Nisqually to Paradise, Aug. 18-25

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Cascade Butterfly Project at Mount Rainier

Mountain ecosystems are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change, and butterflies are bellwether species, moving north in latitude or up in elevation as temperatures warm. As part of the Cascades Butterfly Project, you can help track changes in butterfly species distribution and relative density. Just grab a butterfly net and join a three-person team on a designated one-kilometer south-to-north route through an alpine meadow. Each of the 10 routes is monitored weekly during the summer, and both long-term and one-time volunteers are welcome. Even if you can’t make one of the survey days, you can still help: Upload your butterfly pics, along with location info, to the photo inventory project.

Cascades Butterfly Project: https://www.nps.gov/noca/getinvolved/supportyourpark/butterfly-project.htm

Photo Inventory: http://www.butterfliesandmoths.org/

Volunteer on the Centennial - August 25th

Join us on August 25^th at 9am for volunteer projects to celebrate the 100^th year of the National Park Service. There will be celebrations at all of our visitor centers throughout the day, which means plenty of time to get in some hours of service and to soak in the celebration.

Project details:

Meet at 9:00am at the Longmire Museum for campground maintenance projects.

Meet at 9:00am outside the Jackson Visitor Center at the Muir staircase for a trail brushing project.

Please RSVP to Mark_Loper@partner.nps.gov for more details or if you plan to attend. We will accept walkup volunteers but would like to have an idea of numbers for these volunteer projects.

Possible hot weather and decreased air quality later this week

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From our partners at the National Weather Service. Be careful out there, volunteers!
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A Period of Hot Weather and Possible Decreased Air Quality

 Appears Increasingly Likely For Thursday through Saturday

Hello,

This message is intended as an informational briefing for public safety decision makers. We ask that you continue to monitor latest information using the resources listed below. You are welcome to share this message with others in your organization. Please do not respond to this email. If you need to contact the office, please use the links and information below.

SYNOPSIS:

A period of hot weather is becoming increasingly likely Thursday through Saturday in Western Washington. Record high temperatures are possible in Seattle on all three days, and temperatures at night will only cool into the 60s.  There is the potential that maximum temperatures will be higher than currently forecast across the region. 

HEADLINES:

None at this time.

FORECAST SPECIFICS:

Offshore flow will strengthen on Thursday as high pressure develops over British Columbia. Air compressing as it comes down off of the Cascades and Olympics will gradually heat the air mass up starting early Thursday and continuing through early in the weekend. Temperatures on the coast and away from the water will likely peak on Thursday, while temperatures in the interior lowlands will likely peak on Friday. Temperatures in the interior on Saturday will likely only cool a couple of degrees from Friday's hot values.  Hot temperatures on Thursday will be accompanied by low relative humidity and breezy conditions -contributing to increased fire danger. Air quality may degrade somewhat on Friday and Saturday as a thermal trough moves into the interior lowlands and reduces circulation.                       Seattle                  Bellingham            Olympia Day             Hi/Lo/Rec/Yr         Hi/Lo/Rec/Yr       Hi/Lo/Rec/Yr Thu 8/18      88/60/88/1991        87/56/86/1965     90/54/94/1981  Fri   8/19      91/62/89/2015        86/58/84/1950     93/56/94/1961 Sat 8/20       89/63/87/1966        81/59/83/1958     88/56/92/1982

IMPACTS:

A prolonged period of warm to hot weather across the region will mainly impact people in urban areas who are in poor health. People living in high rise buildings without air conditioning will be most impacted.  Any fires that start on Thursday could grow rapidly in the hot, dry and breezy conditions.   A decrease in air quality Friday and Saturday could affect unhealthy individuals. At this time, impacts are expected to be moderate.

