Parktips – August 2010

The National Park Service submits the following ideas for news stories for your consideration. For more information about any of them, please contact Elise Cleva at 202-208-6843 or Elise_M_Cleva@nps.gov.

American Journal of Public Health Explores New Role for Rangers In the future, park rangers may educate visitors about not only canyons and Civil War battles, but also infectious diseases, long-term wellness, and other health-related topics. In “Park Rangers as Public Health Educators,”

an article in the August issue of the American Journal of Public Health, David Wong and Charles L. Higgins of the National Park Service report on a project that tested the viability of national parks as settings for health education. The Public Health in the Parks grants initiative funded outreach programs in parks throughout the country. In one program, Native American children engaged in actual exercise, which they translated into a “virtual walk” of the 74-mile length of Badlands National Park. In another program, visitors to Lowell National Historical Park in Massachusetts learned about a typhoid epidemic, the transformation of a local river into an agent of death, and the ensuing epidemiologic investigation. “Further exploration of national parks as nontraditional and underutilized venues for health education is warranted,” Wong and Higgins conclude.

Lighthouses Change Hands

Two historic light stations will receive new owners later this year. On June 21, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar recommended that the Buffalo Harbor South Entrance Light in Buffalo, New York, go to the Buffalo Lighthouse Association, Inc., a local nonprofit. Salazar recommended transferring the Burrows Island Light Station near Anacortes, Washington, to the Northwest Schooner Society, another nonprofit. Under the National Historic Lighthouse Preservation Act (NHLPA) of 2000, federally owned, historic light stations may be transferred at no cost to federal agencies, state and local governments, nonprofit corporations, educational agencies, and community development organizations. Ten lighthouses are currently available. See http://www.nps.gov/history/maritime/nhlpa/nhlpa.htm for more information about the NHLPA Program.

Acadia Welcomes Wabanaki

Passamaquoddy birchbark artist David Moses Bridges kneels next to his hand-hewn canoe and calls to his son, Tobias Francis, 15, the youngest ranger in Acadia National Park. “Can you hand me the bear fat and pine sap mixture?” asks Bridges, who is demonstrating birchbark canoe making, a craft perfected thousands of years ago by his ancestors. Bridges is descended from four distinct tribes known collectively as the Wabanaki.

Their members traveled to this area to hunt and fish. Bridges’s cultural demonstration is one of many programs initiated by Acadia to allow Wabanaki people to share their traditions and culture with visitors. In another program, Francis shows the raw materials and tools used by Wabanaki people in the past and today to make ash and sweetgrass baskets. Future initiatives include producing Wabanaki language podcasts for visitors and positioning Wabanaki youth in Acadia through internships and mentoring programs.

NPS Handbooks Available Online as History E-Library Grows The online library of almost 4,000 books, reports, and articles developed by the National Park Service (NPS) keeps growing. Historian Harry Butowsky expands the collection every week. Recently, he added the popular NPS handbooks. First published in the 1950s by the NPS Harpers Ferry Center, they provide a wealth of comprehensive information drawn from the latest scientific and historical research available at the time of publication.

Photographs, maps, and original art complement the texts. The contents of many of these handbooks are available online at http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/handbooks/index.htm.

To access the entire History E-Library, go to http://www.nps.gov/history/history/hisnps/.

Fisher Census

Researchers in Yosemite National Park are trying to determine the size of the Pacific fisher (Martes pennanti pacifica) population. The Pacific fisher is now found only in roughly 50% of its historical range in California and is listed as a federal candidate species, meaning that federal authorities can propose that Pacific fishers be designated endangered or threatened. The Yosemite population suffers from low reproductive capacity, reduced genetic diversity, and ongoing habitat loss.

In Yosemite, researchers have placed motion-activated camera stations to document the presence and habitat requirements of fishers. Please see http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/fishers.htm.

