Contrary to conventional wisdom, even a 100-year-old tortoise will move pretty fast — if there’s a yam in front of him.

The San Diego Zoo in Balboa Park wrangled its entire herd of 17 endangered Galápagos tortoises into a trailer yesterday morning for relocation to temporary quarters while their longtime home gets a $1 million makeover.

Moving the 400- to 600-pound reptiles — including some that have lived in the exhibit since 1928 — required coaxing, prodding and, occasionally, a well-placed shove on a shell.

Next up from The Times of India, a conservation piece on the Ridley’s Turtle:

It’s Sunday morning but the sun is yet to be up. Sumitha had been getting dressed since midnight in order to return home. Her mother meticulously prepared her for the journey as a crowd of friends eagerly watched. Finally, minutes before daybreak, she sets off on the voyage, pausing thrice for friends and photographers who have formed a receding semi-circle in front of her. Finally, the semi-circle opens up and Sumitha strides into the sea.

Last is a report on turtle conservation from the Vietnam News:

A rescue station and conservation park for endangered turtles would be built in central Quang Ngai Province by the Asian Turtle Preservation Programme (ATP).

The conservation area would include different zones to encourage turtles to stay and increase their population, while the rescue station would aim to help turtles multiply for release back into the wild, Nguyen Dai, head of the provincial Forest Management Department, said.

Other project components included boosting local awareness to curb the wildlife trade of endemic turtle species, and boosting the abilities of local authorities to conduct research and preservation activities, Dai said.

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• Parktips – January 2010 (2)
• Parktips – February 2010 (3)
• Pet iguanas in Palm Beach County regulations to be voted on (0)
• Neubacher Named Superintendent of Yosemite National Park (1)
• National Park Service Parktips – March 2010 (1)

Contacts:

Frances Delmar, Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site,

Frances_Delmar@nps.gov,

610-582-8773 ext. 233

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

March 3, 2010

Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site

America’s Best Idea: National Park Getaway

ELVERSON, Pa. – This week, the National Park Getaways series invites you to visit Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site. From the cast house at Hopewell Village came artillery and ammunition for George Washington’s army and stoves for households in the young nation. The furnace produced iron goods until 1883.

Today, Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site turns out great experiences.

Visitors can tour historic buildings, watch a movie, and, during March 2010, catch a play. The grime and noise of industry no longer disrupt the peace of Hopewell Village and the surrounding woodlands and pastures. The park offers trails for hiking, spots for picnicking, and two horses and a flock of sheep for the viewing pleasure of young visitors.

Park Superintendent Edie Shean-Hammond invites everyone to visit, “Hopewell is the perfect place to plan your getaway. We’re within an hour’s drive of Philadelphia in the center of the largest forest in Southeastern Pennsylvania, and now we’re fee free!”

To learn more and get “stoked” for your visit, read this week’s National Park Getaway. The National Park Getaways series helps people find new places to reconnect with nature, history, family, and friends. To see previous Getaways, please visit www.nps.gov/getaways. Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site is the 38th feature in the series.

###

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AMERICA’S STATE PARKS ALLIANCE LAUNCHED TO ADVOCATE FOR HEALTHFUL AND

ECONOMIC BENEFITS PROVIDED BY THE 50 STATES

More than 725 million visits provide a collective $20 billion economic

impact to communities surrounding 6,000 state park units nationwide

ARLINGTON, Virginia (February 16, 2010) – Millions of Americans who

rely on state parks for outdoor recreation are at risk of losing access to

cherished natural and recreational assets, as severe state budget cuts

sweep the nation. The National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD)

established the America’s State Parks alliance (www.americasstateparks.com)

to mobilize and educate the public and policy makers on the positive impact

state parks have on public health and local economies.

Americans demonstrated a strong demand for budget-friendly outdoor

recreation and cultural tourism within easy access to home, with more than

725 million visits to state parks in 2009. Whether hiking in the Rocky

Mountains, kayaking in the Chesapeake Bay, visiting an historic battlefield

or surfing a Southern California beach, state parks ranked among the most

important leisure time choices for Americans. Despite this remarkable

demand from the public during the recession, these green spaces are in

peril.

“Building state parks creates jobs and operating state parks

stimulates outdoor recreation and tourism spending. That translates to a

huge boon to our local economies,” said NASPD President Joe Elton, Director

of Virginia State Parks. Elton further stated that, “In 2009 visitors to

state parks across America helped create a $20 billion economic impact,

which is an incredible return on investment given that the overall budget

expenditure nationwide is less than $2.3 billion.”

State parks also play a pivotal role in helping combat obesity, one

of the nations most pressing health issues. First Lady Michelle Obama,

along with doctors and public health officials, are citing the need for

more activity among children.

“Simple outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and camping on

public lands and waters can serve as a gateway to a healthier lifestyle,”

says former White House Fellow Michael Suk, MD who served with the

Department of the Interior and is Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery at the

University of Florida. “Most state parks draw the majority of their

visitors from surrounding communities and they see repeat visitation. They

serve as an important asset that links recreation and public health.”

America’s State Parks will work collaboratively to share resources,

best practices and engage in national partnerships with corporations for

stewardship programs, aiding state parks during a time of severe state

budget cuts and strong demand for state park experiences. Partnerships

with corporations can help preserve many of America’s most prized natural

assets through their affiliation and sponsorship of programs such as

reforestation, trail preservation and maintenance and solar-energy

installations.

About America’s State Parks

America’s State Parks will help capture the collective strength and importance of the great park systems developed in the 50 states. With over 6,000 units and more than 725 million visits, America’s State Parks works to enhance the American quality of life. NASPD board members representing each region of the country will govern the America’s State Parks alliance.

