Seeking year-long curriculum-based education intern

Mount Rainier's education program is seeking a motivated individual to fill a year-long Student Conservation Association internship, starting immediately. A complete description of the position follows. Apply online on the SCA website, and also give Education Program Manager Anne Doherty a call at 360-569-6039. This is a rare position that is both long-term and fully-funded, so spread the word and send in those applications!

Education Program Intern Position Code : 7156

Mount Rainier National Park is a 235,000-acre park in Washington state containing rugged mountainous terrain, pristine lakes, rivers and streams, ecological zones ranging from forested lowlands to alpine tundra and an active volcano with the largest single-peak glacial system in the contiguous United States. It is also the fifth oldest national park and includes outstanding examples of park rustic architecture and early park master planning. Mount Rainier has an international Sister Mountain relationship with Mount Fuji in Japan.

The Park’s Curriculum-Based Education Program serves K-University level teachers and their students visiting the park and Education Center on field trips. We also offer a variety of professional development opportunities for teachers, including single to multi-day curriculum-based and review workshops, presentations at professional education conferences and events, and in Summer 2008 we are piloting a Teacher-Ranger-Teacher (TRT) Program to assist with curriculum development for the new, multi-year, international Mount Rainier-Mount Fuji Sister Mountain Curriculum Project & Teacher Exchange Workshop Program.

The Intern will work alongside the TRTs and Park Education Staff to research and develop international interdisciplinary middle school curriculum about Mount Rainier and Mount Fuji.

Develop and present curriculum-based education programming, in the field and in the new Education Center; help research and develop new Education Center programs; help create additional educational materials as needed or assigned; assist with any teacher workshops scheduled to begin during that time. Primary education program topics include geology of Mount Rainier (volcanology, glaciers), life zones ecology (plant and animal adaptations), old growth/lowland forest, upland forest, subalpine zones, National Park Service Mission and Careers, park history, sustainable design of the Education Center, current park research, Leave No Trace, service learning projects, and winter ecology (depending on season of internship).

Position Type: Env Ed - Environmental Education

Required: Must have a valid driver's license to perform duties or drive site vehicle.

What skills are required for this position?
Valid driver's license; ability and willingness to undergo a required criminal history background check; experience or knowledge in curriculum - based education programming for a broad range of ages; ability to lead programs in the classroom and in the field; ability to share work and living space amicably.

A personal vehicle is required since there is no public transportation in this remote area. However, the Intern will live within walking distance of Education Center. A government vehicle is provided for work-related travel.

What skills are desired for this position?
First aid/CPR certification, especially in remote field locations; knowledge of geology, Pacific Northwest ecosystems, winter ecology and National Park Service mission; computer and web design skills; knowledge of minimum impact principles and practices; hiking, snowshoeing and backpacking experience.

Training Provided:
Various on-the-job training opportunities will be available, depending on workload, position needs, Intern’s personal interest, and budget constraints. These may include: attending and presenting at professional education conferences and events, interpretation workshops, job shadow and career exploration opportunities, grant research and writing, CPR/First Aid, and others (types and frequency of training opportunities vary from season to season and year to year). There will be a basic level of safety, park and program policies and protocol, computer security, and winter training, including snowshoe walks.

Educational/Recreational Opportunities:
Opportunity to help research and write grant proposals. (See Educational and Training Opportunities.)

On personal time, there are many miles of roads and trails in and around the park to explore. The park is also adjacent to a variety of other agency-managed public lands that offer a variety of recreational opportunities, including skiing, snowshoeing, mountain biking, etc. There are also many different educational opportunities related to history, wildlife, museums, etc. between ½-2 hours’ driving time away in the many small towns, cities, and major metropolitan areas of Tacoma and Seattle.

Photo of "volunteers in action" wins National Public Lands Day photo contest

A photo of one of our volunteers participating in National Public Lands Day on September 27, 2008 was selected as a winner of the annual NPLD Photo Contest! Volunteer Program Manager Kevin Bacher's photo of Bintou Sangare brushing the Snow Lake Trail will be featured on the NPLD website and in related publications--and has earned Kevin a gift basket from sponsor Aveeno!

