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Read a Good Report Lately? Visit the National Park Service On-Line Library

Blog Master — Wed, 12 May 2010 20:03:19 +0000

National Park Service News Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – May 12, 2010

Contact: Gerry Gaumer (202) 208-6843

Harry Butowsky, Ph.D., (202) 354 -2261

Read a Good Report Lately? Visit the National Park Service On-Line Library

WASHINGTON – The next time you are doing research on topics ranging from

history to science or preservation, see what the National Park Service

(NPS) has to offer. Researchers and those with a thirst for knowledge or

an insatiable curiosity will find an extensive and ever expanding online

library with almost 4,000 books, reports, and articles, covering a broad

range of subjects at http://www.nps.gov/history/history/.

The NPS E-Library houses information on all aspects of the NPS mission,

including archeological/anthropological research, history and natural

history, scientific monographs, urban ecology, wildlife, and geology, as

well as an extensive collection of park administrative histories, reports,

newsletters, and classic books about the NPS.

The NPS continually adds to this online library and focuses on new, rare,

and hard-to-find materials about national parks and the NPS. Examples of

titles and reports include:

A Brief History of the National Park Service (1940)

World War II and the American Home Front (2007)

Take Down Flag & Feed Horses (1998)

Rally on the High Ground: The National Park Service Symposium on the

Civil War (2000)

wine, yaman and stone, the archeology of a russian hospital trash pit,

Sitka National Historical Park (1986)

Proceedings of the First Park Naturalists’ Training Conference(1929)

Maritime Heritage of the United States: Lightships in the United States

(1989)

Wildlife Management in the National Parks: The Leopold Report (1963)

-NPS-

My Tags: America, DOW, News, Park, Rat, Russia, Washington, Wildlife

National Park Service Parktips – March 2010

Blog Master — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 18:47:23 +0000

National Park Service

Parktips – March 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.

Endangered World and 80.15 W

(Florida) — The installation Endangered World: Biscayne National Park and the exhibit 80.15 W by artist Xavier Cortada are now on view at Biscayne National Park’s Convoy Point and the Dante Fascell Visitor Center. Both works of art call attention to the impact that humans can have on animals.

Cortada conceived of the installation, which members of the local community executed, and created the works on paper that make up 80.15 W. This exhibit and Endangered World mark the International Year of Biodiversity declared by the United Nations and help Biscayne count down the time to BioBlitz—a 24-hour inventory of the species in the park, sponsored by National Geographic—on April 30 and May 1. For more information, please contact Gary Bremen at 305-230-1144 ext. 007.

Get Ready to Run This Spring!

(Pennsylvania) — The Young Friends of Valley Forge and REI Conshohocken will co-sponsor a clinic, “Introduction to Running,” on Tuesday, March 2 at

7 p.m. at REI Conshohocken. If you’re thinking about running your first 5K or 10K but are unsure how to get started, this clinic is for you. Join the Young Friends of Valley Forge, who are training for the fifth annual Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run, and REI for this “Intro to Running” clinic.

Essential gear, including footwear and clothing, will be discussed. Come out to learn more about training programs and workout ideas as well as to discover great local places to run. The Young Friends of Valley Forge will be on hand with information about the Revolutionary Run. Learn more at http://valleyforge.org/info/rev-run/. For more information, please contact Graham Dellinger 610-783-1062.

Help Test Yosemite’s Water Quality

(California) — Individuals who care about water quality can volunteer in Yosemite National Park’s program for monitoring the Merced River.

Volunteers sample water for nitrates and phosphorous. Volunteers participate from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on the first Wednesday of every month except December and February. The next date is March 3. Please see http://www.nps.gov/yose/naturescience/naturalfeaturesandecosystems.htm. For more information, please contact Scott Gediman at 209-372-0200 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.

Fiesta de Saguaro

(Arizona) — Saguaro National Park will host the fourth annual Fiesta de Saguaro on March 6, 2010, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the park’s Rincon Mountain (East) District. The event highlights the Hispanic history, culture, and heritage of Saguaro National Park and the surrounding area.

Activities include craft demonstrations, traditional Mariachi music and Folklorico dancing, children’s arts and crafts, and guest speakers.

Traditional Mexican food will be available for purchase. For more information, please contact Melanie Florez at 520-733-5151.

Backcountry Tours at Casa Grande Ruins National Monument

(Arizona) — In honor of the Arizona Archaeology and Heritage Awareness Month in March, Casa Grande Ruins National Monument will host special tours of the park’s backcountry area that is normally closed to the visiting public. Highlights include the Prehistoric Ballcourt, Compound B, and an ancient roasting pit or “horno.” The tours will be offered on Saturday and Sunday mornings, starting on Saturday, March 6 and ending on Sunday, March 28. For more information, please contact Superintendent Karl Cordova at 520-723-3172.

