Last January, Dan Bell and Bell Wildlife Specialties hosted a goose hunt for a bunch of Kansas kids.  STEP OUTSIDE TV came along and caught all of the fun to share with you.  You can watch the show this week on Outdoor Channel at the following times:

07-21 at 8:00AM | 07-23 at 11:00AM | 07-24 at 5:30PM

All times are EDT.

Dan Bell is definitely one of the “Good Guys”.  Dan got involved with Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors the very first year we started hunting with kids, back in 2002.  Dan offered to host a youth turkey hunt in the spring of ’03 and has done so every year since.  Over 150 kids have experienced their first turkey hunt with Dan.  We’ve got some amazing videos of some of these hunts on the Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors website.

Dan has also hosted antlerless deer hunts and as shown in the video, goose hunts for the kids as well.

Check out the Bell Wildlife Specialties website here.

And if you have some time to watch some kids get their first turkeys, check out these links:

http://www.outdoormentors.org/video/TNT-13.wvx – 2008 Youth Turkey Hunt

http://vimeo.com/10865700 – 20101 Youth Turkey Hunt (you can skip to the 10 minute mark on this one to get right to the action!)

For other videos featuring kids hunting, check out this page on the Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors website:  http://bit.ly/dkiH3U.

You too can make a difference in a child’s life…take ‘em outdoors!  Become an Outdoor Mentor today!

Mike Christensen

Pass It On – Outdoor Mentors, Inc.

310 E 2nd

Wichita, KS  67202

316-290-8883

mchristensen@outdoormentors.org

http://www.outdoormentors.org

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – July 9, 2010

Contact: David Barna (202) 208-6843

$1.2 Million Awarded to Preserve Battlefields

National Park Service announces 25 grants

WASHINGTON – More than $1.2 million in National Park Service grants will be used to help preserve and protect America’s significant battlefield lands.

The funding from the National Park Service’s American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP) will support projects at more than 100 battlefields nationwide.

“These grants will help safeguard and preserve American battlefield lands,”

said Jonathan B. Jarvis, Director of the National Park Service. “These lands are symbols of individual sacrifice and national heritage that we must protect so that this and future generations can walk these places and understand the struggles that define us as a nation.”

The grants fund projects at endangered battlefields from the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican-American War, Civil War, World War II, and Indian Wars. Grants were made to projects in 17 states and territories to support archeology, mapping, cultural resource survey work, documentation, planning, education, and interpretation.

Projects include underwater archeology at the Battle of the Atlantic during WWII in North Carolina; documentation of the Second Seminole War Fort Defiance and Fort Micanopy in Florida; a statewide comprehensive GIS database of Civil War sites that will include 38 battlefields in Tennessee; a preservation plan for the U.S. Dakota War of 1862 Woodlake Battlefield in Minnesota; and development of a new battlefield preservation, and planning website in Virginia for the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District.

Priority was given to the preservation of nationally significant battlefields. The majority of grants were given to battlefields listed as Priority I or II sites in the National Park Service’s Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields and the Report to Congress on the Historic Preservation of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Sites in the United States.

Federal, state, local, and Tribal governments, nonprofit organizations, and educational institutions are eligible for the battlefield grants which are awarded annually. Since 1996 more than $12 million has been awarded by ABPP to help preserve significant historic battlefields associated with wars on American soil. More information is available online at http://www.nps.gov/history/hps/abpp. Brief descriptions of funded grant projects follow.

Year 2010 Grants

Arkansas State Parks, Department of Parks and Tourism $82,000

The Civil War Battle of Prairie Grove (1862) was the last time two armies of equal strength fought for control over northwest Arkansas. With archeological investigation and GIS mapping, this project will delineate the locations and extent of major battlefield features within Prairie Grove Battlefield State Park.

Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center (Connecticut) $19,000 The Battle of Saybrook Fort consisted of more than a dozen discrete battles, ambushes, and actions that are a part of the Pequot War (1636-1637). This project will identify areas for future archeological testing, revise maps of Study and Core Areas, develop a preservation advocacy partnership, and educate the public about this important event in American history.

Gulf Archeology Research Institute (Florida) $49,500

The opening battles of the Second Seminole War occurred in and around the town of Micanopy. This project will identify and document the nature and extent of Fort Defiance and Fort Micanopy through field archeology, archival research, and data analysis.

LAMAR Institute (Georgia) $40,000

In December of 1864, the Confederacy suffered a devastating loss at the Battle of Monteith Swamp. Union troops broke through the Confederate defenses and took Savannah. This project will conduct archeology fieldwork to identify and document the battlefield as well as foster public outreach.

Ball State University (Indiana) $70,000

The Battle on the Wabash (1791) and the Battle of Fort Recovery (1794), which occurred in Ohio, represent the largest engagement of the American Army and Native American forces in the history of the United States. Little is known about these battles. The site identification and documentation plan will define the battlefield boundaries – a first step toward diminishing the threat of private development and looting at these battlefields.

Madison County (Kentucky) $35,000

The Battle of Richmond is the second largest Civil War site in Kentucky and is one of three major battles that are part of the “Confederate heartland offensive” within Kentucky. A preservation plan will address the needs of local government and will suggest ways to partner with the Blue Grass Army Depot (BGAD), as well as other organizations, agencies, and the community, to develop ways to protect threatened battlefield land.

Tebbs Bend Battlefield Association (Kentucky) $35,000

The Civil War Battle of Tebbs Bend was the first major engagement of Confederate General John Morgan’s Great Raid, a push into the northern Midwestern states intended to capture supplies and erode support for the Union war effort. Building on the work of a previous ABPP grant, an archeology survey will be developed for the Tebbs Bend Battlefield.

Northwestern State University of Louisiana $41,000

During the Red River Campaign of 1864, a fierce engagement occurred between Admiral David Dixon Porter’s fleet, the Confederate land batteries, and several hundred sharpshooters on Deloach’s Bluff Battlefield. This project will identify the location of subsurface resources and the extent of the historic battlefield through a cultural resource survey, GIS/GPS fieldwork, remote sensing, and minimal archeology testing.

Wood Lake Battlefield Preservation Association (Minnesota) $47,000

Wood Lake was the final major battle of the U.S. Dakota War of 1862.

Preoccupied with the Civil War, the U.S. Government violated treaties with Minnesota’s Dakota Indians, leading to hardships for these tribes. Building on the work of a previous ABPP grant, a comprehensive preservation plan will be developed for the Wood Lake Battlefield.

Frontier Heritage Alliance (Montana) $68,800

The final battles of the Sioux Indian Wars were against the Northern Pacific Railroad survey expedition on the Yellowstone River in 1873. This project will indentify and document the Stanley-Custer Battles with Sioux Warriors, produce a historical report and a National Register nomination, and educate land owners about the historic significance of their properties.

Natural Heritage Trust (New York) $75,000

British General Burgoyne surrendered his sword to Colonial General Gates during the end of Battles of Saratoga on October 17, 1777. As a defining military engagement during the Revolutionary War, the sword surrender proved to the French Government that Colonial forces were capable of winning the war. This led the French to ally with the Americans. The project will produce a cultural landscape treatment plan and site development plan for the preservation and interpretation of the Sword Surrender site.

Research Foundation of State University of New York at Binghamton

$50,723

The Revolutionary War Battle of Newtown was among the Continental Army’s most significant battles during the Sullivan and Clinton Campaign against British allied Iroquois in the New York frontier. This project will conduct an archeological field survey to identify material remains associated with the Battle of Newtown to better define the integrity and the battlefield’s main defining features. Findings will be used to formulate a preservation plan for the battlefield.

East Carolina University, Maritime Studies (North Carolina) $80,000

Following America’s entry into WWII, a protracted naval conflict was waged between German and Allied naval vessels along the U.S. eastern seaboard during the Battle of the Atlantic. This project will conduct an archeological inventory of the submerged cultural resources from naval conflicts to supplement current historical records.

