating” by Cate Stillman, author and founder of yogahealer.com, an online community for people committed to upleveling their health and life goals. I enrolled in Cate’s Intermittent Fasting Course, which starts by outlining the science behind fasting and helps you discover your goals, find out your metabolic type, and experiment with rhythmic eating.

For those who need a quick crash course: Intermittent fasting (aka, “timerestricted eating”) typically involves

RHYTHMIC EATING

Intermittent fasting’s safer sister

By Christina Shepherd McGuire

fa sting for at least twelve hours in a twenty-four-hour day. That means, you only consume water, unsweetened black coffee, and tea during your fasting window, and then you eat a healthy, balanced diet during your eating window.

A popular weight loss regimen, called the “16/8 method,” involves fasting for sixteen hours and eating for only eight. Others swear by “alternate-day fasting,” where you fast for a whole day, and then eat whatever you want the following day, followed by a day of fasting, and so forth. Some intermittent fasting protocols are more rigorous than others, and most center around dropping weight.

Cate’s course, however, is a far cry from the intermittent fasting challenges used by bodybuilders in the “cutting” phase (the fat-loss stage) of their training. Her course approaches fasting, or rhythmic eating, from an Ayurvedic perspective and acknowledges the fact that people have different body types and metabolisms, and that this type of health strategy isn’t a onesize-fits-all endeavor.

In her book, Uninflamed: 21 AntiInflammatory PRIMAL HABITS to heal, sleep better, intermittent fast, detox, lose weight, feel great, & crush your life goals with a kickass microbiome, Cate explains her personal journey:

A roll of flab molded around my middle.

I was 40, a mom to a five-year-old, an Ayurvedic practitioner, yoga studio owner, and CEO of Yogahealer with a small team and a big mission. I was also a very athletic biker, skier, surfer, who never missed a day of action.

While I could drop the roll during my seasonal detox, (which I lead at yogidetox.com), it would creep back a month later. I was thinking about food too much.

I justified snacking and emotional eating as my way of dealing with stress. But I wanted off the merry-go-round. I knew where the negative stressor spiral went—weight creep through your 40s leading to brain fog and hot flashes with menopause. No thanks, I’ll pass.

I didn’t want to think about food.

I wanted to be smarter, more focused as a CEO. I wanted more brain capacity, memory,

cognitive and emotional plasticity. I’d heard about intermittent fasting.

My husband and I went with skipping breakfast, and being done eating earlier. We bought less, shopped less, prepped, and cleaned up less. We gained peace of mind and savvy taste buds. Cravings for cheap carbs and pastries dissipated. We wasted less time, food, and energy around eating.

The roll rolled away.

While Cate’s initial motivator, like others’, was weight loss, her modern approach to rhythmic eating doesn’t solely focus on this “side effect.” In her course, she first walks you through the three body constitutions (doshas) recognized by Ayurveda: vata (wind), pitta (fire), and kapha (earth). She explains that each dosha tends towards different imbalances: vata types may experience constipation, bloating, and irregularity; pitta types have fast metabolisms and may suffer from heartburn or dehydration; and kapha types have slower metabolisms and may easily hold excess bodyweight.

*For more information, visit yogahealer.com, or grab a copy of Cate’s book (referenced above) online through Amazon.

She recommends approaching your rhythmic eating journey based on your constitution. Vata and pitta types may benefit more from a 14/10 fast-feed cycle, and should eat at least one meal at the very same time every day. Cate says that pushing straight into a 16/8 pattern for vata and pitta types could send them further out of whack, whereas a slower transition, with a wider eating window, may really help imbalances.

Literacy skills, K-12, are emphasized at Teton School District #401.

Photo by Mary Madsen

Third-grade students at Tetonia Elementary School practice their writing skills and edit the work of their peers.

Kapha types have an easier time with the 16/8 cycle, and may even find they thrive on more of an 18/6 cycle, with only one to two meals a day, Cate explains. This type of patterning allows kapha bodies the time to digest excess weight, which, in turn, may equate to more energy and endurance.

Cate says it’s important to shift into rhythmic eating in a way that’s “deeply cooperating with your constitution” and that, when done with this level of awareness, you can slowly start to ease into your optimal eating window based on how your body is feeling. She recommends paying attention to your true hunger and satiation, and to set an intention to be flexible in the process. Flexibility allows you to fine-tune what works for you, and it doesn’t lock you into a rigid program that’s not sustainable.

Unlike fad diet programs, Cate’s process helps you realize that what you eat is just as—if not more—important as when you eat. I’m primarily a vata constitution, so I make sure I include grounding foods in my diet, like avocados, olives, salmon, nuts, almond butter, and cheese. In her book, Cate stresses the concept of “adding in, not taking out,” and suggests: Add in more water.

As you eat less frequently, add in better food. Add in better fats: olives,

avocado, sprouted almonds, cashews; or nut butters: tahini, coconut, or cacao. Make dressings and sauces with fresh, high-quality, organic, coldpressed oils and animal fats like butter, ghee, or beef tallow.

If you’re an omnivore, buy organic whole birds, such as chickens or turkeys, and use the skin and bones to make broth. The fat in the skin and marrow is deeply soothing to the nerves and decreases emotional food cravings for sweets, pastries, and artificial foods. Chew on high fiber, nutrient-dense foods.

She also notes you can “keep the caffeine,” which I know from experience is a huge benefit for those who love their daily cup of Joe. Cate writes:

Caffeine aids in the transition to the fasting habit by suppressing appetite. With strong hunger or intense cravings, use butter coffee [aka, “bulletproof coffee”], not cream or sugar.

So—after all that—why, aside from weight loss, would anyone want to intermittent fast anyway?

Well, for me, and as clearly stated in the title of Cate’s book, I wanted to decrease inflammation in my body. I aimed to relieve my tendinitis and digestive issues, and strived for a clearer mind, more energy, and better endurance to do life.