Beneath the Surface of National Parks

To find out the current geoscientific issues facing national parks, take a look at proposals from the National Park Service (NPS) for 2011 Geoscientists-in-the-Parks (GIP) positions. The GIP program places geoscientists in parks and central offices for three to 12 months. In response to a call just issued by The NPS Geologic Resources Division, staff at parks, regions, and central offices can propose projects in geoscientific research, resource management, inventory, monitoring, and interpretation/education.

You can view past issues of Parktips and register to receive Parktips via e-mail.

If you need help, please contact the NPS Communications Office at 202-208-6843.

For the latest news from the National Park Service, visit www.nps.gov/news.

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news release

Date: July 28, 2010

Contact: Kendra Barkoff (DOI), (202) 208-6416

Kathy Kupper (NPS) (202) 208-6843

Salazar Announces National Park Service Will Waive Fees on August 14 & 15 WASHINGTON – Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that the National Park Service will waive entrance fees on August 14 and 15 to encourage all Americans to visit our national parks.

“This fee-free weekend provides an opportunity for individuals and families alike to take an affordable vacation or to explore a nearby park they have never visited before,” Salazar said. “I encourage everyone to take advantage of the free admission to visit not only our greatest natural wonders but also our nation’s historic and cultural icons.”

There are 391 national parks located across the country in 49 states, many of which will hold free events on August 14 and 15. A complete list by park or state is available at www.nps.gov. A sampling of offerings include:

Ranger-led programs with free instruction and equipment loans for

those who want to get wet. Enjoy snorkeling at Cape Cod, kayaking at

DeSoto, or canoeing in Congaree or Big Cypress. Prefer to simply

chill out near the water? Bring your blanket to one of the 50 parks

with beaches.

Watch history come to life at military encampments and firing

demonstrations at Antietam, Gettysburg, Fort Laramie, Fort McHenry,

Fort Vancouver, Fort Stanwix, Fort Matanzas, Kings Mountain, Wilson

Creek, Kennesaw Mountain, and Yorktown.

Dance or tap your toes to the sounds of the Pig War Band at San Juan

Island, Cajun music at Jean Lafitte, Ojibwe music at Grand Portage,

mountain music on the Blue Ridge Parkway, folk songs at Carl

Sandburg, classical music at Saint-Gaudens, or dulcimer music on the

Natchez Trace Parkway.

The entrance fees being waived at the 146 sites usually charge for admission range from $3 to $25. There are 246 other parks that do not have entrance fees so you can plan a free visit year-round. The fee free waiver does not include other fees collected in advance or by contractors—such as fees charged for camping, reservations, tours and use of concessions.

The National Park Service website provides information to help the public plan their park adventures at www.nps.gov.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 28, 2010

Contacts: Emily Prigot, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, Emily_Prigot@nps.gov, 508-996-4095

Elise Cleva, NPS Headquarters, Elise_M_Cleva@nps.gov, 202-208-6843

New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park America’s Best Idea: National Park Getaway

NEW BEDFORD, Mass. – This week, the National Park Getaway series drops

anchor in the former whaling town of New Bedford, Massachusetts. In the

past, when candles and oil lamps served as light sources, New Bedford

became known for “lighting the world,” since the creatures hunted by the

townspeople supplied wax and oil. Today, New Bedford remains an

enlightening place to visit.

The town, which makes up the national historical park, tells a focused and

fascinating story from America’s past. The Whaling Museum, historic

buildings such as a whaling merchant’s mansion, and living history

presenters bring to life the New Bedford of the 1800s. The now-prohibited

economic activity from which the town prospered drew people from around the

world, and the cultural heterogeneity that developed in New Bedford appears

today in festivals and in the town’s restaurant scene.

This week’s National Park Getaway article—the 59th in the series—points out

the highlights of New Bedford and helps you plan a visit there. Access this

week’s Getaway and the others in the series at www.nps.gov/getaways.

