Sunny-side Volunteers

Hey, you sunny-side, sunny smile Volunteers! You got a nice nod from the Seattle Times!

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2018877738_odrainiertrail12.html

Adopt-a-Highway Needs YOU!!!

State Route 706 extends from Elbe to the Nisqually Entrance of Mount Rainier National Park. This short length of highway is the primary gateway to the Park, and an area which gives visitors their first introduction to the wild and scenic beauty they will soon experience more fully.

In recent years, litter patrols of this highway have been infrequent or nonexistent, and to say that the highway looked "untidy" would be to put it mildly. We believe that as the pathway leading to our "front door," State Route 706 should make a good impression on incoming visitors, so the Volunteer Program contacted the State Dept. of Transportation to inquire into their "Adopt-a-Highway" program for citizen maintenance.

We are pleased to announce that as of August 27, 2012, the Volunteer Program has completed the adoption of the two-mile section from Milepost 2 to Milepost 4, a stretch of road which encompasses the Park's Tahoma Woods frontage. Now we are asking for your participation as a Volunteer!

This is an excellent opportunity for our Volunteers to benefit both the Park and the community! Per our agreement, we will make three litter patrols per year. The first will occur on National Public Lands Day, September 29, 2012. The next will occur in April and another in late June 2013.

Crews will consist of no more than twelve individuals. Members of the litter patrol should be physically able to walk from two to four miles, and be able to bend or stoop repeatedly throughout the day, and we'll be working rain or shine. In exchange, our reward will be to present a better face to incoming visitors, and an official Dept. of Transportation sign at either end of the patrol area acknowledging the participation of Mount Rainier National Park's wonderful Volunteers.

For further information on this on-going Volunteer activity and to reserve a spot on the crew, please contact Crow Vecchio at 360-569-6567 or email Crow.

MRNPA September Revegetation Work Party!

Greetings Alpine Gardeners and Trail Work Volunteers,

 

The annual Mount Rainier National Park Associates meadow revegetation work party will be Saturday, September  8th.  That is the Saturday following the Labor Day weekend, about two and a half weeks from today.  MRNPA volunteers will again be assisting the Mount Rainier ecological restoration crew in planting wildflower seedlings, working to convert a historic campground near Sunrise back into alpine meadows.  Will Arneson, the NPS crew supervisor, tells me that there will be approximately 55,000 seedlings to be planted this fall before the snow covers the meadows.  Saturday, September 8th, will be a big day in getting this effort started.

 

On the morning of Saturday, September 8th, MRNPA volunteers will meet in the Sunrise parking lot between 8:30 and 9:00 AM.  As you arrive at Sunrise, look for a dark green Subaru Outback Wagon, parked on the far left (south) side of the parking lot, that is surrounded by people who look like they know what is going on. That will be the MRNPA volunteers.  P lease check in with me as soon as you arrive.  I need to get a count and the names of all MRNPA volunteers.  There will be volunteers from other organizations milling about so stick close with the MRNPA group and be ready to move out at 9:00 AM.  Because MRNPA volunteers have been involved in planting at Sunrise for so many years, we are normally the first ones to head out to the work site.

 

Be prepared for almost any fall weather.  In the past we have experienced everything from warm and sunny days to a driving blizzard.  In addition to your sun hat, sunscreen, and your rain gear, bring a lunch, plenty of fluids to drink, gardening gloves, and a hand digging tool you like to use.  If you have no gardening tools, the NPS will provide small hand tools.  Most of the day you will be working on your hands and knees to do the planting, so you may want to bring a pad for your knees. The pads available at your local gardening retailer work great.  The work site is about a mile from the Sunrise parking lot so plan on carrying everything you need to and from the work site.

 

We normally work until at least 3 PM and will break for lunch at about at noon.  This is a great outing to share with your husband, wife, boyfriend, girlfriend and even your kids.  It is a beautiful location,  It is very instructive to see how much of the area has been replanted and how it is slowly returning to being a meadow.

There is no charge for volunteers to enter the Park.  When you enter at the White River Entrance, tell the gate attendant that you will be doing volunteer work on the meadow restoration project at Sunrise.   

 

If you would like to camp for free at the White River Campground the evening prior to or the evening of the work party (or both evenings) contact Will Arneson at soon

.   For free camping, he must make the arrangements well in advance of the scheduled date. 