And this is where rhythmic eating gets a little sciencey. In Cate’s

book, she explains:

Frequent eating causes blood sugar to continually spike. Fat cells get the signal from insulin to enlarge rather than release. As white fat accumulates beyond the body’s needs, stagnant adipose tissue (or fat cells) secrete proinflammatory hormones, cytokines, and chemokines, which are cell signaling proteins that signal the inflammatory response from the immune system.

Intermittent fasting gives your system a break from constantly digesting, and creates a unique process in the body called autophagy. Cate writes:

With fasting, cells enter autophagy, which repairs and downregulates systemic inflammation … Cells respond to fasting by engaging in a coordinated adaptive stress response that leads to increased expression of antioxidant defenses, DNA repair, protein quality control, and mitochondrial biogenesis. This turns back the clock on aging markers.

In layman’s terms, autophagy is basically a form of “self-eating,” says Cate in her book. When the body is given the time and space, it completes a massive cleanup of damaged cells, dormant viruses, and “unwanted stuff.”

But, the kicker is…, Cate writes. Autophagy only happens when you pulse stored energy from the fat back into the blood.

And the only way to get there is through fasting.

As I write this, I am now on week three of my spring rhythmic eating journey. This time around, I haven’t dumped a bunch of weight like I did the first time, but I’m still noting the benefits and can already see a difference in the mirror.

I’m a fan of my morning bulletproof decaf coffee, complete with two tablespoons of grass-fed butter. It gets me through my workout, and the added fat actually counteracts the caffeine and induces a sense of calm. (Not lying!) I find that two large meals—complete with all of the food groups— and one healthy snack get me through the day energized and without the afternoon slump. My sleep, mental alertness, and joint inflammation has all improved, and my vata body type is pacified by the grounding that comes with a specified eating schedule.

But best of all, rhythmic eating has finally introduced me to a “cleansing” habit that not only gets the winter gunk out, but is also sustainable for me—without headaches, without cravings, and without restrictive dieting. It’s a habit that I turn to when my body feels a little “off” from overindulgence, and it’s a practice that I’ll call on time and again when I feel the need to take out the trash. tf

Unlike fad diet programs, Cate’s process [of rhythmic eating] helps you realize that what you eat is just as—if not more—important as when you eat.

PASTRY’S ALTER-EGO

Savory baked goods for the not-so-sweet-toothed

By Sue Muncaster // Photography by Paulette Phlipot

My favorite childhood memories involve tying on an apron, crawling up on a stool, helping my grandmother sprinkle flour on the kitchen counter, and watching her whip up a pie. As I got older, she trusted me to roll out the dough. Every time I use her old rolling pin, I remember her soft touch and the smell of her warm kitchen.

In busy modern times, making handmade pastries has become a lost art, but like most things that take time, it’s well worth the effort. From well-known savory treats, like calzones, quiches, and egg rolls, to exotic ethnic creations, like samosas (Nepal), boreks (Turkey), and Kalitsounia (Greece), virtually every culture has a way of surrounding meat, vegetables, and cheese with a flaky pastry dough.

These hands-on recipes offer a great way to introduce family members to baking (like my grandma did with me). Create an assembly line for the empanadas to make the task less daunting (and a whole lot more fun!). One person can prepare the discs, a second can fill and fold, and even the youngest child can manage a pastry brush for the egg washing, and then prick discs with a fork.

Once you master the basic dough and techniques, you can change it up to suit your tastes using what’s in season. tf

TIP NO. 1:

If you don’t have a food processor, sub a pastry cutter or fork when making the dough.

(If Grandma did it, you can too!)

SPINACI CROSTATA

Serves 8

Crostatas (also known as “galettes” in France) are free-form pastries with either a sweet or savory filling. The edges are roughly folded to create a rustic and “not so put together” creation. Ideal for the novice baker.

FOR THE CRUST:

1 cup all-purpose flour (plus more for rolling)

1/2 cup fine cornmeal

1/4 teaspoon Kosher salt

10 tablespoons unsalted butter, cold and cut into

1. Pulse dry ingredients, butter, and grated cheese in a food processor until small pea-sized balls form.

2. Add ice water, a couple of tablespoons at a time, pulsing until one uniform ball forms.

3. Lightly flour a work surface, and

small cubes

1/2 cup sharp cheese, grated

6 tablespoons ice water

1 egg white, lightly whisked (for brushing on the crust)

form the dough into a disc with your hands. (If it’s too sticky, sprinkle some flour on the outside and incorporate it.)

4. Cover the dough with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

FOR THE FILLING:

8 to 10 cups fresh spinach leaves

3/4 cup sliced shitake mushrooms

2 teaspoons butter

1/3 cup sour cream

1 clove garlic, chopped

1/2 teaspoon lemon zest

5 artichoke hearts, sliced in quarters

3/4 cup mozzarella, shredded

1. Steam the spinach in a colander over boiling water until no longer crisp. Drain and roll in paper towels to remove as much liquid as possible. Let it cool.

ASSEMBLY:

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated

1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped

6 cherry tomatoes, sliced in quarters, seeds removed

1 egg white

1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

1/2 teaspoon fresh ground pepper

2. In a small frying pan, sauté the sliced mushrooms in butter until softened.

3. In a medium-sized bowl, mix the spinach and mushrooms with all other filling ingredients.

1. Preheat your oven to 400° F.

2. Unwrap the chilled dough onto a floured surface. Roll the dough with a rolling pin or wine bottle into a 14- to 15-inch disc. (It does not have to be perfect.) Place the dough on a lightly greased cookie sheet.

3. Mound the spinach mixture evenly over the dough, leaving a 2-inch even

border.

4. Fold the crust upward, around the edges, and over the filling. Brush the folded edges of the crust with the beaten egg white. Pinch any openings.

5. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes, or until the crust becomes golden brown. Cool for 15 minutes before slicing.

