Volunteer Newsletter: July 2015

June Highlights

The start of our volunteer season was a strong one in June, with many different events culminating in hours of hard work put in around the mountain.  Here are some highlights from the past month:

Tribal Use Dedication – June 10^th

At the junction of the Nisqually River and the Longmire Stewardship Campground lies a recently dedicated piece of land.  This land was dedicated as a Tribal Use Area, as members of the Nisqually Tribe participated in the dedication, showcasing traditional dance and grilling salmon over a fire.

Geocacher’s CITO Event – June 13^th

The 8^th Annual CITO (Cache In, Trash Out) event was a very productive one, as geocachers and others worked hard in and around the Longmire Stewardship Campground.  They were able to help prepare the campground for the fast approaching summer season by cleaning the campsites, removing debris, erecting platform tents, filling potholes, and giving a much needed coat of paint to an adjacent firebox.  Thanks to their dedication year after year, we are able to provide a spectacular campground for all of our volunteers to enjoy.

Girl Scouts of Tacoma, Washington – June 25^th to June 28^th

Seven members of Girl Scout Troop 40216 of Tacoma, Washington stayed with us in the Longmire Stewardship Campground and had a blast.  When they arrived, they had a lesson with volunteer coordinator Crow on different forms of photography and lessons on various organisms from a “Penny’s Perspective.”  The second day they spent with members of our Education team and learned all about habitats around Mount Rainier and spent much of their additional time hiking to Carter Falls, cooling off in the Nisqually River, and constructing a small rock dam in the ultimate show of teamwork (they later destroyed it, as it was not to be a permanent structure).  On their final day, they tied all this new knowledge together to participate in our MeadoWatch program.  They walked along portions of trail in the Paradise area, taking pictures of flowers they saw, making note of their exact location, and entered it into an Internet database once they returned home.  The intrepid group of girls pressed on bravely through the sweltering sun in the name of science, and with the promise from their leaders of ice cream at the end.  Work with a Boy Scout or Girl Scout Troop in your hometown and are looking for service projects?  We can help! 

Citizen Science Trainings – Throughout the Month of June

Many citizen science projects kicked off this month with higher numbers of volunteers than ever before.  The MeadoWatch program is designed to allow volunteers of all kinds to help monitor and track the impacts of global climate change at Mount Rainier.  Participants will be collecting information throughout the summer and over many years in the form of noting the stage of development of different species of flowers along a set trail.  Scientists will then study this data and compare it from year to year.  The Cascades Butterfly Project is taking the same approach as the MeadoWatch crew in that they are enlisting the help of dozens of volunteers to help track and identify sensitive indicator species, such as butterflies, in five different locations throughout the park.  They too will be continuing on with this project over many years and tracking the effects of global climate change.  Love science and want to participate in these or similar studies?  There are still spots available!

Meadow Rovers – Throughout the Month of June

This year is on track to be one of the most popular years for visitors in Mount Rainier’s history.  With thousands upon thousands of visitors rambling through the trails, many questions may go unanswered, many flowers may be picked from our pristine subalpine fields, many dogs may chase down those loveable marmots, and many meadows may become stomped.  This is where the Meadow Rover crew comes into play.  Showing in record numbers this year, the Meadow Rovers have one goal: to improve protection of the meadows at Paradise and Sunrise through visitor education.  This devoted group of volunteers spends their time on patrol around the meadows of Paradise and Sunrise, sharing stories with visitors on a wide range of topics, educating guests on a variety of ecological concepts and programming within the park, and assisting those in need while on the trails.  We’d love to have you out roving the meadows at either Paradise or Sunrise!

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Looking Ahead to July

July is looking to be a hot month, but that won’t stop our volunteer crews!  Here are some events coming up in the month of July (and beyond).

Eatonville 4^th of July Parade – July 4^th

This year we are celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the Wonderland trail, the 90+ mile loop trail that encircles the mountain.  Come cheer us on, or if you’d like, join us walking the parade route!  For more information, contact Jim Ross at Jim_Ross@nps.gov, or just show up at 11:30 on Penn Avenue in Eatonville and look for the ranger vehicle. Wear your trail maintenance helmets and show your support for the Wonderland Trail!

SCA Community Crew #1 – July 6^th

On July 6^th, we welcome our first of three youth crews from the Seattle area as part of the Student Conservation Association’s Community Crew program.  These volunteers will spend two weeks working in the backcountry alongside trail crews, improving many miles of trails.  If you hike past them, make sure to express your support for them and all of their hard work! The second crew will then be arriving on July 27th and staying through August 10th.