Fundraising efforts support volunteers at Mount Rainier

The News Tribune has a nice article today about the fundraising efforts of Washington's National Park Fund, which, among other projects, is raising money to support volunteer efforts at Mount Rainier. If enough money is raised, donations will help pay for a seasonal volunteer coordinator and campground manager, who will work with the volunteer program manager (me) to plan and implement a strategic plan for our program. We've made significant gains in the wake of the great floods of November 2006, literally doubling the number of people who participate in our program, and greatly expanding our range of volunteer opportunities. We've done this with the invaluable assistance of the Student Conservation Association and its Mount Rainier Recovery Initiative. Now, we hope to make volunteerism a key part of every program in the park.

Here's an excerpt from the article, the full text of which is available on The News Tribune's website:

For Mount Rainier, the fund and park staff have identified six programs and projects valued at more than $230,000. The projects include efforts to connect more children and parents to the park through camping, to help restore Paradise meadows, to do a climate change study and to assist the volunteer program. “Wouldn’t it be fabulous if we could raise $1 million and then fund everything we’ve identified as a priority and more,” said Eleanor Kittleson, the group’s executive director.... Even with the economy in the tank, Kittleson remains confident the fund will be successful because of the approach they have taken. In the past, the message was “help us preserve our parks,” she said. “I’m saying that we’ll be more successful if we can establish a goal and tell a donor exactly where their money is going.”

Donations can be made through The Fund's website.

Snow safety and avalanche course open to volunteers

From Mike Gauthier:

The ranger division is coordinating a Snow Safety and Avalanche course on Jan 5-7.

The Level 1 Snow Safety and and Avalanche Course is a 24 hour curriculum.

This is an excellent opportunity to build a foundation in snow safety and other avalanche related skills. This course is designed for those who regularly work in and around snow, whether on roads or in the field. It's also a great course for those who issue permits and work directly with the public, or for those who provide other visitor services (like publications) or supervise field staff. Even if you've taken a snow safety course before, consider this an opportunity to refresh your skills and get up-to-date information on snow safety, avalanche assessment, avalanche avoidance, and rescue.

Students who successfully complete the course will be Level 1 certified by the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education ( AIARE ).

Please let Stefan Lofgren know if you have questions or would like to attend the course. Space is limited and we expect it to fill. Tuition for it is $275 per student.

Mike Gauthier
Mount Rainier National Park
360 569 2211

Photos updated

Finally! Our Picasa photo page has been updated with all the latest and greatest photos of volunteers in action, including those from this past summer. Check it out at piacasaweb.google.com/RainierVolunteers!

Winter Operations Training

Winter Operations Training on Friday the 12th was well-attended by staff and volunteers, in spite of the heavy snowfall. Here's a photo from Pete Sabin. Thanks to all who attended!

Do Your Part

Following up yesterday's post about the article in Backpacker Magazine about climate change and flooding at Mount Rainier, here's a website that provides great information and resources to park staff and volunteers about how individuals can participate in the effort to reduce the effects of climate change. Mount Rainier National Park is deeply involved, and among other things, will be doing an energy inventory to assess ways of improving our efficiency.

While you're roving the meadows at Paradise, encouraging people to reduce their literal footprints on the fragile subalpine ecosystem, consider also encouraging them to reduce their carbon footprint as well--one of the greatest long-term threats to that environment.

Here's a few tips from the downloadable "Do Your Park Visitor Tip Sheet" (also available at high resolution for printing):

1. Emissions from personal vehicles make up the majority of global warming pollution generated in national parks. When possible, carpool or take public transportation to the parks, and use shuttles within the parks.


2. Help reduce energy consumed by park buildings. Consider simple actions such as not leaving the water running when brushing teeth or turning off lights where appropriate.


