National Park Service

Parktips – January 2010

Parktips is a monthly compilation of newsworthy items and story ideas from the National Park Service. A new edition is posted on the first week of each month at http://www.nps.gov/news/index.htm. Just click on the Story Leads link to access Parktips. You can view past issues of Parktips. You can also receive a personal copy of Parktips, via e-mail or fax, by registering at our website.

Outdoor Activities on New Year’s Weekend at Fire Island (New York) — Guided nature hikes and lighthouse tower tours are among the special activities offered at Fire Island National Seashore to help start 2010 off on the right foot. On New Year’s Day, the Fire Island Lighthouse Preservation Society is offering a naturalist-guided hike to acquaint visitors with barrier islands. The hike will be at 10 a.m. Throughout the afternoon, the society will provide guided tours of the Fire Island Lighthouse. A 192-step climb to the top of the light station tower affords a spectacular view of Fire Island. Reservations are required for Fire Island Lighthouse programs (631-661-4876), and nominal program fees are charged. On Saturday, January 2, a free, three-hour, three-mile ranger-guided hike into the Fire Island Wilderness starts at 9 a.m. For more information, please contact Paula Valentine at 631-687-4859 or visit www.nps.gov/fiis.

January 2010 Proclaimed Volcano Awareness Month

(Hawai’i) — The County of Hawai’i proclaimed January 2010 Volcano Awareness Month. Throughout the month, Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park, the U.S. Geological Survey Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, and the University of Hawai’i-Hilo will sponsor guided hikes, evening talks, teacher workshops, and other programs focusing on the importance of understanding and respecting the volcanoes on which we live. Volcano Awareness Month begins on Saturday, January 2 at 10 a.m. at the Jaggar Museum Overlook.

For more information, please visit http://hvo.wr.usgs.gov/ or contact Mardie Lane at mardie_lane@nps.gov or 808-985-6018.

Join the Continental Army

(Pennsylvania) — On the first Saturday of each month from January to April 2010, from 11 a.m. to noon, children ages six to 12 are invited to “enlist”

in the Continental Army at Valley Forge National Historical Park. A period-costumed interpreter musters in the recruits, who learn how to stand, march, and drill like soldiers. The program is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Kimberly Szewczyk at

610-783-1014 or Kimberly_Szewczyk@nps.gov.

Gulf Islands National Seashore Offers January 2010 Programs

(Mississippi) — Ranger-led programs are offered each week in Ocean Springs. All programs are free and open to the public. On Sunday, January 3, learn about sea turtles. Which species might you see in our own coastal waters? What do they eat? Join a ranger to find out more about these creatures in a program suitable for all ages. Meet at the William M.

Colmer Visitor Center auditorium at 2 p.m. On Sunday, January 10 at 2 p.m., we will show the film Aliens of the Sea. The leafy sea dragon, pipe fish, and other wonders of the deep appear on our new, large screen. The 50-minute film will be shown in the William M. Colmer Visitor Center auditorium. On Saturday, January 16, join a volunteer naturalist, Dr.

Libby Graves, and a park ranger for Winter Bird Walk at 8 a.m. What birds live in Davis Bayou in the winter? Which are only passing through? Join us to learn the answers to these questions and more. Dress for the weather and bring binoculars if you have them. A few pairs of binoculars will be available to borrow. On Saturday, January 23 at 1 p.m., discover the plants and animals that thrive in our southern marshes. Meet at the William M. Colmer Visitor Center for Boat Davis Bayou and enjoy the salt marsh with a ranger on a flat-bottomed boat. You must sign up prior to this 45-minute tour. On Friday, January 29 at 6 p.m., explore the park by moonlight. Learn about nocturnal animals, phases of the moon, moon lore, and making the most of human senses in reduced light. Meet at the campground amphitheater for this one-hour event, the Full Moon Fever walk.

Dress appropriately for the weather and bring binoculars if you have them.

For more information about the above material, please contact Susan Blair at 228-230-4106.

Battle of New Orleans Recurs

(Louisiana) — Cannons will roar at the 195th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans. Visitors are invited from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Friday, January 8 and from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, January 9 to Chalmette Battlefield (part of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve).

The battlefield is located at 8606 West St. Bernard Highway, Chalmette, Louisiana. Over 100 living history experts dressed as British and American troops and civilians from 1815 will present military drills, cannon and musket firing, and craft and cooking demonstrations. On Friday at 7 p.m., St. Bernard Parish will host a reenactment of the night battle fought on December 23, 1814. On Saturday evening, visitors can experience “the night before the battle” on a lantern tour of British and American camps. All events are free except for the lantern tour. For more information, please call 504-589-2636 ext. 1 or visit www.nps.gov/jela.