Mount Rainier National Parks Associates “Deveg” – July 11^th

The next MRNPA volunteer work party will be on Saturday, July 11^th.  The primary focus of this work party will be exotic plant removal, or “deveg,” at the site of the new Carbon River Ranger Station, just west of the Carbon River Entrance.  They are meeting between 8:30am and 9:00am in front of the ranger station and no prior experience is needed; all training necessary will be provided on site.  If interested, please contact MRNPA at volunteer@mrnpa.org with information of how many volunteers you are expecting to accompany you.

Washington Trails Association Trail Work – Every Weekend of the Summer

The WTA is a longstanding partner of Mount Rainier National Park, and every weekend they are having volunteer work parties that are designed to improve sections of trail that are commonly traveled.  For information on where their next work project is in the park and how YOU can join them, visit www.wta.org.

Volunteer Picnics – August 14^th and 15^th

Remember that our annual Volunteer Picnics (Longmire on the 14^th and Sunrise on the 15^th) will be held in August.  Food will be provided at both events, and more information will be posted on the volunteer blog (rainiervolunteers.blogspot.com) soon!

Let's Have A Parade!

It's almost time for the Eatonville 4th of July Parade. Be a part of the park's participation in this special event.

This year we will be celebrating 100 year of the Wonderland Trail.

We need  a set of "banner babes and/or dudes", flag wavers, folks smiling, waving, and giving high fives. As usually you can wear your uniform. But you can also dress to hike the Wonderland Trail. Or better yet, dress to work on the trail.  I'll have trail crew tools for you to carry!

Park staff, volunteers, scouts and their family members are welcome to join.
 
If you wish to take part, we gather at 11:30 AM, usually 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.  For more information contact Jim_Ross (at) nps.gov
                                                                               
Please join us!

Jim

THE Parade

​Support Mount Rainier National Park as we take part in this year's Eatonville 4th of July Parade.

This year we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act.

We need  6 "Wilderness is..." sign carriers, 2 sets of "banner babes and/or dudes", plus flag wavers, folks smiling, waving, and giving high fives.  If you normally wear a uniform, please do so for the parade. If you don't have a uniform dress in "wilderness attire". Park staff, volunteers, scouts and their family members are welcome to join.
 
If you wish to take part, we gather at 11:30 AM, usually 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.  For more information contact Jim Ross.

Please join us!

Jim

Join the Parade!

It's almost July and you know what that means - the Eatonville 4th of July Parade, Like always, Mount Rainier National Park will take part in this year's parade.

This year we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Wilderness Act.  Some of the signs we carry this year will say "Wilderness is . . ."  I would like you to finish that sentence with 1, 2, or 3 words.  Email your "Wilderness is . . ." to me (Jim_Ross{at}nps.gov) and it could be featured in the parade.

To make this a true celebration, we also need park staff and volunteers, including scouts.  We need flag wavers, sign carriers, "banner babes" (banner dudes?), and folks smiling, waving, and giving high fives.  If you normally wear a uniform, please do so for the parade. If you don't have a uniform dress in "wilderness attire".  Family members are also welcome to join.
 
If you wish to take part, we gather at 11:30 AM, usually 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.  For more information contact Jim Ross.
 
Please join us!

Jim Ross

Walk with us in the 4th of July Parade!

You can be in this picture.

To give the Town of Eatonville a proper thanks for all their support, we need park staff and volunteers, including scouts.  We need flag wavers, sign carriers, "banner babes" (banner dudes?), and folks smiling, waving, and giving high fives.  If you normally wear a uniform, please do so for the parade. 
  
If you wish to take part, we gather at 11:30 AM, usually 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.  For more information contact Jim Ross at 360-569-6568.

Everyone Loves A Parade!

Join Mount Rainier National Park rangers in the Eatonville 4th of July Parade! Last year the Town of Eatonville gave us the honor of leading off the parade as we remembered Rangers Margaret Anderson and Nick Hall. This year we would like to thank the folks of Eatonville for their support during that difficult year.

To give the town a proper thanks, we need park staff and volunteers, including scouts. We need flag wavers, sign carriers, "banner babes and dudes", and folks smiling, waving, and giving high-fives. If you normally wear a uniform, please do so for the parade.

If you wish to take part, we gather at 11:30 AM, usually 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! Contact Jim_Ross@nps.gov if you'd like to participate.

