Arrowhead Newsletter Sprsumm12
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Vol. 19 • No. 3 • Arrowhead 1 Arrowhead Spring/Summer 2012 • Vol. 19 • No. 3 The Newsletter of the Employees & Alumni Association of the National Park Service Published By Eastern National FROM THE DIRECTOR NPS Begins Commemoration t’s almost one Iyear ago that we announced A Call of War of 1812 Bicentennial to Action, our plan to meet the chal- lenges of the future actions and will reflect upon the causes, and fulfill the prom- consequences and legacies of the war. ise of the National Christine Arato leads a multidisciplinary Park Service in a national team in planning for all aspects new century. It is essential to our of the commemoration, which will be upcoming centennial. As we held from June 2012 through February approach the anniversary of A Call to 2015—the bicentennial of the Treaty of Action, we can now look back and Ghent, which ended the war. More than get a sense of how we’re doing. 20 national parks interpret the War of The fact that A Call to Action is 1812, as well as five national heritage designed to be practical, flexible and areas and one national historic trail. locally driven has yielded results. Additionally, the NPS will coordinate Sitka National Historical Park with Parks Canada and the U.S. Navy’s scored a success with the action commemorative efforts. item, “Take a Hike and Call me in The commemoration officially began the Morning.” Tying in with the on June 18, 2012, two hundred years to American Hiking Society’s 20th the day after President James Madison annual National Trails Day, the park signed the declaration of war against hosted a day-long event promoting Great Britain. Fort McHenry National awareness of health and outdoor NPS Monument and Historic Shrine hosted a recreation. They also unveiled a new LIVING HISTORY VOLUNTEERS provide programs for the public during the War of kick-off event as part of OpSail 2012, Park Prescription program, which 1812 bicentennial activities at Fort McHenry National Monument and Historic Shrine. during which they revealed the results of will be a partnership between Sitka “Cast Your Vote - 1812,” an interactive, and local healthcare providers. By Mike Litterst, Public Affairs coordinator for the Bicentennial of the online program that presented varying The solar eclipse of May 20 was Specialist, NPS Office of Communications War of 1812 Commemoration. “But perspectives on the war and asked partic- visible to thousands of people in there is so much more to the conflict than ipants to vote for or against war with more than 150 western national n the two centuries since it was fought, the penning of our National Anthem, the Great Britain. A variety of national and parks, but the view from Petroglyph Ithe War of 1812 has come to be burning of the White House and Capitol multi-park initiatives are also planned National Monument was available known as “America’s Forgotten War.” and Andrew Jackson’s victory at New for the commemoration, including an in- to the entire world—online. Merging The National Park Service aims to change Orleans. Most Americans have over- depth subject website, a War of 1812 “Go Digital” with “Starry, Starry that conception as it coordinates a variety looked the war’s many internal and exter- park handbook and unigrid, temporary Night,” we brought the experience of programs, initiatives and activities to nal conflicts that continue to shape our exhibits to raise awareness at major to more than 50,000 people. At the mark the bicentennial of the conflict. national identity.” park visitor centers and partner sites, peak of the eclipse, more than “Americans today are familiar with the During the bicentennial, the NPS will online lesson plans and exhibits and a 17,000 were logged on to nps.gov. more legendary symbols of the War of share more about the full diversity of the host of commemorative programs and And here in D.C., superintendents 1812,” says Christine Arato, program war’s participants, their motives and their special events. I and staff from National Capital Region parks have been holding a series of open houses to hear com- munity concerns and share the activ- ities available over the summer, from concerts to hikes to volunteer oppor- NPS Director Releases Green tunities. Part of A Call to Action’s “Stop Talking and Listen” item, efforts of this type are particularly important to our urban constituents. Parks Plan for Sustainability The national parks symbolize our story and our achievements. As n April 19, 2012, NPS Director Jon are managed and operated. It sets forth Boundaries: engage visitors about such, they have special meaning to OJarvis released the Green Parks Plan nine strategic goals: sustainability and invite their partici- those who have sacrificed for this to focus the bureau on sustainable man- • Continuously Improve Environ- pation to take