Climate Change Response Program

1201 Oakridge Drive, Suite 200

Fort Collins, CO 80525

970-225-3597 phone

www.nps.gov/climatechange

July 1, 2010

Contact(s): Angie Richman, 970-267-2136, Angie_Richman@nps.gov

Lisa Norby, 303-969-2318, Lisa_Norby@nps.gov

Young scholars help National Park Service tackle climate change

George Melendez Wright programs premier this summer

(Fort Collins, CO) – From temperature tolerance of moose to solar energy,

26 young scholars will tackle research and education projects to help

national park managers look at the effects of climate change. The students

will work in national parks from Maine to Alaska and California to Florida

this summer and are the first to take part in the National Park Service

(NPS) George Melendez Wright internship and fellowship programs.

National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis said, “We need to understand the

effects of climate change in our national parks in order to make better

resource management decisions, and we think the work these young people do

will help accomplish just that. The internships and fellowships are

designed for youth – to harness the energy and creativity of college and

university undergraduate and graduate students – and put them to work

alongside national park managers, scientists and educators.”

Leigh Welling, coordinator of the NPS Climate Change Response Program,

said the first group of interns and graduate fellows will collect data on

natural resources and prepare educational materials about climate change in

national parks. They might be inspired to consider a career with the

National Park Service, too.

Interns will work in national parks for 12 weeks through September. Their

projects include design and construction of a showcase photovoltaic array

at Crater Lake National Park, outreach to urban youth to address climate

change in the Nation’s capital, development of an educational program about

prehistoric climate change at Russell Cave National Monument, and a study

of the moose of Voyageurs National Park. “Moose populations in northern

Minnesota fell from 4,000 to 85 between 1984 and 2007, and scientists

suspect warmer summers and winters may be part of the reason. Here’s a

project to help us understand these changes by monitoring the temperature

tolerance of moose”, Welling said.

The 13 Wright Fellows, all graduate students, will research subjects that

include changes in wetland ecosystems in Yukon Flats Wildlife Refuge in

Alaska and climate stress in the American Pika in several western national

parks. “This research furthers stewardship, highlights the effects of

climate change on national parks and enriches public understanding of

America’s natural heritage,” Welling said.

The internship program is facilitated by the National Council for Science

and the Environment, a Washington, D.C.-based non-profit organization. For

more information regarding the internship program please visit:

http://ncseonline.org/CampustoCareers/cms.cfm?id=2233#NPS. The fellowships

are facilitated by Dr Lisa Graumlich, formerly from the University of

Arizona and now the inaugural Dean of the College of the Environment at the

University of Washington.

Welling said there will be Wright Fellows and Interns for years to come.

“The response to our call for projects was overwhelming, from parks and

students. That showed the need for these types of programs. We can afford

the $315,000 cost of this year’s programs because the Congressional

appropriation for the National Park Service this year included funds for

climate science and adaptation.”

Jarvis said, “This program links the emerging knowledge of energetic youth

with the legacy of national park rangers, scientists and technicians and

that’s important for future generations who inherit our stewardship

responsibilities.”

The George Melendez Wright programs are named in honor of the early 20th

-century National Park Service biologist who promoted the idea of

science-based research as central to preservation of national parks and who

envisioned a system of protected areas to promote ecosystem health and

resilience.

For more information about the George Melendez Wright interns and fellows,

their projects and the NPS Climate Change Response Program, please visit:

http://www.nature.nps.gov/climatechange/internshipsresearch.cfm

www.nps.gov

Related posts

• Parktips – June 2010 (0)
• Parktips – October 2009 (0)
• Parktips – February 2010 (3)
• First Lady Michelle Obama Asks Junior Rangers to Take It Outside at Our National Parks (0)
• Parktips – November 2009 (0)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 30, 2010

Contacts: Sheridan Steele, Acadia National Park, Sheridan_Steele@nps.gov, 207-288-8700

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

Acadia National Park

America’s Best Idea: National Park Getaway

BAR HARBOR, Maine – Every week, the National Park Service shines a

spotlight on a different park—the destination of the week’s Getaway. The

chosen place takes the lead role in a travel article published at

www.nps.gov/getaways. This week’s article, the 55th in the series, stars

Acadia National Park in Maine.