Women’s History Month in National Parks of New York Harbor New York — The National Parks of New York Harbor are celebrating Women’s History Month with a variety of special programs. A musician specializing in historic songs will recreate Jenny Lind’s performance at Castle Garden, now Castle Clinton National Monument. Women’s suffrage is the subject of a discussion being held at the Fort Wadsworth Visitor Center in the Staten Island Unit of Gateway National Recreation Area on March 6. On March 12, visitors to St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site can learn about lives of women in 18th-century America based on symbolism and inscriptions on gravestones, including several in the historic burial yard at St. Paul’s.

Join the National Park Service at Federal Hall National Memorial on March

22 for “Symbols, Soldiers, Spies,” a day filled with tales of triumph and tragedy as National Park Service rangers and costumed re-enactors bring to life the women who helped shape 18th-century North America. For more information, please contact Mindi Rambo at 212-668-2208 or mindi_rambo@nps.gov.

Celebrating the Life of Dolley Todd

(Pennsylvania) — Independence National Historical Park and the National Constitution Center celebrate Dolley Madison: America’s First Lady. In honor of Women’s History Month and the enduring legacy of Dolley Todd Madison, the Todd House will be open for special tours on Monday, March 8 between 1 and 5 p.m. Built in 1775, the Todd House was occupied from 1791 to 1793 by lawyer John Todd and his wife, Dolley Payne. Following her husband’s death in 1793, Dolley married James Madison. At 6 p.m., the National Constitution Center hosts Dolley Madison: America’s First Lady, a 90-minute portrait from PBS’s American Experience. Following the screening, there will be a short conversation with executive producer Catherine Allan, producer and director Muffie Meyer, writer Ronald Blumer, and historian Holly Shulman, director of the Dolley Madison Project at the University of Virginia. For more information, please contact Jane Cowley at 215-597-0060 or visit www.nps.gov/inde.

King of the Lobby: Sam Ward, Longfellow’s Friend of Half a Century

(Massachusetts) — Author Kathryn Allamong Jacob, curator of manuscripts, Schlesinger Library at Harvard University, speaks about her newest book, King of the Lobby: The Life and Times of Sam Ward, Man-About-Washington in the Gilded Age. Ward was a statesman, orator, and author and one of Henry Longfellow’s closest friends. Ward’s major impact on American history, however, came from his role as a lobbyist in Washington. Book sales and signing to take place on Wednesday, March 10 at 6:30 p.m. at the Longfellow Carriage House. Please call 617-876-4491.

Night Prowl at Sandy Hook

New Jersey — Set out from the Sandy Hook Visitor Center to explore a habitat on a nighttime hike from 7 to 9 p.m. on March 13. For more information, please call 718-354-4606 or e-mail GATE_Public_Affairs@nps.gov .

Eighteenth-Century Tea and Fashion Show

(New York) — On Sunday, March 14 at 1:30 p.m. in the Saratoga Town Hall, numerous volunteers and staff from Saratoga National Historical Park will present an afternoon tea and fashion show. The show will feature clothing worn by lower, middling, and upper class men, women, and children of the late 1700s. The program (Project Runaway) will also include music and visual images to enhance the atmosphere of the time. A social “tea”

follows, in which treats using original 18th-century recipes will be served. The event is a “Friend-Raiser” cosponsored by the Friends of Saratoga Battlefield. For more information, please contact Gina Johnson, Chief of Interpretation, at 518-664-9821 ext. 227.

Grand Canyon Hosts Third Annual Alternative Spring Break

(Arizona) — Grand Canyon National Park will host the third annual Alternative Spring Break program sponsored by the Student Conservation Association (SCA), in partnership with American Eagle Outfitters. Grand Canyon is the only site hosting an SCA Alternative Spring Break program this year. The program gives college students the opportunity to spend their spring break volunteering in one of America’s iconic national parks.

Students will work with park and SCA staff on a variety of projects directly leading to the preservation and protection of Grand Canyon’s natural and cultural resources. The two one-week sessions begin on March 15. For more information, please contact Kassy Theobald, Restoration Biologist, Grand Canyon National Park, at 928-638-7857 or kassandra_theobald@nps.gov.

Puzzles of Dorchester Heights: Washington Ends the Siege of Boston

(Massachusetts) — Historians agree that placing artillery on the hills of the Dorchester peninsula was decisive in forcing the British military to evacuate Boston on March 17, 1776. But why had it taken so long for either army to seize that high ground? What was General Washington’s role in setting strategy? And what other factors were important at the end of the siege? Dr. Robert Cameron Mitchell, professor emeritus, Clark University, presents this talk on Wednesday, March 17 at 6:30 p.m. at the Longfellow Carriage House. Please call 617-876-4491.