Gettysburg National Military Park Winter Series

(Pennsylvania) — “Gettysburg: Perspectives on the Battle and Campaign,” a series of free, one-hour programs on Saturdays and Sundays, begins on January 10 at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center’s Ford Education Center. The lectures will be at 1:30 p.m. on January 10, 16, 23, 24, and 30 and on February 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, and 28. For more information, please go to www.nps.gov/gett or call

717-334-1124 ext. 8023.

“Winter Signs” Programs

(Montana) — Glacier National Park will offer guided snowshoe walks.

Participants can explore the winter environment and find out how plants and animals survive the rigors of winter. These free weekend programs begin on Sunday, January 10 and run through Sunday, March 21, 2010, at 10:30 a.m.

and 1:30 p.m. For more information, please call the Apgar Visitor Center on weekends at 406-888-7939.

Happy Birthday Hammie!

(New York) — Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, known to friends and colleagues as “Hammie,” served as the first U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and created the foundation for the economic development of the new United States. Join the National Park Service (NPS) on January 10, 2010, at Morris Jumel Mansion in New York City from noon to 5 p.m. for a birthday bash for the man on the $10 bill. The day will include re-enactors portraying Alexander Hamilton and other people of the Revolutionary War era, a presentation by a NPS ranger on Hamilton Grange National Memorial, and period music. This free event is suitable for all ages. For more information, please call 212-668-2208 or e-mail mindi_rambo@nps.gov.

Revolutionary Birthdays

(Pennsylvania) — George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Thaddeus Kosciuszko—what do all of these men have in common? Winter birthdays!

Come celebrate with Independence National Historical Park. In the beautiful Second Bank of the United States at 420 Chestnut Street, a park ranger can take you on special birthday tours of the portraits in the exhibit “People of Independence.” All of the following tours are free and run from 1 p.m. to 1:45 p.m. The bank is easily accessible via the west side entrance ramp. The tours begin on Saturday, January 16 and Sunday, January 17, 2010, with “Philadelphia’s Benjamin Franklin.” Despite his 304 years, Franklin remains ageless in his many portraits. The tour features Ben, his many friends, and some of his enemies. On Sunday, February 7, 2010, come out for “Generally Speaking—Celebrate Thaddeus Kosciuszko’s Birthday.” On the tour, see Kosciuszko and other notable foreign generals who helped America win independence. Also join us on Saturday, February 13 and Sunday, February 14, 2010, for “The Many Faces of George Washington.”

Celebrate Presidents’ Day weekend with this special tour of Washington portraits. The portrait gallery also features images of Martha Washington and the first president’s many friends and comrades. Join a park ranger to see the generals, diplomats, and congressmen he knew. For more information, please call 800- 537-7676 or visit www.nps.gov/inde.

Victory at Cowpens Commemorated

(South Carolina) — On January 16 and 17, 2010, re-enactors will bring the 18th century to life at Cowpens National Battlefield. To celebrate the 229 th anniversary of the decisive American victory over the British on January 17, 1781, at Cowpens, the park staff is planning free activities from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday. The park is planning demonstrations of 18th-century weapons and Revolutionary War cavalry; ranger-led battlefield walks; author talks; book signings; a guided, lantern-lit walk; and the arrival of the participants in Morgan’s March. Visitors should dress appropriately for the weather. A detailed event schedule is available at http://www.nps.gov/cowp/planyourvisit/events.htm, and information on Morgan’s March is available at http://www.palmettoconservation.org/. For more information, please contact Donna Davis at 864-461-2828.

Friends of Valley Forge Park Speakers Series

(Pennsylvania) — On Thursday, January 21, 2010, Harvard doctoral student and Bruce A. Baky Fellow Phil Mead presents “Joseph Plumb Martin: Radical Founder.” (Martin was a soldier in Washington’s army.) The presentation will be held at the Washington Memorial Chapel. For more information, please contact Nancy Loane at nancyloane@comcast.net.

Frost Faire

(New York) — Saratoga National Historical Park will host its 15th annual Frost Faire on Saturday, January 23 from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Reminiscent of 18th-century “frost faires,” in which people would gather for warm treats and outdoor activities, Saratoga’s free, family-friendly event boasts wintertime fun, past and present. The Frost Faire will offer a bonfire, hot refreshments, a nature hike, snow-shoeing, Native American storytelling, the chance to tube the “Big Hill,” and more. For more information, please contact Gina Johnson at 518-664-9821 ext. 227.