About the National Association of State Park Directors (NASPD) Comprised of fifty state park directors, the NASPD (www.naspd.org) was founded in 1962. The mission of the Association is to promote and advance the state park systems of America for their own significance, as well as for their important contributions to the nation’s environment, heritage, health and economy.

# # #

Editor’s Note: Images available upon request for all 50 states.

Contact: Meg Aldrich

Meg Aldrich Public Relations

626.825.0309

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 3, 2010

Contact: David Barna (202) 208-6843

Gerry Gaumer (202) 208-6843

Shackelton Named to National Leadership Team

WASHINGTON – National Park Service (NPS) Director, Jon Jarvis announced

today that Steve Shackelton has been selected as the associate director for

visitor and resource protection. Shackelton, who has been chief ranger at

Yosemite National Park for the last eight years, will assume his duties in

March in Washington, DC. As associate director, he will manage national

fire, aviation, law enforcement, resource protection, wilderness,

regulation development, public health, emergency medicine, and search and

rescue programs. He replaces Karen Taylor-Goodrich who is now

superintendent of Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks in California.

“Steve brings incredible field experience mixed with Washington know-how to

this position,” said Jarvis. “He will be a key member of the leadership

team that sets the policies and direction for the entire National Park

Service. As our national chief ranger, Steve will step up the infusion of

science, law, and technology into all disciplines of ranger activities and

ensure that fire management, wilderness, and other programs have the best

information possible as we face a changing climate and other factors that

impact park resources.”

Shackelton will also concentrate on improving workforce conditions –

especially in the area of employee education, and crafting formal programs

to diversify the ranger workforce.

Shackelton has served as superintendent of Pinnacles National Monument in

California and in Washington, DC, in the NPS Office of Legislative and

Congressional Affairs and the U.S. Senate as part of the NPS Bevinetto

Fellowship.

He spent nine years in Alaska and five years in Hawaii in resource

protection management positions. He began his NPS career at Grand Teton

National Park in Wyoming as a ranger working in fire, search and rescue,

emergency medicine, and law enforcement; and six summers as a firefighter

on the Sierra National Forest in California.

Shackelton has bachelors and masters degrees in Criminology from California

State University, Fresno, and a Masters of Public Administration from the

University of Alaska, Anchorage. In 1990, he completed the FBI National

Academy executive management program and served as a Congressional Fellow

from 1997 through 1999. In 2005, he finished the federal Senior Executive

Candidate Development Program – an 18-month program in the Department of

the Interior, completing a detail assignment with the University of

California and time at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and the

Stanford Graduate School of Business, Executive Development Program.

Shackelton currently lives in Yosemite and Mariposa with his wife, Jane,

and has a daughter, Dana, at the University of California-Davis, School of

Veterinary Medicine.

-NPS-

Related posts

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• Parktips – February 2010 (3)
• Parktips – October 2009 (0)
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 2, 2010

Contact: David Barna (202) 208-6843

Gerry Gaumer (202) 208-6843

Neubacher Named Superintendent of Yosemite National Park

WASHINGTON – Don Neubacher has been selected as the new superintendent of Yosemite National Park in California. Neubacher takes over from David Uberuaga who has been acting superintendent since Mike Tollefson retired last year.

Yosemite National Park is one of the icons of the National Park System.

Set aside as a national park in 1890 because of the spectacular tract of mountain-and-valley scenery in the Sierra Nevada, the park preserves stunning waterfalls, meadows, and forests that include groves of giant sequoias, the world’s largest living things. Yosemite National Park welcomes more than three million visitors annually and is home to one of the most complex ecosystems in the world.

“Don is a seasoned manager who has proven himself time and time again to be an exceptional leader,” said National Park Service (NPS) Director Jon Jarvis. “He brings a thoughtful approach to the vast range of issues faced by a modern park manager in protecting park resources, providing quality experiences to our visitors, and motivating a highly professional staff.

Yosemite is a high priority position, and I appreciate Don taking on this new challenge.”

“I also want to commend Dave Uberuaga for his stellar work leading Yosemite during this year-long transition,” said Jarvis. “Dave stepped into one of most complex assignments in the National Park System and never missed a beat. He got up to speed quickly, moved negotiations along on the largest concession contract in the system, and provided the day-to-day leadership that our partners and employees need to care for Yosemite.”

“Yosemite National Park has an inspired staff that has been a leader in preserving one of the nation’s most sacred treasures,” said Neubacher. “I look forward to working with park staff and the many partners and interested groups to ensure Yosemite’s future is unimpaired for generations to come.”

Neubacher has been superintendent at Point Reyes National Seashore for the past 15 years. During his tenure, he was responsible for completing a number of important initiatives including the Giacomini Wetlands Restoration Plan/EIS, the Fire Management Plan, the Coastal Watershed Restoration Plan/EIS, and the implementation of the park’s Land Protection Plan.

A 28-year veteran of the National Park Service, Neubacher has previously served as deputy general manager of the Presidio of San Francisco, chief of visitor services at Point Reyes, education program administrator at Point Reyes, seminar coordinator for the Coastal Park Association, natural resources lecturer for Humboldt State University, and park ranger at Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska.

Neubacher is a 2006 graduate of the Senior Executive Service training.

Honors and awards include: the Sierra Club Resource Conservation Award in 2008, the NPS Director’s Award for Wilderness Stewardship (2005), the Department of the Interior Environmental Achievement Award (2002), Superintendent of the Year/ Pacific West Region (2001), Meritorious Service Award, Department of the Interior (2000); and Superintendent of the Year, Natural Resource Management, Pacific West Region (1998).