Return to Battle of Monmouth Via Archeology

(Pennsylvania) — On Thursday, March 18, 2010, archeologist Dan Sividich presents “Archaeology at Monmouth, the Battle after Valley Forge.” On June 28, 1778, the two great armies of the American Revolution clashed on the plains of Monmouth Courthouse in the largest battle of the war. By using metal detectors, computer mapping, and new field techniques, archeologists have established previously undocumented aspects of the conflict, including the location of Proctor’s Artillery, the gun to which Molly Pitcher attended. The presentation, part of the Friends Lecture Series at the Chapel, will give the audience a comprehensive look at battlefield archaeology being conducted at Monmouth Battlefield State Park. For more information, please contact Nancy Loane at nancyloane@comcast.net.

First Bloom Garden Ceremony

(Louisiana) — Since last fall, students from Thibodaux, Louisiana, and the surrounding area have participated in the national First Bloom program at the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. The students have worked with rangers at the center, learned about native plants, and planted the gardens at the center. Stop by for some green thumb fun on March 20 as the kids put the finishing touches on their work and learn a few garden tips to take home. The garden dedication ceremony is at 11 a.m., followed by refreshments. For more information, please contact the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center at 985-448-1375.

Start of Sitka’s Centennial Year

(Alaska) — Designated Sitka National Monument on March 23, 1910, Sitka National Historical Park is the oldest park in Alaska and among the oldest in the United States. This month, the park celebrates its 100-year anniversary, with events on March 21 and 23 kicking off an entire year of celebrations. On March 21, a Raven’s Tail Robe, woven by nationally acclaimed artist Teri Rofkar, will be dedicated and presented to the park.

An original and true form of Tlingit art, these woven robes tell stories and preserve aspects of Tlingit culture. On March 23, the park will open an exhibit of historical photography by E.W. Merrill, depicting life in Sitka in the early 1900s. Dance events by Tlingit and Russian dancers are planned. Information on the centennial is available at http://www.nps.gov/sitk/100-year-anniversary.htm. For interviews, please contact Superintendent Mary Miller at 907-747-6281.

Grand Canyon National Park to Celebrate Archeology Day

(Arizona) — On Saturday, March 27, Grand Canyon National Park will celebrate Archeology Day. This event provides park visitors with the opportunity to learn more about native peoples who inhabited the Grand Canyon long ago. Visitors can gain a greater understanding of what archeologists do and how their work informs an understanding of the past.

Archeology Day will feature a series of special, family-friendly activities at Grand Canyon Visitor Center between the hours of 11 a.m. and 4 p.m., including opportunities to make clay pinch pots and split-twig figurines and to “sift for artifacts.” There will also be two special evening programs associated with the event: Vanishing Treasures archeologist Ian Hough will share new archeological research in Grand Canyon on March 26, and Park Guide Jennifer Onufer will share her experiences on an archeology trip down the Colorado River on March 27. The event website is http://www.nps.gov/grca/planyourvisit/arch_day.htm. For more information, please contact Libby Schaaf, Supervisory Park Ranger, at 928-638-7641.

LBJ 100 Bicycle Tour

(Texas) — On March 27, visitors to the Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park can go on a bicycle ride originating and ending on the LBJ Ranch. Participants may choose from a variety of routes that span seven distances from the ranch into the Texas Hill Country. The longest distance is 100 km. Pre-registration information is available on the internet at www.lbj100bicycletour.org. Luci Johnson will lead an intimate tour of the LBJ Ranch that afternoon. For more information, please contact Liz Lindig at 830-868-7128 ext. 231 or Sherry Justus at 830-868-7128 ext. 245.

Women’s History Month Program: Necessity the Mother of Invention (West Virginia) — Women of Harpers Ferry employed inventions of the Industrial Revolution in their everyday lives. Special exhibits and demonstrations at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park will feature the town’s manufacturing and technological advances in such areas as gardening, preserving food, and manufacturing fabric. The Women’s History Month Program will take place on March 27 and 28 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Lower Town. For more information, please call 304-535-6224.

Celebrate Spring at Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve!

(Louisiana) — In the Barataria Preserve’s wild wetlands, enjoy “Spring in the Swamp” on Saturday and Sunday, March 27 and 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Try canoeing on a brief paddle with a ranger. Meet underwater creatures via dip net, and explore the trails on guided walks. “Spring in the Swamp” is free.

For more information, please contact Jim MacDonald 504-689-3690.

Historian David Hackett Fischer to Speak on American Revolution New York — Acclaimed historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author David Hackett Fischer, a distinguished Professor at Brandeis University, will deliver the annual Aronson Memorial Lecture about the American Revolution at 2 p.m. on March 27 at St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site. For more information, please contact Mindi Rambo at 212-668-2208 or mindi_rambo@nps.gov.

2010 Snow Surveys Begin at Yosemite

(California) — Yosemite National Park has begun its 2010 snow surveys.

Measurements are collected four times per year at carefully chosen locations called snow courses. Snow surveys reflect varying levels in precipitation based on climate and changes in climate. The final snow survey is April 1. For more information, please see an online source for the California Cooperative Snow Surveys, http://cdec.water.ca.gov/snow/index.html. Also for more information, please contact Jim Roche at Jim_Roche@nps.gov or 209-379-379-1446 or Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.

