2014 National Park Service A Call to Action U.S. Department of the Interior Collaborating Beyond our Boundaries Into the Next Century Northeast Region Page 2 Anchor A Call to Action Defined Nearly 100 years ago, America called on the National Park Service (NPS) to preserve our past and promote enjoyment of our national treasures through the 1916 Organic Act. Our country may have changed since then, but not the role of the NPS as the caretaker of America’s most important places. A Call to Action is the strategic action plan of the NPS to advance our collaborative mission of stewardship and engagement into the next century. The plan describes specific goals and measurable actions that plot a new direction for the NPS as it nears its second century. Explore A Call to Action goals here Cover photo: Children place flowers on a stone wall at a special commemoration during the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg. This page: A reenactor portraying a bugler sergeant of the U.S. Army Signal Corps proudly waves the colors. Page 3 Anchor Northeast Region National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior 2014 Park Statistics 50 formal park partners working on behalf of national parks in the Northeast Region 3,185 school districts reside within the Northeast Region 10 parks participated in the Artist-in-Residence program 330 million dollars have been appropriated by the U.S. Congress in 15 separate programs toward Hurricane Sandy recovery 51,000 volunteers contributed almost 1.4 million hours of labor 10 webcams provide 24/7 viewing within the Northeast Region, from the Statue of Liberty to Shenandoah Produced by Natural Resources & Science GIS – 05/09/13 jf TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIOUS PAGE NEXT PAGE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Table of Contents Table of Contents Why a Call to Action? Featured a Call to Action Stories Acknowledgements A Call to Action Defined Commemorating the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War About the Editors Northest Region Map Immersive Education on the East Coast About the Photographs Introduction Engaging Our Youth and Communities Our Partners from Eastern National The Schuylkill River Valley Connects People, Recreation, and Culture Addendum Honoring Our Remarkable River and Trail Advocates 2014 A Call to Action Addendum Innovation and Imagination Attract New Audiences Introduction Enlisting Our Citizen-Scientists Connecting People to Parks Resource Recovery and Resiliency Advancing the NPS Education Mission A Star-Spangled Celebration Preserving America’s Special Places Enhancing the Tools in our Toolbox Enhancing Professional and Organizational Excellence Northeast Region 2014 Share Your Stories TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIOUS PAGE NEXT PAGE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS INTRODUCTION Communicating “A Call to Action” am pleased to share the Northeast anniversaries surrounding The War of educational and volunteer opportunities vignettes that showcase the personal side Region’s 2014 Call to Action report: 1812, the Battle of Gettysburg, and and foster stewardship of our natural and of each event and project we highlight. I Collaborating Beyond our Boundaries other significant events, illustrated cultural resources. Joint initiatives like As our Director Jon Jarvis said, “we are Into the Next Century. In 2016, the that when we work together we create the Stephen T. Mather Building Arts & an organization of storytellers and we National Park Service enters our extraordinary visitor experiences that are Craftsmanship High School in New York should share our stories more broadly second century, and our mission is relevant to our constituents and valued City demonstrate our commitment to with each other.” clear: connect with and create the next by our patrons. These quality experiences creating the next generation of historic This is an exciting time for the generation of park visitors, supporters, leave lasting impressions for visitors building and landscape preservation National Park Service. Only by embracing and advocates. across the demographic spectrum, which professionals. In doing so, they not only partnerships that leverage the expertise The Northeast Region has a strong generates life-long appreciation for preserve buildings, they breathe new life and flexibility of other organizations, tradition of engaging in partnerships national parks. into a lasting legacy, where places come will we be ready for the challenges and and working across diverse landscapes. National parks and National Heritage alive and tell the history of America. opportunities we will face over the course Parks and program areas have achieved Areas leverage federal funds to carry Employees, volunteers, and partners of the next century. We have much to great success through community and out projects that improve the quality of are some of our most valuable resources celebrate from the accomplishments youth engagement, innovative education, life for local communities through job in the National Park Service. Regard of 2014, and even more that we can resource preservation and stewardship, growth, neighborhood revitalization, for each other is expressed in the new accomplish in the years ahead if we work and professional development. This and heritage tourism. New methods of methods of risk management that insure together to care for your national parks. success is directly attributed to the interpretation, immersive education, that safety is a key component of our teamwork of partners, volunteers, and and distance learning broaden our activities. Our people are enthusiastic employees cooperating across park and audience appeal and inspire young about, and committed to, the National program boundaries. people to get involved in their national Park Service mission. In this year’s Michael A. Caldwell In the past year, commemorative parks. Cooperative programs provide report, you will read “Share Your Story” Regional Director, Northeast Region TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIOUS PAGE NEXT PAGE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Page 6 Anchor Our partners from Eastern National Share your story George Minnucci Kevin Kissling President and Chief Executive Officer Chief Operating Officer Eastern National Eastern National Eastern National is a non-profit association that works closely with 150 national parks Eastern National has assisted the National Park Service (NPS) in a variety of projects. to further the educational and interpretive mission of the National Park Service (NPS). The youth career program was one of our more successful events. Eastern National Eastern National has a good working relationship with everyone in the service. worked with another nonprofit and the National Parks of New York Harbor to The Northeast Region (NER) is proactive in their approach to adapting to the future provide internships to traditionally underserved urban youth. We hosted career as it changes. We are pleased that they have accepted that life today is not the same opportunity days in the spring, where we brought them to the Statue of Liberty as yesterday, but that doesn’t mean that the dream goes away, it just means that to learn about careers with the National Park Service. Then they competed for the vision changes to meet the needs of the public. Regional Director Mike Caldwell six-week summer internships working a variety of occupations in interpretation, realizes that the NPS must remain relevant to the public, and that means adapting to concessions, law enforcement, public affairs and communications. The program new audiences, methods, and ideas. introduced them to careers – not just jobs. They don’t see this kind of thing in their The Call to Action is an initiative of Director Jarvis, with the NER at the front. The environment. It was inspirational to kids that had never travelled outside of their NPS is taking a critical look at themselves in the mirror, and changing to stay relevant zip code, let alone to the Statue of Liberty. to the public. There is an emphasis in the Call To Action, like in Go Digital, to use We look forward to continued collaboration with the Northeast Region in the technology to engage with audiences. We are already fulfilling a lot of these goals, next century. like using social media and improving communications. We continue to upgrade and streamline our business operations to better serve the public. From where we sit, we accept all these changes. We cooperate fully with the direction that the NPS is heading. TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIOUS PAGE NEXT PAGE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Page 7 Anchor Commemorating the Sesquicentennial of the American Civil War Lincoln Portrayer James Getty signs an autograph for a visitor during the 150th anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. TABLE OF CONTENTS PREVIOUS PAGE NEXT PAGE ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Page 8 Anchor n preparing for a second century of stewardship and engagement, I parks in the Northeast Region undertook collaborative projects to invite people to experience their America in rewarding new ways. These projects crossed boundaries to fulfill the Department of Interior youth initiative: Play, Learn, Serve, Work. The 2014 Sesquicentennial Commemoration of the Civil War (the 150th anniversary) was a momentous undertaking all across the region that connected people to their parks and their heritage. National Park Service (NPS) staff teamed up with partners, volunteers, and communities to make this year a fitting remembrance. Three thousand Boy Scouts converged on Gettysburg National Military Park (GETT) for a summer weekend to camp, learn, and serve. The event was made possible by a partnership with the New Birth of Freedom Council