Neubacher is a graduate of the University of California-Davis where he received a bachelor of science degree in planning and management and Humboldt State University in Arcata, California where he received a master’s degree in natural resource management.

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• Parktips – February 2010 (3)
• National Park Service Parktips – March 2010 (1)
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• 2008 Director’s Report Highlights NPS Activities (0)

Parktips – February 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.

Conversations on the Edge

(Arizona) — Grand Canyon National Park’s Division of Science and Resource Management will present monthly community lectures in Flagstaff in collaboration with the Grand Canyon Association and Northern Arizona University’s Cline Library. The Conversations on the Edge lecture series will feature resource specialists from the park speaking about monitoring, managing, and preserving Grand Canyon’s natural and cultural resources for present and future generations. The lectures will take place the first Wednesday of every month, February through May, 2010. This year’s speakers will include Acting Cultural Resources Program Manager Ian Hough, Vegetation Mapping Coordinator Mike Kearsley, Hydrologist Steve Rice, and Wildlife Biologist Brandon Holton. All of the lectures are free and open to the public. On February 3, Mr. Hough will speak on “Extreme Cultural

Landscapes: New Archeological Research in Grand Canyon National Park” from

7 to 8:30 p.m. For more on this year’s Conversations, please contact Allyson Mathis, Science and Education Outreach Coordinator, at 928-638-7923 or visit http://www.nps.gov/grca/naturescience/srmlec09.htm.

Book Publication Party for Ten Hills Farm

(Massachusetts) — Celebrate the release of Catherine S. Manegold’s newest book, Ten Hills Farm: The Forgotten History of Slavery in the North, with an illustrated talk given by Manegold and hosted by Longfellow National Historic Site. This free event will be held on Wednesday, February 3, 2010, at 6:30 p.m. in the Sherrill Library (third floor) on the Lesley University/Episcopal Divinity School campus. (The campus is next to Longfellow NHS, at the corner of Brattle and Mason streets in Cambridge.) The evening will include book sales and a book signing. Seating is limited, and reservations are required. Please call 617-876-4491 to reserve a seat.

For more information, please contact Nancy Jones at 617-876-4491.

23rd Annual Whale Watch Weekend & Intertidal Life Festival at Cabrillo

(California) — Each year, an estimated 20,000 gray whales in the Eastern Pacific herd return from Alaskan feeding waters to warm, shallow lagoons in Baja California to give birth and find mates. Their roundtrip migration is the longest of any mammal in the world. Cabrillo National Monument will hold its 23rd annual Whale Watch Weekend and Intertidal Life Festival on February 6 and 7, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. This educational, family-oriented event celebrates the return of migrating Pacific gray whales to Point Loma and the intertidal life found in the tide pools on the monument’s western shore. This year’s festival will also celebrate the ribbon-cutting for the park’s new Kelp Forest and Whale Overlook and will coincide with the park’s hosting of the temporary exhibit “Sea of Cortez.”

In addition to whales and sea anemones, this exciting weekend will feature guest speakers, films, and a puppet show. For more information, please contact Rick Jenkins at 619-523-4573 or Rick_Jenkins@nps.gov.

Discover a People “Hidden in Plain Sight” at Ellis Island (New York) — From February 6 through May 9, 2010, the Ellis Island Immigration Museum will host the interactive exhibit “Hidden in Plain

Sight: The Basques.” The exhibit presents object-based learning opportunities about the unique origins, language, and history of the Basque people; the factors that pulled them from their homes; the legendary tales of these immigrants; Basque contributions in the United States and the world; and the unprecedented cultural connection that pushes them to keep expanding, rather than diminishing, the transcontinental exchange. Basques have rarely been recognized for their historic contributions or cultural distinctiveness. As they passed through Ellis Island, well-meaning officials often disregarded Basques’ nationality, names, and heritage.

Today, even though Basque politicians, scientists, sports figures, business executives, artists, and movie stars may be prominent throughout the United States and in many nations around the world, they are still not often recognized as being Basque, perpetuating their being “hidden in plain sight.” This exhibit is organized by the Basque Museum & Cultural Center (BMCC), the Basque Autonomous government, and the Boise State University Basque Studies Center. The exhibit is suitable for visitors ages nine and older. For more information, please contact Mindi Rambo at 212-668-2208.

Discover the Story of the Buffalo Soldiers Bicycle Corps (New York) — Join a National Park Service ranger for a talk about the African American infantry soldiers who rode bicycles from Montana west to Yellowstone National Park and east to St. Louis, Missouri, in the 1880s.

This Black History Month program will take place in the visitor center at Ft. Wadsworth in the Staten Island Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area from 1 to 3 p.m. on Saturday, February 6. For more information, please contact Mindi Rambo at 212-668-2208.

Farmyard Children’s Program

(Virginia) — On February 6 at 2 p.m., kids can see and learn about the types of animals on an 1850s farm at Booker T. Washington National Monument. The program features activities and a walk with Ranger Ann. There will also be a 28th birthday celebration for “Go” the horse. For more information, please contact Ranger Ann Jensen at 540-721-2094.

“Nearest Place to Nowhere: The Life of Dr. Booker T. Washington”

(Virginia) — A park ranger presentation at Booker T. Washington National Monument reveals struggles and challenges faced by Washington as he rose “up from slavery” to become a leader in black education and a spokesman for the economic progress of African Americans. The presentation will be at 2 p.m. on February 7. For more information, please contact Ranger Betsy Haynes at 540-721-2094.