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For immediate release – July 26, 2010

Contacts: David Barna, (202) 208-6843, David_Barna@nps.gov

Patrick O’Driscoll, (303) 969-2839, Patrick_O’Driscoll@nps.gov

Wessels Named Intermountain Regional Director

Will lead one of seven National Park Service regions

WASHINGTON – National Park Service Director Jonathan Jarvis has named John

A. Wessels as the Service’s Intermountain regional director, responsible

for leading 5,000 employees and 92 national parks visited by more than 42

million people annually. Wessels, who serves as the region’s associate

director for administration, business and technology, assumes his new

position in Denver in August.

“John has an incredible track record of tackling tough issues and finding

innovative solutions,” Jarvis said. “Results-oriented and goal-driven, John

manages by inclusion, building a collaborative work ethic among employees

and with partners. He strives for the highest standards of transparency and

accountability. He has an easy grasp of the big picture and is dedicated to

the effective use of new and emerging technologies to meet the needs of the

National Park Service. As the National Park Service looks toward its second

century, he will be a valuable member of our national senior management

team.”

“Serving as the Intermountain regional director is a tremendous honor,”

Wessels said. “The region is home to some of this country’s most

spectacular landscapes and most compelling stories, places that have been

entrusted to the National Park Service by the American people for nearly

100 years. It is our privilege to care for the natural and cultural

resources in parks and to work with communities around the region to help

them preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational

opportunities for their citizens.

“For me, this is an opportunity to support employees in their dedicated

efforts to care for these special places and engage park visitors,

partners, and communities. I will listen carefully to their voices as we

work together to preserve these places, engage the public, draw young

people to the parks, and provide meaningful experiences to our diverse

audiences.”

As the regional associate director for administration, business and

technology since 2004, Wessels oversees a regional annual operating budget

of $500 million and the largest concessions contracting operation in the

National Park Service, more than 200 contracts that gross over $425 million

annually.

Over the last 18 months, he has also led the investment of $200 million in

American Reinvestment and Recovery Act funds in priority park projects

across the region. He was the key figure in developing a virtual

acquisition strategy that has improved accountability and empowered the

workforce with more flexibility for purchasing and contracting. He was

responsible for overseeing property management for 43 million acres of

public land and more than 2,000 park structures.

Wessels joined the National Park Service in 2000 as the Intermountain

Region’s comptroller, where he managed all finance and budget-related

activities and developed a web-based system to integrate financial systems

data and project information to provide park managers with real-time access

to critical income and expense data by park.

During his career he has served as acting deputy superintendent at Golden

Gate National Recreation Area in San Francisco, acting deputy Intermountain

regional director, acting associate director for business services at the

National Park Service headquarters in Washington, D.C., and most recently

as acting superintendent of Grand Teton National Park and the John D.

Rockefeller, Jr. Memorial Parkway in Wyoming.

From 1989 to 2000, Wessels worked for U.S. Department of Commerce’s

National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) in Boulder managing

financial and administrative functions and systems for the national physics

laboratory.

He was selected as a Presidential Management Fellow in 1985 and served in

the Office of Management and Budget where he become a permanent employee

(1985-1989) serving as the budget examiner for the $4 billion U.S.

Department of Housing and Urban Development. At OMB, he staffed two

presidential commissions – Management Improvement and Integrity and

Efficiency – and was the lead analyst on the Enterprise Zone Empowerment

Program, an initiative to spur investment in economically depressed

communities. In 1987, Wessels was commissioned as an ensign in the United

States Naval Reserve and served for six years as a reserve intelligence

analyst.

Wessels earned bachelor and master of science degrees in public finance and

policy analysis from Carnegie-Mellon University and a second master of

science degree in computer information systems from Regis University, where

he has served as an adjunct professor of business and information systems

in the College of Professional Studies since 1998.

He lives in Denver with his wife, Mary, and their children Grace and Jack.

www.nps.gov

Note to Editors: The National Park Service’s seven regional offices provide localized policy, leadership, and technical support to parks and communities. The Intermountain region is the largest region in the National Park Service, spanning the states of Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Oklahoma. The region includes 92 parks encompassing 11.1 million acres; employs 6,000 permanent and seasonal employees, and generates one-half of all National Park Service concession revenues. It has more than 230 national historic landmarks and more than 11,000 properties listed in the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places.