BAKED PICADILLO EMPANADAS WITH SIMPLE CHIMICHURRI

Makes 20-ish empanadas

Derived from the Spanish verb “empanar,” which literally means “to wrap or coat in bread,” stuffed empanadas can be found on just about every street corner from Mexico to the Tierra del Fuego.

FOR THE DOUGH:

3 cups flour

1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

1/2 cup lard, butter, or a mix of both (Lard is worth it!)

1 egg, separated

3/4 to 1 cup warm (not hot) milk

1. Place the flour and salt in a food processor and pulse until well combined. Add the lard or butter and pulse until blended.

2. Pulse in the egg yolk, and then add the milk in small amounts, pulsing until dough clumps start to form.

3. Divide the dough into two balls. Flatten them into discs, cover, and chill in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.

4. On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough into a thin sheet, and use round molds or a small plate to cut out 4- to 5-inch discs. Alternately, use a tortilla press.

FOR THE FILLING:

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 white onion diced

1 pound ground beef

2 tablespoons smoked paprika

2 teaspoons chili powder, or any ground hot pepper

1/2 tablespoon ground cumin

1/2 teaspoon Kosher salt

Black pepper to taste

1 bunch green onions, finely chopped

1 tablespoon fresh oregano, finely chopped

3 hard boiled eggs, sliced

1/4 cup green olives, sliced

1 egg white, lightly whisked

1. In a large frying pan, heat oil, add onion, and sauté until soft.

2. Add the meat and dry spices and cook completely on medium heat, stirring frequently to break up clumps.

3. Let the mixture cool, and then mix in the chopped green onions and oregano.

4. Slice the eggs and olives and place them in separate bowls.

ASSEMBLY:

1. Preheat the oven to 400° F.

2. Place a spoonful of the filling mixture on the middle of each empanada disc, leaving 1/2- to 3/4-inch of dough uncovered around the circumference.

3. Place an egg slice and an olive or two on to the mound.

4. Brush the edges very lightly with egg white.

5. Fold the empanada discs and seal the edges by crimping with a fork or using an empanada mold.

6. For best results, chill the empanadas for at least 30 minutes. (This helps them seal better and prevents leaks.)

7. Before baking, brush the top of the empanadas with the egg yolk and prick twice with a fork.

8. Bake for 18 to 20 minutes, or until golden. Serve with chimichurri.

FOR THE CHIMICHURRI SAUCE:

3 tablespoons fresh oregano, coarsely chopped

2 tablespoons Italian parsley, coarsely chopped

2 tablespoons fresh basil, coarsely chopped

4 cloves garlic, minced

2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

6 tablespoons olive oil

1 teaspoon Sriracha (or 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes)

3 green onions, coarsely chopped Salt and pepper to taste

1. Combine all of the ingredients in the blender (or mini food processor) and puree to a smooth sauce.

2. Taste and adjust the salt and pepper or chilis, as needed.

3. Refrigerate until ready to use. (It’s best used the same day).

BUTTERNUT SQUASH AND FONDUE PIE WITH HONEY HERB GLAZE

This recipe, adapted from a New York Times recipe by Yotam Ottolenghi, combines mature cheese, mellow squash, juicy onions, and savory honey. Plus, I make it easy by using storebought phyllo dough.

FOR THE CRUST:

5 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted (plus more for greasing)

10 sheets phyllo pastry dough, thawed if frozen

FOR THE FILLING:

1 small butternut squash (about 1 3/4 pounds), cut into cubes

1 3/4 teaspoons ground cinnamon

4 tablespoons olive oil, plus extra for greasing

1 teaspoon Kosher salt

Fresh ground black pepper to taste

1 yellow onion, peeled and cut into five rounds

6 garlic cloves, crushed

1/2 cup dry white wine

1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves, roughly chopped, plus 5 extra sprigs

1 cup heavy cream

1 large egg, plus 2 yolks

1 tablespoon cornstarch

1 1/2 cups Gruyère, grated

1 1/3 cups raclette, Emmental, or swiss cheese, grated

Fresh ground black pepper

FOR THE GLAZE:

3 tablespoons apple cider vinegar

3 tablespoons honey

2 sprigs each fresh thyme, sage, and rosemary

1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage

2 tablespoons olive oil

1 clove garlic, smashed

TIP NO. 2: Handle the dough as little as possible, and refrigerate it before use for a flakier result.

ASSEMBLY:

1. Heat the oven to 450° F. Line the bottom of a cookie sheet with parchment. Grease the bottom and sides of a 10- to 12-inch springform pan, then line the bottom with a circle of parchment paper.

2. In a large bowl, toss the butternut squash, cinnamon, 2 tablespoons of the olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon of salt, and a liberal grind of pepper. Transfer the squash to the cookie sheet and arrange in one layer. Add the onion rounds to the same bowl, along with another drizzle of olive oil, 1/8 teaspoon salt, and another good grind of pepper. Toss gently to coat, keeping the onion rounds intact. Lay the onions on the baking sheet next to the squash.

3. Roast for 30 minutes, carefully turning the vegetables over halfway, until softened and well browned. Remove from oven and set aside to cool.

4. Turn the oven temperature down to 375° F.

5. While the squash and onions roast, add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to a small skillet over medium-high heat. Add the garlic and cook until just brown, and then add the wine and chopped thyme and cook until reduced by half (about 3 to 5 minutes). Set aside to cool.

6. Add the cream, eggs, cornstarch, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and plenty of pepper to a large bowl and whisk until smooth. Stir in both cheeses and the cooled wine mixture and set aside.

7. In a separate small saucepan, simmer vinegar,

honey, fresh herb sprigs for two minutes over medium heat. Add olive oil and garlic and simmer for another 2 to 3 minutes.

8. Lay one sheet of phyllo out onto a clean work surface and brush liberally with melted butter. Lay the sheet over the prepared cake pan, carefully pushing it down to fit into the bottom and sides, allowing the excess to hang over the pan. Repeat with the remaining sheets of phyllo, rotating them slightly so that the overhang falls at a different angle. (Don’t stress if the phyllo tears, it will all work out in the end.)