Lincoln at Cooper Union

(West Virginia) — Throughout February, Black History Month, a special exhibit entitled “Abraham Lincoln at Cooper Union: Prelude to Emancipation”

will focus on Abraham Lincoln’s 1860 speech against the expansion of slavery. This exhibit will open on Sunday, February 7, 2010, at 2 p.m. on the second floor of the John Brown Museum on Shenandoah Street in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. Mr. Jim Getty will give a presentation as Abraham Lincoln, the 16th president of the United States. A ribbon-cutting ceremony opening the exhibit will follow Mr. Getty’s presentation. For more information, please contact Kim Biggs at 304-535-6024.

Manzanar Barracks Groundbreaking Set for February 13, 2010

(California) — The National Park Service, Friends of Manzanar, and Manzanar History Association invite the public to attend a groundbreaking event at 1 p.m. on Saturday, February 13, 2010. From 1942 to 1945, Manzanar War Relocation Center confined more than 10,000 Japanese Americans in 36 blocks. Each block included 14 barracks buildings, a mess hall, a recreation building, latrines, and laundry and ironing rooms. After the war, the buildings were sold for scrap lumber or relocated. In 1997, in consultation with the Manzanar Advisory Commission, former internees, historians, and others, the National Park Service approved the development of Block 14 as a “demonstration block” to interpret daily life in the camp.

In fiscal years 2009 and 2010, Congress approved funding for reconstructing Barracks 1 and 8 on Block 14. A restored World War II mess hall that was moved to the site from Bishop Airport in 2002 will open to visitors later this year. After the groundbreaking for the barracks, Manzanar History Association will provide light refreshments in the mess hall. Later that day, the National Park Service invites former internees to gather informally with visitors in the Manzanar Interpretive Center to share their memories and experiences. The events are free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Alisa Lynch or Nancy Hadlock at

760-878-2194 ext. 2711 or ext. 2716.

Presidents and African American History

(New York) — Please join the National Park Service from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday, February 13 at St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site for talks and re-enactments commemorating Presidents Day and African American History Month (February). Events will include appearances by Presidents Washington, Lincoln, and Franklin D. Roosevelt, as well as talks about Frederick Douglass and Abraham Lincoln. In addition, there will be special activities for children. For more information, please contact Mindi Rambo at 212-668-2208.

Fire Island National Seashore Participates in Great Backyard Bird Count (New York) — On Saturday, February 13, a ranger will guide a three-hour, three-mile bird walk through the 613-acre William Floyd Estate in Mastic Beach on Long Island. During this program, led by naturalist MaryLaura Lamont, all observed bird species will be tallied and submitted to the annual Great Backyard Bird Count, a citizen science project hosted by the National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology ( www.birdcount.org). Fire Island National Seashore’s free program starts at

9 a.m. Additional winter hikes and programs are offered at the Fire Island Lighthouse and the Wilderness Visitor Center on Fire Island. For more information, please contact Paula Valentine at 631-687-4859 or visit www.nps.gov/fiis.

Annual Boy Scouts of America Pilgrimage

(Pennsylvania) — On Saturday, February 13, 2010, from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Valley Forge National Historical Park will host the 97th Anniversary George Washington Birthday Encampment and Pilgrimage of the Boy Scouts of America. In this event—the oldest continuous annual Boy Scouts event in the world—scouts will march to several specially-designed outdoor theme sites.

The event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Elise Cleva at 202-208-6843 or Elise_M_Cleva@nps.gov.

Fort Barrancas by Candlelight

(Florida) — Gulf Islands National Seashore will present a candlelight tour of Fort Barrancas on Saturday, February 13 from 5 to 7:15 p.m. Small groups will depart the visitor center every 15 minutes for the hour-long tour.

Costumed interpreters will present the history of Pensacola during the Civil War at different stations inside the fort. In addition, the Fort Barrancas Visitor Center, with new museum exhibits, audiovisual programs, and a bookstore, will be open. Visitors should call 850-455-5167 for tour reservations, which are required. For more information, please contact Gail Bishop at 850-934-2608 or Stanley Lawhead at 850-934-2629.

Xavier Cortada’s “Endangered World” at Biscayne National Park

(Florida) — Miami artist Xavier Cortada will mount a major installation at Biscayne National Park’s Convoy Point this winter and spring. “Endangered

World: Biscayne National Park” will feature 360 brightly colored flags lining the roads and trails at Convoy Point for over a mile, each representing one degree of the planet’s longitude. Individuals and organizations will adopt an endangered or threatened animal that lives at that longitude and paint an image of the animal on one of the flags. At the same time, participants will commit to an “eco-action” that directly or indirectly mitigates the plight of that animal. The flags will be on display from February 14 to May 1, 2010, for the 10 weeks leading up to BioBlitz, National Geographic’s 24-hour count of as many living things as possible in Biscayne National Park. The flags will then become a part of an “Endangered World” traveling exhibit that will go to other national parks around the country. For more information, please visit the park’s website at www.nps.gov/bisc, contact Ranger Gary Bremen at 305-230-1144 ext. 007, or e-mail Project Manager Arielle Angel at participatory.artprojects@gmail.com.