If you plan to join MRNPA on Saturday, September 8th, for this meadow revegetation work party, please reply to this email confirming that you are coming and indicating the number of volunteers that you will bringing with you.

 

John Titland
Volunteer Coordinator
Mount Rainier National Park Associates

 

 

 

If you would like to volunteer to do planting at Mount Rainier but September 8th is not a convenient date, please consult the Mount

Seasonal Training Opportunity: Meadow Rovers and Beyond!

A weekly, optional, seasonal training reminder for all Meadow/Snow Rover volunteers, as well as ALL Volunteer and Professional MORA staff who may wish to attend. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Mount Rainier National Park, Volunteer Meadow/Snow Rover Program continues our ‘Saturday Training Sessions’ this week with, ‘The Roll of the Meadow Rover during Emergency Operations’ .  These classes have been specifically selected for their relevancy in order to provide the Meadow/Snow Rover with the information necessary to meet the essential elements of their position.  It is the stated goal of this educational program to enhance Meadow/Snow Rover safety, knowledge, and the visitor contact experience.  All of the classes will be presented by experts in the related topics.   The following is the current training calendar:  (The next available class offering is shown in red .)   8/25/2012  -  "The Roll of the Meadow Rover during Emergency Operations" - Jordan Mammel, Wildlife and Lead Law Enforcement Ranger and/or Ben Guttridge, Lead General Ranger/Climbing Ranger   9/01/2012   -   "Nature   Photography - Tips for the Visitor, General Nature Photography Techniques and Photographic Documentation of Trail/Meadow Damage and/or Hazards" - Gary Ouellette, Experienced Meadow Rover, Noted  Professional Photographer (Bring your camera!)   9/08/2012  -  "The New Ten Essentials" - Ed Hunds, Experienced Meadow Rover, Wilderness Preparedness Expert   Location:        Longmire Community Building Time:              10 AM to 11:30 PM Day:              Saturday Dates:              8/25/2012, 9/1/2012 and 9/8/2012 (Additional topics and dates will be added soon.)   The topics presented are geared to provide Park relevant learning opportunities for ALL  MORA employees and volunteers.  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend!!!   RSVP required please!   Please RSVP no later than the Thursday prior to each  specific training session.   Please RSVP to:     eugene_marsh@partner.nps.gov

Please join us for these free and highly informative classes!  Also, please let me know if you have any relevant topics you would like to see covered.

Happy trails!

Bill Marsh  =+)
West Side Meadow Rover Coordinator
Mount Rainier National Park
360-569-6574
eugene_marsh@partner.nps.gov

Butterfly hunters at Mount Rainier this weekend

Are you interested in helping survey butterflies at Mount Rainier?

This is your reminder that the Cascades Butterfly Project will be in the park this Friday and again the following weekend. Stop by, join the fun, and become your own Curiosity Rover for a day!

Here's a note from Michelle Toshack, coordinator of the project, with details. You can also review previous blog entries about the Cascades Butterfly Project for more information:

---

Thanks so much for coming out to in the field with us! I wanted to let you know that Melanie Weiss, field lead volunteer, will be at Berkeley Park on August 17th and could meet up to 4 volunteers at the Sunrise trailhead at 10 am.

I will be in Rainier from August 27-30 as follows:

Aug 27-Naches Peak (meet at Tipsoo Lake trailhead at noon)
Aug 28-Berkeley Park (meet at Sunrise trailhead at 10)
August 29-Mazama Ridge (meet at 4th crossing trailhead at 10)
August 30-Spray Park (meet at Mowich Lake trailhead at 10).

It would be great to have more volunteers!

Thanks,
Michelle

Meadow Rover Session Reminder!

SUBJECT:

A weekly, optional, seasonal training reminder for all Meadow/Snow Rover volunteers, as well as ALL volunteer and professional MORA staff and/or MORA partner members and family members who may wish to attend.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Mount Rainier National Park, Volunteer Meadow/Snow Rover Program is pleased to announce the launch of a new, ongoing, season specific, training program.  The classes have been specifically selected for their relevancy in order to provide the Meadow/Snow Rover with the information necessary to meet the essential elements of their position.  It is the stated goal of this educational program to enhance Meadow/Snow Rover safety, knowledge, and the visitor contact experience.  All of the classes will be presented by experts in the related topics.