9. Add two-thirds of the squash and two of the onion rounds to the base, then pour the cheese mixture on top. Sprinkle the remaining squash and onion rounds over the top and press them into the mixture slightly. Pour the honey glaze and herb sprigs over the filling.

10. Fold over the overhanging phyllo dough, scrunching it to create a 1-inch border around the sides, with the center exposed. Brush the scrunched-up phyllo with the remaining melted butter.

11. Place the springform pan onto the cookie sheet (in case it leaks) and bake for 30 minutes.

12. Remove from oven and use a tea towel to carefully release and remove the outer rim of the cake pan. Return the pie to the oven for another 20 minutes, or until the outsides are golden and cooked through. Set aside to cool for about 20 minutes.

Like a Mom Lift

Weightlifting as a metaphor for a balanced life

By Deb Barracato //

by Kathryn Ziesig

Photography

Ask most any mom, and she’ll describe parenting as equal parts challenge and reward. It’s that same yin-yang quality that draws many weightlifters to the sport. And for moms who lift weights, the effort they put in correlates to better balance, both actual and metaphorical.

“When you have kids, it’s easy—not intentionally—to stop doing your own things and do everything for them,” explains Alicia Russo, a mom of three ranging in age from 11 to 16, who works out at Targhee Athletics in Driggs and competes in Olympic weightlifting.

“It gives you an identity outside of mothering,” agrees Anjanette (Anjie) Beard, who frequently shares training sessions with Russo in the “North Gym” at Targhee Athletics. Though Beard’s children are grown, they show up to cheer on mom whenever she’s competing.

“My daughter says it’s fun to follow me after I chased them around for so many years.”

When Beard went to Worlds last year, nine of her family members traveled with her to Florida. She has also competed in state events, placing first in Wyoming two years in a row; the North American Open Series, where she has consistently finished in first or second place; and

the National Masters, where she barely missed a medal both times with fourth place finishes.

While both women have always prioritized fitness (Beard is a certified CrossFit coach and a personal trainer at Targhee Athletics, and Russo grew up with professional tennis players as parents), it was the Olympic weightlifting class at the gym that sparked their current “obsession” with lifting heavy weights. Both women say they endure some good-natured teasing from their families for their passion, but they know they’re setting a positive example. Russo’s children all play sports, and when they get frustrated by a loss or poor performance, she can say, “Look, I’m a beginner, too. I keep going back and working hard.”

She may call herself a beginner, but Russo has delivered some impressive performances at lifting competitions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when in-person events were canceled, she earned first-place medals in the online qualifiers and in the American Open event. She also attended both Nationals and Worlds in 2022, where she achieved a mental win.

“It’s a little scary stepping out onto a stage in front of a whole bunch of people and attempting your heaviest, hardest weights, knowing you might miss your lifts, mess up, fail, etc. … The opportunities to push myself in uncomfortable, hard situations have been confidence builders for me, and also great examples for my kids,” says Russo.

While she enjoys the challenge of competing and the fun of the events, it's the opportunity to constantly improve that really keeps Russo motivated.

“Lifting is very technique-driven, like swimming or golf. You can be strong, but if you’re doing it wrong, you’re never going to get to your potential.”

Beard likes constantly working towards a goal, such as beating a personal best during a training session or improving her total in a competition.

Paula Schmidt was working out at Ridge CrossFit in Jackson the day before

An Olympic weightlifting class at Targhee Athletics in Driggs hooked Alicia Russo (left) and Anjie Beard on the sport. Now they both compete at the World level.

she gave birth to her daughter last fall. Maintaining her fitness routine during pregnancy helped her both physically and mentally, she says.

“You have to mentally prepare to lift heavy—it’s going to be uncomfortable, and you’re going to struggle, and it’s going to hurt, and you’re going to be OK. That experience—knowing those things—helped me get through my delivery,” she says.

From a physical perspective, her conditioning—especially her strong core—helped tremendously during labor. And she believes she rebounded more quickly because of it.

Schmidt started strength training in high school, but became interested in Olympic weightlifting through her participation in CrossFit in her 30s.

“I’m competitive, so initially when I started lifting heavier, I really liked the sport of it.” She competed as a CrossFit athlete, most recently in 2021, when she ranked 381st in the world for her age class, but now that she's a new mom in her 40s, her goals have shifted a bit.

“I want to be able to age gracefully and be independent when I'm older. Being an older mom, I want to be able to play with my daughter on the floor,” she says.

Schmidt’s motivation changed with motherhood and she felt like she needed a mental break from the competitive mindset necessary to perform her best, but she still enjoys lifting heavy weights, and she still competes, just against herself. She hopes to become competitive again in her new age class when her daughter gets a bit older.

With fitness being an integral part of her family life (her husband, Dwayne Ridgway, owns the gym; and her stepdaughter, a senior in high school, plays volleyball and has been lifting since middle school), Schmidt finds it pretty easy to stay on track. But she does understand the tendency, especially among women, of falling into the trap of doing everything else first—and then running out of juice before getting around to exercising.

“It’s so easy to get out of the habit. I don’t go home until I’ve worked out. I go to work, I go to the gym, then I go home,” she says. “It’s like eating lunch; it’s something I do for an hour a day.”

Mom to three daughters, with another on the way, Leah Gibson says weightlifting strengthens her mental fitness, in addition to toning her muscles.

lifting more recently. Now pregnant with her fourth girl, Gibson wants to instill in her daughters the importance of taking care of their bodies.

“My kids have basically grown up in the box. They’re at the gym at least two days a week, sometimes three in the summer. My oldest two train and do CrossFit themselves. It’s getting them into something they can continue to do their entire lives,” says Gibson.

In proof that it’s a lifetime sport, Russo and Beard see women in their 70s and 80s competing at the national and world levels. It’s definitely motivation for them to keep moving.

“If you want to continue to walk in your 80s, you should be lifting weights,” Beard says.