3. Recycled paper, plastics and aluminum use 55-95% less energy than products made from scratch.


4. It is better to turn your car off than leave it running. Letting your car idle for just 20 seconds burns more gasoline than turning your car off and on again.


5. Americans buy about 28 billion water bottles every year. Energy is needed to fill, transport, and refrigerate the bottles and then recover, recycle, or dispose of them.

Thunder on the Mountain

Backpacker Magazine has an excellent article in the January issue about the 2006 floods at Mount Rainier and their long-term implications. The article focuses mainly on the flood damage and its relation to climate change, but also in several places mentions our volunteer efforts in rebuilding.

The magazine has a section on their website for Mount Rainier, but to read the article, you'll need to pick up the magazine in the store or at your library. Here's an exerpt:

Paul Kennard, Rainier's geomorphologist, or river specialist, speaks with a scientist's detatched calm about the guillotine suspended over Mt. Rainier National Park. He sees debris flows more frequently now--about four a year for the past five years--and says conditions are ripe for a cataclysmic flood. But his biggest worry isn't a flood so much as what researchers don't yet understand: namely, how bad the storms may get, and how soon they'll arrive.

Mike Gauthier heading to DC

Here's yet another ranger heading for bigger and better things! "Gator" (pictured with Director Mary Bomar after the 2007 flood) has been around forever, and he probably knows the upper mountain as well or better than anyone else in existence. He's also been a key partner to our volunteer program--always incredibly supportive, and always eager to work with volunteers to make the climbing program more effective and more responsive to the public. He's an innovator who first came up with the idea of using blogs to communicate with the public; his climbing blog is now one of the major points of contact between the park and the climbing community. He will be sorely missed in the park and on the Mountain.

This from Chief Ranger Chuck Young:

Please join me in congratulating Mike Gauthier for being selected as one of two NPS recipients nationwide of the Bevinettto Congressional Fellowship. He will be going to Washington DC in January to begin the two year program

The Bevinetto Fellowship is a two-year training and development program within the National Park Service’s Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs. During the first year, the Bevinetto Fellow works on the staff of a member, committee, or a support agency/organization of the Congress and reports to the staff director of the assigned office. During the second year of the fellowship, the Bevinetto Fellow reports to the deputy assistant director, Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs, and assists in the development, coordination, and implementation of the National Park Service legislative affairs program, including Congressional relations and controlled correspondence. Following the two year program, recipients of this Fellowship may apply for or are placed in management level positions, usually as Superintendents.

Mike has served at Mount Rainier National Park for 18 years. One might say he's "grown up" in the park's climbing program, and has served as the Climbing Program Manager for the past year and a half. Mike started his career with the Park Service at OLYM in 1985 and has worked at Mount Rainier with the climbing and SAR program since 1990. He was instrumental in establishing the Commercial Guiding Prospectus which resulted in the park successfully transitioning from one climbing guide company to three in 2007, working on the Camp Muir plan and improvements, establishing the current climbing fee program, and perhaps most importantly, establishing a safe and effective NPS mountaineering program here at Mount Rainier which protects park staff, visitors, and the mountain.

Mike's experience and outreach to climbing groups such as the Mountaineers, guides, media, and commercial guiding companies have firmly placed him in an "icon" status for Mount Rainier. When one discusses the climbing program at Mount Rainier, Mike's name inevitably comes up. He has never lost sight, however, of the overall mission of the National Park Service and how the climbing and SAR program here fits into the overall NPS vision. Most recently, Mike assisted park operations by helping formulate an avalanche plan, leading the multi-divisional effort to move out of the old JVC, serving on interdivisional committees, and coordinating parkwide training in SAR and avalanche safety. Although Mike's insight, experience, and quality work will definitely be missed here, he will provide a solid field perspective to the NPS legislative affairs office and the Directorate, and whatever future management positions he pursues.