Rutherford County (North Carolina) $40,000

Between 1776 and 1783, Gilbert Town was a staging ground and campsite for various British and Patriot commands. It played an important role in several Revolutionary War campaigns in the Carolinas. This project will complete an archeological survey of key properties that will most likely be impacted by development at the Gilbert Town Battlefield site. In addition, a long-term archeological plan for the site will be produced.

County of Chester (Pennsylvania) $40,000

The Battle of Paoli was George Washington’s third and final attempt to prevent the British from taking the colonial capital city during Howe’s Philadelphia Campaign of 1777. This project will identify and inventory threatened parcels at the Paoli Battlefield. The project findings will be used to update the county’s historic atlas and create a predictive model for preservation by using GIS technology.

Coastal Carolina University, Center for Historical Studies (South Carolina)

$60,000

Horry and Georgetown Counties contain Revolutionary War and Civil War battlefield sites that will be identified and documented through this project. The findings of this project will be used to increase the awareness of battlefield sites in these two counties for future preservation planning efforts.

South Carolina Research Foundation $64,200

In 1865, the Union Army, led by General William T. Sherman, began a campaign to subdue South Carolina. Sherman’s army marched across the state fighting battles and skirmishes, disrupting rail traffic, and destroying property. This project will identify and document multiple battlefields, skirmish sites, and camps associated with this campaign to provide the South Carolina Civil War Sesquicentennial Advisory Board with baseline data for preservation.

Friends of Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park (Tennessee) $32,100 In 1863, the Federal Army ended Confederate control of Chattanooga, a vital transportation hub, after several key battles during the Campaign for Chattanooga. Building on the work of a GIS database developed with funding from a previous ABPP grant, this project will work toward preservation advocacy and consensus building among local planners, landowners, developers, and other stakeholders within the Chattanooga Battlefield boundaries.

Tennessee State Library and Archives $40,750

This statewide project will take a comprehensive GIS database of 38 Civil War sites and make it available online for federal, state, and local planning agencies and preservation organizations. The geospatial database with economic and demographic overlays will be accessible to the public on the web through the Tennessee GIS server. Greater access to historical information should lead to increased public interest.

University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost College $26,000 The Siege of Fort Brown during the U.S.-Mexican War highlighted traditional siege tactics and earthwork construction techniques, and featured numerous men who would assume important military leadership roles in subsequent battles in American history. This project will produce a cultural landscape inventory that will include GIS mapping, a historical overview, military terrain analysis, and an analysis of present conditions on the site.

St. Thomas Historical Trust (U.S. Virgin Islands) $44,500

In 1801, Fort Frederik participated in a battle with two British ships – the only well documented battle with an enemy force on St. Thomas, U.S.

Virgin Islands. This project will conduct an engineering study for the stabilization of ruins at Fort Frederik as it is threatened by frequent hurricanes and other natural forces. There will be documentation of Fort Frederik, the battle, and the ships, as well as an underwater survey of the adjacent seabed.

City of Burlington, Community and Economic Development Office (Vermont) $45,000 During Burlington’s engagement, the British were repelled and Thomas McDonough’s Fleet moored below the Burlington Battery. This project will delineate Burlington’s War of 1812 resources and develop an archeological management plan for Burlington Battlefield. Field techniques of archeology and GIS mapping were used during the completion of a previous ABPP grant project. This plan will assist the community to preserve and protect the battle remains discovered by that work.

Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation (Virginia) $61,500

This project will create a new battlefield preservation and planning website for the Shenandoah Valley Battlefields National Historic District and Shenandoah Valley Battlefields Foundation in preparation for the Civil War Sesquicentennial. The website will build awareness and support for the preservation of 15 battlefields in the Shenandoah Valley and will include a mapping application.

Shenandoah Valley Network (Virginia) $21,500

The goal of this advocacy project is to secure improved local zoning and planning in two Shenandoah Valley counties. This effort will preserve the rural character, agricultural base, and natural and historic resources on which the future of six nationally-significant Civil War battlefields depend. The project will include public outreach, GIS mapping depicting the impacts of proposed local ordinances, and technical support for preservation programs.

Stafford County (Virginia) $77,700

The Battle of Aquia Creek was one of the first naval engagements in the Civil War. Union vessels and Confederate batteries exchanged roughly 1,000 rounds over Aquia Landing, which was a pivotal gateway between the capital cities of Richmond, Virginia, and Washington, DC. This project will conduct an archeological survey that will include underwater archeology, and will produce a National Register nomination application.

Total $1,246,273

Related posts

• Parktips – January 2010 (2)
• Parktips – June 2010 (0)
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Parktips – June 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.

Habitat Protectors of Yosemite

(California) — Yosemite National Park is seeking volunteers for the weekly Habitat Protectors of Yosemite (HaPY) volunteer stewardship projects.

Volunteers work with Resources Management & Science Division staff on various projects on Wednesday mornings between Memorial Day and Labor Day.

The projects present a great opportunity for families to volunteer together and create memories while helping to manage the park’s resources. Please visit the HaPY webpage for more information:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/hapy.htm. Also for more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.

Learn to Play the Cajun Way

(Louisiana) — Free workshops in playing accordion, fiddle, and guitar Cajun-style, and in Cajun dance, will be offered by the Cajun French Music Association Acadiana Charter Chapter of Eunice at the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. The workshops will be at 7 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, June 1 through 17.

For more information, please consult www.nps.gov/jela or contact Kristy Wallisch at 504-589-3882 ext. 225.

Summer Night Cruise Tours of Liberty Island (New York) — On eight Thursday nights during June, July and August, Liberty Island will be open to the public. The evening tours will be on June 3 and 10; July 8, 15, and 22; and August 5, 12, and 19. There will be 1,200 tickets available for each night. Ticket prices include round-trip ferry transportation from Battery Park, a full dinner on Liberty Island, and interpretive programs offered on the island. Visitors can tour the grounds but will not be allowed into the statue. They may spend as long as two hours on Liberty Island but can return after one hour. In the event of inclement weather, the Ellis Island Immigration Museum will substitute for the Statue of Liberty National Monument. The National Park Service, Statue Cruises, and Evelyn Hill, Inc. are collaborating to offer this summer program. For more information, please contact Michael Burke of Statue Cruises at 551-655-0405 or Darren Boch of the National Park Service at 212-668-2252.

Arts-y & Craft-y Summer Fun

(Texas) — Join the staff of Chamizal National Memorial each summer month to explore different crafts from Mexico. Participants will learn basic concepts of art while delving into cultures south of the border. June’s craft is Huichol Yarn Art, which teaches an art lesson on lines. Sessions will be held on June 3 at 9:30 a.m., June 10 at 11 a.m., June 18 at 2:30 p.m., June 23 at 10 a.m., and June 29 at 1 p.m. All sessions are free of charge and offered on a first-come basis. For more information, please contact Michael Groomer at 915-532-7273 ext. 124.

Golden Anniversary of Bent’s Old Fort

(Colorado) — An opening reception on Friday, June 4, followed by a day (June 5) with speakers, living history demonstrations, a grand banquet, and a fandango in the plaza of the fort will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the law that established Bent’s Old Fort National Historic Site, which President Eisenhower signed on June 3, 1960. The event will commemorate the site’s transformation from ruins into one of the premiere living history sites in the United States. For a full schedule of events, please see the park’s website, www.nps.gov/beol. For more information, please contact Rick Wallner at 719-383-5024 or Greg Holt at 719-383-5023.