The following is the current training calendar:  (The next available class offering is shown in red.)

8/18/2012  -  'Staying Found' - Judy Kennedy, Experienced Meadow Rover, Backcountry Expert, Interpretive Ranger.  (Please note that you will be required to bring a  ‘Map Compass’ for the practical portion of this class.)

8/25/2012  -  ‘The Roll of the Meadow Rover during Emergency Operations’ - Jordan Mammel, Wildlife and Lead Law Enforcement Ranger and/or Ben Guttridge, Lead General Ranger/Climbing Ranger

9/01/2012   -   'Nature Photography - Tips for the Visitor, General Nature Photography Techniques and Photographic Documentation of Trail/Meadow Damage and/or Hazards - Gary Ouellette, Experienced Meadow Rover, Noted  Professional Photographer BRING YOUR CAMERA! Please inform us as to what kind of camera you are bringing!

9/08/2012  -  'The New Ten Essentials' - Ed Hunds, Experienced Meadow Rover, Wilderness Preparedness Expert

Location:        Longmire Community Building

Time:             10 AM to 11:30 PM

Day:               Saturday

Dates:            8/18/2012, 8/25/2012, 9/1/2012 and 9/8/2012 (Additional topics and dates will be added soon.)

The topics presented are geared to provide Park relevant learning opportunities for ALL MORA employees, volunteers, MORA partners and their family members.  Everyone is welcome and encouraged to attend.

RSVP required please!  Please RSVP no later than the Thursday prior to each specific training session. 

Please RSVP to:    eugene_marsh@partner.nps.gov

Please join us for these free and highly informative classes!  Also, please let me know if you have any relevant topics you would like to see covered.

Happy trails!

Bill Marsh  =+)

West Side Meadow Rover Coordinator

Mount Rainier National Park

360-569-6574

eugene_marsh@partner.nps.gov

“There have been joys too great to be described in words, and there have been griefs upon which I have not dared to dwell; and with these in mind I say: Climb if you will, but remember that courage and strength are nought without prudence, and that a momentary negligence may destroy the happiness of a lifetime. Do nothing in haste; look well to each step; and from the beginning think what may be the end.”

The most famous unedited quote of ― Sir Edward Whymper, Scrambles Amongst the Alps, Circa 1871

Westside Volunteer Picnic

Today, westside Volunteers gathered at the Longmire Community Building for the annual mid-season picnic. Kevin Bacher's Power Point presentation showcased our wonderful volunteers and volunteer projects in all corners of the Park, and was received with great applause. A second picnic for eastside Volunteers is slated for next Saturday at the Sunrise picnic area from 4-6 PM. If you missed this one or want to attend another get-together, we hope to see you there!

By popular request, we now present the instructions for creating Crow's "Picnic Chicks."

You will need: 

Eggs

Carrots

Mayonnaise

Mustard

Horseradish

Nonpareil (small) capers

Salt

Begin by hard-boiling as many eggs as you expect to need, plus a few extras because you will need additional yolks. Chill the eggs thoroughly before shelling. While the eggs are cooling, prepare the feet by cutting bird-foot shapes from slices of carrot. If you're dextrous, you might be able to score a carrot first and then cut the slices, but that was beyond my culinary skill. The feet should have three front toes and one back toe for inserting into the egg. Also prepare small beak-shaped (triangular) pieces of carrot.

Peel the eggs and carefully slice off the tops so that a little of the yolk is left in the top section and the bulk of it in the body of the egg. Carefully remove the yolk from both pieces with a paring knife. Whip or mash the yolks with mayonnaise, mustard, salt and (secret ingredient!) a dab of horseradish.

Before filling, insert the back toes of the feet into the body of the egg and set it on the serving tray. You may need to level up the bottoms of the eggs so the chicks sit flat. Fill a pastry tube or cookie press with the whipped yolks and force it into the body of the egg, making a tall mound in the center. Press the cap onto the mound of yolk, tipped back so the chick's face shows. Insert two nonpareil capers into the yolk mound for eyes and finish the chick with a carrot beak. Then stand back and watch your guests chuckle!