Mike will be leaving for DC in early January, but will be back in February to move his household good. We will be planning a proper sendoff for Mike sometime when he is here in February.
_______________________
R. Chuck Young
Chief Ranger

Uberuaga to serve as Acting Superintendent at Yosemite

Just got this in our park mail. This is big news for Mount Rainier and for our volunteer program, as Dave is deeply involved in many current issues at the park, from Carbon River planning to development of the volunteer program. Dave received a Federal Land Managers Award this summer for his support of volunteers at Mount Rainier. At the same time, Randy King, who will temporarily take Dave's place, is equally supportive of our volunteer program, so I do not anticipate any changes in that regard. This is an excellent career opportunity for both Dave and Randy.

Yosemite News Release
December 8, 2008
For Immediate Release

David "Dave" Uberuaga (You burr ah gah) will serve as acting superintendent of Yosemite National Park, Calif, beginning January 4, 2009. He arrives at the park as Superintendent Mike Tollefson retires from federal service.

Uberuaga, a 24-year veteran of the National Park Service (NPS) is the current superintendent of Mount Rainier National Park, Wash. He will move to Yosemite Valley and assume Tollefson’s place until the selection of the next superintendent for the park is selected by Regional Director Jonathan B. Jarvis and the Director of the NPS.

While Uberuaga is stationed in California, his deputy, Randy King, will serve as superintendent of Mount Rainier National Park.

"I have enormous confidence in Dave," Jarvis said in making the appointment. "Dave and Mike have served together on leadership councils within the NPS and their relationship ensures a smooth transition."

Among the challenges Uberuaga has worked on this year at Mount Rainier is the rehabilitation of the historic Paradise Inn and completion of a new park visitor center also at Paradise. He will be following Tollefson who has shepherded the rehabilitation of Yosemite Falls and Tunnel View.
"It will be difficult to fill Mike’s shoes," Uberuaga said. "He retires having achieved tremendous success and a solid relation with the community, and it will be a pleasure to work collaboratively with him as he assumes the position of President of the Yosemite Fund."

The selection of a permanent superintendent at Yosemite will take several months. The superintendent is a Senior Executive Service (SES) position, the highest career level in the federal government. The rigorous application process is open to SES qualified individuals within the NPS.

"Dave’s a solid manager," Tollefson said. "I can’t think of a better way to start my new position with the Yosemite Fund then by working with him."

-NPS-

Roving update

As you can see on our Paradise webcam, we have snow at Paradise! Just a few inches at this point, but it does help both with meadow protection and with our hopes for a good snowshoeing and skiing season.

Several of you came up last weekend to help rove the parking areas and trails near the new JVC. THANK YOU! If this snow continues, we may not need the same next weekend. However, remember that winter operations training will be on Friday, and that there are other valuable things to keep rovers busy. Here's the latest from Curt Jacquot:

The [Natural and Cultural Resources] staff roped off the area quite well and there were no problems with the planted beds near the VC this weekend. However, we could still use help educating visitors about the amount of snow needed to allow off trail use without damage to the plants in the meadow. We also might need help removing the poles and ropes soon before they become a safety hazard! The other current issue is educating the public regarding the three foxes who now roam the Paradise parking lot continually looking and often receiving human food.

Remember that the down hill gate at Longmire currently closes in the evening at 5:30 PM. The uphill gate opens once plow operations have ended usually by 9 AM but sometimes later. If you still want to come up let me know when you will be coming. Note that the Paradise VC is only open weekends and Holidays.

Thanks, everyone!

On an unrelated note, check out these awesome photos of lenticular clouds over Mount Rainier, on the KOMO News Blog.

Low Snow May Impact Winter Activities at Mount Rainier

December 5, 2008
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Curt Jacquot, West District Interpreter, (360) 569-2211 ext. 3312

Visitors eager to enjoy winter activities like skiing, snowshoeing, and sledding are finding Paradise a little too warm. “We usually have about 50 inches of snow on the ground at Paradise by December 1,” said Ranger Julia Pinnix. “Right now we only have an inch or two.” The park requires visitors to stay on trails to avoid damaging fragile alpine plants. The snowplay area at Paradise will not be opened until enough snow has accumulated to protect the plants beneath.