National Trails Day

(Nationwide) — June 5 is National Trails Day. Events include guided hikes affording breathtaking views at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park (11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Lower Town). From 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Valley Forge National Historical Park’s Betzwood Picnic Area, visitors can hike along the River Trail, participate in educational clinics and fitness assessments, view partner exhibits, and more. The activities at Valley Forge are free and open to the public. For more information about events at Harpers Ferry, please contact Marsha Wassel at 304-535-6748. For more information about events at Valley Forge, please contact Ernestine White at 610-783-5384 or Ernestine_White@nps.gov. For more information about National Trails Day, please contact Elise Cleva at 202-208-6843 or Elise_M_Cleva@nps.gov.

Grand Opening—Victory Woods Trail

(New York) — On Saturday, June 5 at 11a.m., join National Park Service staff at Saratoga Monument for an opening ceremony and a guided walk along the new one-mile Victory Woods Trail in Saratoga National Historical Park.

The new trail features a universally accessible boardwalk. Light refreshments and presentations by community organizations will be offered at the grand opening between noon and 1:30 p.m. For more information, please contact Gina Johnson at 518-664-9821 ext. 227 or gina_johnson@nps.gov.

Ride, and Remember the Trail of Tears

(Arkansas) — Park rangers from Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site will lead bicycle tours along the Trail of Tears (on the Arkansas River Trail) on June 5 and June 19. The tours begin at 10 a.m. on the Arkansas River Trail by the Trail of Tears exhibits in Riverfront Park.

Little Rock and North Little Rock formed a major stop during the removal of American Indians, via the Trail of Tears, from the East to what is now Oklahoma. On the bicycle tours, ranger-guides will speak about the origin of the trail, the methods of travel, the conditions during removal, and slavery on the trail in Arkansas. For more information, please contact Laura Miller at 501-374-1957.

Wildflower Eruption

(Idaho) — Witness the annual eruption of spring blooms on a ranger-guided hike through the volcanic wonderland of Craters of the Moon National Monument and Preserve. June is the peak of the wildflower season at Craters of the Moon, and special walks will be offered on Saturdays, June 5, 12, and 19. June is also the start of the daily schedule of ranger-guided activities. Visit http://www.nps.gov/crmo/planyourvisit/events.htm for details. For more information, please contact Ted Stout at 208-527-1330.

Grand Opening of Western Arctic Parklands Visitor Center

(Alaska) — Western Arctic Parklands will celebrate the opening of its new visitor center on June 5 in Kotzebue. The center hosts exhibits and cultural demonstrations by local residents and orients visitors to the four park areas it serves: Bering Land Bridge, Cape Krusenstern, Noatak, and Kobuk Valley. The opening day activities will include children’s programs, Native dancers, a community supper, and presentations in the theater. For more information, please contact John Quinley at 907-644-3512.

Get Back to the American Revolution at Cowpens National Battlefield (South Carolina) — Cowpens National Battlefield will hold several special events in June, all of which are free and open to the public. On June 5 and 6, participants in the 1st Maryland—Southern Campaign reenacting unit will present a living history weekend. These re-enactors, who portray Maryland Continental Soldiers during the Southern Campaign of the American Revolution, will demonstrate how soldiers lived in the 18th century. On Saturday, June 12, the South Carolina Independent Rangers will demonstrate musket and rifle firing at 10:15 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m.

The Independent Rangers portray Revolutionary War backwoods militia and demonstrate military and civilian life in the 18th century in the South Carolina backcountry. On June 27, the park will have volunteers demonstrating a variety of historical or hands-on activities at the Robert Scruggs House from 1:30 to 4 p.m. For more information, please contact Donna Davis at 864-461-2828.

Party with the Stars

(Arizona) — The 20th annual Grand Canyon Star Party will be held from Saturday, June 5 through Saturday, June 12 on the South and North rims of the eponymous feature of Grand Canyon National Park. Amateur astronomers from across the country will volunteer their expertise. Free slide programs will be offered, and numerous telescopes will be set up to view planets, star clusters, nebulae, and galaxies at night, and the sun by day. For more information, please contact Public Affairs Specialist Shannan Marcak at 928-638-7958.

Summer Saturdays Return to Federal Hall

(New York) — Summer Saturdays are back by popular demand. Federal Hall National Memorial will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the following days:

June 5, 12, 19, and 26; July 3, 10, 17, 24, and 31; and August 7, 14, 21, and 28. This summer, the National Park Service teams up with the National Parks of New York Harbor Conservancy to offer the guided audio walking tour New York Freedom Trail. The tour will be offered at 11 a.m. each Saturday.

To learn more about the New York Freedom Trail, please visit www.nyharborparks.org. For all other information regarding Summer Saturdays, please call 212-668-2208 or e-mail mindi_rambo@nps.gov.

A Landscape Gardener’s Time in Maine

(New York) — On Sunday, June 6 at 2 p.m., renowned landscape architect Patrick Chassé will give an illustrated talk entitled “The Maine Work of Beatrix Farrand.” He will discuss the landscape gardener’s life and work in Maine from her childhood through her retirement at Garland Farm. The lecture covers a number of private commissions that are rarely seen by the public. The talk, one of the Bellefield Design Lectures, will be held in the Henry A. Wallace Visitor Center, located at the Home of Franklin D.

Roosevelt National Historic Site and the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum. The lecture will be followed by a garden party at Bellefield (a house from the 1700s that now provides workspace for the National Park Service) amid hundreds of peonies in bloom. Heirloom plants, books, and garden treasures will be on sale at the party. The fee for the lecture is $30 per person and $25 for members of the Beatrix Farrand Garden Association & Garden Conservancy. For more information, please call

845-229-9115 ext. 26.

Grand Opening of New Exhibits at Hampton

(Maryland) — One of the oldest buildings in Hampton National Historic Site will soon boast new exhibits. The lower house, which sits among surviving farm buildings, was first constructed in the mid-1700s. It will re-open with brand new interpretive exhibits on June 10. With these exhibits and other efforts, the National Park Service is trying to diversify the stories told at Hampton National Historic Site, which was once part of a 25,000-acre estate owned by the Ridgely family. The public is invited to attend the grand opening of the exhibits on Thursday, June 10 between 5:30 p.m. and 7 p.m. For more information, please contact Hampton National Historic Site at 410-823-1309 ext. 251.

Science Café

(Texas) — Come join the fun at Beaumont’s first Science Café from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on June 10 at Sertinos Café (5657 Eastex Freeway, Beaumont). Dr.

Paul Tinerella will present a five-minute PowerPoint presentation on aquatic truebugs, followed by a five-to-10-minute talk. The evening will conclude with a 20-minute group discussion. Begun in Europe in the early 1990s, science cafés offer a relaxed forum for the exchange of scientific ideas. Anyone can come to this friendly setting to sharpen his or her knowledge of the modern sciences. No reservation is required. For more information, please contact Leslie Dubey of Big Thicket National Preserve at 409-951-6700 or leslie_dubey@nps.gov, or Linda Brindle at 936-274-1181 or Director@bigthicket.org.

White Sands Institute

(New Mexico) — White Sands National Monument and New Mexico State University—Alamogordo (NMSUA) are teaming up to offer two field seminars focused on New Mexico’s extraordinary White Sands. In “New Discoveries! The Moths of White Sands” (June 11 to 12), participants can set traps and make their own discoveries. Join entomologist Eric Metzler for this exciting field class and learn about the 14 species of moths that have been recently discovered at the White Sands and the moths’ amazing adaptations to this unique environment. Friday evening will include setting moth traps.

Saturday morning will hold a collection of the traps and a wrap-up lecture.

On June 18, postdoctoral researcher Jeanne Robertson will teach “Evolution in Black & White: White Lizards at White Sands.” Robertson is a biologist specializing in animal adaptations. Students can participate in supervised hands-on activities during this field lecture at White Sands National Monument. Dr. Robertson will present both indoor and outdoor lectures about the current research in animal adaptations presently occurring at White Sands. Each seminar costs $55 per person. For more information or to register, please call Community Education at NMSUA at 575-439-3842 or send an e-mail to commed@nmsua.nmsu.edu.