We open with a lush shot of Ocean Drive, where prim evergreens line the

shore and gaze on the periwinkle-colored Atlantic and on seaside rocks and

grasses gilded by the sun. Bar Harbor’s bombshell proves her versatility as

the Getaway unfolds: one minute, she’s an action-packed vacation for hikers

and bikers (and, at the right time, skiers and snowshoers); the next, a

slower-paced, even romantic, escape that boasts horse-drawn carriage rides,

scenic boat cruises, shopping opportunities in Bar Harbor, and the elegant

comforts of tea and popovers at the Jordan Pond House.

A costume designer’s dream come true, Acadia looks stunning in any attire.

For the Getaway, she dons floral pinks, misty woodland greens, and the

blues of ocean, hills, mountains, and sky. Yet she’ll also wow you when

clad in the scarlet and yellow cape of autumn or in soft and gleaming robes

of snow. If you don’t have plans to visit this national treasure during the

summer, you might want to start planning a fall or winter excursion.

Critics agree: this week’s Getaway gets two thumbs up. Acadia, like the

Getaway parks before her, delivers a sensational performance. The article

series, as always, introduces readers to places of natural and cultural

significance where they can connect with family and friends.

www.nps.gov

Related posts

• Young scholars help National Park Service tackle climate change (0)
• Parktips – October 2009 (0)
• Parktips – November 2009 (0)
• Parktips – June 2010 (0)
• Parktips – February 2010 (3)

Related posts

• Young scholars help National Park Service tackle climate change (0)
• Parktips – October 2009 (0)
• Parktips – November 2009 (0)
• Parktips – June 2010 (0)
• Parktips – February 2010 (3)

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.

Would you like to receive Parktips in your e-mail?

The National Park Service has created an e-mail mailing list called NPSNews. NPSNews subscribers receive, via e-mail, Parktips, as well as other timely, national-park-related news items. If you would like to receive NPSNews, just send an e-mail to majordomo@webmail.itc.nps.gov.

Write “subscribe npsnews” in the body of the message. You should receive a confirmation message shortly thereafter. Contact: NPS Communications Office, 202-208-6843.

For the latest news and press information from the National Park Service, visit www.nps.gov and select the “More News” link.

Related posts

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – June 1, 2010

Contact: Kathy Kupper, 202-208-6843

National Parks Offer Free Admission this Weekend

WASHINGTON – Free admission, warmer weather, longer days, and fewer crowds make this weekend a great time to visit a national park! To celebrate the coming of summer, the National Park Service is waiving entrance fees at all parks on June 5 & 6.

“National parks offer visitors great places to exercise their bodies and their minds- or just relax with family or friends,” said National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis. “Check out the birding caravan at Acadia in Maine or be part of the 50th anniversary celebration at Bent’s Old Fort in Colorado. Whatever your interests come on out this weekend and experience the best places that America has at the best price you’ll find – free!”

National Trails Day on June 5 is an opportune time to hike a portion of the 17,000 miles of trail located in national parks. Additionally, the National Park Service National Trails System manages more than 50,000 miles of historic and scenic trails of national importance, such as the Appalachian National Scenic Trail and the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail and more than 1,000 national recreation trails of local or regional significance.

The National Park Service entrance fees will also be waived on August 14 & 15, September 25, and November 11, 2010. Fees for activities such as camping, reservations, tours, or concessions are not affected by the entrance fee waiver.

There are 147 parks that normally charge entrance fees ranging from $3 to $25. The other 245 national parks do not charge entrance fees, so you can plan inexpensive visits year round!

Related posts

• Parktips – October 2009 (0)
• Parktips – June 2010 (0)
• 150th Anniversary of Pony Express National Historic Trail Preserves Missouri-to-California Route (0)
• Young scholars help National Park Service tackle climate change (0)
• Wessels Named Intermountain Regional Director Will lead one of seven National Park Service regions (0)

From the New York Times, here is a little bit of something old:

Here is a quick paleontology quiz. Which group of animals included large, air-breathing predators up to 50 feet long that bore live young, dominated their world for more than 100 million years and were ultimately exterminated by an asteroid 65 million years ago?