Explore Grounds of William Floyd Estate at Fire Island on January 23 and 24 (New York) — Winter is often the best time to explore the William Floyd Estate, a 613-acre remnant of the ancestral home of one of New York’s four signers of the Declaration of Independence. Ranger MaryLaura Lamont will guide hikers down paths long-used by the Floyd family to access the old bay. Along the way, as participants pass fields and woods, mounds and ditches, cultural plantings and freshwater creeks, they will learn about the natural and cultural history of this landscape. Sunday’s program

focuses on the identification of winter birds. Walks of three miles

roundtrip are offered on both Saturday and Sunday, January 23 and 24, from

9 to 11 a.m. Both programs are free. For more information, please call the William Floyd Estate at 631-399-2030 or visit www.nps.gov/fiis.

“Pets, Parks, and You”

(Texas) — To open the new exhibit “Bred to Death” in the Abrazos Gallery, located in the visitor center, Chamizal National Memorial is sponsoring “Pets, Parks, and You,” a free, pet-friendly public event on the memorial grounds on Saturday, January 30, 2010, from 7:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. This event will provide information that will make pet-ownership rewarding and will highlight the role pets play in experiences in national parks and the impact of feral animals on public lands. Chamizal National Memorial is partnering with local organizations, including the City of El Paso Department of Public Health, Valley Feed & Supply/Pet’s Barn, the Humane Society, and Animal Rescue League, to provide the public with an enjoyable and educational morning of tips on how to choose the right pet and be the best pet owner possible. For more information, please contact Dora Veracruz Martinez at 915-532-7273 ext. 128.

How to Be a Citizen Scientist at Santa Monica Mountains NRA

(California) — On Saturday, January 30 at 2 p.m., join Brian Haggerty and Dr. Susan Mazer as they show how citizen scientists are observing the effects of climate change on plants and animals and contributing their research to the scientific community. Citizen science is a simple, fun way that families, classrooms, and scout groups can benefit the planet. The lecture will be held at the National Park Service Visitor Center in Thousand Oaks, Calif. For more information, please call 805-370-2301.

Candlelight Tours of Fort Barrancas

(Florida) — Gulf Islands National Seashore will present free candlelight tours of Fort Barrancas on Saturdays, January 30, 5 to 7:15 p.m., and February 13, 5 to 7:15 p.m. Costumed interpreters will present the history of Pensacola during the Civil War at different stations inside Fort Barrancas. In addition, the Fort Barrancas Visitor Center, with new museum exhibits, audiovisual programs, and bookstore, will be open. Reservations are required, and visitors should call 850-455-5167 for tour reservations.

Small groups will depart the visitor center every 15 minutes for the hour-long tour. Visitors should arrive about 15 minutes before their assigned tour time. Although the fort will be well-lit with candles, visitors may bring a flashlight. The entrance to the fort includes a steep, 90-yard walkway, and visitors must use narrow staircases to access different levels of the fort. Parking is limited, so car-pooling is recommended. Visitors should enter the Naval Air Station through the back gate on Blue Angel Parkway and dress appropriately for winter weather. For more information, please call 850-934-2600 or visit www.nps.gov/guis.

Winter on the Moon

(Idaho) — The staff of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve created a vibrant winter interpretive program now in its 10th year. The popular winter activities and events provide visitors with an incentive to visit this winter wonderland, where chances to snowshoe abound. For a complete listing of events and activities offered in 2010, please visit http://www.nps.gov/crmo/planyourvisit/events.htm. For more information, please contact Ted Stout at ted_stout@nps.gov or 208-527-1330.

Sitka NHP Readies for Centennial

(Alaska) — The new year marks the start of the centennial year for Sitka National Historical Park in southeast Alaska. Sitka was established as a national monument on March 23, 1910. The park includes the site of the

1804 fort and battleground that saw the last major Tlingit Indian resistance to Russian colonization. The park also features the 1842 Russian Bishop’s House, the best-preserved architecture of the colonial period. The park will mark the anniversary with the carving of a new totem pole beginning in January and will host anniversary events on March 21 and 23. For more information, please contact John Quinley at 907-644-3512.

Filling Prescriptions for Activity

(Nationwide) — The Washington Post article “Take a hike and call me in the morning” (November 17, 2009) calls attention to the growing number of doctors who are telling their patients to get more active—and to how parks, rivers, and trails help efforts to get people to exercise. All over the country, doctors are prescribing physical activity. Programs like Prescription Trails in Albuquerque, New Mexico; Prescription for Physical Activity along the upper Connecticut River valley in New Hampshire and Vermont; and the Arkansas River Trail’s Medical Mile project in Little Rock enable patients to get the tools and information they need to get active close to home. For more information, please contact Alan Turnbull at 202-354-6930.