Big Thicket National Preserve Biodiversity Day

(Texas) — Celebrate Biodiversity Day at Big Thicket National Preserve.

Learn more about the biodiversity of Big Thicket and the on-going All Taxa Biodiversity Inventory (ATBI) of the national preserve. The activities begin on Friday, June 11 with night walks and continue on Saturday, June 12 with seminars, demonstrations, scientist-led field trips, and other events.

Saturday events will meet at the Field Research Station in Saratoga. The Friday night walks will be by reservation only, and attendees will meet at a designated location. Space will be limited; make your reservations early.

For more information, please contact Leslie Dubey at 409-951-6700 or leslie_dubey@nps.gov, or Linda Brindle at 936-274-1181 or Director@bigthicket.org.

Species Count … Can You?

(New York) — Come to Gateway National Recreation Area’s Jamaica Bay Unit from 3 p.m. June 11 to 3 p.m. June 12 to measure the health of one of the most important urban national parks. Work closely with teams of scientists and naturalists as part of BioBlitz 2010. A BioBlitz is part contest (racing against a 24-hour clock), part educational event, and part scientific endeavor. By observing as many plants and animals as you can, you’ll help to create a snapshot of the biodiversity and wildlife in our own backyard. To register to participate in the scientific survey or related public programs, please visit http://jamaicabay.ciesin.columbia.edu/bioblitz. For other information, please call 718-354-4607 or e-mail jane_ahern@nps.gov.

Experience Colonial Life with St. Paul’s Church (New York) — Join the staff of St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site for colonial music, dancing, crafts, games, and arms from noon to 4 p.m. on June 12. There will also be special tours of the church’s bell tower and of the colonial section of the cemetery, and a recital on the historic pipe organ. For more information, please call 212-668-2208 or e-mail mindi_rambo@nps.gov.

Ride the Rockies

(Colorado) — Colorado National Monument will be Day One for “Ride the Rockies,” a major cycling tour sponsored by the Denver Post that changes routes annually. More than 2,400 cyclists will ride historic Rim Rock Drive on Sunday, June 13 as their Day One ride.

The tour last rode in the Monument in 2005. Cycling has dramatically increased at Colorado NM since that time. The park sees approximately 15,000 cyclists annually, with more each year. The website www.nps.gov/colm offers additional information for cyclists regarding the nature of Rim Rock Drive, the three unlighted tunnels, and the necessity of lights on bicycles going through the Monument’s tunnels. For more information, please contact Joan Anzelmo, Superintendent of Colorado National Monument, at 970-858-3617 ext. 301.

“Sunday Concerts in the Park”

(California) — The concert series kicks off at Peter Strauss Ranch on June

13 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. Come out for an afternoon of rousing music and family fun! Join Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area and Topanga Banjo and Fiddle for an afternoon of Southern California bluegrass, old-time, and folk music in the mountains. The free concert series will continue throughout July, August, and September. For more information, please contact Lauren Newman at 805-370-2343 or lauren_newman@nps.gov.

“Barking Up a Tree” at Biscayne National Park Gallery

(Florida) — Close-up photography of the patterns and textures of some of South Florida’s trees will be on view at Biscayne National Park’s Dante Fascell Visitor Center Gallery from May 24 through August 22. A “Meet the Artists” reception slated for Sunday, June 13 from 1 to 3 p.m. will feature a talk by the artists as well as refreshments. While searching for national champion trees (the largest of their species in the United States), South Florida naturalist Bob Showler began to notice the special qualities of each tree’s bark. He teamed up with photographer Tim Taylor to produce this unusual exhibit, titled “Barking Up a Tree.” For more information, please contact Ranger Gary Bremen at 305-230-1144 ext. 007.

Public Archeology

(California) — From June 14 to 23, members of the public can help the National Park Service conduct archeological investigations and stabilization of World War II-era landscaping at Manzanar National Historic Site. Volunteers can work at Merritt Park, the largest internee-built landscape feature remaining at any of the country’s 10 World War II relocation centers. There will also be archeological jobs within the residential blocks at Manzanar, at the sites of gardens created by internees. For more information, please contact Manzanar Volunteer Program Manager Carrie Andresen at 760-878-2194 ext. 2714 or Carrie_Andresen@nps.gov.

LEED and Historic Buildings Training

(Louisiana) — The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training

(NCPTT) is partnering with the Louisiana National Guard to provide training to National Guard members from across the country on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system. NCPTT will also help identify ways in which the National Guard can incorporate sustainability and energy efficiency into its buildings. The training is scheduled for June 14 to 18 at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans. For more information, please contact Andy Ferrell at 318-356-7444 or Andrew_Ferrell@nps.gov.

Science Month

(Texas) — In June (Science Month), Chamizal National Memorial is offering two workshops for teachers about science and the memorial. “The Science of Sustainability” (June 15, 9 a.m. to noon) covers the topics of recycling, renewable and non-renewable resources, the wise use of lab materials, and the National Park Service’s focus on sustainability. “All About Earth Science” (June 16, 9 a.m. to noon) will help teachers incorporate new Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) standards in a field trip to Chamizal National Memorial. Each workshop is free of charge and limited to 25 participants. Chamizal is CPE-certified, and all teachers from Texas will earn three Continuing Professional Education (CPE) credits for attending each of these sessions. For more information, please contact Michael Groomer at 915-532-7273 ext. 124.

“Views & Visitors: the Yosemite Experience in the 19th Century”

(California) — This exhibit, featuring paintings, prints, artifacts, and ephemera from Yosemite National Park’s early years, will be on display this summer in the Yosemite Museum gallery. Photographs and paintings of visitors and the landscape, early publications and memorabilia, historic hotel registers, and the Grand Register of the Cosmopolitan will be on view. The exhibit, made possible by a grant from The Yosemite Conservancy, includes an interactive kiosk featuring entries from the Cosmopolitan Register and a digital slideshow of historic views of Yosemite visitors and hotels. The opening reception on June 15 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. is open to the public. The exhibit will be open from June 16 to September 30 daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; and from October 1 to 31 daily from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. For more information, please contact Barbara Beroza, Curator of Collections at Yosemite National Park, at 209-372-0297.

Horse Sense and Survival

(North Carolina) — Cape Lookout National Seashore’s first wild horse tour of the 2010 season will be on Wednesday, June 16. Trips in the Horse Sense and Survival program are walking tours following the wild Banker horses of Shackleford Banks. Join Dr. Sue Stuska, a wildlife biologist who specializes in horses, for a day-long walking trip. Dr. Stuska’s intimate knowledge of the horses makes for an exciting and enlightening glimpse into the relationships, family bonds, behavior, and daily life of these animals.

For more information, please contact Wouter Ketel at 252-728-2250 ext.

3005.

Lectures, Lunch, and Lemonade

(Pennsylvania) — The Friends of Valley Forge Park’s Lunch and Learn Series begins June 16. The talks take place in Valley Forge National Historical Park’s Education Center on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m., according to the following schedule. June 16: “The Philadelphia Campaign” * June 23:

“Carpenter’s Hall” * June 30: “Archaeology,” for which Joe Blondine will be the guest speaker. Participants should bring their own brown bag lunches.

Lemonade will be provided. For more information, please contact Kimberly Szewczyk at 610-783-1014 or Kimberly_Szewczyk@nps.gov.

Anniversaries—Bunker Hill and Now We Are Enemies

(Massachusetts) — On June 17, American History Press will publish a 50th anniversary edition of Now We Are Enemies: The Story of Bunker Hill by the distinguished historian of the American Revolution Thomas Fleming.

