Stewardship and Education in the Rockies: A Conversation with Danielle Wolf of the Rocky Mountain Conservancy
By Ashley Glasco — Art for Our Parks
Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to connect virtually with Danielle Wolf, the Education Manager at the Rocky Mountain Conservancy (RMC). Danielle has worked with the Conservancy for three years and leads programs designed to connect visitors with the landscapes and ecosystems of Rocky Mountain National Park (RMNP).
Our conversation, held over Microsoft Teams, explored how RMC engages the public through education, how they’re managing visitor behavior—especially during the recent federal government shutdown—and what stewardship means in an era defined by climate change and mass tourism.
The Roots of the Field Institute
Ashley, Art for Our Parks: Tell me a little bit about the programs you offer through the Conservancy.
Danielle Wolf, Rocky Mountain Conservancy: We run a wide range of educational programs. The education arm of the Conservancy is called The Field Institute, which dates back to the 1960s. It was founded by an incredible woman named Betty Willard, a tundra ecologist who worked for the park. She believed the best way to get people to care about public lands was to get them out into those spaces—to see, touch, and learn from them directly.
Betty encouraged what she called “belly science”—literally having participants lie down on the tundra to observe the plants up close. That idea really shaped what the Field Institute became: a place for adult learners to engage deeply with expert instructors in natural sciences like botany and ecology.
Beyond those focused courses, we also offer scenic ecology tours, where we take visitors up to the tundra along Trail Ridge Road or into the park during elk rut season. We host a winter speaker series featuring rangers, researchers, and local experts, as well as guided hikes and family programs throughout the year.
Inspiring Visitors to Learn
Ashley: Do visitors generally enjoy these programs?
Danielle: We hope so! We send out surveys, and the feedback is almost always positive. Of course, there are always a few who say it was too cold or too much walking—or not enough walking—but overall, people love learning about the park.
Our audiences vary. Locals often join Field Institute courses because they’re passionate about a specific topic—say, alpine wildflowers or bats—while public programs attract first-time visitors eager to learn about the park. We always try to find out what participants are most excited to see and tailor the experience to that.
Managing Visitor Behavior During the Shutdown
Ashley: When I visited RMNP a couple of weekends ago, I noticed some concerning visitor behaviors, especially with the ongoing government shutdown. What role does RMC play in addressing that?
Danielle: Two weeks ago was definitely a strange time. With the federal shutdown, most of the park rangers who would normally help manage visitor behavior—directing traffic, enforcing wildlife distance, even picking up litter—were furloughed. That friendly presence was missing.
There were still a few law enforcement rangers and volunteers, like those in the park’s Bugle Corps, who help manage crowds during elk rut season. But without regular staff, it’s harder to gently remind people about rules like designated parking or keeping a safe distance from wildlife.
During our Conservancy-led programs, we emphasize Leave No Trace principles and the “rule of thumb” for wildlife viewing: if you can cover the animal completely with your thumb at arm’s length, you’re at a safe distance. Our communications team has also stepped up during the shutdown, using social media, newsletters, and press outreach to promote responsible behavior in the park.
The “Rule of Thumb” Debate
Ashley: I actually heard a different version of that rule at the visitor center. A staff member told me it’s fine as long as the elk don’t change their behavior. Are staff consistently trained on the correct rule?
Danielle: It depends. Different organizations staff different visitor centers—some National Park Service, some Conservancy, some others—so training can vary. The NPS does train their staff on safe wildlife distances. Personally, I think it’s best to err on the side of caution and use the traditional “rule of thumb.” It’s better to give animals plenty of space, even if they seem unbothered.
Defining Stewardship in the Modern Era
Ashley: I’m working on an article exploring the ethics of wildlife viewing and tourism, inspired by Aldo Leopold’s “Thinking Like a Mountain.” In your view, how do you define stewardship in the age of climate change and mass tourism?
Danielle: That’s a big question. I think stewardship means minimizing our impact however possible.
Wildlife near high-traffic areas can become habituated to people, which sometimes helps them tolerate human presence—but it also leads to problems when animals start associating people with food or lose their natural wariness.
At the same time, as Betty Willard believed, people need to experience a place to fall in love with it. Seeing the effects of climate change firsthand can be powerful and motivating. So there’s a balance: we need people to connect deeply with these landscapes—but also to understand the cost of their own footprint.
Travel, for example, comes with emissions. So it’s complicated. The goal is awareness and balance.
Can Better Messaging Help?
Ashley: I’ve noticed visitors sometimes ignore warning signs—for example, walking into meadows closed for elk activity before the posted closure time. Do you think values-based messaging, like ethical prompts or questions on signs and pamphlets, might be more effective than simple “don’t do this” signs?
Danielle: It might help. You’re right that “don’t” signs can backfire—some people take them as a challenge. I’ve seen firsthand how dangerous elk can be when provoked, especially during rut or calving season.
Values-based messaging could encourage reflection—getting visitors to pause and think about their own beliefs and ethics before acting. That said, it’s tricky; not everyone shares the same values, so the message doesn’t always land the same way.
Tourism, Traffic, and Elk Stress
Ashley: During my visit, I saw tour buses and jeeps dropping off visitors near Moraine Park Meadow, creating traffic and trapping a bull elk and his harem between vehicles. Would limiting tour access help reduce stress in those areas?
Danielle: It’s always a balancing act. The park’s Visitor Use Management Plan is adaptive—data is collected each year to inform future adjustments.
Commercial tour operators are required to have permits and training, but compliance varies. When staffing levels are normal and timed-entry permits are in place, congestion is much less severe. Unfortunately, during the shutdown, the lack of staff made it difficult to manage crowding, which affects both visitor experience and wildlife wellbeing.
Encouraging Collaboration and New Ideas
Ashley: Does the Conservancy offer ways for people to share new ideas for stewardship or messaging in the park?
Danielle: We don’t influence management decisions—those are made by the Park Service and the Department of the Interior—but we are the park’s primary philanthropic partner. We fund research, conservation, and educational activities, and we use our own communication channels to share stewardship messages. But signs and policy decisions come from the National Park Service.
Ashley: Thank you so much for your time, Danielle. Hopefully, through continued education and collaboration, we can strengthen that sense of stewardship in visitors.
Danielle: Thank you, Ashley. Every voice helps. The more channels this message reaches, the better.
Speaking with Danielle highlighted the delicate balance between education, access, and preservation. Betty Willard’s philosophy from the 1960s still holds true today: the best way to protect something is to know it deeply. Yet, as tourism and climate pressures rise, the question remains—how do we foster that connection responsibly?
Transparency Note
This interview was conducted virtually via Microsoft Teams and has been lightly edited for clarity and length.