Meet Abydosaurus mcintoshi

(Colorado, Utah) — Researchers working in Dinosaur National Monument have excavated fossil remains of a previously unknown dinosaur, Abydosaurus mcintoshi, a large plant-eater. The fossils include the only complete sauropod skull in the Western Hemisphere from the last 80 million years of the Age of Dinosaurs—a rare and informative find. For more information, please contact Dan Chure at 801-703-1267.

NC Traditions on the Air

(North Carolina) — The Blue Ridge National Heritage Area (BRNHA) is partnering with WNCW radio to develop and broadcast a new series called Living Traditions Moments. These two-minute vignettes, which will air on Fridays just before 8 p.m., highlight stories about the people and traditions of the North Carolina mountains and foothills and about how these treasured traditions are being kept alive. For more information, please contact Kathleen Callahan Durcan, Assistant Coordinator for National Heritage Areas, 202-354-2268.

Exploring the Home Port: New Bedford Whaling Premieres Television Series

(Massachusetts) — On February 14, 2010, during a celebration of the 192nd birthday of Frederick Douglass, New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park premiered the first episode of its new television series, Exploring the Home Port. The first episode, “The Life and Times of Frederick Douglass in New Bedford,” explores Douglass’s life in New Bedford, including his escape, name change, work, and political activities. The episode will air on New Bedford Cable Access throughout the month of March. Future episodes will explore diverse themes and stories associated with the park. For more information about New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, please call

508-996-4095 or visit www.nps.gov/nebe.

New Bedford Whaling Expands Costumed Interpretation

(Massachusetts) — Lucy Bly and Judy Roderiques, seasonal rangers at New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park, bring the 1850s to life each month as Ruth and Abby, the wives of former whalers. This special program had previously run during summer only. Bly and Roderiques have carried out extensive research, and focus on a distinct topic or area each month.

Recent appearances have included demonstrations of needlework, stories from around the world about monsters of the sea, and the moral dilemma of the

Fugitive Slave Law and abolitionism. For more information about New

Bedford Whaling National Historical Park’s programs, please call

508-996-4095 or visit www.nps.gov/nebe.

Quest for Treasure

(Ohio) — A new type of treasure hunt is coming to the Ohio & Erie National Heritage Canalway, which stretches from Cleveland through Akron and Canton to New Philadelphia. Volunteers and teachers are needed to get the new family-oriented recreational program off the ground. Questing involves following a rhyming trail of charming clues and a curious map to find a hidden box. Participants log their finds and collect unique stamps in passport-like booklets while gaining a richer sense of place. For more information, please contact Kathleen Callahan Durcan, Assistant Coordinator for National Heritage Areas, at 202-354-2268.

Yosemite to Study Sky-Island Flora

(California) — In 2010-2012, Yosemite National Park staff will be conducting 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 of these sites are highly vulnerable to the drying and warming predicted by many climate forecast models. Data gathered from this project will assist park managers in protecting resources. For more information, please contact Alison Colwell at Alison_Colwell@nps.gov or 209-379-3295 and Niki Nicholas at 209-372-0472.

Commemoration of Women’s History Month

(Pennsylvania) — Visitors to Independence National Historical Park are invited to celebrate Women’s History Month 2010. A free program will be offered on Saturdays and Sundays in March at 2 p.m. in the Franklin Court Underground Museum. This program, led by a park ranger, highlights the contributions of women to the founding of our nation. For more information, please contact Jane Cowley at 215-597-0060 or visit www.nps.gov/inde.

Hike in the Footsteps of Revolutionary War Soldiers (New Jersey) — The Jockey Hollow and New Jersey Brigade areas of Morristown National Historical Park offer 27 miles of trails through the historic encampment site of George Washington’s army. Winter brings the opportunity to hike or snowshoe to replicas of soldier huts and to envision the sacrifices made by the 10,000 Continental Army soldiers encamped there during the hard winter of 1779 to 1780. The park’s revised, full-color brochure includes trail routes, topography, photos, and descriptions of the hikes, which range from the easy Primrose Brook trail to the strenuous New Jersey Brigade trail. For more information, please contact Jamie Keller, Acting Chief of Interpretation, at 973-539-2016 ext. 210.

New Bedford Whaling NHP Begins 13-Week Volunteer Training Course

(Massachusetts) — New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park is currently offering a free 13-week course on local history and culture as well as on the basics of customer service and connecting visitors with the park. Although geared towards current and potential volunteers, the course is open to any member of the public interested in learning more about the local area. There are workshops on the history of whaling, historic structures within the boundaries of the park, the basics of interpretation, and front-desk training and customer service. There is also a crash course on themes and a special training for those planning to assist with educational programs. For more information about New Bedford Whaling National Historical Park’s volunteer program, please call 508-996-4095 or visit www.nps.gov/nebe.