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For Immediate Release: July 22, 2010

Contact: Beth Boland, 202-354-2238, beth_boland@nps.gov

“Lafayette Park: First Amendment Rights on the President’s Doorstep”

National Park Service launches online lesson plan

WASHINGTON, DC: “The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall

not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account

of sex.” In the struggle to add these words of the 19th Amendment to the

U.S. Constitution, fires burned, picket signs waved, and prison doors

clanged shut on women young and old. The struggle for female suffrage comes

to life in the National Park Service’s new Teaching with Historic Places

lesson plan “Lafayette Park: First Amendment Rights on the President’s

Doorstep.”

“Lessons like this one from the Teaching with Historic Places program do a

superb job of carrying out the educational mission of the National Park

Service. It may not be obvious how properties, such as Lafayette Park, that

are listed in the National Register of Historic Places help members of the

education community teach fundamental aspects of our nation’s history, but

the lessons demonstrate the power places have to illuminate the past, even

for those who can’t visit,” said Jon Jarvis, Director of the National Park

Service.

The lesson uses Washington, DC’s Lafayette Park, a statue-adorned landscape

directly in front of the White House, as the jumping-off point for an

exploration of the final years in the campaign for women’s voting rights.

In January 1917, members of the National Woman’s Party (NWP), headquartered

in a house-turned-office that faced the park, began to picket in that

public space. They were exercising their First Amendment rights to speak

freely, assemble, and bring petitions before the government, and their

banners boldly addressed President Woodrow Wilson, whose speeches the

suffragists would later burn in their struggle for political equality.

The lesson plan puts this struggle in context through photographs, maps,

and readings. The readings cover the events that took place between January

1917 and November 2, 1920—the first Election Day on which American women

throughout the country could go to the polls—and provide the text of a

speech in which President Wilson urged the U.S. Senate to grant women the

right to vote.

Studying Wilson’s speech provides an opportunity for students to strengthen

their vocabularies, their reading comprehension, and (by example) their

command of rhetoric. The lesson’s questions and activities spur students to

think empathetically and analytically as they examine photos, maps, and

texts; compare and contrast the suffrage demonstrations to other protests

staged in Lafayette Park; and research Supreme Court cases bearing on First

Amendment rights.

The lesson is targeted to middle school students but can be adapted to

upper elementary and high school levels. The lesson meets national

educational standards in U.S. history (grades 5-12) and social studies. A

generous grant from the White House Historical Association provided crucial

support for this lesson, which is the 139th in the Teaching with Historic

Places series. Teachers, students, and other inquiring minds should check

out http://www.nps.gov/learn/ for other educational products from the

National Park Service.

www.nps.gov

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 21, 2010

Contacts: Peggy Wall, Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network, Peggy_Wall@nps.gov, 410-260-2473

Elise Cleva, NPS Headquarters, Elise_M_Cleva@nps.gov, 202-208-6843

Chesapeake Bay Gateways and Watertrails Network America’s Best Idea: National Park Getaway

ANNAPOLIS, Md. – The white triangle of a sail against a backdrop of azure

makes one of the most iconic images of summer. So too do the colors of a

sunset reflected in a body of water and the wooden boards of a picnic table

set with lemonade, coleslaw and crab cakes. You’ll find all of these

epitomes of the season on the eastern shores of the Chesapeake Bay in

Maryland and Virginia. This region—the focus of this week’s travel article

in the National Park Getaways series—makes the ideal summer destination.

Come for a weekend or a longer visit, and let the Getaway help you plan

your trip.

Landlubbers can get a crash course in the region’s seafaring heritage at

the Chesapeake Bay and Richardson maritime museums, which also appeal to

those with some experience in plying the waves. To get such experience, go

for a sail or a paddle. Nathan of Dorchester, a replica of a historic

skipjack, sails from Cambridge, Md. In Janes Island State Park, also in

Maryland, paddling opportunities abound.