Originally published in 1960, the book launched Fleming’s writing career and is still considered the most complete account of the battle that took place on June 17, 1775. On Wednesday, June 16, 2010, Mr. Fleming will make an appearance at the Battle of Bunker Hill Museum in Charlestown for a reading and a book signing. On Thursday, June 17, he will be a guest at the official ceremony commemorating the 235th anniversary of the battle at the Bunker Hill Monument in Boston National Historical Park. For more information, please contact Sean Hennessey, Public Affairs Officer, at

617-242-5616 or sean_hennessey@nps.gov.

Celebrate Juneteenth with the National Parks of New York Harbor (New York) — On Juneteenth (June 19, 1865), General Gordon Granger brought news of the Emancipation, and a force of Union soldiers, to Texas roughly three years after Abraham Lincoln declared American slaves free on September 22, 1862. This year marks the 145th anniversary of that day, when the Civil War ended in Texas and slavery with it. New York is among the 31 states that recognize Juneteenth as a holiday. Join the National Park Service on June 19 to celebrate this important date. African Burial Ground National Monument will mark the day with a special talk by Dr. Joy DeGruy on the history and significance of Juneteenth at 11 a.m. Nicola and Rufus James will lead a presentation of poetry, music, and dialogue commemorating the official end of slavery in America at Castle Clinton National Monument at 1 p.m. For more information, please call 212-668-2208 or e-mail mindi_rambo@nps.gov.

Governors Island to Celebrate Army Heritage Day (New York) — Discover more than 150 years of army history at Governors Island National Monument on June 19. National Park Service rangers, the 319 th U.S. Army Band, Revolutionary and Civil War living historians, and members of today’s military will provide re-enactments, children’s programming, musical demonstrations, and lectures that pay tribute to army life on Governors Island. For more information, please visit www.nps.gov/gois, call 212-668-2208, or e-mail mindi_rambo@nps.gov.

March-Out of the Continental Army Commemoration

(Pennsylvania) — To honor those soldiers who left Valley Forge and went on to secure our nation’s independence, interpreters from the Oneida Indian Nation, park rangers, and volunteers will host a living history encampment at the Muhlenberg Brigade huts at Valley Forge National Historical Park on Saturday, June 19. The encampment will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Cannon firings are scheduled for 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. The encampment is free and open to the public. For more information, please contact William Troppman at 610-783-1075 or William_Troppman@nps.gov.

Second Translocation of Endangered Fish

(Arizona) — On June 23, the National Park Service, in conjunction with the Bureau of Reclamation, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and the U.S.

Fish and Wildlife Service, will move an additional 300 juvenile humpback chub to Shinumo Creek in Grand Canyon National Park. The multi-year translocation experiment began in 2009 with the successful translocation of 300 juvenile humpback chub to Shinumo Creek. The second translocation will augment the humpback chub population in the creek and provide an opportunity for rearing humpback chub in a natural environment outside of the Little Colorado River. For more information, please contact Maureen Oltrogge, Public Affairs Officer, at 928-638-7779.

“Get Dirty After Dark”

(Pennsylvania) — Calling Young Friends of Valley Forge Park for an exclusive event! Come “get dirty after dark.” At Washington’s Headquarters on Thursday, June 24 from 6 to 8:30 p.m., you can learn about archeology from Temple University’s archeological field school leaders, try your hand at finding artifacts, and feast on a Pig Daddy’s Southern BBQ picnic. For more information, please contact Graham Dellinger at vfyoungfriends@gmail.com

Full Moon Hike

(New Mexico) — Have you ever wondered what gypsum dunes look like under the glow of the moon? Join a ranger for the June Full Moon Hike at White Sands National Monument and see the dunes in a whole new light. The hike is scheduled for 8 p.m. on Friday, June 25. Reservations are required and can only be made via www.nps.gov/whsa. Reservations will be accepted starting two weeks in advance of the scheduled hike, which is limited to 30 participants. Although the hike is free, entrance fees at the monument apply. For more information, please contact John Mangimeli at 505-679-2599 ext. 230.

Music by Moonlight

(New Mexico) — Cowboy singer/musician Skip Gorman and Celtic singer and poet Connie Dover will combine their down-deep, heartfelt interpretations of the traditional music of the American West, Ireland, and Scotland under the brilliant light of the full moon on Saturday, June 26 at 8:30 p.m.

Their performance is part of Full Moon Nights Summer 2010 at White Sands National Monument. Full Moon Nights are held in the monument’s amphitheater and are free, although the monument’s entrance fees of $3.00 per person 16 years and older apply. For more information, please contact John Mangimeli at 505-679-2599 ext. 230.

Lake Lucero Tour, 5 p.m., Saturday, June 26 (New Mexico) — Take a tour to Lake Lucero, part of White Sands National Monument, with a ranger and learn about the formation of the white sands.

These three-hour tours to the playa (dry lakebed) of Lake Lucero are offered once a month, and reservations are required. The tour fee is $3.00 per adult (16 years and older) and $1.50 for children and America the Beautiful Senior and Access pass holders. Please call 575-679-2599 ext. 236 for reservations. For more information, please contact John Mangimeli at

505-679-2599 ext. 230.

Ninth Annual Don Redman Jazz Heritage Concert and Awards (West Virginia) — Enjoy a free concert featuring Harold Mabern and Mickey Roker with the Howard Burns Quartet on June 26 at 6 p.m. The venue is Camp Hill at Mather Training Center, Harpers Ferry National Historical Park. For more information, please contact Marsha Wassel at 304-535-6748 or Marsha_Wassel@nps.gov.

“A Revolutionary War-Era Panel Discussion”

(Pennsylvania) — Join George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and Benjamin Franklin for “A Revolutionary War-Era Panel Discussion” on Saturday, June

26 at 7 p.m. This event, which closes the Friends of Valley Forge Park and Washington Memorial Chapel’s lecture series, will take place in the theater at Valley Forge National Historical Park. For more information, please contact Nancy Loane at nancyloane@comcast.net.

A Change in Climate that Touches Wyoming

(Wyoming) — Grand Teton National Park will host an informative program about global climate change on June 30 at 9 p.m. in the Colter Bay Amphitheater. National Weather Service Meteorologist Arthur Meunier will talk about large-scale changes in weather and describe how those global changes may affect the plants, animals, and other resources of Grand Teton National Park and Wyoming. Meunier will provide educational background and share interesting weather-related photos during a PowerPoint presentation.

For more information, please contact Jackie Skaggs at 307-739-3393 or Bobbie Visnovske at 307-739-3431.

Help for Communities from RTCA

(Nationwide) — Is someone in your community trying to protect local rivers, save an unspoiled landscape, or build trails to help others enjoy nature? Through the Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) program, the National Park Service provides staff who can guide communities in conserving waterways, preserving open space, and developing trails and greenways. Applications for the next round of technical assistance can be submitted until August 1. Potential applicants should discuss their project ideas with RTCA staff in their area before submitting an application.

Please visit www.nps.gov/rtca for complete information and the application.

For more information, please contact Elise Cleva at 202-208-6843 or Elise_M_Cleva@nps.gov.

“Grand Canyon’s Green Heart: The Unsung Legacy of Plants”

(Arizona) — Although better known for its grand vistas and geologic wonders than for its botanical riches, the Grand Canyon is home to more plants than any other national park and to nearly half of all the plants that grow in Arizona. Often beautiful, sometimes treacherous, plants transform sunlight into energy and thus serve as the basis for all animal life on Earth. A special exhibition opening at Kolb Studio in Grand Canyon National Park introduces the fascinating world of canyon plants and the botanists who have studied and protected them, and celebrates the art of botanical illustration. “Grand Canyon’s Green Heart: the Unsung Legacy of Plants” can be seen at Kolb Studio, July 2 through August 31. For more information, please contact Vegetation Program Manager Lori Makarick at 928-638-7455.