Volunteers Help Out With Visitor Surveys

 From Ohanapecosh to Nisqually, from Sunrise to Mowich Lake, volunteers have been gathering demographic data from visitors this week at many locations throughout the Park. Based on a process referred to as "interval sampling" in which a given number of surveys are handed out regularly over the course of a day, the interviewer collects basic information (name, address and phone number) from the visitor, and then sends them on their way with a printed questionnaire in hand. These printed surveys are returned post-paid and the demographic data is tabulated by the University of Idaho. The results of the surveys are returned to the participating Park, where it is used to assist in making administrative decisions.

This is an excellent opportunity for our valued guests to feel they are helping make the Park a better place to visit. Please wave at our smiling volunteers as you pass by!

Mount Rainier August Volunteer Newsletter

August Mount Rainier Volunteer Newsletter

What this Newsletter Covers:

a.      Volunteer Picnic Potlucks!

b.      MRNPA Trail Work Party and Potluck

c.       WTA Comet Falls Wrap Up

d.      Longmire Volunteer Campground Reminder

e.      Ongoing Glacier Survey Volunteer Opportunities

f.        Puyallup Fair: Volunteers Needed

g.      Shadows of the Past: Come and enjoy, come and Volunteer!

h.      Keep Wildlife Wild Volunteer Opportunity

i.        NEW Meadow Rover Training Announced!

j.        Cascades Butterfly Project seeks butterflies, volunteers

Volunteer Picnic Potlucks!

It is that time of year again to come together and celebrate the hard work and dedication of our excellent volunteers! We will be having, for the first year ever, two volunteer potlucks to accommodate the East siders and west siders. This Saturday, August 11^th, we will be having our West side potluck picnic at the Longmire Community Building starting at 4:00 pm. Some beverages will be provided. Bring a dish to share. Earlier in the day, you will have the chance to volunteer with MRNPA or WTA on their work parties, so sign up soon! If you have any questions about the west side potluck picnic, please direct them to Carrie Anders at Carrie_Anders@partner.nps.gov.

Next weekend, on Sunday, August 19^th, the East side volunteers will be having their picnic potluck at the Sunrise Picnic Area in the northwest corner. It will go from 4:00 to 6:00 pm. Bring with you a buddy, a beverage, a grill item or a dish to share! We are in need of a grill or two. If you are able to contribute or have any questions, please contact Gayle Eads at gayle.s.eads@gmail.com, our East Side Meadow Rover Lead.

This is a chance to recognize what a huge impact our volunteers have at Rainier. Come support your fellow volunteers and celebrate your accomplishments this year!

MRNPA Trail Work Party and Potluck!

Mount Rainier National Park Associates will be having a trail work party this Saturday, August 11^th. We will be working on the Twin Firs Trail. We will meet at the upper end of the Longmire parking lot, near the museum, at 8:30 AM on Saturday morning, and be ready to move out at 9:00 AM.

 

Bring work gloves, a hard hat if you have one, safety glasses, full rain gear (you never know if you will need it), your lunch, and PLENTY of fluids to drink. 

 

If you plan to attend this work party, email John Titland and tell him that you are coming and how many volunteers you are bringing with you.  He needs an estimate of the number of volunteers so that Park staff can be sure to have enough tools for us all.  If you have a hard hat you will be wearing, please tell him that too.

Following the work party MRNPA volunteers are invited to assemble in the Longmire VIP campground (not the Cougar Rock campground) to relax and socialize, followed by a potluck dinner, and an evening spent sitting around the campfire.  It's a fun event, so plan on staying (at least for a little while) and getting to better know some of the volunteers you have been working with.  

 

Overnight camping is available both Friday night, August 10th, and Saturday night, August 11th at the Longmire VIP campground.  Camping is free for MRNPA volunteers. If you plan to camp either or both nights, please tell him the nights you intend to camp when you email him telling him that you are coming to the work party.  He needs to assure that we have sufficient tent sites reserved.

 

Sunday, the 12th, we will try to do a short hike together.

There are safety equipment requirements for all MRNPA trail work volunteers. (These rules apply to all trail workers.)  Anyone using an aggressive tool - like a Pulaski, ax, shovel, etc. - or anyone working near them - is required to wear a hard hat and safety glasses.  People working with or near a less aggressive tool are not required (but will be encouraged) to wear a hard hat.   If you own a hard hat that you can wear, please bring it.   If you do not have a hard hat, we have hard hats that we loan for the day.

