Grandfather Mountain education director receives national honor
Jesse Pope leads a visiting school group in a nature-based game. In 2004, Pope developed the naturalist program at Grandfather Mountain that now serves thousands of school children each year.
Grandfather Mountain director of education and natural
resources Jesse Pope has been selected as a member of the “Forty for the Future,” a talent project
by the Southeast Tourism Society.
The purpose of the award is to recognize 40 young
professionals younger than 40 from across the country in the tourism industry.
The
goal is to highlight certain younger professionals whose work and commitment to travel and tourism
has made a positive difference.
Pope came to Grandfather in 2002 as a wildlife keeper and
backcountry ranger.
In 2004, Pope’s extraordinary knowledge and friendly demeanor led
management to ask him to develop a naturalist program for Grandfather Mountain, according to
officials at Grandfather.
During his tenure as chief naturalist, Pope took the program
from the seed of an idea to the experience that visitors report adds the most value to a
visit.
In 2010, he was named director of education and natural resources, developing
and overseeing educational experiences, conservation efforts and resource management, among other
duties.
For more information about Southeast Tourism Society and the “Forty for the Future
Award,” visit the Southeast Tourism Society website at http://www.southeasttourism.org.
For
more information on Grandfather Mountain, visit http://www.grandfather.com or call (800)
468-7325.