Snowshoe Walks
Join a Park Ranger to learn the art of snowshoeing and discover how the plants and animals of Mount Rainier adapt to world record snowfalls. If there is not enough snow for snowshoeing, interpretive programs will still be offered at the scheduled times and dates. During the Christmas-New Year’s break, the guided walks will be offered daily beginning December 20 through January 4. From January 10 through March 29 the walks will be conducted on weekends and holidays. The walks are offered at 12:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Sign up at the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise beginning one hour before the start time.

Organized groups of 13-25 people may reserve a snowshoe walk in advance. Group snowshoe walks begin at 10:30 a.m. For more information or to make a reservation, call (360) 569-2211, ext. 3314.

Snowshoe walks cover approximately 1.5 miles and last up to 2 hours. Snowshoes are provided, or visitors may use their own. A donation of $1 per person is asked to help defray the cost of snowshoe maintenance. Snowshoeing is a moderately strenuous activity, and participants must be at least 8 years old. Remember to wear sturdy boots and dress in layers.

“These walks are a fun way to try out a new skill while enjoying the beautiful landscape of Mount Rainier,” said park superintendent Dave Uberuaga.

Curriculum-based snowshoe education walks are available at no charge to school groups on weekdays through the park’s Education Program. These programs are tailored to meet the teacher’s identified learning objectives. Contact Fawn Bauer at (360) 569-6037 for more information or to schedule your field trip. The park is also offering a Winter Workshop for teachers on January 16-18.

Please check the Mount Rainier National Park website at http://www.nps.gov/mora/forteachers/index.htm for more information about field trips and teacher workshops.

Please remember that roads in the park may be closed at any time due to hazardous conditions. General park information is available at www.nps.gov/mora or by calling 360-569-2211.

-NPS-

Updates on Paradise roving needs

Here's an update on the urgent fencing project at Paradise, from Josh Drown at our greenhouse:

I was able to install fencing in all of what I see to be the highest priority areas yesterday afternoon. Even the newly planted areas I considered lower priority however, visitors were walking into to collect snow and look at trees just past the end of my lines. At this point I'm looking at fencing off all the planted areas on all sides of the Visitor Center from the walkways and roads. I ran out of daylight yesterday and would estimate only about an hour of work left for one person. Sounds like those of you interested will be available this afternoon so I will be at Paradise at 1:00 if anyone would like to have any input and discuss options for maintenance and removal. I am willing maintain these fences but would require assistance monitoring as I work down in Tahoma Woods. I will post pictures at the end of the day for those not able to go up.

And also this from Curt Jacquot, the visitor center supervisor at Paradise:

Another Paradise parking lot task is to contact skiers and snowboarders and advise them of where they need to go to avoid damaging vegetation (and related regulations). We also need to ask sliders to take their devices back to their vehicles until the snowplay area is ready to go. VIP's can stop in at the JVC desk for the latest information and/or advice we have.

If you plan to come up to Paradise to rove, I recommend dropping Curt an e-mail or giving the visitor center a call at 360-569-6036 to let them know you're coming, so they know how many people to expect.

The weather report for Paradise: Dry and mostly cloudy today, with chance of rain and snow increasing on Saturday as a cold front passes through. Freezing level Saturday will be 8,500 feet. Showers again on Sunday as an upper level trough moves through. Here's a link to the live webcam (also here, here, and here), where as of this writing it looks like a beautiful day at Paradise.

Meadow Rovers urgently needed at Paradise

Mount Rainier Meadow Rovers,

I've been out of the office today with a doctor's appointment. I checked my park e-mail this afternoon and learned of an urgent need for Meadow Rovers at Paradise. I'll follow up with an e-mail to everyone on the Meadow Rover mailing list tomorrow when I return to the office, but for now, I want to get this word out as quickly as possible.