BioBlitz: For the Love of Diversity

(Florida) — Family Fun Fest is a free public program held at Biscayne National Park on the second Sunday of every month from December through April. Each month, the festival highlights a different aspect of the park’s diverse resources at five hands-on activity stations located around the Dante Fascell Visitor Center. This month’s event (on February 14 from 1 to

4 p.m.) is titled “BioBlitz: For the Love of Diversity.” The United Nations has declared 2010 the “International Year of Biodiversity,” and National Geographic is joining with Biscayne National Park later this spring for BioBlitz, a 24-hour, all-species biodiversity count for the park. Be among the first to see the new “Endangered World” art installation; discover how biodiversity is like a box of chocolates; and find out, in Episode 3 of

Climate: 911, if superheroes Buffer Boy and The Colorizer can protect Biscayne’s animals from Dr. Verduga’s evil plans to warm the planet and change it forever. For more information, please contact Ranger Gary Bremen at 305-230-1144 ext. 007.

The 2nd Pennsylvania

(Pennsylvania ) — On Sunday, February 14, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., visitors to Valley Forge National Historical Park can see the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment at the Muhlenberg Brigade huts. There will be musket-firing programs and cooking demonstrations. Ranger-led walks to the Muhlenberg Brigade huts take place at 10:20 a.m., 12:50 p.m., and 2:20 p.m., with musket and artillery programs at 11 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3 p.m.

This event is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Barb Pollarine at 610-783-1032.

Sagamore Hill Announces Free Programs February 14 to 21, 2010 (New York) — Sagamore Hill will be open every day the week of Presidents Day, including the holiday itself, February 15, and will offer a variety of free programs, activities, and exhibits. Check out the new exhibit at the Old Orchard Museum about the history of the West Wing of the White House.

Go on a guided nature walk. See special guests, including President Roosevelt who, portrayed by James Foote, will offer his interpretive portrayal of TR and an exclusive “storytime program” for children. In addition, children’s book author Leslie Kimmelman will read her book Mind Your Manners, Alice Roosevelt and be available to sign this work about the rebellious young Alice, the president’s eldest daughter. Visit Sagamore Hill’s website, www.nps.gov/sahi, and, starting February 1, download a podcast developed especially for Presidents Day week about Theodore Roosevelt and his historical assessments of U.S. presidents who preceded him. For more information, please contact Noreen Hancock at 516-922-4788.

Washington’s 278th Birthday Celebration

(Pennsylvania ) — Valley Forge National Historical Park will celebrate George Washington’s birthday on Monday, February 15, 2010, from 10 a.m. to

2 p.m. Visitors can meet portrayers of Martha Washington and General Washington in the visitor center while listening to period music by the Colonial Revelers. Children can make their own tri-corner hats and design birthday cards for the general in the Encampment Store from 10 a.m. to noon. After the card- and hat-making, Mrs. Washington will present, for tasting, a birthday cake baked from her own original recipe. Children may also enlist in the Continental Army. General Washington will review and lead the young troops in marching and maneuvering drills executed according to General Von Steuben’s training manual. The events are free and open to the public. For more information, please contact Kimberly Szewczyk at

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

Storytelling by Royal Shiree

(Virginia) — On February 20 at 7 p.m., Booker T. Washington National Monument celebrates Black History Month with this special program. Royal Shiree takes storytelling to a new level by sharing her experiences of teaching history to fifth graders. With humor and dramatic flair, Royal takes the audience on a fascinating journey in time. For more information, please contact Ranger Timbo Sims at 540-721-2094.

Thirsting for Knowledge? Try “Tapping into Science”

(Washington) — A new series of monthly presentations, Tapping into Science, is exploring current science in the North Cascades. An approximately 30-minute presentation is given on the last Wednesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. at Chuckanut Brewery & Kitchen (601 West Holly Street, Bellingham, Washington). The second program in the series will be “Thirsty Mountain Tops: Decline of Frost-Brewed Glaciers” on February 24. Two-thirds of the glaciers in the lower 48 states are in the North Cascades. What does glacier monitoring tell us about their, and our, future? Dr. Jon Riedel, a geologist at North Cascades National Park, will present. For more information, please contact Charles Beall at 360-854-7302.

Winterfest

(Alaska) — Denali National Park and Preserve, its partners, and the Denali Borough communities will celebrate all that is special about our longest season during the 10th annual Winterfest Celebration from Friday, February

26 through Sunday, February 28. The schedule will include an array of events for all ages, interests, and abilities, outdoors and indoors.

Activities will include sled-dog rides, a ranger-guided snowshoe walk, ice carving, and a snow-sculpting contest. The complete schedule of activities will be posted at www.nps.gov/dena in early February. For more information, please contact Kris Fister at 907-683-9583 or kris_fister@nps.gov.

Yosemite Renaissance XXV Juried Exhibition Opens

(California) — The 25th Yosemite Renaissance exhibition opens on Saturday, February 27, 2010, at the National Park Service Yosemite Museum Gallery.

This annual exhibit encourages diverse interpretations of Yosemite and the environment of the Sierra Nevada. This year’s competitive exhibit was selected from a record number of entries. Forty-two paintings, prints, photographs, and sculptures by artists throughout the country will be on display. The exhibit hours are 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. daily. The official opening will be preceded by an opening reception and an awards presentation from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Friday, February 26. The public is cordially invited to attend this reception. The exhibit continues through May 2. For more information on Yosemite Renaissance and its programs, please visit www.yosemiterenaissance.org.

An Evening with the Painting

(Pennsylvania) — On February 27 from 5 to 7:30 p.m., visit Gettysburg National Military Park and learn about the history and conservation of the Gettysburg Cyclorama painting. The evening includes an opportunity to spend time viewing the Cyclorama. For tickets, please visit www.gettysburgfoundation.org or call 877-874-2478. For more information, please contact Gettysburg National Military Park at 717-334-1124 ext. 8023 or visit www.nps.gov/gett.