sustainable actions in nation. Our military pass, which offers agement of national parks and key envi- mental Performance: meet or the park and at home. free entrance to all 397 national parks ronmental issues ranging from reducing exceed the requirements of all Each goal includes specific objectives. for military families, has proven so energy and water consumption to limiting applicable environmental laws. For example, by 2020, the NPS will popular that we have distributed waste to lowering emissions of greenhouse • Be Climate Friendly and Climate reduce greenhouse gas emissions from almost 300,000 of them. We’ve Ready: reduce greenhouse gas worked closely with the military in gases. “The Green Parks Plan is a compre- on-site fossil fuel combustion and electric- publicizing the pass and a number of hensive approach to sustainability that will emissions and determine how facil- ity consumption by 35 percent and non- parks, such as Assateague Island reduce the National Park Service’s carbon ities can be adapted to respond to irrigation potable water use by 30 percent. National Seashore, Chamizal Nation- footprint through actions taken in every the risk posed by climate change. Director Jarvis said change begins with al Memorial and Florissant Fossil park and office,” Director Jarvis said dur- • Be Energy Smart: improve energy thousands of small actions to conserve Beds National Monument, have done ing a news conference at the Lincoln performance and increase reliance water and energy, but he also highlight- an outstanding job with outreach to Memorial. “It addresses how we will on renewable energy. ed two highly visible success stories at local military installations. This is yet reduce our energy and water consump- • Be Water Wise: improve water use Santa Monica Mountains NRA and John another way of achieving A Call to tion, limit the waste we generate, mitigate efficiency. Day Fossil Beds NM. The buildings are Action’s goal of connecting people the effects of climate change, change what • Green Our Rides: transform vehicle called “Net Zero” because solar panels to the parks. we buy and how we manage facilities and fleet and adopt greener transporta- generate all power needed for opera- I’m proud of our successes so far. integrate sustainable practices into every tion methods. tions. The John Day project, a ranger When we look back at the end of aspect of our operations.” • Buy Green and Reduce, Reuse and station built in 2010, actually produces year two, I feel confident that we will Much of the success of the plan hinges Recycle: purchase environmentally more than the energy required for its see the vision we have set out in A on NPS employees—more than 20,000— friendly products and increase waste operation—enough to charge an electric Call to Action—a vision that is an along with 220,000 volunteers, park part- diversion and recycling. car for 15,000 miles a year. The Santa integral part of our centennial—has ners and concessioners implementing the • Preserve Outdoor Values: minimize become more of a reality. I urge you Monica Mountains Interagency Visitor plan and adopting sustainability as a guid- the impact of facility operations on to keep up the good work and keep Center is one of more than 40 Leader- ing value. “And embedding it in what we the momentum going. the external environment. ship in Energy and Environmental do, every day,” Director Jarvis said. • Adopt Best Practices: employ sustain- Design (LEED) certified buildings in the —Jonathan B. Jarvis In large part, the Green Parks Plan is able best practices in all park operations. directed at park facilities and how they • Foster Sustainability Beyond Our continued on page 10 2 Arrowhead • Vol. 19 • No. 3 Focus on the Parks • On Sept. 28, Secretary of the Interior its 19th anniversary that day. “The open- Ken Salazar dedicated a new visitor cen- ing of this wonderful facility represents a ter at Dinosaur NM. The new Quarry major milestone for the park, and it will be Ocmulgee NM Celebrates Visitor Center replaces an old one that a treasure for the entire community for was closed in 2006 due to structural decades to come,” said Supt. Mike instability. The closure kept visitors Pflaum. Visitor services have previously 75th Anniversary from viewing the Carnegie Quarry, a been provided by the park’s 19 non-fed- 150- by 50-foot rock wall that contains eral Keweenaw Heritage Site partners, approximately 1,500 dinosaur bones which will continue providing those serv- dating back 149 million years. ices for visitors to the Copper Country. The dedication of the new visitor center The events for the grand opening and the opening of the new exhibit hall included a ribbon cutting with over 500 marked the 96th anniversary of the estab- attendees. In his remarks, Senator Carl lishment of Dinosaur NM by President Levin noted that the facility is a remarkable Woodrow Wilson on Oct.