Fourth-Grade Quilts Tour National Parks of Kansas

(Kansas) — National Park Service rangers and local quilting guilds helped fourth-grade students learn how stories are told through quilts. The five national parks in Kansas, local elementary schools, and quilting guilds within each park community collaborated on the project “Building Common Ground Through the Quilts of Many Hands,” which is funded by a National Park Foundation grant. After visiting their local park, students composed essays describing quilt blocks that they would make and the stories, relating to the school’s local park, that the blocks represent. Each student then designed and produced a 12-inch quilt block with the assistance of local quilt guilds and park rangers. Once the blocks were complete, the guilds helped the students complete the quilts. From May 28 through August 4, the quilts will go on tour and be displayed at each of the five National Park Service sites in Kansas. Visitors can vote on their favorite quilt. All participating students will receive prizes; however, the quilt receiving the most votes will be awarded a grand prize and honored with a formal presentation at the winning school in September. The schedule for the quilt tour follows.

Fort Larned National Historic Site: May 28 through June 9 Tallgrass Prairie National Preserve: June 11 through 23

Fort Scott National Historic Site June 25 through July 7

Brown v. Board of Education NHS: July 9 through 21

Nicodemus National Historic Site: July 23 through August 4

For more information, please contact Mark Weaver at 785-839-4321.

Manzanar Launches Virtual Museum of Artifacts and Archives

(California) — The National Park Service (NPS) has launched a “virtual museum” highlighting more than 200 items from Manzanar National Historic Site’s collection. These items reflect Manzanar’s past: centuries of Owens Valley Paiute life; the ranching and farming era; the confinement of 11,070 Japanese Americans during World War II; later pilgrimages; and the eventual establishment of Manzanar National Historic Site. Most of the items featured online have never been seen by the public. In addition to artifacts, artwork, documents, and photos, the museum includes a virtual tour, oral history interview clips, photo slideshows, and “Teaching with Museum Collections” lesson plans. The virtual museum—the 41st to be created by the National Park Service—may be found at http://www.nps.gov/history/museum/exhibits/manz/index.html. To explore other NPS virtual museums, visit www.nps.gov/history/museum. For more information, please contact Alisa Lynch at 760-878-2194 ext. 2711.

Experts Prepare for Possible Threat to Cultural Resources on Gulf Coast

(Louisiana) — Representatives of the National Center for Preservation Technology and Training (NCPTT) and colleagues from other branches of the National Park Service discussed how to respond to possible effects of the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico on cultural resources. Over 120 National Register properties, including 15 National Historic Landmarks, are located along the Gulf Coast from Texas to the Florida Keys. Areas of concern include porous masonry materials and shipwrecks. The NCPTT’s Kirk Cordell and Mary Striegel worked with representatives of the National Capital Region of the Park Service and the University of Texas, Austin, to draft advice for mitigating oil damage to Fort Massachusetts. For more information, please contact Mary F. Striegel, Chief of Materials Research, at 318-356-7444 or mary_striegel@nps.gov.

See What’s “Now in Bloom” in Yosemite

(California) — Follow a new Yosemite National Park feature called “Now in Bloom,” which offers a weekly bloom list. Learn more about Yosemite wildflower walks at http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/wildflower-walks.htm and common wildflower species at http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/common-wildflowers.htm. See the “Now in Bloom” webpage, http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/bloom.htm. For more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.

International Visitors to Yosemite: 1 in 4

(California) — The 2009 Visitor Use Survey found that international visitors came to Yosemite National Park from 33 countries and comprised about 25% of total visitation. In other words, visitors from other countries accounted for about 1 million of the park’s nearly 4 million visitors. Of the international visitors, 14% were from the United Kingdom, 13% from Germany, 11% from France, and 11% from Belgium. Eighty-eight percent defined their race as white; 11% as Asian; one percent as black; and one percent as Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander. Please see http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/visitor-use.htm. For more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.

Sierra Nevada: Impacts of Fire Management on Carbon Stocks

(California) — Two Sierra Nevada national parks plan to assess the impacts of fire management on carbon stocks. Yosemite National Park and Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks, through collaborations with the U.S.

Geological Survey, the Western Ecological Research Center, and university partners, have initiated research to quantify and understand both the

short- and long-term effects of fire on forest carbon stocks. The 2010 climate-related project aims to gather quantitative data on the amount and resiliency of carbon in places where pre-settlement fire regimes have been restored versus areas where they have not yet been restored, and to create project-scale maps of park carbon stocks, including maps of areas at risk from fire. For more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.

If These Stones Could Speak, They’d Say, “Thank You!”

(Louisiana) — The National Center for Preservation Technology and Training

(NCPTT) is developing and testing new polymers for use in conserving stone.

NCPTT is also developing a nanotechnology-based stone conservation system that is quicker to place and more reliable than current treatments. For more information, please contact Mary F. Striegel, Chief of Materials Research, at 318-356-7444 or mary_striegel@nps.gov.

Stop Invasive Didymo from Spreading in Yosemite

(California) — Recreationists, including fishermen, can spread a freshwater alga called Didymo (Didymosphenia geminata) from one body of water to another in Yosemite National Park. Didymo results in massive blooms that carpet streambeds. Called “rock snot” due to its slimy appearance, this alga historically occurred in cool, low-nutrient waters in North America. Its ecological niche has recently expanded to include a wide range of water temperatures and nutrient levels. Didymo has been documented in several locations along the Tuolumne River, including locations in Yosemite National Park below the O’Shaughnessy Dam. The alga can produce thick mats that make swimming, fishing, and other water-based activities undesirable. Recreational equipment and clothing can become contaminated and encourage the spread of Didymo if not cleaned properly.

See

http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/upload/Didymo-fact-sheet-04-10.pdf

and http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/fish.htm%0b. For more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.

Yosemite to Study Sky-Island Flora

(California) — In 2010, 2011, and 2012, staff at Yosemite National Park will conduct a botanical inventory of the park’s sky-island floras. These specialized plant communities occupy dry, cold plateaus at the crest of the Sierra Nevada from Yosemite south to Sequoia-Kings Canyon. The plants are highly vulnerable to the drying and warming predicted by many climate forecast models. Data from this project will assist park managers in protecting resources. For more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 13, 2010

Contact: Gerry Gaumer (202) 208-6843

Kara Miyagishima (303) 969-2885

$3 million for WWII Japanese American Confinement Sites

National Park Service Grants Fund Preservation Efforts

Washington — The National Park Service (NPS) has awarded 23 grants totaling

$2.9 million to help preserve and interpret historic locations, where

Japanese Americans were detained during World War II.

In the program’s second year, the Japanese American Confinement Sites

Grants will help fund projects in a dozen states, including the restoration

of a historic railroad depot in Arkansas that will house an exhibit about

that state’s two confinement sites, and an educational outreach program to

engage youth in preserving confinement sites through art, conversation, and

community service.

“The Japanese American internment experience is an important chapter in

American history,” said NPS Director Jon Jarvis. “The National Park

Service is honored to be part of this shared effort to preserve these

sites, which are a tragic reminder of a shameful episode in our past, and a

compelling lesson on the fragility of our constitutional rights.”

The NPS grants range from $17,295 to re-establish the historic Honor Roll

at the Minidoka National Historic Site in Jerome County, ID (which

commemorates Japanese American servicemen from that camp) to $832,879 to

build the interior of the Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center in

Park County, WY. Also receiving grants are a project to develop plans to

rebuild a guard tower at the Granada Relocation Center (Amache) in

southeastern Colorado, the relocation and rehabilitation of a historic

barrack from the Colorado River Relocation Center (Poston) in Arizona, and

several oral history projects. Although the matching funds support

preservation and interpretation work in 12 states, some of the projects are

national in scope. These include a plan to create a reference and resource

website that will hold research materials and curricula on the history of

the camps.