Woodcock Watch

New York — Come to Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge to attend a short indoor presentation and then watch the remarkable American woodcock perform his courtship display in the evening dusk. For more information, please call

718-354-4606 or e-mail GATE_Public_Affairs@nps.gov.

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Parktips – February 2010

Blog Master — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:00:03 +0000

National Park Service

Parktips – February 2010

Conversations on the Edge

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

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

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

Book Publication Party for Ten Hills Farm

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Farmyard Children’s Program

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

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

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

Lincoln at Cooper Union

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

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

Manzanar Barracks Groundbreaking Set for February 13, 2010

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

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

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

Presidents and African American History

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

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

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

Annual Boy Scouts of America Pilgrimage

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

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

Fort Barrancas by Candlelight

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

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

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

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

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

BioBlitz: For the Love of Diversity

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

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

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

The 2nd Pennsylvania

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

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

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

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

Washington’s 278th Birthday Celebration

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

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

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

Storytelling by Royal Shiree

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

Thirsting for Knowledge? Try “Tapping into Science”

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

Winterfest

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

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

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

Yosemite Renaissance XXV Juried Exhibition Opens

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

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

An Evening with the Painting

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

Sitka NHP Readies for Centennial

(Alaska) — March marks the start of the centennial year for Sitka National Historical Park in southeast Alaska. Sitka was established as a national monument on March 23, 1910. The park includes the site of the 1804 fort and battleground that saw the last major Tlingit Indian resistance to Russian colonization. The park also features the 1842 Russian Bishop’s House, the best-preserved architecture of the colonial period. The park will mark the anniversary with the carving of a new totem pole beginning in January and will host anniversary events on March 21 and 23. For more information, please contact Dusty Kidd at 907-747-6281 and check http://www.nps.gov/sitk/100-year-anniversary.htm.

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

A Whaling Adventure

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

Yosemite Hands-On to Protect Bears

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

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

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

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

Thousands Became Yosemite Junior Rangers in 2009

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

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

Yosemite Tallies Its Battle Against Invasive Plants

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

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

Acadia National Park Adult Education Courses

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

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

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Parktips – January 2010

Blog Master — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 18:50:54 +0000

National Park Service

Parktips – January 2010

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

January 2010 Proclaimed Volcano Awareness Month

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

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

Join the Continental Army

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

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

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

Gulf Islands National Seashore Offers January 2010 Programs

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

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

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

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

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

Battle of New Orleans Recurs

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

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

Gettysburg National Military Park Winter Series

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

717-334-1124 ext. 8023.

“Winter Signs” Programs

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

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

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

Happy Birthday Hammie!

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

Revolutionary Birthdays

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

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

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

Victory at Cowpens Commemorated

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

Friends of Valley Forge Park Speakers Series

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

Frost Faire

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

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

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

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

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

“Pets, Parks, and You”

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

How to Be a Citizen Scientist at Santa Monica Mountains NRA

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

Candlelight Tours of Fort Barrancas

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

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

Winter on the Moon

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

Sitka NHP Readies for Centennial

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

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

Filling Prescriptions for Activity

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

Distinct Great Gray Owl Population

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

Snowshoe Hiking

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

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

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

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

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

Yosemite Panoramic Imaging Photo Project

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

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

Artist in Residence Receives Pollock-Krasner Foundation Grant

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

Boyd Evison Fellowship Applications Available

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

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

New Yosemite Nature Notes Film

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

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

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Parktips – November 2009

Blog Master — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 19:15:17 +0000

National Park Service

Parktips – November 2009

Great Smoky Mountains National Park Hosts Live Electronic Field Trip (North Carolina and Tennessee) — On Tuesday, November 3, millions of students from all over the country will visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park on an electronic field trip, during which they will explore one of Earth’s richest ecosystems. The National Park Service, the National Park Foundation, the UPS Foundation, and Apple are teaming up to showcase the biodiversity of the park via this live broadcast. From the comfort of their classrooms, elementary and middle-school students will be able to interact with National Park Service rangers and local student hosts from North Carolina and Tennessee. An interactive website, www.smokymountainseft.org, is now available for teachers and students to use to prepare for the electronic field trip through six learning modules with interactive games, video podcasts, and lesson plans. During the live broadcast, students can call in or e-mail their questions, and a bank of experts from the park will be available to answer them. The live, 60-minute program will air via satellite, cable, and webcast from 10 a.m.

to 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. EST on Tuesday, November 3. The show will be based in and around the Twin Creeks Science and Education Center in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Questions about registration and/or broadcasting should be addressed to Carolyn Hill at chill@nationalparks.org . For more information, please contact Nancy Gray at 865-436-1208.