 

Wearing safety glasses is encouraged at all times. Not all safety glasses are comfortable for everyone and some will not fit over eye glasses.  Because of cleanliness issues, some people don't like wearing safety glasses that have been worn by other people.  For these reasons, please purchase (acquire, find, dig-up, whatever) a pair of personal safety glasses that you will wear.  The local hardware store is a good place to start shopping.  A serviceable pair or safety glasses will cost about $10.  And be advised that shatterproof eye glasses do not meet the requirement for safety glasses.  Safety glasses all have side protection which eye glasses do not.

 

John Titland
Volunteer Coordinator
Mount Rainier National Park Associates

volunteer@MRNPA.org

Washington Trails Associates last weekend at Comet Falls!

WTA has been working for weeks on the Comet Falls Trail to help be able to safely open it to park visitors. They have done a tremendous job on this trail! So far, they have fixed areas with extensive exposed roots by building new turnpike and crib steps, and have been building a rock wall to stabilize the trail. They have worked to reroute around the wash out on the trail and things are really looking great!

This weekend, August 10th through the 12th, will be WTA’s last weekend on the Comet Falls Trail before moving on to a new project. Go to the WTA website, www.wta.org, to find out more about the trail work parties and to sign up for this weekends group! Be a part of the fantastic team that has worked to make Comet Falls a safer, exciting hike for our visitors!

A reminder about the Longmire Campground!

Volunteers, remember that the Longmire Campground is open to you on the day before and day of your volunteer projects in the park! You may make reservations through your direct park supervisor or by emailing me (Carrie_Anders@partner.nps.gov) with your project information, how many will be camping and if you will be in tents or an RV. Your reservation will be confirmed, and upon arrival at the Longmire Campground, our host, Jean Millan, will assign you your camp site!

There are some differences in rules between the Volunteer campground and the other campgrounds in the park. Pets are not allowed to stay in the tent camping area at Longmire. They are allowed to be in the employee residence (RV) sites, but must remain on a leash when outdoors, stay in the camper at night, and no pet food is permitted outside the camper.  If you have any questions or concerns about Longmire campground rules, please do not hesitate to ask!

Nisqually Glacier Survey Project is Ongoing!

If you are interested in getting out on the glaciers and surveying, the Nisqually Glacier Survey project is still looking for volunteers!

The main goal of this project is to identify the glacial flow velocity field of the Nisqually glacier. A major secondary goal is to isolate, to the extent possible, the approximate area of the lower Nisqually glacier that is flowing at a slower rate than the upper glacier. Past research has indicated that the Lower Nisqually typically moved approx. 0.6 m/day. However, measurements by Lead Climbing Ranger Stefan Lofgren during the glacier mass balance-monitoring project indicate that portions of the Lower Nisqually are now hardly moving, in the range of centimeters per day.

This is important because there is a possibility that stagnant ice (glacial ice that is no longer moving) may facilitate the development of glacial conditions that could allow for the storage of vast amounts of water that can be released catastrophically in the form of outburst floods.

This year the area set up by the 2011 glacial studies team will be re-surveyed. The surveying device used will be the Topcon GPT-3105W Total Station used last year. We will identify and survey suitable rocks at the beginning of the project, with as much overlap with last year’s rocks as possible. Ideally, the locations of said rocks will be resurveyed weekly or biweekly in order to ascertain changes in position due to glacial flow. At the end of the survey period, we should be able to utilize the relative motion of the rocks to characterize the velocity field of the glacier. At that point, we should be able to find areas that are not moving, or are moving abnormally slowly and contrast that with areas that are moving rapidly.

Ideally those helping with the survey will have waterproof sturdy boots, sunglasses with full coverage, a climbing helmet, an ice axe and crampons, as well as everything they require for a day trip (lunch, water, extra layers, sunscreen etc). That being said, crampons are unlikely to be required for the first several weeks and even after that if people do not have them, we can put them on a lower-elevation team. An ice axe and climbing helmet are highly recommended. Sturdy boots, sunglasses and sunscreen are not optional!

Volunteers need to be in good shape as they will be hiking all day and helping to carry survey equipment which is not exactly lightweight.

Volunteers are not required to have prior glacier experience, though having it is certainly a plus!