In addition to places where you can head out to sea, the Getaway points you

to historic towns, as well as spots for feasting on crabs, a specialty of

the region. Go to www.nps.gov/getaways for previous Getaways and this

week’s feature. Fifty-eighth in the series of articles, the Getaway about

the Chesapeake Bay area introduces you to a network of sites where you can

enjoy nature and culture in the company of those you love.

The National Park Service coordinates the Chesapeake Bay Gateways and

Watertrails Network, more than 165 exceptional parks, wildlife refuges,

museums, sailing ships, historic communities, trails and more.

www.nps.gov

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DATE: July 15, 2010 16:57:29 CST

MEDIA ADVISORY: Unified Area Command and Audubon Nature Institute Co-host “Turtle Talk” Roundtable Discussion for News and Online Media – First Event Bringing Together Major Agencies Involved in Sea Turtle Protection

Key contact numbers Deepwater Horizon

Report oiled shoreline or request Incident

volunteer information: (866) 448-5816 Joint Information

Submit alternative response technology, Center

services or products: (281) 366-5511

Submit your vessel for the Vessel of

Opportunity Program: (866) 279-7983 Phone: (713)

Submit a claim for damages: (800) 323-1670

440-0858 (713) 323-1671

Report oiled wildlife: (866) 557-1401

WHAT: “Turtle Talk” is the first event to bring together the lead agencies involved in turtle protection efforts in one forum to discuss the status of sea turtles affected by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. The Unified Area Command is co-hosting Turtle Talk with Audubon Nature Institute, bringing together sea turtle experts from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the National Park Service for a roundtable discussion. Additionally, wildlife expert, Jeff Corwin, will provide a video introduction to the event, sharing his concern for sea turtles.

Media will be able to join the discussion virtually, having the option to ask questions via conference line or participate via a live webcast enabled with a chat function.

WHO: NOAA Fisheries national sea turtle coordinator, Barbara Schroeder, National Park Service Chief of Science and Resource Management, Rick Clark, Fish and Wildlife Service sea turtle expert, Dr. Debby Crouse

Moderated by Karyn Kearney, Senior Vice President and Managing Director of Audubon Nature Institute’s Audubon Aquarium of the Americas

Video introduction provided by wildlife biologist and NBC and MSNBC’s science and environmental expert, Jeff Corwin

WHEN: Friday, July 16, 2010, 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. CDT

WHERE: This event will take place online at – turtletalk.deepwaterhorizonresponse.com

Dial-in at (866) 304-5784 domestic and (706) 643-1612 and use passcode #

88759207 or use the live chat function within the Turtle Talk web page to pose questions to our panel.

The event will be streamed live from the Audubon Nature Institute’s Audubon Aquarium of the Americas in New Orleans. Audubon serves as coordinator for the Louisiana Marine Mammal and Sea Turtle Rescue Program and is responsible for rescuing and rehabilitating sea turtles and marine mammals stranded in Louisiana.

The Unified Command will be live tweeting the event at @Oil_Spill_2010, in addition to posting updates on the Deepwater Horizon Response Facebook page.

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Held in different locations each year, the IHS is one of the reptile cultures oldest and longest running herpetolgical events, and offers three days of presentations on herpetology, herpetoculture, and reptile veterinary medicine, as well as a behind-the-scenes field trip to the Chiricahua Desert Museum.

Known as the progenitor of today’s reptile expos, the IHS was one of the first herpetological events in North America open to both professionals and hobbyists and continues to draw people from around the world. Topics and speakers are as geographically diverse as Paul Hamilton’s “Herpetofauna of Western Ecuador” to Hiva Faizi’s presentation on Iran’s secretive Sand Swimmer Skink, with plenty for the backyard herper, too, like Phil Ralidis and Ed Acuna’s presentation on Texas Alligator Lizards in Travis County, Texas.