The plant beds at Paradise, next to the new Jackson Visitor Center, are being severely trampled by visitors, who apparently do not realize that they are an area that should be off-limits. Reports started coming in of trampling more than a week ago, but there were questions of whether it was appropriate to create the visual impact of fencing, plus we hoped that snow would soon cover and protect the plants. Any fencing we put up would have to be out of the way of snow plows that could push it over.

But the problems has become urgent. This from Chief of Natural and Cultural Resources Rodger Andrascik:

Based on the morning report there is no snow at Paradise currently. Saturday - Based on my observation and amount of post holing that had already occurred - it looked like a herd of elk had already gone through there. I just hate to see all our efforts and money go to waste. Has anyone from NCR gone up to check out the current plant conditions to see if there is any evidence of damage? I understand Curt has taken some signing measures and maybe things did improve but it seems we need to be prepared to deal with snow fluctuations and expect the worst in order to protect the area... We could always set a rope line or cross stakes inside the planting beds a set distance to avoid the plowing efforts or snow removal zone.

So today the decision was made to install rope/fencing immediately, and the request was made to call out the Meadow Rovers to appear in force on the weekends to educate people about the importance of staying out of the area. We've had a few Meadow Rovers out on the weekends already, many of them roaming the areas around the old JVC and talking to people about the demolition. If you've been part of that effort, thank you! Now we need the rest of you, if you're available. It's not a typical time of year for Meadow Roving, but the need is great!

The latest from Greenhouse Manager Libby Roberts:

Damage has been occurring since the beds were planted. Josh [Drown] went up yesterday, Dec. 3, to document additional damage and to get linear measurements of the areas that we will need to fence. He picked up fence posts and rope from Ohana so that we can start installing the rope and post fencing. Josh also talked with the Roads crew to discuss placement of the fence so as to have the least impact on the snow removal operations. Once snow removal operations begin in earnest, there will need to be daily monitoring of the fence to ensure that the fence posts haven not fallen into the road/walkways, hampering snow removal operations or causing damage to equipment, etc. The posts will need to be reset periodically to ensure visibility until the snow is deep enough to protect the vegetation. Josh may start the installation today, and then finish up with the help of Curt and Lou on Friday starting at 1:00pm.

So here's what we need:

• If you're available, feel free to come up and help set fencing tomorrow (Friday) at 1:00.
• If your schedule permits, come up and rove the areas around the visitor center, and the nearby trails, on the weekends until we get enough snow to protect the plantings (and the rest of the meadows).

For those of you who aren't yet Meadow Rovers, check out our Meadow Rover page, and send me a note to get on our mailing list for next spring's Meadow Rover training. Mount Rainier's subalpine meadows are second to none, and their protection is one of our key missions! Thanks, everyone!

Volunteer needed to organize Climate Friendly Parks Workshop!

A volunteer is needed, beginning immediately, to help organize a Climate Friendly Parks Workshop at Mount Rainier National Park on February 18 and 19th, 2009.

The focus of the workshop is to:

1. learn about the impacts of climate change to the Cascade Mountain Range;
2. discuss a range of climate friendly actions/possibilities (in areas such as alternative energy, energy conservation, solid waste reduction, environmental purchasing, transportation, and education/interpretation); and
3. develop a climate friendly action plan for Mount Rainier National Park.

We intend to invite community stakeholders from all around the park to participate in this workshop with park staff. See http://www.nps.gov/climatefriendlyparks/ for more information.

Time: December 10th to Febuary 19th, a few hours here and there. No set schedule. Work possible from home as long as internet is available.

Duties include:

• Assisting with workshop set-up (1-2 days mid-February).
• Participating in logistics conference call (January 8th).
• Assisting with invitation lists and formatting a “save the date” flyer (2-3 days ASAP). Confirming invitees.
• Confirming speakers for workshop and answering logistical questions.
• Other duties that come up for workshop.
• Assisting with final revisions to an emissions inventory conducted in the park.

For more information, and to express interest in this position, please contact Rebecca Lofgren as soon as possible at 360-569-2211 ext. 3371 or (Corrected) rebecca_a_lofgren@nps.gov. You may also submit an application online.