What the project manager needs to know from you if you are interested in participating in glacier surveys is the following information:

1.      When you are available, Thursdays are most often the survey days. 

2.       What is your glacier experience?

3.      Do you have glacier gear  (ice axe, crampons, helmet, climbing harness, stiff crampon-compatible boots, etc)?

 

If you are interested in volunteering with the glacier survey team this summer, please send the information listed above to Laura Walkup, the Project Manager.

Laura C. Walkup
Geology Technician
National Park Service
Mount Rainier National Park
Longmire, WA 98397

Office: 360-569-2211 ext.7003

laura_walkup@nps.gov

Puyallup Fair: Volunteering for the Mountain!

Top of Form Yes!  It's almost time to do the Puyallup.  This year's theme is "Get your happy on!"  Last year park staff and volunteers talked to more than 12,500 people and thousands more checked out our exhibits.   This year you have three opportunities to "Get Your Happy On!"   #1. Staffing the Mount Rainier Booth:   We would like to have two park people for each of the three 3 1/2-hour shifts a day (10 AM – 1:30 PM, 1:30 PM – 5 PM, 5 PM – 8:30 PM).  You will receive a ticket for admission to the fair and a parking pass (together worth $21-23).    You can experience the fair before and/or after your shift.    The fair runs from September 7th through September 23rd.      #2. Staff the Snowshoe Walk:   On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6 PM the NW Outdoors Building will be providing a snowshoe experience (mainly for kids but adults can try too).  We will have a trail of straw around the trees provided by the Christmas Tree Growers.  There will be two 3-hr shifts each day (12-3 and 3-6) and we need at least two people each shift.  Snowshoes are provided by GoPaw but the two elderly ladies that have done this in the past just can't do it anymore.  I volunteered our volunteers.  It will be a busy, but quick, three hours.  You will also receive a ticket and parking pass.   #3. Help set up and take down the plants:  We will have hundreds of native plants throughout the building to make it an outdoor experience.  These plants have to be placed the day before the fair and then removed the day after.  This is very labor intensive and the park's reveg crew will be helping but we could use some more volunteers. Plants will be moved in at 10 AM on Thursday, September 6th and removed at 10 AM on Monday, September 24th.  If enough folks show up we should be done by 1 PM.  If you would like to join this activity let me know and I'll send you location and parking information.  All you'll need are work gloves and a "grain" shovel if you have one.   As you can see, the park is an important part of the Northwest Outdoors Alliance.  Our exhibits will occupy one of the largest spaces in the building.   But the most important part is a real live person representing the park service, talking with all those enthusiastic fairgoers.   I hope you can help out.   You will have a great time at the fair and I look forward to hearing from you.   An email response would be best, since at this time of the year I’m seldom in the office.  Tell me what activity, date, and time shift would work for you.  Also please include your mailing address so I can mail you instructions, maps, and tickets.    Uniforms are not a requirement to volunteer, but if you have one you are expected to wear it. Volunteer hats will be available at the Mount Rainier booth.     Thanks, and we’ll see you at the fair.   Check out the web page.  http://www.thefair.com/puyallup-fair/things-to-do/nw-outdoors   Jim Ross Outreach Specialist Mount Rainier National Park jim_ross@nps.gov Bottom of Form

Volunteers needed for Shadows of the Past lantern carriers!

YOU are invited to celebrate the August birthday of the National Park Service!  On the evening of August 18th West District Interpretation is presenting the Shadows of the Past living history program. Lantern-lighted, ranger-led walks depart from in front of the National Park Inn every 20 minutes between 8:30 PM and 9:30 PM.

The approximately 80-minute program tells the story of the beginning of Mount Rainier National Park and the National Park Service. Meet people who explored, settled, developed, climbed, and protected Mount Rainier more than 90 years ago as they emerge from the darkness along the Trail of the Shadows.

The program will be held rain or shine. Bring a warm jacket, insect repellent, a flashlight, and wear sturdy shoes. This interpretive program is free and open to all. No  RSVP is required.

Volunteers are needed to carry lanterns that light the way and illuminate the characters when they talk. If you can help with this task please email seasonal volunteer coordinator Carrie Anders: carrie_anders@partner.nps.gov.

