Everybody Loves The Parade!

It's almost time for the Eatonville 4th of July Parade and we need you to celebrate the NPS Centennial with a parade!

Yes, this year we're going all out to celebrate the nation's 240th birthday and the park service's 100th birthday.

Many of you will be working in the park that day, celebrating with the many visitors. But if you're not in the park, think about making the parade part of your (and your family's) 4th of July festivities.

This year we get to do more than just smile, wave flags, and give high fives. We are going all out and will be doing the BioBlitz Dance! Don't panic! You can do it. If this old park service veteran can do it, so can you.

The dance has a brief intro and then four parts (moves) taking a total of 57 seconds, then we move along the parade route and do it again. By the end of the parade you'll be experts!

Here is a video that will teach you the "required" first three moves. Please note: the National Geographic link given in the video no longer offers a download of the BioBlitz song.

The fourth move (Spotted Owl) was created by Annie Runde is unique to Mount Rainier (see below).

Park staff, volunteers, scouts and their family members are welcome to join. Employees and VIPs please wear your uniforms. If you don't have a uniform, dress to celebrate.
 
If you wish to take part, we usually gather on Pennsylvania Ave., near Lynch St., one block west of the football stadium at Eatonville High School.  The exact spot is different each year and is not known until we arrive.  Just look around for some ranger hats.  Please be there by 11:15 AM so we can get instructions and run through the simple dance once or twice as a group.

For more information contact Jim Ross@nps.gov
                                                                               
Please join us!

Volunteers welcome to join NPS contingent at Pride Parade

Hello, Mount Rainier volunteers! The National Park Service has decided to participate in the annual Pride Parade in Seattle this year, and has invited employees (including volunteers) to join the NPS contingent. Many of you live in the Seattle area and may be attending the parade anyway, so here's an opportunity to get involved in a more significant way! Below is the e-mail I received from our contact in Seattle. If you're interested in participating, please contact David Minaglia directly and he will give you further instructions. You are welcome to participate in volunteer uniform if you wish.

And by the way, if you love parades, watch for the imminent announcement of this year's 4th of July Parade in Eatonville, Washington, where we will also be marching!

Thanks,

Kevin Bacher

Volunteer Program Manager

Greetings,

We are sending this message to ensure that all who would like to participate in the Seattle Pride Parade have an opportunity to join us. We are still welcoming folks who want to support our GLBTQ community and our allies. 

This message is going out to our NPS colleagues throughout Washington State.  Feel free to pass-on to other interested individuals.

The Seattle Area National Park Sites are joining our Centennial partner REI for this year’s Pride Parade in Seattle on Sunday, June 26^th.  REI has generously offered to let us join their group, both as a Centennial partner and to emphasize the relationship we have with them through the Outdoor Recreation Information Center in the Seattle REI flagship store.

We are inviting paid & volunteer, uniformed & non-uniformed staff to join us!  If you are interested in joining us in the parade this year, please reply back directly to David Minaglia [at David_Minaglia@nps.gov].

Thanks!

David Minaglia

Outdoor Recreation Information Center

222 Yale Avenue North

Seattle, WA  98109

(206) 470-4060