Lottery for National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony (Washington, DC) — The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation have announced that the annual National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Thursday, December 3, 2009, at 5 p.m. on the Ellipse in Washington, DC. The National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony begins each year’s National Christmas Tree Program. This year will see the introduction of a new lottery system providing a chance for the general public to obtain free tickets to the lighting ceremony. The new online lottery will be available beginning at 12:01 a.m. Eastern Standard Time

(EST) on Wednesday, November 4 (or 11:01 p.m. Central Standard Time (CST),

10:01 p.m. Mountain Standard Time (MST), and 9:01 p.m. Pacific Standard Time (PST) on Tuesday, November 3). The ticket lottery remains open through 11:59 p.m. EST on Friday, November 6 (or 10:59 p.m. CST, 9:59 p.m.

MST, and 8:59 p.m. PST on Friday evening, November 6). Go to www.thenationaltree.org and follow the link to the online ticket lottery application page at www.recreation.gov. For more information, please contact Bill Line or Toni Braxton at 202-619-7400.

Groundbreaking Ceremony for Flight 93 National Memorial

(Pennsylvania) — Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar will join Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania, Senator Bob Casey, Representatives John Murtha and Bill Shuster, and the families of the Flight 93 heroes to break ground on the Flight 93 National Memorial in Shanksville, Pa. at noon on November 7. Officials representing the National Park Service, the National Park Foundation, the Flight 93 Advisory Commission, the Flight 93 Memorial Task Force, and the Flight 93 National Memorial Campaign also will participate.

For more information, please contact Kendra Barkoff at 202-713-0827.

Take Pride in Acadia Day on November 7

(Maine) — Hundreds of volunteers will descend on Acadia National Park on Saturday, November 7, for the annual Take Pride in Acadia Day from 8 a.m.

to 1 p.m. Volunteers will prepare the park’s historic 44-mile carriage-road system for the winter by raking leaves and cleaning out drainage ditches. This effort reduces erosion from rain, ice, and thaws in the winter and spring. The event is co-sponsored by Friends of Acadia.

For more information, please contact Jonathan Gormley, the park’s volunteer coordinator, at 207-288-8716 or Terry Begley of Friends of Acadia at 207-288-3340.

Louisiana’s Native Americans

(Louisiana) — Louisiana’s native heritage will be honored at the Acadian Cultural Center of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve on Saturday, November 7. Activities include a 3 p.m. presentation on American Indian slavery in colonial Louisiana. Throughout the day, visitors can enjoy a display of Chitimacha Indian baskets and a short film on Chitimacha history. At 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m., and 2 p.m., ranger-guided boat tours on Bayou Vermilion will explore the relationship of regional tribes to local natural resources. The boat tours are by fee and by reservation; all other activities and admission to the center are free. For more information, please visit www.nps.gov/jela.

Unilever’s National Parks America Tour Concludes at Valley Forge

(Pennsylvania) — On Saturday, November 7, Valley Forge National Historical Park will be the last stop on the Unilever’s National Parks America Tour.

The tour is a volunteer-driven initiative designed to engage employees, community groups, schoolchildren, scouts, and citizens of all ages in volunteer service to the land in America’s national parks. Valley Forge National Historical Park will offer many projects to which volunteers can lend a hand. The event will run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, including how your group can get involved, please contact Ernestine M. White at 610-783-5384.

Harpers Ferry Hosts Debate

(Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia) — On November 7, the national historical park will hold the program “If John Brown did not end the war that ended slavery, he did at least begin the war that ended slavery.”

Come to the Lower Town at 1 p.m. or 3 p.m. to observe a dramatic debate.

Fred Morsell will portray Frederick Douglass, and Jim Getty Abraham Lincoln. For more information, please contact Marsha Wassel at 304-535-6748.

Best Used by ?

(Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia) — “Luxury or Necessity? Victorian Preserved Foods” will take place at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park on November 7 and 8 from 11 to 4 p.m. Join the living history staff and volunteers at Roeder’s Confectionery as they demonstrate the differences between tin-can- and glass-preserved foods. For more information, please contact Marsha Wassel at 304-535-6748.

Veteran’s Day Commemoration

(Pennsylvania) — The Friends of Valley Forge Park will be sponsoring the

2009 Veteran’s Day Commemoration. On Wednesday, November 11, at 10:30 a.m., there will be a wreath laying at National Memorial Arch with appearances by the superintendent of Valley Forge National Historical Park and the Korea DMZ Veterans Association. From 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., there will be living history at Muhlenberg’s Brigade. For more information, please contact Ann Marie Maher at 610-783-1006 or maher@valleyforge.org. The contact for the Korean DMZ Veterans Association is Michael Witmer (717-285-3045, mdswitmer@aol.com).

Honoring America’s Veterans

New York — On November 11, in honor of Veterans Day, General Grant National Memorial will offer living history displays and demonstrations showing the evolution of the American Army during the 19th century. The living history will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, please contact Mindi Rambo at 212-668-2208 or mindi_rambo@nps.gov.