Congress established the Japanese American Confinement Sites grant program

in 2006 to preserve and interpret

the places where Japanese Americans were sequestered after Japan attacked

Pearl Harbor. The law authorizes up

to $38 million in grants for the life of the program to identify, research,

evaluate, interpret, protect, restore, repair, and acquire historic

confinement sites. The program aims to teach and inspire present and future

generations about the injustice of the World War II confinement and

demonstrate the nation’s commitment since then to equal justice under the

law.

Congress appropriated $3 million for grants in the current fiscal year.

They were awarded in a competitive process, matching $2 in federal money

for every $1 in non-federal funds and “in-kind” contributions raised by

groups working to preserve the sites and their histories. Congress

appropriated $1 million for fiscal year 2009, the first year of the grants.

Locations eligible for the grants include the 10 War Relocation Authority

camps that were set up in 1942 in seven states: Gila River and Poston, AZ;

Amache, CO; Heart Mountain, WY; Jerome and Rohwer, AR; Manzanar and Tule

Lake, CA; Minidoka, ID, and Topaz, UT. Also eligible are more than 40 other

locations in 16 states, including civilian and military-run assembly,

relocation and isolation centers.

Following are brief descriptions of the funded projects. Those marked with

an asterisk (*) indicate that the applicant is from one state and the

project relates to a confinement site in another.

Arizona

*Under California, see Japanese American Citizens League, Pacific Southwest District project, Passing the Legacy Down: Youth Interpretations of Confinement Sites in the Western United States.

*Also under California, see Poston Community Alliance project, Poston Preservation Project—Barrack Relocation and Rehabilitation.

Arkansas

Arkansas State University

Jonesboro, AR

Rohwer Relocation Camp Interpretive Project Rohwer Relocation Center, Desha County, AR

$100,502

McGehee Industrial Foundation

McGehee, AR

Jerome-Rohwer Visitor & Interpretation Facility Rohwer Relocation Center, Desha County, AR Jerome Relocation Center, Chicot and Drew Counties, AR

$419,967

*Under Hawaii, see the University of Hawaii, Center for Oral History project, Unspoken Memories: Oral Histories of Hawaii Internees at Jerome, Arkansas.

California

Friends of Manzanar

Independence, CA

Oral History and Research for Enhanced Interpretation and Education at Manzanar Demonstration Block 14 Manzanar Relocation Center, Inyo County, CA

$58,833

Japanese American Citizens League, Pacific Southwest District Los Angeles, CA Passing the Legacy Down: Youth Interpretations of Confinement Sites in the Western United States Manzanar Relocation Center, Inyo County, CA Tule Lake Relocation Center (Tule Lake Segregation Center), Modoc County, CA Colorado River Relocation Center (Poston), La Paz County, AZ Minidoka Relocation Center, Jerome County, ID $151,790

Japanese American National Museum

Los Angeles, CA

Nisei Oral History Project

Multiple sites, counties and states

$42,573

Japanese American National Museum

Los Angeles, CA

Toward Justice for All: Exhibit Planning Multiple sites, counties and states

$75,713

Poston Community Alliance

Lafayette, CA

Poston Preservation Project—Barrack Relocation and Rehabilitation Colorado River Relocation Center (Poston), La Paz, County, AZ $31,000

*Under Oregon, see Klamath County Friends of the Library project, Breaking the Silence: The Power of Remembering, Oral Histories of Tule Lake Internees

Colorado

Colorado Preservation, Inc.

Denver, CO

Building Stock Research and Inventory Related to the Granada Relocation Center (Amache) Granada Relocation Center (Amache), Prowers County, CO

$20,093

Colorado Preservation, Inc.

Denver, CO

Water Tower Rehabilitation and Reconstruction Plan at Granada Relocation Center (Amache) Granada Relocation Center (Amache), Prowers County, CO

$37,327

National Trust for Historic Preservation Denver, CO Granada Relocation Center (Amache) Guard Tower Reconstruction Plan Granada Relocation Center (Amache), Prowers County, CO $34,980

District of Colombia

National Japanese American Memorial Foundation Washington, DC Recruitment and Training of Volunteer Docents for National Japanese American Memorial Foundation Multiple sites, counties and states

$38,909

Hawaii

Japanese Cultural Center of Hawaii

Honolulu, HI

Hawai’i Confinement Sites Educational Documentary Honouliuli Internment Camp, Honolulu County, HI Sand Island Detention Camp, Honolulu County, HI Kilauea Military Camp, Hawai’i County, HI Kalaheo Stockade, Kauai County, HI Haiku Camp, Maui County, HI

$117,626

University of Hawaii, Center for Oral History Honolulu, HI Unspoken Memories: Oral Histories of Hawaii Internees at Jerome, Arkansas Jerome Relocation Center, Chicot and Drew Counties, AR $29,080

University of Hawaii, West O’ahu

Honolulu, HI

Multidisciplinary Research and Education at Honouliuli Internment Camp, Phase 2 Honouliuli Internment Camp, Honolulu County, HI $ 98,544

Idaho

Friends of Minidoka

Twin Falls, ID

Minidoka Honor Roll

Minidoka Relocation Center, Jerome County, ID

$17,295

*Under California, see Japanese American Citizens League, Pacific Southwest District project, Passing the Legacy Down: Youth Interpretations of Confinement Sites in the Western United States.

*Under Washington, see Wing Luke Memorial Foundation / Wing Luke Asian Museum project, First Person Stories Revealed: Historic Materials from Minidoka Preserved through the Higo Ten Cent Store.

Massachusetts

University of Massachusetts Boston

Boston, MA

From Confinement to College: Video Oral Histories of Japanese American Students in World War II Multiple sites, counties and states

$68,852

Oregon

Klamath County Friends of the Library

Klamath Falls, OR

Breaking the Silence: The Power of Remembering, Oral Histories of Tule Lake Internees Tule Lake Relocation Center (Tule Lake Segregation Center), Modoc County, CA $55,000

Texas

Friends of the Texas Historical Commission, Inc.

Austin, TX

Japanese Confinement Sites in Texas: An Untold Cultural Legacy of World War II Kenedy Internment Camp, Karnes County, TX Seagoville Internment Camp, Dallas County, TX Fort Sam Houston Internment Camp, Bexar County, TX Fort Bliss Internment Camp, El Paso County, TX

$20,167

Washington

Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Bainbridge Island, WA Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Bainbridge Island/Eagledale Ferry Dock, Kitsap County, WA

$182,725

Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project Seattle, WA Japanese American Confinement: Reference and Resource Website Multiple sites, counties and states

$166,145

Densho: The Japanese American Legacy Project Seattle, WA Stories Less Told Part II: Video Oral Histories of the Japanese American Incarceration Multiple sites, counties and states $210,000

Wing Luke Memorial Foundation / Wing Luke Asian Museum Seattle, WA First Person Stories Revealed: Historic Materials from Minidoka Preserved through the Higo Ten Cent Store Minidoka Relocation Center, Jerome County, ID $100,000

Wyoming

Heart Mountain, Wyoming Foundation

Powell, WY

Heart Mountain Interpretive Learning Center (Interior Build-Out) Heart Mountain Relocation Center, Park County, WY

$832,879

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For Immediate Release

Contact: Sue Husari, sue_husari@nps.gov (510) 817-1320

Point Reyes Superintendent Named

Seasoned Professional to Lead National Seashore

WASHINGTON – National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis today announced

Cicely Muldoon as the new superintendent of Point Reyes National Seashore

in northern California. She will report to the park in mid-May.

“Cicely brings an incredible mix of professional expertise, creativity, and

common sense to every assignment,” Jarvis said. “Whether working in

parks, a regional office, or headquarters in Washington, DC, she

personifies the very best of what it means to be a public servant. She is

dedicated to the mission of the National Park Service and committed to

making that mission serve her fellow Americans.”