Upcoming volunteer opportunities

As most of you already know, volunteer opportunities during the winter months are few and far between. We do work with a few experienced volunteers in the visitor center at Paradise; a few volunteers help out in our curatorial library and greenhouse; work continues through the winter in our curriculum-based education program; and a dedicated team of volunteers conducts ski patrol through the Washington Ski Touring Club.

That said, some of the long-term volunteer opportunities for next summer are already posted on our Volunteer Opportunities page, and more will be coming soon. I just updated the list. Here's a quick summary of what's currently available:

• Geoscientists-in-Parks: Every summer, Mount Rainier hires at least one and sometimes as many as three interns through the Geologic Society of America's Geoscientists-in-Parks program. We typically hire one intern to provide interpretive programs on geologic themes at Sunrise, and another at Paradise. Last summer we also hired a GIP intern who helped with our geomorphology research program at Longmire. The advertisement period for these positions was scheduled to open today, and while I don't see anything posted yet, they should appear soon. The application period is brief and competition is stiff, so watch the website and get ready to apply if you're a college student studying geology. (If you aren't, surely you know someone who is, right? Let them know about this great opportunity!)
• Nordic Patrol: The Washington Ski Touring Club is the best opportunity to volunteer at Mount Rainier during the winter months. Visit their website for more information on how you can participate. Volunteers help us with trail marking and visitor assistance throughout the winter.
• Student Conservation Association Internships: Announcements will be posted soon for internships starting next summer. Watch the Student Conservation Association's webpage for announcements including interpretive rangers, revegetation assistants, biology interns, and backcountry patrol interns, among many others. In addition, we hope to work again next summer with Conservation Leadership Corps teams of high school students recruited locally. Visit the SCA website for information on how to get involved with these teams.
• CPR and First Aid Trainier: The park is in short supply of local individuals to help train staff and volunteers in the skills of CPR and first aid, mostly during the late spring when our seasonal staff comes on board.
• Meadow Rover: We won't be roving meadows again until next June. Still, we're already accepting applications! Learn more about the program here, and plan to join us in Tacoma for the spring Meadow Rover's Brunch on May 9 for an early orientation.
• Campground Host: Believe it or not, this listing is for Summer 2010. Host positions at Cougar Rock and Ohanapecosh are incredibly popular, and competition for them is intense, especially now that earlier restrictions on pet ownership have been relaxed. All of the positions for 2009 have already been filled; however, any applications submitted now will be kept on file for 12 months, and will be reviewed in September when we begin hiring for the 2010 season.

Here's a preview of two more position announcements that will be coming soon (just as soon as I can write a good recruitment notice for them):

• Volunteer Program Assistant: Depending on budget, we hope to hire a volunteer program assistant for five to seven months during the summer of 2009. This individual will help develop, expand, and implement the volunteer program, with special emphasis on developing new volunteer opportunities, working with park supervisors and program managers to develop strategies for working with volunteers, and working with park partners to support the program through recruitment and fundraising.
• Longmire Campground Manager: The Longmire Campground is now up and running for use by volunteers! We'll hire a campground manager from May through September to coordinate it, including building platform tents in the spring and taking them down in the fall; scheduling use by volunteers; and maintaining the new bathrooms and showers. This individual will also help with general office work and data entry.

It may be quiet on the trails right now, but there's much to look forward to next summer!

More JVC demolition photos

For those of you who have been following the ongoing demolition of the old Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise, here's a new set of photos taken on November 26:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bacherfamily/sets/72157610160064227/

For your convenience, here, too, is the first set of photos, taken on November 17:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bacherfamily/sets/72157609308833157/

And the photos from the dedication of the new visitor center on October 10:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bacherfamily/sets/72157607920141650/

You'll find plenty of other Mount Rainier photos here, including my collections of volunteer photos:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bacherfamily/collections/72157609308910719/

Enjoy!