Morgan Reiley’s mom has always owned a gym (currently Anytime Fitness in Driggs), but she never pushed fitness on her children. “I came around to it on my own,” Reiley says, who got hooked on powerlifting during her first try at competition in 2016. Now pregnant with her first child, she’s no longer competing but has maintained

Lifting heavy weights helps Beard (left) and Russo achieve the holistic goal of showing up for life at their personal best.

her workout routine and says it keeps her body image strong, despite the pregnancy changes she can’t control.

“I’ve acknowledged that I have to gain weight, but being able to move my body still in this way makes me feel great about it,” she explains.

In her coaching service, Reiley trains all of her female clients in the standard powerlifting moves—the squat, bench press, and deadlift—even when they have no intention of competing. She feels proficiency in these moves carries over into everyday life.

Reiley especially appreciates the inclusivity of this style of weightlifting.

“It has nothing to do with the way you look. Bodies of all shapes and sizes can do it. It’s really empowering. And being able to lift heavy weight does so much for your mental health,” she says.

There’s a pretty common misperception, perhaps perpetuated

by images of bodybuilders, that lifting leads to bulk. But it’s not true. Done correctly, with a focus on form and efficient movement, weightlifting builds functional strength in the major muscle groups, while improving balance and mobility.

“Done correctly” being a crucial point, Schmidt says. She encourages any woman who wants to try weightlifting to find a gym they feel comfortable in and take classes to learn proper technique under the watchful eye of a coach.

“Don’t just walk into a fitness center with no instructor and start using the machines,” she cautions.

According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine, all women—pregnant or not, mother or not, young, middle aged, elderly—

For Paula Schmidt, weightlifting shifted from a competitive pursuit to a personal commitment after the birth of her daughter. She believes all women should strength train regularly to function optimally.

should be strength training at least two to three days a week. It helps women maintain a healthy bodyweight by building lean muscle mass, while improving metabolism, strengthening bones, increasing flexibility, and reducing stress.

“Anyone can do it,” Gibson says. “Maybe it’s just two days a week. But do that for six to 12 weeks, and you will see results.

CrossFitters often joke about drinking the Kool-Aid, but Gibson , a nurse and former personal trainer, says it’s the most efficient way to develop full-body functional fitness because of the built-in weightlifting component that takes place under the supervision of movement-trained coaches. She encourages all women to try it, noting that many area gyms on both sides of the Tetons run programs.

“As a mom, I think it really makes me feel strong and capable from a mental perspective, and from a physical perspective,” she continues. “There’s also a stress release for me. I think motherhood can be really trying at times no matter the stage. Incorporating something that is hard to do and being successful at it reminds you that hard is not always bad.”

And that mentality plays into every other aspect of your life.

CrossFit reminds Gibson that “hard” doesn’t always equal “bad.” She carries this mantra from the gym into the rest of her life.

Weightlifting—It’s What’s for Women

Weightlifting has gone mainstream for women in the past ten to fifteen years, with more and more gyms, trainers, coaches, and doctors, recognizing the lifetime benefits of strength training. Ruth Bader Ginsberg took it up in her 60s and continued for twenty years; her bone density increased so much in the first few months it surprised her doctor. She reportedly got so strong from her twice-weekly workouts, she could perform full pushups in her 70s.

Female high-school athletes often start weight training to gain a performance edge in their sport, and many women moving into middle life turn to strength training as a way to lose weight. Reiley, a certified personal trainer who works mostly with female clients, encourages women of all ages to embrace it more holistically as a year-round, lifelong path to health and longevity.

“People miss the mark on that,” she says. Weight training should not be a temporary bid for a better season or a quick fix for losing weight that ends when the scale hits a goal number. It should be an intrinsic part of a woman’s self-care routine, the same as brushing her teeth, eating healthy meals, or making

time to socialize with friends.

Beard, a certified CrossFit Level 1 and Level 2 coach, agrees that every woman would benefit from some form of strength training. While starting early and staying consistent throughout life is the best-case scenario, a woman can pick up weights at any time, at any level of fitness.

Even during pregnancy, Reiley notes. She maintained her personal routine while pregnant, though she did make some adjustments in both her stance and her goals to accommodate her growing baby.

Studies show that women who strength train throughout pregnancy experience easier weight management, less preeclampsia, lower incidences of gestational diabetes, and better overall well-being. Stronger pelvic floor muscles also aid in delivery and a faster recovery. A healthy woman, with clearance from her doctor, Reiley emphasizes, can start weight training during pregnancy to support her health and the development of her baby.

It’s always advised to check with a doctor before starting

“

I want to be able to age gracefully and be independent when I'm older. Being an older mom, I want to be able to play with my daughter on the floor.

— Paula Schmidt

Lifting while pregnant helps Morgan Reiley feel good about the changes happening to her body. Maintaining a strength training routine during pregnancy, she feels, will also aid her delivery and postpartum recovery.

a new exercise routine, but trainers and coaches can generally provide movement modifications to accommodate any injuries, weaknesses, or even just first-time jitters.

The format with weight training doesn’t vary much by age, Beard explains. “If my mom came in, I would put her through the same routine as a 40-year-old woman,” she says.

There might be a difference in the weight, or the type of equipment used, but the balance of push and pull movements in both upper and lower body muscle groups improves functional strength and mobility in everyone. tf

Child Care √ Struggle is Real!

By Cherisé Forno

Illustrations by Julie Millard

As both Teton County, Wyoming, and Teton County, Idaho, continue to face a shortage of child care options, parents, providers, and community leaders are thinking outside the box. Local parents jockey to plan their child care schedule around school holidays and visiting family members. And community leaders lobby to find solutions to provide for families with children, while also retaining a workforce. It’s all in an effort to make it work. Somehow. Someway. And in the best possible interest for our kids.

Juggling Resources

For parents, quality solutions usually involve a level of creativity that requires pairing traditional daycare or preschool services with a parttime nanny or a resort program.

