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

Nisqually to Paradise, August 4-11

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Tipsoo Bridge Crew

The MRNPA crew have good cause to be smiling. They just finished up installing a new puncheon bridge on the Lake Tipsoo loop trail! The MRNPA holds numerous work parties to keep the trails in shape in Mount Rainier National Park. If you'd like more information, contact John Titland at volunteer(at)mrnpa.org.

Attacking the Invaders!

Park staff member Kristyn Loving and volunteers Carol Miltimore and Crow Vecchio are featured as "weed warriors" in a post by the Washington Native Plant Society. Read the details about their battle with the dreaded invader, Tussilago farfara. Swift action saves the day!

 

MRNPA Work Party and Potluck

 Editor's note: Please be aware that the MRNPA potluck is for MRNPA volunteers only!

From John Titland:

The August Mount Rainier National Park Associates trails work party will be on Saturday, August 13th. Following every August work party MRNPA volunteers are invited to assemble in a nearby campground for some relaxed time together, a potluck dinner, and an evening spent sitting around the campfire.

The August trails work party will be somewhere in the Ohana/Paradise area. I don't know the project or the location yet. After work party we will reassemble in the campground at Longmire (not the Cougar Rock campground). The Longmire VIP campground is not open to the public; only to park volunteers. Thus it is quiet and without the constant activity of a public campground. There is even a restroom with showers and hot water so you clean up after the work party. Dinner usually takes place about 6 PM. The potluck dinner selections are always great. People contribute whatever they want. No attempt is made to organize the menu. Not yet has everyone brought only desserts, but we can still hope. After dinner, it gets pretty mellow.

This August event always turns out to be a great day. Spend part of the day volunteering and then join other MRNPA volunteers in the "after work party" gathering. This is the only event each year where we take off the blue helmets and the work gloves, and really get a chance to meet and talk with our fellow volunteers. If you have other commitments and can't stay for the whole evening, then stay as long as you can. It's up to you. But if you don't need to leave, consider camping overnight. The group campsite at the Longmire VIP campground is reserved for MRNPA volunteers for both Friday night (dinner is up to you) and Saturday night. So bring your tent and sleeping bag and spend the weekend. On Sunday morning people tend to go in many different directions, but we are usually able to organize a short group hike somewhere close by. Everyone is invited to come along.

If you plan to attend this August 13th trails work party, please reply to volunteer(at)mrnpa.org indicating that you are coming and give me the number of volunteers you expect to accompany you. I need an estimate of the number of volunteers so that Park staff can be sure to have enough tools for us all. If you plan to camp, I also need to know if you will be there for one night (Friday or Saturday) or both nights.

Nisqually to Paradise - July 28-Aug 4

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Mercer Slough Dragonfly Survey

We had a group of high school volunteers in the park this weekend performing citizen science. These teens, who were volunteering through Mercer Slough, were tasked with collecting dragonfly larvae for the Dragonfly Mercury Project. The Mercer Slough Environmental Education Center is a collaboration between the city of Bellevue and the Pacific Science Center. The Dragonfly Mercury Project is a nationwide effort to measure mercury in dragonfly larvae. These teens got pretty dirty while having a blast digging through pond mud for larvae. After finding enough samples, the group measured, bagged and labeled the larvae which will be sent off-site for testing. Thank you to these helpful volunteers!

To learn more about the Dragonfly Mercury Project visit: http://www.nature.nps.gov/air/studies/air_toxics/dragonfly/index.cfm

To learn more about Mercer Slough visit: https://www.pacificsciencecenter.org/mercer-slough/

Nisqually to Paradise, July 21-28

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