Sitka NHP Readies for Centennial

(Alaska) — March 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 Dusty Kidd at 907-747-6281 and check http://www.nps.gov/sitk/100-year-anniversary.htm.

Unexpected Discovery in Castillo San Felipe del Morro (Puerto Rico) — A group of maintenance employees of the San Juan National Historic Site were removing ground from a shoreline trail of Castillo San Felipe del Morro when they found three buried, historical medals that had disappeared almost 18 years ago. In February 1992, the Military Museum, then located in El Morro, was vandalized, and a Spanish carbine of 1898, along with the three medals, was stolen. A month after the museum break-in, the carbine was recovered, but the medals, in spite of all the investigative efforts, could not be located. All those interested in seeing the historical medals, which were awarded by the Spanish government to Colonel José Antonio de Iriarte y Travieso, commanding official of Castillo San Felipe del Morro, in recognition of merit and valor in combat during the 1898 Spanish-American War, are welcome to visit the Cultural Resources Division, located in Castillo San Cristobal. The division is open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For more information, please contact Elise Cleva at 202-208-6843 or Elise_M_Cleva@nps.gov.

A Whaling Adventure

(Massachusetts) — New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park is launching a new online activity for children. The program, A Whaling Adventure, uses flash animation and a combination of historic images, quotes, paintings, illustrations, and audio clips to introduce young visitors to the whaling story. Learn about the people and places you may have found in a whaling port of the 1850s by peeking inside blacksmith and cooper shops, a whaleman’s chapel, homes, and other locales in the “home port” section of the activity. After exploring the home port, set sail on a whaling voyage around the world and explore foreign ports in the Azores, Cape Verde, Hawaii, and Alaska. For more information about New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, please call 508-996-4095 or visit www.nps.gov/nebe.

Yosemite Hands-On to Protect Bears

(California) — Yosemite National Park managers work to protect the American black bear. The challenge: human errors can easily affect the species. Humans may approach too closely or store food improperly.

Yosemite’s 2009 Interdivisional Bear Team accomplished 210 night patrols;

38,573 vehicle inspections; and 4,607 campsite inspections. In addition, the bear team mitigated 7,862 food storage violations; wrote 1,954 food storage warnings and gave 1,065 verbal warnings; and impounded food 54 times. The team also set 239 bear traps, captured 21 individual bears, placed radio collars on 12 bears, and received 25 reports of bears hit by vehicles. Bear activity in 2009 peaked in August, with 124 bear incidents.

In more than 535 total incidents, financial damage amounted to more than $80,000, half of which was to cars in parking lots. For more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.

Thousands Became Yosemite Junior Rangers in 2009

(California) — In 2009, more than 27,000 children became Yosemite Junior Rangers, compared with 15,000 in 2008 and 6,000 in 2007. The 2009 increase is due to an increase in daily Junior Ranger programs given by the park’s summer interpretive rangers and supported by a Yosemite Fund project.

Yosemite offers books for two age groups (ages seven to 13 and ages three to six) and in multiple languages. For more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Tom Medema at 209-372-0291.

Yosemite Tallies Its Battle Against Invasive Plants

(California) — Yosemite National Park’s invasive plant crew technicians treated 156 gross-infested acres (27 acres in wilderness) in 2009. On the whole, invasive plant ecologists recorded 805 acres (285 in wilderness) of non-native plant infestations. Using GIS, the invasive plant crew mapped

2,664 points, lines, and polygons of invasive plant infestations and treatments in 2009. Yosemite’s removal efforts focus on the control of nine high-priority species: yellow star-thistle, Himalayan blackberry, spotted knapweed, bull thistle, common velvet grass, cheat grass, French broom, Italian thistle, and perennial pepperweed. For more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.

Acadia National Park Adult Education Courses

(Maine) — Acadia National Park staff will offer two adult education courses in the local communities of Bar Harbor and Ellsworth, Maine. New this year for the Bar Harbor sessions will be three outdoor activities:

tips on weathering the cold winter safely and in comfort, learning about the signs of animals in the winter, and a geology walk. Topics for the Ellsworth session will include forest ecology, fire ecology, history of the carriage roads, and history of Downeast Maine. For more information, please contact Ardrianna McLane at 207-288-8733 or Kate Petrie at 207-288-8808.

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Related posts

• National Park Service Parktips – March 2010 (1)
• Parktips – January 2010 (2)
• Parktips – October 2009 (0)
• Parktips – November 2009 (0)
• Parktips – December 2009 (0)

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

• Parktips – February 2010 (3)
• National Park Service Parktips – March 2010 (1)
• Parktips – October 2009 (0)
• Parktips – November 2009 (0)
• Parktips – December 2009 (0)

There are three bills currently floating around that will impact our reptile trade as we know it should any of them pass into law. All three of these bills are still in committee and there are several steps before they could become law. They are:

-Introduced

-Referred to committee

-Reported by committee

- House (or Senate) Vote

-Senate (or House) Vote

- Signed by the President.

There are three bills currently out there that we as the reptile industry are fighting. They are:

HR669 – The Nonnative Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act – Sponsored by Del. Madeleine Bordallo of Guam.

The purpose of the bill is “To prevent the introduction and establishment of nonnative wildlife species that negatively impact the economy, environment, or other animal species’ or human health, and for other purposes.”