Anna Cole, associate marketing director for Bank of Jackson Hole, and her husband Eric Cole, who owns PEI (Powers Excavation Inc.), use multiple options for their three-yearold daughter.

“With both of us being working parents, we need child care five days a week,” says Anna. “We live in Wilson, so Pumpkin Patch Preschool has been a great option for us three days a week [Monday, Wednesday, and Friday], and then we’ve made it work the other two days with a nanny share with another family in our neighborhood. Signe loves the school environment, but it’s also nice to have those days in between where she can be at home and just have a little more flexibility.”

Pumpkin Patch follows the Teton County School District’s calendar, so the Cole family employs a nanny several days a week and on a regular basis, to fill in the gaps.

“Pumpkin Patch does have seasonal closures, like other schools, so having our nanny, who’s so lovely and part of our family, is really helpful because she can sometimes pick up extra days when school’s out of session,” says Cole.

Cole’s parents, who visit regularly, also help watch their daughter when they’re in town.

“I love importing family members to come help us,” she says. “The other great thing about Jackson is there are other options, such as drop-ins at Axis Gymnastics or summer camps.”

This year, Cole’s daughter attended ski school one day a week at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, which is available Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. during the winter, for children who are three and older and potty trained. Weekend options at the resort include care for children ages five and older.

Cole’s advice to other parents?

“Ask for help,” she says. “You’re not alone. Ask for help when you need it, and then return the favor when you can.”

Calling in the Troops

Jackson Hole Nannies, LLC, provides a variety of services for families and tourists throughout the valley. Owner Renaye Notzka explains the company’s two different types of services: “One is our short-term babysitting services, and the other one is our long-term placement of nannies for families. The business is kind of split in half between the babysitting and the nanny placement.”

Babysitting is often used for people visiting Jackson, but it can also be helpful for families looking for an occasional sitter for a date night, a ski day, or when their child’s daycare is closed. Jackson Hole Nannies’ years of experience finding qualified nannies with education degrees, solid background checks, and certifications, like CPR and First Aid, provides assurance for families looking for a part- or full-time nanny, afterschool care, holiday travel help, or someone to help with household errands and chores.

“We also help with nanny shares, so I think that’s a good option for a lot of local families when daycare doesn’t work, but they can’t afford a personal nanny on their own,” Notzka says.

Nanny shares usually involve placing two to three children around the same age with one nanny to make it more affordable.

Notzka realizes that having only one care option may not fit every family, so Jackson Hole Nannies helps families figure out what works best for them. This can include a combination of traditional daycare or preschool, combined with a part-time nanny, or even a last-minute babysitter.

“We have a couple different families that have children that go to daycare, and maybe they just need a nanny two days a week,” she says.

No matter what child care option a family lands on, Notzka says to diligently research the facility or individual chosen.

“Definitely vet whoever you decide to hire,” she says. “Call the references and do background checks.”

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE IN IDAHO

The Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) assists families with children under the age of 13, or children over 13 with a disability. The program provides child care assistance for qualifying families by paying a portion of child care expenses.

healthandwelfare.idaho.gov/services-programs/children-families/idaho-child-care-program

CHILD CARE FACILITIES IN TETON VALLEY, IDAHO AND ALTA, WYOMING

Building Blocks Early Learning Center, LLC 208-354-2610

Grand Targhee’s Kids Club grandtarghee.com/lessons-rentals/skisnowboard-school/child-care 307-353-2300

The Learning Academy of Teton Valley learningacademyschool.com 208-354-7898

Mountain Academy of Teton Science Schools, Victor Campus tetonscience.org 307-733-3729

Meeting the Needs of Families

Fiona Wilson and Sara Dolentz, co-owners of Little Acorns Academy in Jackson, provide care for children three months to five years old. As working mothers themselves, Wilson and Dolentz make it a priority to be available as many days and hours as possible for families. Little Acorns is open 52 weeks a year—offering care from 7:45 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., Monday through Friday—and only closes on January 1, July 4, Thanksgiving, and December 24 and 25.

“A lot of people who work and live in Jackson don’t have an option but to work on holidays, so they need full-time care,” Wilson says.

This commitment to families was evident in 2020 when Little Acorns reopened as quickly as possible after a mandatory sevenweek closure during the COVID -19 pandemic.

“We opened as soon as we could because we felt we really needed to do that for our parents,” Wilson says.

In June of 2020, and amid uncertain times, Dolentz and Wilson also decided to take a risk and expand their child care center by adding space that became available in their building.

“It was a really hard decision not knowing which direction COVID was going to go, but we decided—it’s now or never,” Wilson says. “We spent six months remodeling, a lot of which Sara and I did ourselves. It kept us going during COVID. We were still running the business and expanding it.”

The new space that houses the center’s preschool classrooms and indoor play area opened in January 2021, raising Little Acorn Academy’s capacity to 70, almost tripling the 25 spots previously available when they opened in 2019.

“We pretty much filled up straight away,” Wilson says.

Wilson encourages people to get on the waitlist as soon as possible.

“Even if you’re not sure what you want to do—stay at home, or work part-time or full-time—get on the waitlist because you can always turn an available spot down,” she says. “With us, there’s no registration fee. You are only asked for a deposit when you accept a spot.”

As Little Acorns works to provide affordable daycare options, it is also committed to employing and retaining high-quality teachers, offering many benefits, including paid maternity leave, a 401K plan, annual bonuses, and a positive work environment.

“It’s important for Sara and I to build a great environment for our teachers,” Wilson says. “A lot of our employees have been with us for years.”

Even though Little Acorns makes its employees a priority, Wilson said finding teachers is difficult because of a lack of housing in Jackson.

“Last summer we had to make the really difficult decision of reducing our infant care from seven babies to four,” she says. “Our biggest challenge is finding teachers.”

