Sweet Sunrise 2009 Stats

Good news from Sunrise. Julia Pinnix sent me some really awesome statistics on volunteers at Sunrise. They're some cool figures if you break them down, and they say some awesome things about our volunteers.

2009 Sunrise Meadow Rover Statistics:

51 VIPs contacted 10, 541 visitors at Sunrise this summer!!!
Of the 51 VIPs, 20 came only once to Sunrise.

Five volunteers totaled 3,417 contacts at Sunrise. Meaning that of 51 VIP, less than a tenth made more than thirty percent of the visitor contacts! Those are some dedicated volunteers.

· David Howerton spent 255 hours, contacted 1,575 visitors!!
· Gary Knudson and Martha Scoville spent 166.5 hours each and contacted 883 visitors!
· Pete Sabin spent 126 hours, contacted 444 visitors!
· Dan Purnell spent 107.5 hours, contacted 515 visitors!

These folks truly deserve recognition for their work.

High School and REI - Oh My! (Part 1)

The season is almost over, and the volunteer program is wrapping up. The groups are gone, tents come down, campgrounds are closing, and the paperwork is piling up (mainly due to me). We write reports, organize folders - all that fun administrative stuff. If I'm lucky (and productive) I manage to write a blog post. To some it may seem that we go out with a slight shuffling of paper, not even making a whimper.

Not at all!

We in the volunteer program love to go out with a bang, and what a bang it was when just this past week we had not one, but two large volunteer groups out to the park. Last week we were delighted to have both MEAD Alternative High School hailing from Spokane, Washington and REI Adventures from Kent, Washington join us in the park.

Mead Alternative has been a partner with the park for many years, making the long drive to Mount Rainier every season for a week long volunteer field trip. What they do varies from year to year, but this year the name of the game was reveg.

MEAD Alternative High School has been coming to the park for well over ten years now, and always brings a large crew with them. A group of thirty people, including teachers and adult chaperone's, joined Will Arnesen and his revegetation crew in helping to restore the lower Paradise parking lot. They stayed for an entire week, and put a much needed dent in the seemingly inexhaustible supply of plant from the greenhouse, all needing to go into the ground before snow renders the ground unreachable.

The weather for most of the week was horrible. Cold, foggy, and alternating between soggy and a light snow. Yet the students were enthusiastic, willing to work, and (though not always happy about the weather) happy to be helping. Nothing can quite exhaust a person and yet leave them pleased at the same time like working with their hands can.

MEAD High School’s connection to Mount Rainier runs deep. Year after year they come back, but more than that, judging from a picture sent to me, they never really leave. After returning home the group leader, Carol Allen, kindly provided me with this picture of a beautiful mural of Mount Rainier they have at school.

So thanks to MEAD Alternative High School for helping out. And tune in next time for pictures and info from our volunteer friends at REI Adventures. Till we meet again.

Shadows of the Past a HUGE Success

Hey everyone, long time no see. It's been awhile since I last wrote. I took some time off to visit my friends as school starts up, a sorely needed trip, but now I'm back and rearing to go. Hear's to the end of the season, lets let it go out with a bang!

Now for some late breaking announcements:

First off, I want to say "Thanks You!" to all the volunteers who participated in Shadows of the Past.

The Shadows of the Past program on Saturday, August 15th was a smashing success, not in small part due to the huge volunteer response we got. Whether you were a Lantern Bearer, helping to light the way and set the ambiance of the walk, or an actor, dressed up and playing the part, it was the volunteers who allowed this program to go on. It's you guys and gals who really make this program. So give yourself a pat on the back, because you deserve it.

The Lantern Bearers especially deserve our thanks and congratulation. Without them, the walk would not be nearly as successful, or even possible. We had 27! volunteers of all ages helping carry the lanterns, both first timers and old hands. They came early and stayed late, signed forms and waited patiently, and all did an excellent job. They have our recognition, because without the volunteers, there are no Lantern Bearers, and without the Lantern Bearers, there is no Shadows of the Past.

I also want to thank everyone who came to the Volunteer Picnic. It was great fun seeing everyone coming together and discusses the season. That picnic was for you, the volunteer, and it's our little way of saying thanks for helping out and making Mount Rainier National Park all the better for it.

Sunrise Volunteer Brunch

Julia Pinnix, our delightful East District Interpreter, just let me know about this little end-of-season potluck taking place at Sunrise. Come and join fellow staff and volunteers on August 22 at 10:00 AM in the Sunrise VC, and celebrate this successful Summer Season, and a job well done (of course, it's not over yet).

When: Saturday, August 22 at 10:00 AM
Where: The Rover Room in the Sunrise Visitor Center
Why: Why not?

Hope you can all make it!

Join us for the annual Volunteer Recognition Picnic and Shadows of the Past!

Hard as it is to believe, it's already the 4th of August, and our annual Volunteer Recognition Picnic is fast approaching! Please consider joining us on August 15 for lasagna, potluck, awards, photos, stories, friends, and history!

Yes, history: once again, this year's Volunteer Recognition Picnic is on the same day as our popular Shadows of the Past program, in which characters from the history of Mount Rainier come to life along the Trail of the Shadows. Volunteers are needed to help carry lanterns for the program (contact Nick Abel at Nicholas_Abel@partner.nps.gov), but you can also just show up at dusk to enjoy the program as a member of the audience.

Here are the details of our Recognition Picnic:

When: 4:00 p.m. Saturday August 15, 2009

Where: Longmire Community Building (across the Nisqually suspension bridge from Longmire, on the edge of the Longmire Campground)

RSVP: Kevin Bacher, Kevin_Bacher@nps.gov

Bring: Side dishes, salads, and deserts to share. We will provide meat and vegetarian lasagna, a variety of drinks, and table service.

This is a great opportunity to learn what's been happening with the volunteer program, to learn about new volunteer opportunities, and to meet other volunteers. We hope to see you there!

Kevin Bacher
Volunteer Program Manager
Mount Rainier National Park
360-569-2211 ext. 3385