Easy, right?

Did you say dinosaurs? Sorry, wrong answer. But it was a trickier question than it may have appeared.

And the title of the year goes to the stories about Lee Grismar’s new discovery in Vietnam, “Lesbian lizards, psychedelic geckos discovered,” from The Press Enterprise:

After a grueling two-week expedition to Malaysia last August with his son, a budding herpetologist, they discovered two new species: lesbian lizards and psychedelic geckos, both natives of South Vietnam.

Got your attention? Grismer, who lives in Temecula, grins impishly during an interview at the college lab he shares with his 7-year-old half-blind pit bull, Tank. Grismer still is as passionate about “herping,” as he calls it, as he was when as a toddler he began nabbing lizards.

The lesbian, or asexual lizards, are 18 inches long and produce perfect clones. The mature females arouse one another and pretend to mate, which causes them to ovulate and lay eggs. The spectacular 5-inch psychedelic geckos seem to be painted fluorescent lavender, orange and yellow and glow in the dark.

And wrapping up with the something new, another fruit-eating monitor species has been unearthed in the Philippines according to this BBC News report. Looks like it’s time to get Daniel Bennett back here to tell us what he knows:

Why the new massive lizard has remained undiscovered by scientists until now is a mystery, especially as many biologists work in the northern Philippines.

The researchers say it may be because the lizard is naturally reclusive, being a highly secretive animal that never leaves the forest or crosses open country.

It could also be because few scientific expeditions have characterised the reptiles living in the Sierra Madre forests.

The new species of monitor lives at least 150km away from its nearest relative, another lizard called V. olivaceus, which also lives in trees and eats fruit.

Related posts

• Parktips – June 2010 (0)
• Parktips – February 2010 (3)
• Reptile Rampage: Education in action (1)
• Reptile Fest: Spreading the word about herps (0)
• Parktips – October 2009 (0)

From the New York Times, here is a little bit of something old:

Here is a quick paleontology quiz. Which group of animals included large, air-breathing predators up to 50 feet long that bore live young, dominated their world for more than 100 million years and were ultimately exterminated by an asteroid 65 million years ago?

Easy, right?

Did you say dinosaurs? Sorry, wrong answer. But it was a trickier question than it may have appeared.

And the title of the year goes to the stories about Lee Grismar’s new discovery in Vietnam, “Lesbian lizards, psychedelic geckos discovered,” from The Press Enterprise:

After a grueling two-week expedition to Malaysia last August with his son, a budding herpetologist, they discovered two new species: lesbian lizards and psychedelic geckos, both natives of South Vietnam.

Got your attention? Grismer, who lives in Temecula, grins impishly during an interview at the college lab he shares with his 7-year-old half-blind pit bull, Tank. Grismer still is as passionate about “herping,” as he calls it, as he was when as a toddler he began nabbing lizards.

The lesbian, or asexual lizards, are 18 inches long and produce perfect clones. The mature females arouse one another and pretend to mate, which causes them to ovulate and lay eggs. The spectacular 5-inch psychedelic geckos seem to be painted fluorescent lavender, orange and yellow and glow in the dark.

And wrapping up with the something new, another fruit-eating monitor species has been unearthed in the Philippines according to this BBC News report. Looks like it’s time to get Daniel Bennett back here to tell us what he knows:

Why the new massive lizard has remained undiscovered by scientists until now is a mystery, especially as many biologists work in the northern Philippines.

The researchers say it may be because the lizard is naturally reclusive, being a highly secretive animal that never leaves the forest or crosses open country.

It could also be because few scientific expeditions have characterised the reptiles living in the Sierra Madre forests.

The new species of monitor lives at least 150km away from its nearest relative, another lizard called V. olivaceus, which also lives in trees and eats fruit.

Related posts

• Parktips – June 2010 (0)
• Parktips – February 2010 (3)
• Herp Report: Things that make you go hmmmm… (0)
• Parktips – October 2009 (0)
• Parktips – November 2009 (0)

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.

