Advertisement Boot of missing Cincinnati teen found during search at Wyoming park Clark Montessori 10th-grader went missing during Thursday morning break Share Shares Copy Link Copy

Park Rangers are looking for a teenager who went missing while working on a conservation project in Grand Teton National Park.Watch the latest reportPark officials say 16-year-old Fauna Jackson, a Clark Montessori 10th-grader, is part of a youth volunteer conservation corps called Groundwork USA.The Grand Teton public information officer told WLWT that a boot of Jackson's was found during Friday's search, but they do not believe she was wearing this boot when she was last seen."If she was lost in the woods I am completely confident that she would have the basic skills for outdoor survival," her math teacher Chad Vahue said. "I'm really worried about her safety because I know her and I know this is not something that she would do of her own accord."Vahue told WLWT Jackson is a straight-A student and President of the Vegan Club.Jackson was in Grand Teton this week helping to reroute a trail in the Triangle X Ranch area."Fauna was working with a crew supervised by national park service rangers and our own staff around 8:30 their time yesterday. She said she needed to take a bathroom break and she went into the woods alone and didn't come back," said Robin Corathers, executive director of Groundwork Cincinnati Mill Creek.Searchers are using dogs and helicopters to look for her, and the Wyoming Civil Air Patrol is planning to help in the search with aerial patrols overnight. The patrols will use infrared imaging to detect sources of heat on the ground."They couldn't find her. Everyone was notified, the national park service rangers started a comprehensive search," Corathers said. "Specialty search and rescue crews were involved, there were helicopters yesterday and today K-9 dogs have been helping the searchers."Fauna's father James Bennett said there hasn't been any activity on her cell phone since she disappeared.Groundwork Cincinnati said there hasn't been any on her debit card either."I'm just praying to God that they find this baby," said Fawn Benton.Neighbors in Northside, where Fauna and her family live, said they're getting more worried by the hour, but they're not losing hope."I just hope and pray that it's a wonderful outcome, that she just got lost," Benton said.Friday afternoon, Grand Teton National Park posted on its Facebook page: "The search is an all-hands-on-deck effort including about 100 individuals." It listed law enforcement rangers, maintenance workers, naturalists, dispatchers, and paramedics as some of those helping with the effort.Corathers said the area where Fauna and the crew were was rugged and mountainous, but also close to a highway."It's been very difficult on her parents — very, very stressful — and we just hope she is found soon and is safe and sound," Corathers said.Fauna arrived in Wyoming last Thursday.She prominently displayed her love of nature and the area on her social media sites."Wyoming is so beautiful, I can't wait to go to Yellow Stone in 2 days!!"" she wrote last Friday, a day after she arrived.She last posted on Instagram Wednesday. "Last day in Wyoming is tomorrow. I can't wait to be home and see everyone. Today I am going to be blazing a trail, pretty siked. I love you all a bunch and can't wait to see all of you soon," she wrote.Bennett said his daughter loves nature and is experienced in the woods, hiking and camping.He said the family is "devastated and frantic."Fauna had been working with Groundwork Cincinnati all summer.She was one of three teens from the summer job program to continue working in Wyoming.The non-profit said Fauna was chosen because of her outstanding work and leadership skills.She was supposed to be returning home to Cincinnati tonight."Our thoughts and prayers are with Fauna and her family, and the Clark community, during this difficult time," Cincinnati Public Schools said in a statement.