This bill is the scariest of all to the entire pet trade. It is the most restrictive, in effect banning the interstate trade and commerce as well as travel of any animal not on the “white list” — a white list that doesn’t even exist at the time of writing. And each individual species must go through an evaluation process that can take anywhere from 12 to 36 months. The guidelines that are listed create a very wide net and include nearly every animal. This is how non-native wildlife is considered under this bill:

(4) NONNATIVE WILDLIFE SPECIES- The term `nonnative wildlife species’–

(A) except as provided in subparagraph (C), means any species of animal that is not a native species, whether or not raised in captivity;

(B) except as provided in subparagraph (C), includes–

(i) any such species of mammal, bird, fish, reptile, amphibian, insect, mollusk and crustacean, arthropod, coelenterate, or other invertebrate, and

(ii) any egg or offspring thereof; and

(C) does not include any species specifically defined or regulated as a plant pest under the Plant Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 7701 et seq.) or as a threat to livestock or poultry under the Animal Health Protection Act (7 U.S.C. 8301 et seq.).

Earlier this year, Jeff Barringer wrote:

Let’s take a look at some animals that meet that definition….

Cows, horses, chickens, domesticated house cats, goldfish, most pet fish, many pet reptiles, hamsters, gerbils and other rodents, most cage birds, etc. etc. The list of animals is literally endless, as new species are literally described every day. I doubt that they could all be categorized on the internet accurately, much less physically printed in the Federal Register, as would be required. That issue of the register alone would run to thousands of pages and would be obsolete before it even came off the presses.

The status of this bill is “Referred to Committee.”

HR2811- To amend title 18, United States Code, to include constrictor snakes of the species Python genera as an injurious animal. Sponsored by Rep. Kendrick Meek of Florida.

US Code title 18, part I, section 42a currently reads:

The importation into the United States, any territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any possession of the United States, or any shipment between the continental United States, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any possession of the United States, of the mongoose of the species Herpestes auropunctatus; of the species of so-called “flying foxes” or fruit bats of the genus Pteropus; of the zebra mussel of the species Dreissena polymorpha; and such other species of wild mammals, wild birds, fish (including mollusks and crustacea), amphibians, reptiles, brown tree snakes, or the offspring or eggs of any of the foregoing which the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe by regulation to be injurious to human beings, to the interests of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, or to wildlife or the wildlife resources of the United States, is hereby prohibited. All such prohibited mammals, birds, fish (including mollusks and crustacea), amphibians, and reptiles, and the eggs or offspring therefrom, shall be promptly exported or destroyed at the expense of the importer or consignee. Nothing in this section shall be construed to repeal or modify any provision of the Public Health Service Act or Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Also, this section shall not authorize any action with respect to the importation of any plant pest as defined in the Federal Plant Pest Act,[1] insofar as such importation is subject to regulation under that Act.

If passed it will read:

The importation into the United States, any territory of the United States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any possession of the United States, or any shipment between the continental United States, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, or any possession of the United States, of the mongoose of the species Herpestes auropunctatus; of the species of so-called “flying foxes” or fruit bats of the genus Pteropus; of the zebra mussel of the species Dreissena polymorpha; of the constrictor snake of the species Python genera; and such other species of wild mammals, wild birds, fish (including mollusks and crustacea), amphibians, reptiles, brown tree snakes, or the offspring or eggs of any of the foregoing which the Secretary of the Interior may prescribe by regulation to be injurious to human beings, to the interests of agriculture, horticulture, forestry, or to wildlife or the wildlife resources of the United States, is hereby prohibited. All such prohibited mammals, birds, fish (including mollusks and crustacea), amphibians, and reptiles, and the eggs or offspring therefrom, shall be promptly exported or destroyed at the expense of the importer or consignee. Nothing in this section shall be construed to repeal or modify any provision of the Public Health Service Act or Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Also, this section shall not authorize any action with respect to the importation of any plant pest as defined in the Federal Plant Pest Act,[1] insofar as such importation is subject to regulation under that Act.

We have been told that this bill will be amended to only include Burmese and African Rock Pythons, however, I am unable to find documentation to support this. This is a House Resolution, which means it has been introduced in the House of Representatives. HR2811 is still in committee. The status of this bill is “Reported by Committee.” According to www.govtrack.us, this means:

This bill was considered in committee which has recommended it be considered by the House as a whole. Although it has been placed on a calendar of business, the order in which legislation is considered and voted on is determined by the majority party leadership. Keep in mind that sometimes the text of one bill is incorporated into another bill, and in those cases the original bill, as it would appear here, would seem to be abandoned.

S373 – To amend title 18, United States Code, to include constrictor snakes of the species Python genera as an injurious animal. Sponsored by Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida.

On the surface, this is the exact same proposal as HR2811. HR2811 is in the House Judiciary committee on Crime, Terrorism and Homeland Security. S373 is in the Senate committee on Environment and Public Works. S373 also does not have amendment to reduce the species to Burmese and African Rock Pythons. This bill effectively is aimed at all species of Pythons. Our most recent call to action was about this bill. The current status of this bill is Referred to Committee.

If it appears we are being attacked on all fronts, that’s probably because we are. Hopefully, however, youre now better armed when reaching out to government officials. Please remember at all times to be polite when making calls or sending letters.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 30, 2009

Contact: Steve Elkinton (202) 354-6938

David Barna (202) 208-6843

National Trail and Park Projects Funded

WASHINGTON, D.C. – National Park Service trails program grants have been awarded for 17 projects where national historic and scenic trails intersect with national parks and other Federal facilities.

This year’s “Connect Trails to Park” grant awards total $873,000. The grant program was established in 2008 to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the National Trails System.

“The infrastructure improvements these grants provide translate into better experiences for trail and park visitors,” said National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis. “It’s a wonderful way to commemorate this anniversary decade of the National Trails System.”