CONFIDENCE:

Confidence is high that a period of hot weather will develop on Thursday and will persist into Friday. Confidence is moderate that hot temperatures will persist in the interior into Saturday. Confidence is moderate that the combination of hot temperatures, low relative humidity, and breezy conditions could contribute to a high fire danger across much of Western Washington. Confidence is moderate that air quality will degrade somewhat starting on Friday and perhaps persist or worsen Saturday or Sunday.

iNWS: Smart phone app for the emergency management community to monitor the latest forecasts, warning information and conditions - register at http://inws.wrh.noaa.gov

Web Site: http://www.weather.gov/seattle

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/US.NationalWeatherService.Seattle.gov

Twitter: https://twitter.com/NWSseattle

Thank you,

National Weather Service, Seattle WA

Volunteers Needed!

Volunteers are needed to help with the creation of willow wattle fences. Volunteers can learn about the construction process and local ecology of Tahoma Creek. Volunteers would take part in helping the park re-open a portion of the Westside road. Because part of the design involves live trees, volunteers can watch soil stabilization happen over time.

 

 I am looking for 10 volunteers on each of the following days: August 26, 27, 29, 30, 31/ September 7,8,9.   to work with me on constructing willow wattle fences. This is a great opportunity to volunteer with a group of friends or to meet some new people!

The project would include the following tasks:

- Shoveling soil

- Using tools to cut down young willow and alder branches, to be used for live staking.

- Using rock bars to move rocks, for site preparation.

- Moving soil via wheelbarrow

- Hammering live stakes into the creek bed

A day would span from 8 am to 5 pm, but promises to be invigorating! Volunteers would need to bring their own lunch and their own water. 

 

If you are willing to participate or have questions please contact Jeni Chan at jennifer_chan@partner.nps.gov

 

Thank you!

Jeni Chan 

Thank You Sunrise Meadow Rovers

A Note for the Sunrise Meadow Rovers from Lynn Kittridge

As my month as the Sunrise Meadow Rover Coordinator concludes and Jodie Hollinger-Lant takes over, I have just two things to say:

First: THANK YOU-- for your time, effort, commitment, positive attitudes, smiles and the thousands of wonderful visitor contacts so far this summer.  I miss you already—but know you are in good hands with Jodie.

Second: your dedication is reflected in the numbers.  In July,  57 volunteers gave 1,242.5 hours of your time and made 23,356 visitor contacts.  Compared to July 2015, the number of volunteers increased 19%, the number of hours increased 40% and the number of contacts increased an amazing 69%!

Besides the mountain itself, you are what makes Sunrise the wonderful place it is!  Keep it up!  I hope to see you on the trails again soon.

Sunrise Meadow Rovers Rock!

Citizen Science - Volunteer Amphibian Survey

Last weekend I was lucky enough to volunteer with our citizen science team to do an amphibian survey at Three Lakes. We backpacked in with great weather and the calming views of our old growth forest. On our way in, there was discussion about the Western Toad which was the main reason for our adventure. The crew was in search of toad breeding grounds and evidence of the toad around the Three Lakes area. The Western Toad has not been doing well at the park and locating breeding grounds would be important for our scientists – to ensure toad tadpoles are able to become toads. After our six mile trek with our heavy packs, we started the survey at a wetland not too far from the Three Lakes cabin we stayed at for two nights. As luck would have it, there were toad tadpoles aplenty! It was delightful to come across this fortune of toad tadpoles so quickly on our trip. We immediately went to work – catching, measuring and documenting these tadpoles.

As day two began, our spirits were high after the find of the first day - questions lingered -  could we find toad toddlers or even a large adult toad? The first few spots we looked at had many Cascade Frogs but no signs of the toad.  We arrived at small lake glanced around and announced that the location did not look “toad-y”. We walked over to the lake and began the survey. Almost right away, a young toad was found, then another and another. These one year old toads were keeping us busy – weighing, measuring and photographing them. Then we found an adult male toad, which put the others to shame. He was big, calm and very fun to photograph. As our time went on at this site, we found another adult toad and even caught a garter snake. The trip was a success and it felt it had only begun. However, as we moved on there were only a few more toads to be found. The weather cooperated and as our team of four sat down for dinner we reminisced of how successful the trip had been.