CHILD CARE FACILITIES IN TETON COUNTY, WYOMING

Bright Beginnings Episcopal Preschool

307-699-5087

Children’s Learning Center childrenlearn.org

307-733-1616

Happy Kidz Day Care Center happy-kidz-day-care-center.business.site

307-699-0553

Jackson Hole Mountain Resort Kids Ranch jacksonhole.com/children-lessons

307-739-2788

Jackson Hole Nannies, LLC jacksonholenannies.com

307-690-7423

JH Discovery Preschool jhdiscoverypreschool.com

307-690-7709

Little Acorns Academy littleacornsacademy.com

307-699-8737

Little Explorers littleexplorerspreshoolsite.wordpress.com

307-733-3608

Little Lambs Preschool pcjh.org/little-lambs-preschool

307-734-0388

Little Learners Academy

307-733-0789

Mountain Academy of Teton Science Schools tetonscience.org

307-733-3729

Pumpkin Patch Preschool jhpumpkinpatch.com

307-733-1759

Rocky Mountain Kids Childcare Center rocky-mountain-kids.business.site

307-699-2122

Sweet Peas

307-733-6580

Sweet Spirits Preschool & Childcare sweetspiritschildcare.com

307-413-4439

TCSD Cubs

307-733-2704

The Montessori School of the Tetons tetonmontesorri.com

307-734-2747

Enlisting the Village

Driggs Mayor August Christensen brings her decades of experience in early childhood education, and a desire to help her community provide adequate child care options, to her city position.

“It’s my passion, and I want to continue to help serve our community and families in need,” she says.

After three preschools in Driggs closed in a year and a half, Christensen and other community leaders formed the Collaborative for Early Learning. The organization created a comprehensive plan to assist Teton Valley providers, as well as parents caring for their children at home. Twentyone other cities in Idaho have also formed early child care collaboratives.

“Before the schools closed, our valley was already in desperate need of child care, so with the closures, it really has put our community in a child care desert,” Christensen says. “Without care, we have no workforce.”

At the same time, Building Blocks Early Learning Center, LLC in Driggs—a licensed provider serving infants through children up to five—found out they had to find a new location, as their lease was expiring in May 2023.

“It threw us into fast motion, and we decided to start this collaborative,” Christensen says. “Within a week’s time, we were able to put together a group of community leaders to determine options of how we can support providers in our valley.”

Christensen learned of the “Gambal House,” a 4,000-square-foot home available near the Big Holes for potential donation. When she saw the house and its large open spaces, she knew it would make an ideal child care center.

“I started connecting with various providers and trying to match them up with the owner,” Christensen says. “There were limitations with availability and cost of land, so nothing was really coming to fruition.”

In December 2022, the Teton County School District #401 board approved the donation of the house. Providers will soon bid for the space, and the school board will decide if multiple providers will share the moved and renovated house, or if one provider will occupy the entire center, which will be equipped to accommodate more than 70 children.

Since the Gambal House will sit on school district property, one consideration is giving school district employees first preference of care.

“I would love to be able to see essential workers that work in Teton Valley also getting priority, so that we can ensure that our workforce is being supported,” Christensen says.

While Building Blocks is the sole licensed facility in Driggs for infants,

FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR CHILD CARE IN WYOMING

The Department of Family Services’ Child Care Subsidy Program uses a combination of state and federal funds to help low-income families pay for the cost of child care for a parent who is employed or attending school or training.

dfs.wyo.gov/services/family-services/child-care

You Deserve the Best

The Learning Academy of Teton Valley is a licensed provider for children ages two through five. Dani Wilson, director of the school, strives to offer the highest quality care at a reasonable price, with low student to teacher ratios. She says it’s expensive to hire highly qualified teachers and maintain the school’s large campus (which includes a farm with pigs, donkeys, and miniature horses), but she works to keep her rates affordable.

“We’re as cheap as we can be, while paying our overhead costs,” say Wilson. “I help families as much as possible.”

This assistance includes offering scholarships for the school’s daytime programming, after care, and summer camp. Funds granted from the Idaho Child Care Program (ICCP) are also available for families with children at The Learning Academy of Teton Valley.

“ICCP really does help,” she says, especially for single-income households.

Wilson offers her staff competitive wages with benefits, and currently has two teachers on staff who have been there for almost 20 years. This consistency helps the Learning Academy offer much more than a traditional daycare facility and instead operate as an early childhood

development center, complete with age-appropriate curriculum.

“We’re skilled at knowing what is developmentally appropriate at each age, and applying programs at the right time for children,” she says.

Kristi Meston, project manager for the Collaborative for Early Learning, says, “We appreciate all our providers, and we hope to support them and keep them, and we need to extend accessibility for more families in the valley that is affordable.”

“The Gambal House is a part of it, but the greater aspect of this collaborative is coming together to be able to help support all providers in many different ways, ” she says. “That could mean offering trainings and workshops, educating parents, offering support, and really just trying to figure out what, specifically, does our community need in regard to child care.” tf

S’mores! Some More

S’moresNationalDay is August 10!

Written and Photographed by Paulette Phlipot

TThinking about my childhood summer nights and campfires instantly reminds me of laughter, stories, music, and, of course, roasting marshmallows for s’mores with family and friends. S’mores—the alltime classic campfire treat loved by everyone—never seem to go out of style.

Whether you’re sitting under a starlit sky deep in the woods or entertaining in the comfort of the backyard, combining ooey-gooey marshmallows, buttery graham crackers, and melted chocolate is a crowd pleaser. Over the years, the ingredients of this classic dessert have remained the same, but, just like roasting sticks have evolved in time, so have fun twists and variations of this campfire delight.

The History

The exact origin of s’mores is unknown, yet Loretta Scott Crew is credited for the first published recipe in the book “Tramping and Trailing with the Girl Scouts” (1927). As a Campfire Girls leader, she sought out an easy-to-make treat for the girls to enjoy while they gathered around the fire. The name of these time-tested treats totally makes sense when you think about it—this abbreviation of the phrase “some more” reflects the fact that you can’t get enough of these delectable sweets. The echo of young children asking for “some more” etched the name and tradition as we know it.