Distinct Great Gray Owl Population

(California) — New evidence suggests that the Sierra Nevada is home to a genetically distinct great gray owl population, as compared to great gray owls outside of California. Yosemite is the southernmost range and last sanctuary of almost all of California’s great gray owls. Researchers estimate that there are only about 200 to 300 individuals in California, and about 75 percent of the state’s population resides in Yosemite. Please see http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/birds.htm. For more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.

Snowshoe Hiking

(Wyoming) — Grand Teton National Park will conduct ranger-led snowshoe hikes during January, February, and March. These two-hour excursions offer the chance to learn about winter ecology, the historic Murie Ranch, and park wildlife while experiencing a classic mode of winter transportation—wooden snowshoes. A trek into the park begins each day at 1:30 p.m. from the Craig Thomas Discovery and Visitor Center in Moose, Wyoming, and all skill levels are invited. A donation of $5 for adults and

$2 for children ages eight to 12 is requested. Reservations are required.

Snowshoes are provided. Please call 307-739-3399 to secure a spot. For more information, please contact Jackie Skaggs at 307-739-3393.

Facilities Open, Visitors Welcome at National Park of American Samoa (American Samoa) — The visitor center and administrative offices for the National Park of American Samoa in Pago Pago have reopened. They are now located at the Haleck building in Ottoville, part of this U.S. Territory, eight miles from their former location, which was completely destroyed during the 8.3 earthquake and tsunami of September 29, 2009. Scientists, rangers, archivists, cultural resource experts, and forest crews from the park have been working throughout the islands since the tsunami, assisting village residents; removing debris and trees; monitoring the condition of natural resources, including the largest intact coral reef system in Polynesia; and restoring cultural artifacts damaged by the tsunami. For more information about visiting the National Park of American Samoa, please e-mail NPSA_Info@nps.gov, visit www.nps.gov/npsa, or call 684-633-7082.

Members of the media should contact the Pacific West regional office of the National Park Service at 510-817-1300.

Yosemite Panoramic Imaging Photo Project

(California) — A 3.8-gigapixel photographic map of Yosemite Valley reveals nature’s beauty in one photograph approximately 50 feet wide. The Yosemite Panoramic Imaging Project, a partnership between the National Park Service and xRez Studio, has stitched together a single image of Yosemite Valley by utilizing gigapixel panoramic photography with LiDAR-based digital terrain modeling and three-dimensional computer rendering. Initially designed for geologic study, the image shows the granitic complexity of Yosemite Valley’s walls while conveying the artistic value of the rugged landscape.

Please see http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/panoramic.htm. For more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.

Artist in Residence Receives Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant

(Florida) — Everglades National Park is pleased to announce that Sarasota artist Kathy Wright has been awarded a Pollock-Krasner Foundation grant in the amount of $25,000 in support of her Everglades Project, a series of paintings based on her experience as Artist in Residence (AIRIE) in the Everglades National Park during December 2008 and November 2009. For more information, please contact Linda Friar at 305-242-7714.

Boyd Evison Fellowship Applications Available

(Wyoming) — Applications are available for the 2010 Boyd Evison Graduate Research Fellowship. Supported by donations to the Grand Teton Association, the Evison Fellowship provides whole or substantial support for new graduate studies that increase public awareness of the importance of science to parks and of parks to science. Fellowships average $5,000 to $10,000 per project and may include housing at Grand Teton. In addition to a summary report or publication, students will be expected to provide one or more educational products to communicate information beyond the scientific audience. Applicants are encouraged to submit proposals for research of the intangible and disappearing attributes of Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks, the John D. Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway, and public or private lands surrounding the Greater Yellowstone Area.

Applications for the 2010 Boyd Evison Fellowship must be postmarked by February 12, 2010; the recipient will be announced on April 15, 2010. For further information or to request an application, please write to Boyd Evison Graduate Fellowship, Grand Teton Association, P.O. Box 170, Moose, Wyoming 83012. Applicants may also phone Jan Lynch, executive director of the Grand Teton Association, at 307-739-3406, or Grand Teton National Park Chief of Science and Resource Management Sue Consolo Murphy at 307-739-3481. Members of the media should contact Public Affairs Officer Jackie Skaggs at 307-739-3393.

New Yosemite Nature Notes Film

(California) — “Tuolumne River,” the seventh installment in the Yosemite Nature Notes film series, has been released. Yosemite Nature Notes is a series of video podcasts that tells unique stories about the natural and human history of Yosemite National Park. In this eight-minute episode, explore the Tuolumne River from its glacial headwaters at 13,000 feet down through Tuolumne Meadows and into the Grand Canyon of the Tuolumne.

Scientists and rangers describe the power this river has over the landscape and visitors. Please see http://www.nps.gov/yose/photosmultimedia/ynn7-tuolumneriver.htm. For more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.

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Related posts

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