Yosemite Renaissance 25th-Anniversary Juried Exhibition

(California) — Entries are now being accepted through November 14 for the 25th year of this annual competition/exhibition, which is intended to encourage diverse artistic interpretations of Yosemite. Its goals are to bring together the works of serious contemporary artists who do not simply duplicate traditional representations; to establish a continuum with past generations of Yosemite artists; and to help re-establish visual art as a major interpretive medium of the landscape and a stimulus to the protection of the environment. The 25th-anniversary Yosemite Renaissance exhibit will be installed in the National Park Service Yosemite Museum gallery from February 26 through May 2, 2010. Details and prospectus at www.yosemiterenaissance.org. Write to info@yosemiterenaissance.org or call 209-372-4946.

Presidential Power to Be Explored at St. Paul’s New York — On November 14 at 1 p.m., Professor Frank M. Sorrenti of St.

Francis College, Brooklyn, will speak on the power of the chief executive, helping to spotlight the new exhibition at St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site, “St. Paul’s and the Presidents.” The talk, “Presidential Power,” is sponsored by the Speakers in the Humanities Program, New York Council for the Humanities. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact Mindi Rambo at 212-668-2208 or mindi_rambo@nps.gov.

An Afternoon of Jazz at St. Paul’s

New York — There will be a special performance of jazz music by the Kenny Wessel Quartet at 2:30 p.m. on November 14 at St. Paul’s Church National Historic Site. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, please contact Mindi Rambo at 212-668-2208 or mindi_rambo@nps.gov.

Presentation for Native American Heritage Month at Gulf Islands (Florida and Mississippi) — Gulf Islands National Seashore will host a special presentation, “Southeastern Native Americans and the Indians of Pensacola Bay,” to commemorate Native American Heritage Month. The presentation will take place at Naval Live Oaks Visitor Center Auditorium on Wednesday, November 18, at 5:30 p.m. The public is invited to join Neill Wallis, Ph.D. with the Department of Anthropology at the University of West Florida, for a program focusing on social and cultural trends through time in the Native American Southeast and how those trends were manifested in the Pensacola area. The program is free. For more information, please contact Gail Bishop at 850-934-2618 or Stanley Lawhead at 850-934-2629.

Secret Side of the American Revolution at Valley Forge

(Pennsylvania) — As part of the Friends Lecture Series at the Chapel, Dr.

David Robarge will present “Secret Revolution: How the Patriots Used Intelligence to Help Win the War for Independence” on Thursday, November 19. Intelligence work is as American as cherry pie and as old as the Republic. Civilian and military leaders of the American Revolution used espionage, covert action, counterintelligence, deception, and cryptanalysis to offset the British army’s advantage in men and arms and help win the fight for independence. They used techniques that were remarkably sophisticated by today’s standards. There is much more to the secret side of the Revolution than Nathan Hale and Benedict Arnold. Everyone is invited. No charge. Refreshments follow each lecture. For more information, please contact Nancy Loane at nancyloane@comcast.net.

Cast a Net at Gulf Islands National Seashore (Florida and Mississippi) — On Sunday, November 22, at 2 p.m., learn the art of cast-netting at Cast for Your Catch. Join a ranger for a discussion of the salt marsh and its marine life and see what you can catch in your net. Meet at the William M. Colmer Visitor Center. For more information, please contact Susan Blair at 228-230-4106.

The British Are Leaving! The British Are Leaving!

New York — The National Park Service will commemorate the 226th anniversary of the evacuation of the British Army from New York, the end of the American Revolution, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on November 25 at Federal Hall National Memorial. Costumed re-enactors will join National Park Service staff in a celebration that explores how the end of the war affected all those who were touched by it – from women to freed and enslaved Africans and African-Americans to loyalists to patriots to soldiers of both sides. Commemorative wreathes will be presented at the graves of soldiers of the American Revolution in nearby Trinity Churchyard.

For more information, please contact Mindi Rambo at 212-668-2208 or mindi_rambo@nps.gov.

Music Returns to Theodore Roosevelt’s Childhood Home New York — Each year, American Landmark Festivals offers a series of classical music concerts at Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Memorial. This year, the concerts, which are free and open to the public, will take place at 2 p.m. on the last Sunday of each month: November 28, January 30, February 27, and March 27. For more information, please contact Mindi Rambo at 212-668-2208 or mindi_rambo@nps.gov.

The Grand Canyon’s Alive with the Sound of Music

(Arizona) — Randy Erwin, a western/cowboy singer and yodeler, will be the Artist-in-Residence on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon during November.

This year, Grand Canyon National Park’s Artist-in-Residence program has been expanded beyond photographers and painters who work in the tradition of representational landscapes. The program encourages the involvement of artists working in new mediums and of those whose art directly advocates for the park’s environmental, cultural, and historical issues and concerns.

For more information, please contact Shannan Marcak at 928-638-7958.

National Park Service Exhibits Work of Artist Mikhail Kononov (Washington, DC) — For the month of November, National Capital Parks-East will host an exhibit of six works by Mikhail Kononov, a Russian-born artist inspired by the water plants of Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens. The works will be on exhibit at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens in the Helen Fowler Room from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily except Thanksgiving Day. For more information, please contact Sue Bennett at 202-426-6905.