Check out my twists on this classic recipe

The Chocolate

Although the classic combination of graham crackers, chocolate, and marshmallows never grows old, I’m game for shaking things up a bit, like using gingerbread or chocolate chip cookies as the "cracker," or substituting mint or cherry-filled chocolate, instead of a simple chocolate bar How about a chocolate spread and a nut butter in place of the chocolate bar all together? Step things up a notch by sprinkling toasted coconut or broken pretzel pieces over the melted marshmallow. My favorite twist is adding fresh herbs. (I always find ways to add seasonal herbs to just about anything. So why not s’mores?)

The Mallow

The marshmallow remains the steadfast ingredient that should not be swapped out. Still, you can try using different flavors, like Persephone's vanilla marshmallows. If you want to keep your s’mores vegan, don’t worry! Most grocery stores carry at least one brand of vegan marshmallows (like Dandies found at Barrels and Bins or Whole Foods). Or, if you are like me and get a kick out of making things from scratch, give homemade marshmallows a try. It’s easier than you think, and you get to control what goes into them. No need to remind the kids that these are “healthier” as they gobble them down. (And, bonus! No need to worry about how many they’ve eaten, either.)

*Although delicious and loved by kids, homemade marshmallows definitely melt quicker than store bought marshmallows. So, you will need to keep a close eye on them once placed next to heat.

Maple Bacon S’mores

The sweet and salty combo makes everything better! And this s’more rendition—complete with maple bacon, Persephone marshmallows and graham cookies—is over-the-top.

For the bacon :

Uncured bacon

Maple syrup

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F.

2. Place the bacon on a parchment-lined baking sheet.

3. Brush both sides of each piece of bacon with maple syrup.

4. Bake for 10 minutes, and then flip each slice. Continue baking until crispy.

5. When done, set the bacon aside on paper towels.

* Recipe adapted from smokedmeatsunday.com

For the s’mores:

Persephone’s vanilla marshmallows

Persephone’s graham cracker cookies

Dark chocolate (70% or higher–I love the Chocolove brand)

Ground black pepper

Fresh rosemary

Flaky sea salt

1. Cut the bacon pieces in half.

2. Place 1/2 a piece of cooked bacon on top of the graham cookie topped with chocolate. Next, add a toasted marshmallow and sprinkle with flaky sea salt, ground black pepper, and fresh rosemary.

3. Top it with a smidge of maple syrup (if desired), and another graham cookie. Squeeze gently. Enjoy!

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Tip:

The Roast

The key to a great s’more is making sure the marshmallow is melted enough to create the oozefactor. And the art of roasting to this degree takes some patience and practice, requiring a delicate balance of rotation and distance from the heat. How long to roast is debatable, as what is considered “perfectly done” for one connoisseur may not please another. Plus, the sticky component is responsible not just for holding everything together, but also for melding the flavors of the sweet chocolate and crunchy graham.

Place half a graham cracker with chocolate on a flat rock near the edge of the fire. Let it be while you roast the marshmallow, so it’ll be melted when you are ready.

Vegan Strawberry S’mores

Fully embrace summer—without leaving anyone out— by concocting a vegan s’more, berry included.

Vegan marshmallows (like Dandies)

Vegan graham crackers

Vegan chocolate

Fresh strawberries

Fresh mint

1. Add a fresh strawberry to your roasting stick and roast it alongside your marshmallow.

2. Carefully take the roasted strawberry off of the stick first; slice it in half.

3. Place 1/2 of the sliced berry on top of a graham cracker topped with chocolate. Then, place the toasted marshmallow and the other berry on top of that, before putting on the graham cracker lid.

4. Top with a couple of fresh mint leaves.

5. Squeeze the graham crackers together carefully.

S’mores Cake

My daughter’s friends beg me to make homemade marshmallows for her birthday each year. I created this cake as a way to honor the birthday cake tradition, while also adhering to their request.

Ingredients:

1 cup warm water (split into 1/2 cups)

3 tablespoons grass-fed gelatin (I like Perfect Supplements brand)

1 cup organic honey

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/4 teaspoon sea salt

1 chocolate bar Graham crackers Caramel sauce

Directions:

1. Cut out a circle of parchment paper to fit the bottom of the springform pan and up the side about an inch.

2. Chop the chocolate bar into bite size pieces and set aside.

3. Add the gelatin to the stand mixer bowl and pour 1/2 a cup of water over it. Set the bowl into the stand.

4. Place the 1/2 cup of water in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the honey, salt, and vanilla. Bring the mixture to a boil.

5. Place a candy thermometer into the saucepan. Stir occasionally, while also keeping a close eye on the mixture, so it does not boil over. Remove from heat as soon as it hits the softball stage (240°F), about 10 minutes.

6. Turn the stand mixer on low. Slowly pour the honey mixture into the bowl. Turn up the speed a little at a time until you are able to run it on high. (Go slow, so the mixture does not splatter outside of the bowl.)

7. Continue beating on high for about 10 minutes, until fluffy with soft peaks.

8. Turn the mixer to low. Add the chocolate pieces, and then turn the mixer off, as soon as they are incorporated.

9. Pour the mixture into the parchment lined springform pan. Let it rest on the counter for several hours.

10. Remove the springform pan and place the marshmallow cake on a cake stand.

11. Use a culinary torch to brown the top of the cake. (If you don’t have a torch, carefully place the cake under your oven broiler. Not too close!)

12. For serving, place a graham cracker on each plate before adding a slice of the cake on top. Drizzle with caramel sauce.

The Fire

If you don’t plan on going camping anytime soon, or you don’t have a fire pit in your backyard, you can still get your s’mores fix easily at home by warming your marshmallows in the oven or on the grill. And if you need an excuse to buy another kitchen tool, a culinary torch (most often used for caramelizing crème brûlée) works great in a pinch. Better yet—jump on the bandwagon and get a tabletop fire pit, so you can easily roast marshmallows, inside or out. tf

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