There will be four walks and we need up to eight volunteers (2 per lantern). Walks are planned to leave from in front of the National Park Inn at 8:30 PM, 8:50 PM, 9:10 PM, and 9:30 PM. If you are game to carry a lantern, please let Carrie know your top two walk choices.  She will confirm your participation. Volunteer lantern carriers will need to meet 15 minutes before their scheduled walk at the picnic tables by the General Store.  Our Lantern Guru, Alan Parsons, will be there to give you your lantern.  He will also provide tips for carrying the lantern and effectively illuminating the trail and characters. New Shadows of the Past volunteers will need to sign a volunteer agreement form.

Please contact Carrie if you have any questions or are interested! Thank you in advance!

Keep Wildlife Wild Volunteers Needed!

Saturday August 18^th will be a great opportunity to volunteer in the park. Not only do we have the Shadows of the Past opportunity, but it is also the return of the Keep Wildlife Wild program. We are in need of volunteers to work with the wildlife crew up at the Paradise Visitors Center. It will be from 12:00 to 4:00 pm. Please contact Carrie Anders at Carrie_Anders@partner.nps.gov if you are interested or have more questions. We hope you can recognize the importance of this program to the wildlife in our beautiful park and can contribute your time to informing the public of the importance of keeping our wildlife wild! 

New Meadow Rover Training This Weekend and Through the Summer Season!

The Meadow Rover program will be providing trainings through the end of the summer season on a variety of topics of interest to meadow rovers and other volunteers.

They plan to have training sessions every Saturday at the same time (10 AM to 11:30 AM) and location (Longmire Community Building) as follows:

8/11/2012 - 'The New Ten Essentials' - Ed Hunds, Experienced Meadow Rover, Wilderness Preparedness Expert

8/18/2012 - 'Staying Found' - Judy Kennedy, Experienced Meadow Rover, Backcountry Expert, Interpretive Ranger

8/25/2012 - 'The Roll of the Meadow Rover during Search and Rescue Operations (SARs) - Rangers Jordan Mammel and/or Ben Guttridge

9/1/2012 - 'Nature Photography, Tips for the Visitor, General Nature Photographic Techniques, Photographic Trail/Meadow Damage Documentation' - Gary Ouellette, Experienced Meadow Rover, Professional Photographer

The first of these trainings will be providing an expanded training session on the 'New Ten Essentials' from 10AM to 11:30AM on Saturday, August 11, 2012 at the Longmire Community Building.  Ed Hunds, experienced Meadow Rover and Wilderness Preparedness Expert will be the course instructor.  (RSVP required please, no later than Wednesday, August 15, 2012 to eugene_marsh@partner.nps.gov.)

Cascades Butterfly Project seeks volunteers to seek butterflies!

If you’re out hiking this summer and come across a group of people walking slowly along a trail with butterfly nets, they’re probably part of the Cascades Butterfly Project! This group is tracking butterfly populations as a means of monitoring climate and ecosystem changes at Mount Rainier and North Cascades National Parks. They’re still looking for volunteers to help, and have several project dates still coming up on this year’s calendar! Here’s an update from project leader Michelle Toshack about their day above Berkeley Park on August 2nd:

“What a great trip to Mount Rainier! Wildflowers were blooming beautifully (at Naches Loop and Berkeley Park anyway) and butterflies were truly on the wing. Thank you to the ten excellent volunteers who helped with the project. We saw the following butterflies:

Milbert's Tortoiseshell
Anna's Blue
Silvery Blue
Boisduval's Blue
Edith's Checkerspot
Northern Checkerspot
Clodius Parnassian
Arctic Fritillary
“As a reminder, Melanie Weiss (volunteer field lead) will be at Sunrise (Berkeley Park) on August 17th and is looking for volunteers to accompany her. Please email me at michelle_toshack [at] nps.gov if interested. There will be one more chance to volunteer at Mt. Rainier from August 27-30.”

Read more about the program on their Yahoo Group at http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/cascadesbutterfly/

Cascades Butterfly Project seeks butterflies, volunteers

On August 2nd, I had the privilege of getting out of the office for a day of Citizen Science with five intrepid volunteers on a gorgeous day hiking out of Sunrise. Here's a couple of photos from our day of collecting butterflies, in pursuit of data for tracking population changes over time related to climate:



The trip was led by Michelle Toshack, who submitted the following report. Note that the Cascades Butterfly Project is still looking for more volunteers! More information can be found on their Yahoo group.

