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Catoctin Mountain Park Administrative History Update

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Catoctin Mountain Park Administrative History Update National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior National Capital Area CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN PARK Administrative History Update Elise Elder-Norquist CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN PARK Administrative History Update By Elise Elder-Norquist Presented to Catoctin Mountain Park In Partnership with the Organization of American Historians/National Park Service NATIONAL PARK SERVICE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR DECEMBER 2020 As the Nation’s principal conservation agency, the Department of the Interior has responsibility for most of our nationally owned public lands and natural resources. This includes fostering sound use of our land and water resources; protecting our fish, wildlife, and biological diversity; preserving the environmental and cultural values of our national parks and historical places; and providing for the enjoyment of life through outdoor recreation. The Department assesses our energy and mineral resources and works to ensure that their development is in the best interests of all our people by encouraging stewardship and citizen participation in their care. The Department also has a major responsibility for American Indian reservation communities and for people who live in island territories under US administration. US Department of the Interior National Park Service Resource Stewardship and Science Washington, DC Publication Credits: Graphics from sources other than federal repositories may not be reproduced without the permission of the owners noted in the captions. Other information in this publication may be copied and used with the condition that full credit be given to the authors and publisher. Appropriate citations and bibliographic credits should be made for each use. Cover Photo: The Catoctin Forest Courtesy of Catoctin Mountain Park, National Park Service iv CONTENTS LIST OF FIGURES . xix ACKNOWLEDGMENTS . xix ABBREVIATIONS . .xx EXECUTIVE SUMMARY . 1 CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Statement of Purpose. .3 Methodology . .3 Historical Background and Context. 4 CHAPTER TWO THE EARLY YEARS Chapter Summary . 17 The Catoctin RDA Before World War II . 18 The CCC at Catoctin 18 Early Organized Group Camp Use (1937–1941) 20 Natural Resource Management 23 The Catoctin RDA During World War II . 25 The Wartime Use of National Parks 25 The OSS and Marine Occupation of the Catoctin RDA 25 The Role of the Park Manager 28 The Fate of the Catoctin RDA. 30 The State of the Catoctin RDA Post-War 30 Fighting for Catoctin 30 The Park’s Relationship with NSF Thurmont 33 Post-War Interpretation and Use 34 Natural Resource Management 37 v Contents CHAPTER THREE MISSION 66 AND JOB CORPS (1955–1967) Chapter Summary . 39 The NPS Mission 66 Program . 39 Mission 66 at Catoctin Mountain Park (1956–1966). 40 Job Corps (1964–1969) . 46 Camp Peniel 49 Interpretation and Use . 50 Efforts to Increase General Park Visitation 50 Camp Misty Mount: Interpretation and Use 53 Camp Greentop: Interpretation and Use 54 Frederick and Washington Counties Outdoor Schools 56 Natural Resource Management . 58 Fish Management 58 Wildlife Management 58 Protection . 58 Forest Protection 58 Fire Protection 59 Boundary Protection 59 Law Enforcement 60 Visitor Health and Safety 60 Outside Threats 61 The Park’s Relationship with NSF Thurmont. 61 CHAPTER FOUR THE TURN TOWARD HERITAGE TOURISM AND ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION (1968–1975) Chapter Summary . 63 Environmental Education . 63 Living History Interpretation. 65 Programming . 67 Formal Programs 67 Round Meadow. 68 Summer in the Parks and the DC Environmental Outdoor Laboratory School 68 YCC 73 Camps Misty Mount and Greentop . 74 Fees and Permits . 74 Volunteers. 75 vi Contents Contents Resource Management . 75 Protection . 75 Fire Protection 75 Boundary Protection and Land Acquisition 76 Outside Threats 77 CHAPTER FIVE BUDGET CUTS AND THE INCREASED IMPORTANCE OF VOLUNTEERS (1975–1991) Chapter Summary . 79 Administration and Planning . 80 The Role of CAMPER in Park Management . 81 Interpretive Programming. 92 Folk Culture Center 92 Formal Programs 93 Special Events and Offsite Programs 94 Round Meadow—The DC Environmental Outdoor Laboratory School and the Development Concept Plan for Round Meadow. 96 Camps Misty Mount and Greentop . 99 Fees and Permits . 100 Volunteers and Partnerships. 101 Volunteer Groups 101 Youth Service Groups 102 Partnerships 104 Resource Management . 104 Resource Management Plans and Cooperative Research Relationships 104 Cultural Resource Management 106 Fish and Wildlife Management 108 Water Management 113 Trail Management 114 Plants and Trees 114 Pest Management 117 Climate 119 Protection . 119 Fire Protection 119 Health and Safety 120 The Park’s Relationship with NSF Thurmont 120 vii Contents CHAPTER SIX RESUMING MANAGEMENT OF CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN PARK (1991–1997) Chapter Summary . 123 Park Management and Reorganization. 123 The Reorganization of the Ranger Series and CAMPER’s Role in Park Management 123 The History of the Relationship Between Greenbelt/Baltimore-Washington Parkway and Catoctin Mountain Park 126 Educational Programs. 127 Ranger Programs 127 Loan Programs 127 Interpretive Programming. 128 Audio-Visual 128 Formal Programs 128 Special Events 130 Recreation Management and Camp Use. 130 Camp Misty Mount 130 Camp Greentop 130 Camp Round Meadow 132 Campgrounds 133 Volunteers and Partnerships. 133 Resource Management . 134 Cultural Resource Management 134 Fish and Wildlife Management 135 Water Management 139 Wetlands 139 Trail and Soil Management 140 Plants and Trees 141 Insect and Pest Control 144 Ozone 145 Protection . ..
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