Related posts

• Parktips – June 2010 (0)
• Parktips – January 2010 (2)
• Parktips – February 2010 (3)
• Parktips – October 2009 (0)
• National Park Service Parktips – July 2010 (0)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – February 4, 2010

Contact: Chad Moore (970) 491-3700

National Parks Offer Star-studded Skies in 2010

Washington, DC – On your next national park visit, remember that a

spectacular sunset is just the prelude to the wonders of the night sky.

“Thousands of people made that discovery last year, in part

because 2009 was the International Year of Astronomy, 400 years after

Galileo turned his telescope to the heavens,” said National Park Service

Director Jon Jarvis. “This year we’ll introduce tens of thousands more

visitors to the night sky through programs at about 60 national parks.”

Astronomy Night in the Park at many national parks across the

country was a great success, said Chad Moore, manager of the National Park

Service Night Sky Program. “We suspect the people who rediscovered the

cosmos at one of our programs last year will return with friends and family

or will travel to a different national park to share their experience of a

starry sky, free of light pollution.”

Through programs like the Dark Skies Rangers Program, students of

just about any age can learn about the importance of dark skies, experiment

with activities that illustrate good and bad lighting, and learn of light

pollution’s effects on wildlife. A highlight of the program is the citizen

science project, GLOBE at Night, taking place March 3-16, 2010. This

program enlists the help of students to collect data on the night sky

conditions in their community and parks, and contribute to a worldwide

database on light pollution.

"You can check out the Dark Skies Rangers, GLOBE at night, and

other aspects of the International Year of Astronomy at –

www.darkskiesawareness.org – which lives on after the 2009 celebration,”

Moore said. “The web site has tips on lighting, energy conservation,

posters, post cards, teacher packets, measuring the night sky, and

information on how light pollution affects animals.”

The NPS has developed a Junior Ranger Night Explorer program,

encouraging young park visitors to explore the dark side of their national

parks. "Kids can learn how to find the North Star, write their own creative

mythology about the constellations, track the phases of the moon, and learn

about stars and galaxies, and use all their senses to explore the night

environment at a national park," said Angie Richman, astronomy ranger with

the Intermountain Regional Office. The booklet was recently published and

will be freely distributed in a number of national parks in 2010.

Don’t forget to look for night sky activities on the web site of

the individual national parks you plan to visit this year. For example,

Acadia National Park in Maine held its first Night Sky Festival last

September, urged on by the Bar Harbor Chamber of Commerce and several other

community organizations. The next festival is planned for September 9-12,

2010, with a variety of day and nighttime programs taking place in the park

and surrounding community. Further information is available by contacting

the park at 207-288-8703 or at http://www.nightskyfestival.org/Festival.

Bryce Canyon National Park in Utah has been hosting stargazing

programs since 1969, and will hold its 10th annual Astronomy Festival July

7-10, 2010. This four-day event also features daytime and nighttime

activities for all ages, and celebrates one of the last remaining

sanctuaries of dark skies. Visitors are encourage to plan ahead for this

event, more information is found at:

http://www.nps.gov/brca/planyourvisit/astrofest.htm.

To help meet the demand for night sky interpretive programs, the

National Park Service Night Sky Program last year recruited 19 volunteer

astronomers from around the country who were then placed in national parks,

started a loaner telescope collection, produced audio podcasts and

brochures, and supported the stellar night sky poster art by Dr. Tyler

Nordgren, an astronomer at the University of Redlands, California.

Nordgren spent a one-year sabbatical in national parks where he

collected his experiences into a book and drafted the series of 14 posters

that harken to the Works Progress Administration posters of the 1930′s. The

full series of night sky posters is available for browsing at:

http://bulldog2.redlands.edu/fac/tyler_nordgren/Gallery/NationalParks/Parks.html

“Even though our sources of inspiration may change, the value of

national parks grows over time,” Director Jarvis said. “And as the backyard

starry sky is lost to urban America, people increasingly seek it in their

national parks.

“The night sky is every bit a part of the park as land, water,

wildlife and those famous sunrise and sunset scenes. It’s our

responsibility and our pleasure to preserve the night sky for this and

future generations.”

Visit us on-line: http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/lightscapes

Related posts

• Parktips – February 2010 (3)
• Parktips – November 2009 (0)
• Parktips – June 2010 (0)
• Parktips – January 2010 (2)
• Parktips – December 2009 (0)