What a great trip to Mount Rainier! Wildflowers were blooming beautifully (at Naches Loop and Berkeley Park anyway) and butterflies were truly on the wing. Thank you to the ten excellent volunteers who helped with the project. We saw the following butterflies:


Milbert's Tortoiseshell
Anna's Blue
Silvery Blue
Boisduval's Blue
Edith's Checkerspot
Northern Checkerspot
Clodius Parnassian
Arctic Fritillary


As a reminder, Melanie Weiss (volunteer field lead) will be at Sunrise (Berkeley Park) on August 17th and is looking for volunteers to accompany her. Please email me at michelle_toshack [at] nps.gov if interested. There will be one more chance to volunteer at Mt. Rainier from August 27-30.

Mount Rainier National Park Associates Deveg Project

The Mount Rainier National Park Associates conducts a "deveg" (exotic plant removal) project along the Westside Road in July 2012. MRNPA welcomes volunteers! Learn more about them at MRNPA.org, and join the for one of their next projects -- trail maintenance on August 11, or Revegetation on September 8!

Search and Rescue Training, Open to Volunteers!

Next Tuesday 8/7 will be the parks first Search and Rescue Technician training. It is open to all who have have supervisory approval to participate in the parks SAR team.

Overview:
BASIC SEARCH AND RESCUE TRAINING (BASIC SAR)

The Basic Search and Rescue Training is a standardized training program for entry level NPS search and rescue (SAR) personnel.  The class is delivered through a combination of online (self-paced)  and classroom for maximum efficiency and standardization. The focus of this training course is to assist personnel in safely and effectively performing as a  SAR  team member on a wide area search team, search area containment position, litter team, or nontechnical rescue team position.

The training is part of an ongoing movement to place all SAR positions undertask-booked, training based roles, like the fire or aviation world. We will begin with SAR tech this summer, the do SAR Squad leader next spring, etc. Within 3-5 years this will be standardized and mandatory accross the NPS.
Logistics:
Longmire(EOC or Admin, TBA) & 0900-1630

The focus of the training is basic search team functions and litter based evacs. The training will consist of a short talkie session indoors, a series of skills stations, and an afternoon mock search and evac. Within the next few years all SAR team members will be required to have this training. Stefan Lofgren will be the lead instructor.

There is a really informative online training, designed to take 4.5 hrs. This, along with ICS 100 & 700, are mandatory pre-requisites. Please print your quiz results and bring them to class.

Online Training:
https://connectpro77254837.adobeconnect.com/_a964288825/sar

Please print out the taskbook on the above site and bring it to class to be initiated. Also, please bring your SAR pack outfitted with as many of the following items as you have/are issued https://connectpro77254837.adobeconnect.com/_a964288825/SAR_Pack_Checklist . We will do the outdoor drill rain or shine, preferably shine.

Please RSVP to this address.

Ben Guttridge
Lead Paradise General Ranger
Mount Rainier National Park
(360) 569-6687 [office]
(914) 475-7810 [cell] Ben_Guttridge@nps.gov

Aquatics Volunteer Needed!

We are currently in need of a volunteer who will assist in a Lake Riparian Disturbance Monitoring project at Mt. Rainier National Park. Volunteers will be responsible for documenting human disturbance around mountain lakes in the park. Individuals will be responsible for logging social trails, campsites, and other forms of human caused disturbance within 50m of monitored lake shores.

Volunteer must be available for up to 4 days a week starting 8/13/12 and ending on or before 9/7/12.

The preferred abilities of the applicant include :

- Must be able to lift and carry 50+ lbs. backpacks over uneven terrain and in inclement weather.

-Must be able to camp & work in inclement weather for up to 4 days in a row.

-Must have backpacking experience or skills

-Must be able to hike on and off-trail in steep and uneven terrain

-Must be familiar with using a GPS

-Must have some experience using a map and compass.

-Ability to swim preferred

-Must have first aid training experience

-Must be comfortable wading in lakes (using waders) and floating around mountain lakes in a rubber raft.

-Biology knowledge or experience preferred

The volunteer will receive free camping at our volunteer campground in Longmire and free admission to the park. If 250 hours of service are completed, the volunteer will receive a free pass to all national parks and monuments!

If you have questions or interested in this volunteer opportunity, please contact Carrie Anders by email at Carrie_Anders@partner.nps.gov or by phone at 360-569-6588. We look forward to hearing from you!