Volunteers needed for Eatonville July 4th Parade!

The 4th of July is on Wednesday this year, and like always, Mount Rainier National Park will take part in the Eatonville Parade!

 

This year we hope to have two vehicles carrying posters honoring the memory of LE Ranger Margaret Anderson and Climbing Ranger Nick Hall. We would like to have a number of park staff and volunters in uniform to walk along with the vehicles to wave to, and acknowledge, the thousands along the parade route.

 

If you would like to join us we gather at 11:30 AM somewhere near 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.  For more information contact Jim Ross ( mailto:jim_ross@nps.gov).

 

We hope you can join us in honoring Margaret and Nick.

Volunteers represent Mount Rainier in 4th of July Parade

This 4th of July, seven volunteers and family members joined six rangers to represent Mount Rainier National Park in the Eatonville Independence Day parade. Along with Lee Snook, Jim and Kevin Ross, Kevin Bacher, Dave Uberuaga, and Randy King, participants included Meadow Rovers Ed Hunds and Allan Dreyer; Dave's wife Barbara; Randy's wife Sally; and junior rangers Kate, Daniel, and Christian.

Besides showing pride for the park on a day when The Mountain was gloriously visible, this year's group also carried banners on both sides of a park patrol vehicle wishing Dave and Barbara Uberuaga farewell as they move later this month "from the top of The Mountain to the bottom of The Canyon." Uberuaga has been selected as the new superintendent of Grand Canyon National Park.

Thank you to everyone who came out to represent Mount Rainier's role in the community!

More photos from the parade can be seen here.

2011 Eatonville Fourth of July Parade

The snow is starting to melt away and summer is starting to make an appearance! Once again we will be walking in the Eatonville Parade and would love to have all of our wonderful volunteers walk with us waving and spreading goodwill.

Each year we ask staff and volunteers to join in and represent Mount Rainier NP in the Eatonville 4th of July parade. Dave U. has been there almost every year walking, waving, and shaking hands.

This year he gets to ride. We want to honor Dave at this year's parade. So he (and hopefully Barbara) will have the seat(s) of honor. We need others to walk along and show our thanks for his service here and support for his move to Grand Canyon.

The parade starts at Noon and usually takes less than an hour. We meet on Penn Ave. a block up from the high school between 11:30 and 11:45. You can just show up on the 4th or email Jim Ross (Jim_Ross@nps.gov) and let him know that you will be coming.

If you work in uniform please wear it. If not, dress for the occasion (patriotic).

Eatonville Fourth of July Parade

We have finally broken the back of a long and wet spring and summer is here! Once again we will be walking in the Eatonville Parade and would love to have all of our wonderful volunteers walk with us waving and spreading goodwill.

The parade starts at noon and is always finished by 1pm. If you'd like to participate, give Jim Ross a call at ext. 6045 or send him an e-mail at Jim_Ross@nps.gov

Still Looking for Parade Volunteers

The annual Eatonville 4th of July Parade is this... 4th of July... (sort of obvious when I say it like that) at 12:00 PM. We're still looking for volunteers willing to get out there and represent the park by participating in the parade. Sadly, neither our Superintendent Dave Uberuaga or Acting Superintendenting Randy King will be able to participate. This makes it all te more important that we get some volunteers out on the streets.

To particpate, you must be at the Eatonville High School by 11:45. Parking is often a problem, so consider coming early and enjoying a breakfast in town.

No need to let either Kevin or I know, just show up in your volunteer shirt and we should be good to go.

Happy 4th of July.

It's a Parade!

Yes, it is time for the annual 4th of July Parade in Eatonville.

I'm looking for some park employees/volunteers to be part of our presence in this grand affair. If you would like to spend an hour walking, waving, and spreading good will in the gateway community of Eatonville, please let me know. The parade starts at noon so you would need to be near the Eatonville High School no later than 11:45 AM. We are usually done by 1:00 PM.

As long as we've being doing it, it has not rained on our parade.

Jim Ross
Outreach Specialist
Mount Rainier National Park
360-569-6045

Click here for another photo from last year's parade. If you'd like to participate, give Jim Ross a call or send him an e-mail at Jim_Ross@nps.gov.

We've added a bunch of new projects to our calendar. Watch for more details here tomorrow; meanwhile, check out the listings on the calendar at the top of this page!

4th of July

A Junior Ranger joined four other volunteers and three Park Rangers in the Eatonville 4th of July Parade. Happy Independence Day!