With a much quicker hike out on day three, the trip was over. The citizen science team and new brave volunteers are at Mystic Lake this weekend, again in search of the Western Toad.

Our citizen science program provides great opportunities for volunteers of all ages. Projects range from short one day lake surveys to backpacking surveys like the one described above. For more information do not hesitate to contact me.

Mark Loper

***All photos taken by volunteer Mark Kenny

Nisqually to Paradise, August 11-18

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Catch Big Red to the Washington State Fair!

Celebrating the NPS Centennial the park's Big Red will be featured in the Northwest Outdoors Building at the 2016 State Fair in Puyallup

 
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The 2016 Washington State Fair is fast approaching. This year the fair runs from September 2nd through September 25th. Yes, it starts Labor Day Weekend and will be 4 days longer (the Fair will be closed on Tuesdays). Last year park staff and volunteers talked to over 14,000 people and thousands more checked out our exhibits. With the Red Bus right in front of the Mount Rainier Informational Booth we will have the opportunity to share our love of the park with even more people. However, with the extra days and extra emphasis of the NPS Centennial, we will need a lot more help from staff and volunteers.    

 

The Red Bus, our exhibits, and the snow shoe track will be great.  But more important is the presence of a real live person representing the park service and talking with all those enthusiastic fair goers. 

 

We need lots of help!

 We have two opportunities for you to help out

#1. Staffing the Mount Rainier Informational Booth:   

Mon, Wed-Fri:  first shift 10:00-1:30, second shift 1:30-5:00, third shift 5:00-8:30.

Sat-Sun:  first shift 9:00-1:00, second shift 1:00-5:00, third shift 5:00-9:00.

Details:  We would like to have two park people for each of the three  3 1/2 or 4-hour shifts a day.  Opening time on Saturday and Sundayis one hour earlier which necessitates 4-hour shifts on Sat-Sun.  But those are the busiest days so you won't even notice the extra 1/2-hour. At the Information booth you answer questions about the park and the park service.  Some resources will be available to help you with answers. You will also be helping with the hands-on activities in the booth and keeping an eye on the Big Red. 
  
  
#2. Staff the Snowshoe Walk:   
Fri-Sun:  first shift Noon-3:00, second shift 3:00-6:00

Details: On Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays from Noon to 6 PM the NW Outdoors Building and Mount Rainier National Park will be providing a snowshoe experience (mainly for kids, but adults can try too).  The trail of straw will be an L-shaped loop about 30 yards long and will wander around and through a native plant display.  There will be two 3-hr shifts each day and we need at least two people each shift.  It will be a busy, but quick, three hours.  

.How to sign up: Send me an email (jim_ross@nps.gov) and include the following things:

1. Which activity you would like to work

2. The date(s)

3. The time shift(s)

4. Your current mailing address (so I can mail instructions, maps, and tickets) 

You may sign up for multiple dates, times, and activities.

Available time slots: If you go the the link below, you can see which time slots have already been scheduled. You may NOT sign up at this link. It is informational only. To sign up please send me an email.

All Participants:  Once you are scheduled in a time slot you will receive a letter with instructions, maps and tickets for admission to the fair and a parking pass (one day parking and admission worth $25). You can experience the fair before and/or after your shift.

Volunteers: If you have a uniform and/or a VIP hat please wear it. VIP hats will be available at the information booth. 

Check out the available day and time slots: If you go to the link below, you can see which time slots have already been scheduled.  You may not sign up at this link.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1RVDy-FrronJW4ec2ao5cZCtTnPZJLiVZCSadvmtwm38/edit?usp=sharing

  
Thanks, and we’ll see you at the fair!

Jim Ross

jim_ross@nps.gov

August 2016 Volunteer Newsletter

The August 2016 Volunteer Newsletter went out with an error in the dates for the volunteer picnics. The correct dates are reflected in the revised edition, available on Google Drive.

August 2016 Volunteer Newsletter