The 17 funded projects restore or improve existing trails and trailhead connections, provide better wayside and interpretive services, encourage innovative educational services, support bridge and trailhead designs, and provide planning services for important trail gateways.

In addition to operating park areas across the United States and its territories, the National Park Service plays a vital role in operation of the 52,000-mile National Trails System. The Trails System dates from 1968 legislation that created the Appalachian and Pacific Crest National Scenic Trails. Today, the National Trails System is comprised of 11 national scenic trails (NSTs), 19 national historic trails (NHTs), and more than 1,050 national recreation trails (NRTs).

Connect Trails to Parks Grants, FY 2010

Project Title | Trail(s) | Park or Other | Locations | Award

| | Federal Area | | Amount

——————————+——————+———————-+—————+———–

New kiosk, pavilion, and | Continental | Rocky Mountain | Grand Lake, | $59,750

entrance sign for | Divide National | National Park | CO |

Continental Divide NST at | Scenic Trail | | |

Grand Lake | | | |

——————————+——————+———————-+—————+———–

North Country NST Wayside | North Country | Pictured Rocks Nat. | Grand | $30,485

Exhibits at Three Parks | National Scenic | Lakeshore, Fort | Marais, MI |

| Trail | Stanwix Nat. | Rome, NY, |

| | Memorial, and | and Dayton, |

| | Dayton Aviation | OH |

| | Heritage NHP | |

——————————+——————+———————-+—————+———–

Interpretive Programming at | Lewis & Clark | Ridgefield National | Ridgefield, | $35,000

the Cathlapotle Plankhouse | National | Wildlife Refuge | WA |

| Historic Trail | | |

——————————+——————+———————-+—————+———–

“Explore the Outdoors, Your | Lewis & Clark | Lewis & Clark | Great Falls, | $45,205

Life Depends On It” | National | National Historic | MT |

(educational program) | Historic Trail | Trail Interpretive | |

| | Center | |

——————————+——————+———————-+—————+———–

Spur Trail Stone Steps at | Appalachian | Harpers Ferry | Harpers | $55,000

Lockwood House | National Scenic | National Historical | Ferry, WV |

| Trail | Park | |

——————————+——————+———————-+—————+———–

Transport Students to | Appalachian NST | Harpers Ferry | Harpers | $7,700

Trails and Park | and Potomac | National Historical | Ferry, WV |

| Heritage NST | Park | |

——————————+——————+———————-+—————+———–

Publish Fort Circle Parks | Potomac | Fort Circle Parks | Washington, | $5,000

Trail Brochure | Heritage | | DC |

| National Scenic | | |

| Trail | | |

——————————+——————+———————-+—————+———–

Replace Missing Trail Signs | Baptism Creek | Hopewell Furnace | Elverson, PA | $65,146

and Install New Waysides | National | National Historic | |

| Recreation | Site | |

| Trail | | |

——————————+——————+———————-+—————+———–

Unigrid Brochure for the | Star-Spangled | Fort McHenry | Chesapeake | $29,500

New Star- Spangled Banner | Banner National | National Monument | Bay Region, |

NHT | Historic Trail | and Historic Shrine | MD and VA |

——————————+——————+———————-+—————+———–

Expanded Website for | Star-Spangled | Fort McHenry | Chesapeake | $100,000

Star-Spangled Banner NHT | Banner National | National Monument | Bay Region, |

| Historic Trail | and Historic Shrine | MD and VA |

——————————+——————+———————-+—————+———–

Volunteer-based | Nez Perce | Nez Perce National | Spaulding, | $4,500

Interpretation | National | Historical Park | ID |

| Historic Trail | | |

——————————+——————+———————-+—————+———–

Brochure to Connect Trail | Juan Bautista | Casa Grande Ruins | Coolidge, AZ | $96,000

to Three NPS Sites in | de Anza | NM, Saguaro NP, and | Tucson, AZ |

Southern Arizona | National | Tumacacori National | Tumacacori, |

| Historic Trail | Historical Park | AZ |

——————————+——————+———————-+—————+———–

Twin Arches Connector Trail | Twin Arches | Big South Fork | Oneida, TN | $36,909

| National | National River & | |

| Recreation | Recreation Area | |

| Trail | | |

——————————+——————+———————-+—————+———–

Trail of Tears Wayside | Trail of Tears | Stones River | Murfreesboro | $12,554

Exhibits at Stones River | National | National | , TN |

| Historic Trail | Battlefield Park | |

——————————+——————+———————-+—————+———–

Parks as Classrooms at the | Natchez Trace | Natchez Trace | Tupelo, MS | $99,984

Natchez Trace NST | National Scenic | Parkway | |

| Trail | | |

——————————+——————+———————-+—————+———–

Complete Compliance for | Appalachian | Wallkill National | Sussex, NJ | $100,000

Wallkill River Bridge | National Scenic | Wildlife Refuge | |

| Trail | | |

——————————+——————+———————-+—————+———–

Build and Support Capacity | Appalachian | Numerous national | Harpers | $100,000

in the USDA Forest Service | National Scenic | forests | Ferry, WV |

for A Trail to Every | Trail | | |

Classroom | | | |

The years 2008 to 2018 are "A Decade for the National Trails" in advance of

the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System. Many projects will

help the National Park Service, friends groups and others devoted to trails and their related Federal facilities achieve goals associated with this commemorative decade.

For more information about the National Park Service please visit www.nps.gov.

For more information about the National Trails System please visit www.nps.gov/nts.

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