Now Playing: the American Revolution

(Pennsylvania) — Valley Forge National Historical Park will be showing movies about the American Revolution on Friday nights through November.

Brought to you by the Encampment Store, the movies are free and family-friendly. Catch them on Fridays at 7 p.m. in the park theater. For a list of the films, please see http://www.nps.gov/ner/customcf/apps/eventcalendar/events/vafoevent72174823.html

. For more information, please contact Graham Dellinger at 610-783-1074.

Trolley Tours at Valley Forge

(Pennsylvania) — Hop on the Encampment Store’s old-fashioned trolley and experience the story of Valley Forge in a new way. Encampment Store Guides bring history to life right where it all happened. The tours are given on weekends in November at 11:15 a.m., 1:15 p.m., and 3:15 p.m. The tours are 90 minutes in length; tickets can be purchased in advance. For more information and for ticket reservations, please call 610-783-1074.

Art Exhibit at Saratoga

(New York) — “Views from the Battlefield…Conserving Historic Landscapes”

is an art exhibit featuring 35 landscapes of Saratoga National Historical Park and the adjacent American Battlefield Protection Plan area. The art show will run through December 31. The proceeds from sales will benefit park partners Saratoga PLAN, Agricultural Stewardship Association, and the Friends of Saratoga Battlefield. For more information, please contact the park at 518-664-9821 ext. 227.

New Phone Application Helps Combat Invasive Plants in National Parks

(California) — Citizen scientists have a new research tool to bring on trips to the Santa Monica Mountains. The National Park Service (NPS) and the University of California, Los Angeles Center for Embedded Network Sensing (CENS) have partnered to design a smartphone application for the purpose of identifying the locations of invasive weeds in the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area. The What’s Invasive! application, which can be downloaded onto any iPhone or Android mobile phone, allows visitors to the Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area (and, soon, to other NPS locations) to snap a picture and map the location of an invasive weed found while out on a hike, bike ride, or horseback ride. To learn more about the application, please visit http://whatsinvasive.com/ or contact Lauren Newman at 805-370-2343.

Joshua Tree National Park Will Close 22 Abandoned Mines with American Recovery & Reinvestment Act Funds

(California) — The National Park Service announced plans to close 22 abandoned mines at Joshua Tree National Park using funds from the American Recovery & Reinvestment Act. Mines will be closed using techniques developed at Joshua Tree that ensure public safety but protect the mines’

wildlife and historic values. Workers will remove and properly dispose of hazardous chemicals and other unsafe materials. Special gates will cover mine openings to prevent human access but allow use by bats, desert tortoises, and other native wildlife. Numerous mine locations are in Congressionally designated wilderness, and mine closure activities at these sites will fully comply with established guidelines and practices for wilderness management. Starting in mid-November, eight mine sites will be closed by park staff to remove public safety hazards. An additional 14 sites will be closed using contractor services. For more information, please contact Joe Zarki at 760-367-5520.

National Park Service Eliminates Entrance Fee at Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace (New York) — After careful review, the National Park Service decided to eliminate the $3 entrance fee at Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace National Historic Site. The decision became effective on October 1, 2009. The historic home will continue to provide all of its events and programs, including the hourly, ranger-led house tours. For more information, please contact Mindi Rambo at 212-668-2208 or mindi_rambo@nps.gov.

2009 Artists-in-Residence Donate Works to Herbert Hoover NHS

(Iowa) — The 2009 Artist-in-Residence program at Herbert Hoover National Historic Site featured writer Laura Madeline Wiseman and painter Patricia Rottino Cummins. Each artist donated work created during her residency.

Ms. Wiseman’s poem “Maternal Lineage” may be found on the park’s website, www.nps.gov/heho. Ms. Cummins’s painting Back Door at Hoover Cottage is on display at the visitor center along with works from past Artists-in-Residence. For more information, please contact Adam Prato at 319-643-7855.

New Online Tools for Exploring First National Water Trail (Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Washington, DC) — A new website, http://www.smithtrail.net/, from the National Park Service Chesapeake Bay Office features innovative tools for exploring the Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. The 3,000-mile trail along the bay and its major tributaries offers endless opportunities for exploration and fun on land and water. The new website helps visitors find the best places to get on the trail, plan their trips, and share their trail adventures. For more information, please visit www.smithtrail.net or contact Paula Degen at 410-260-2479.

Helping a Heritage Site under Watch

The World Monuments Fund has issued the 2010 World Monuments Watch list to focus global attention on cultural heritage sites facing dangers that illuminate current issues in heritage preservation. The National Park Service is presently aiding Taos Pueblo, which was included on the Watch List, to answer many of the concerns the World Monuments Fund has raised regarding threats to the integrity of the site. For more information, please contact Dave Ruppert at david_ruppert@nps.gov.

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