Point Reyes boasts 80 miles of spectacular, undeveloped coastline and

protects more than 90,000 acres of land including more than 30,000 acres of

wilderness. The history-rich landscape important to ranchers and the Coast

Miwok people boasts biological resources as well. The park is home to a

tremendous diversity of native plants and wildlife – more than 1,000

species – and offers extraordinary recreational opportunities on nearly 150

miles of trails, backcountry campgrounds, and wild beaches.

“Point Reyes is simply a stunning place,” Muldoon said. “It has natural

beauty, a powerful conservation legacy, active youth education programs,

and a wide array of community partners. The park’s accessibility and

proximity to the San Francisco Bay Area offers a tremendous opportunity to

introduce seven million city-dwellers to a spectacular wilderness – all

within an hour of home. I can’t wait to get started.”

The park, created by Congress in 1962, welcomes more than two million

visitors every year. Geologically, the park is a land in motion. The San

Andreas Fault separates the Point Reyes Peninsula from the rest of the

North American continent. Granite bedrock found here matches the bedrock

in the Southern Sierra Nevada, indicating that the peninsula has moved more

than 300 miles northwest over a period of 100 million years.

The park, an important link in a chain of protected areas, shares

boundaries with the Gulf of the Farallones and Cordell Bank National Marine

Sanctuaries, Tomales Bay State Park, Marin Municipal Water District Lands,

and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. Combined, these places constitute

one of the few remaining biologically diverse Mediterranean climate regions

on Earth.

Cool things about Point Reyes:

More than 45 percent of North American avian species and nearly 18

percent of California’s plant species are found at Point Reyes

because of the variety of habitats and unique geology.

In 1988 the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural

Organization (UNESCO) Man and the Biosphere program named the park

part of the Central California Coast Biosphere Reserve.

The cultural history of Point Reyes National Seashore reaches back more

than 2,000 years to the Coast Miwok Indians who were the first human

inhabitants of the peninsula. More than 100 known archeological sites

exist within the national seashore.

According to many experts, Sir Francis Drake landed here in 1579, the

first European to do so.

Muldoon, 44, has served as a deputy regional director of the National Park

Service’s Pacific West Region since 2005. The region encompasses more than

50 national parks in California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Nevada, and the

Pacific Islands.

Muldoon began her career with the National Park Service in 1985. She has

worked at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, the Presidio of San

Francisco, and Pinnacles National Monument in California; San Juan Island

National Historical Park in Washington State; Sitka National Historical

Park in Alaska; Buffalo National River in Arkansas; and the National Park

Service headquarters office in Washington, DC. Muldoon served as

superintendent of Pinnacles National Monument and San Juan Island National

Historical Park prior to her posting in the Pacific West Regional Office.

Muldoon is a native of Sausalito, California, and is a graduate of the

University of California, Davis.

She replaces Don Neubacher, who was named superintendent of Yosemite

National Park in February.

-NPS-

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For release: April 20, 2010

Contact: David Barna, David_Barna@nps.gov, 202-208-6843

A Field Day for National Park Collectors

WASHINGTON – Pssst…philatelists, numismatists, parkies – you know who you

are. National Park Week has good things in store for you.

If it’s the cha-ching of change or shiny, new things that capture you,

check out the first coin in the America the Beautiful QuartersTM series,

released in Arkansas. Hot Springs National Park graces this stunning

quarter and blazes a beautiful trail for a Yellowstone National Park

quarter in June, Yosemite National Park in July, and Grand Canyon National

Park in September. You can purchase the coins from the United States Mint

at www.usmint.gov.

Prefer your paraphernalia gummed and perforated? The Grandest Things: Our

National Parks in Words, Images, and Stamps made its debut when Secretary

of the Interior Ken Salazar, Postmaster General John E. Potter, and

National Park Service Deputy Director Dan Wenk unveiled it at the

Smithsonian’s Postal Museum. The 116-page hardcover book, produced by the

U.S. Postal Service and the National Park Service is unique in its

inclusion of both famous parks and smaller gems – plus, it includes nine

mint stamps—including the 1972 Old Faithful, Yellowstone.

And, if all this isn’t enough to throw your collecting instinct into

primal-overdrive – the United States Postal Service revealed Scenic

American Landscapes premium stamped postcards in a

first-day-of-issue-ceremony. The set of 20 stamped cards showcases 10

spectacular national park photographs originally featured on Scenic

American Landscapes stamps issued over the past decade.

The Grandest Things and the Scenic American Landscapes postcards are

available now at http://www.stampproducts.com/parksbook/ and soon at select

national park bookstores.

Jon Jarvis, National Park Service Director said, “For people who love their

parks or love collecting, these commemoratives will bring memories of fun

times with family and friends; for those who are just learning about their

national parks, this book, the postcards, and series of quarters is a great

way to get acquainted. I hope everyone will discover a new national park

this National Park Week.”

In honor of National Park Week (www.nps.gov/npweek), entrance is free at national parks from April 17-25, 2010.

-NPS-

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For Immediate Release: April 15, 2010

Contact: David Barna, 202-208-6843

150th Anniversary of Pony Express

National Historic Trail Preserves Missouri-to-California Route

WASHINGTON, DC – Hooves pound the earth. Sunlight flashes off a bit. Dust billows around two figures as they pass in a blur: black manes, brown flanks. Rawhide chaps, sturdy leather saddles. Locked mochillas. Black tails streaming behind.

If you had waited along the route of the Central Overland California & Pike’s Peak Express Company, better known as the Pony Express, between April 1860 and October 1861, such horse-and-rider teams might have hurtled past you as they delivered the transcontinental mail, one mochilla—leather knapsack with mail pouches—at a time.

The Pony Express started mail service between St. Joseph, Missouri, and San Francisco, California, in April 1860. It lasted 18 months, until the outbreak of the Civil War.

The Pony Express National Historic Trail keeps alive the memory of this 19 th-century communication system while providing places for outdoor recreation. While the National Park Service (NPS) administers the trail, trail segments are managed by other agencies and individuals, including the Bureau of Land Management, the Forest Service, state and local governments, and private landowners. The Pony Express National Historic Trail, established in 1992, is one of 17 National Historic Trails administered by the NPS.

“We take pride in our stewardship of the trail and in educating people about the Pony Express, which was an impressive example of teamwork,” said NPS Director Jonathan Jarvis. “Correspondence moved across the western half of the country thanks to human—and human-equine—cooperation.”

A network of stations gave support to riders on their way through present-day Kansas, Nebraska, Colorado, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada, and California. Letters, newspapers, and telegrams traversed the West by way of “the Pony,” the brief lifespan of which encompassed the election of President Abraham Lincoln and the beginning of the Civil War. The Pony Express brought Lincoln’s inaugural address to California, which remained part of the Union because of the policies the new president set forth. Some scholars argue that without the gold fields of California, the Union would not have been able to finance its full participation in the Civil War.

Two commemorative events held in Washington, DC, this week for the 150th anniversary of the Pony included a lunchtime forum at the National Postal Museum on April 14 and a color-guard presentation of letters from the National Pony Express Association at Senate Park, just north of the U.S.

Capitol, at 1 p.m. today. The letters are addressed to each senator and representative from the states and districts along the trail. Over 20 members of the National Pony Express Association came from many states to participate in both DC events. Horses from Pennsylvania ensured that the creatures vital to the Pony Express were visible at today’s symbolic distribution of mail.

The Pony Express held the nation together in a time of crisis, facilitated east-west communication, and left an indelible mark on American culture.

Romanticized and mythologized by “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s Wild West Show, the Pony Express has ridden into our collective idea of the frontier. The Pony’s messengers and their galloping mounts embody adventure, stamina, commitment to duty, and national pride.

For more information, please contact

National Park Service, Washington, DC – NPS Public Affairs, 202-208-6843.

National Park Service, Santa Fe, New Mexico – Aaron Mahr, Superintendent, 505-988-6098.

National Pony Express Association – Les Bennington, President, 307-436-2233.

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