While animals will not be for sale at the event, there will be vendors of dry goods, field and handling equipment, and books as well as a variety of other herp-themed products.

The Symposium will be July 21 – 24, 2010 at the Radisson Suites Hotel Tucson Airport in Tucson, Arizona. For more information about this year’s event, see the IHS website at http://kingsnake.com/ihs.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 15, 2010

Contacts: Mike Litterst, Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site, Mike_Litterst@nps.gov, 804-226-1981×30

Elise Cleva, NPS Headquarters, Elise_M_Cleva@nps.gov, 202-208-6843

Maggie L. Walker National Historic Site

America’s Best Idea: National Park Getaway

RICHMOND – Plan a visit to the capital of Virginia with the help of this

week’s National Park Getaway. The Getaway series connects readers to

national parks where they can enjoy nature and culture in the company of

family and friends. Go to www.nps.gov/getaways for previous Getaways and

this week’s feature, the 57th in the series, which introduces you to Maggie

L. Walker National Historic Site in Richmond’s Jackson Ward, a National

Historic Landmark District.

Jackson Ward was home to a thriving African American business community in

the late 1800s and early 1900s. Maggie L. Walker, a pillar of the

community, resided in this neighborhood, in a house that is now a national

park. The exterior of the home, with bright red walls and striped awnings,

cheers the person who lays eyes on it. The story told within its walls

gives a visitor even more of a boost.

Hearing the biography of Maggie L. Walker pumps you up. Her life story

teaches us all that “when the going gets tough, the tough get going.” The

poverty of her childhood, the injustice of segregation, the emotional blow

of widowhood, and the late-in-life challenge of paralysis—none of these

prevented Maggie L. Walker from leading the Independent Order of St. Luke,

which gave support to sick, elderly, dying, and bereaved African Americans;

chartering a bank; creating a newspaper; setting up a store; participating

in civic organizations; and running for public office. She used her

entrepreneurial acumen to benefit her community, and the savings

institution she started still exists.

As you tour her furnished home and learn about her life, you’ll be

inspired—to improve your community, to work toward your goals, or perhaps

to say to yourself, “Mrs. Walker, you go girl!”

www.nps.gov

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

July 9, 2010

Contacts: Katharine Jones, Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens, Katharine_Jones@nps.gov, 202-426-6905

Elise Cleva, NPS Headquarters, Elise_M_Cleva@nps.gov,

202-208-6843

Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens

America’s Best Idea: National Park Getaway

WASHINGTON – This week, the National Park Getaways series features an

article about Kenilworth Park and Aquatic Gardens. This oasis in the

nation’s capital beckons to Washingtonians looking for fun and relaxation

on a weekend and to out-of-town visitors seeking a varied travel itinerary

that includes spots for outdoor recreation as well as monuments, museums,

historic places, and famous government buildings. Go to

www.nps.gov/getaways to learn more.

Early on, the Getaway article discusses the floating bouquets that

distinguish Kenilworth from other urban green spaces. Water lilies and

water lotuses fill large ponds in the park, the full-blown flowers creating

a fireworks display at your feet. Wheels of pink and white illumine the

dark water and transform its surface into a Fourth-of-July sky, frozen at

the height of pyrotechnic excitement. Petals radiate from the centers of

the lilies and lotuses, and the cores of the former erupt into the yellow

jets of stamens.

The water flowers bloom in summer and get fêted in July at a festival that

also celebrates Asian culture. The Getaway article helps you find

information about this event and also explores what Kenilworth has to offer

“beyond the ponds.” The park includes marshland, and visitors can canoe,

stroll, and watch for birds, turtles, other animals, and animal tracks. In

every season, Kenilworth gives you reason to visit.

Read this week’s article, the 56th in the Getaways series, and previous

Getaways at www.nps.gov/getaways. The articles connect readers to national

parks where they can enjoy nature and culture in the company of family and

friends.

www.nps.gov

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