On the afternoon of Sunday, September 2nd, rangers received a call from park dispatch regarding a group of people threatening to drown NPS lifeguards at a park beach in Milford. Rangers Keith Winslow, Andrew Winslow and Elizabeth Winslow soon arrived at the beach and ordered the members of the group out of the water. While dealing with them, other family members came down from the beach pavilion and became disorderly. Acting on information from the lifeguards, who'd identified the woman who'd instigated the problem, Keith Winslow removed her from the crowd and placed her under arrest. He was attempting to walk her to his patrol vehicle when a man from the group started interfering. He squared off at both Keith Winslow and Andrew Winslow, and, despite repeated commands to back off and leave, moved in and chest bumped Keith Winslow.  The ranger responded with a stiff arm in an attempt to push the man away, but he again came back at Winslow and was taken to the ground, where he continued to fight to regain control of his hands. Elizabeth Winslow heard the commotion and came over from the lifeguard stand, where she had been getting witness statements. Family members had pressed in tight on the two rangers struggling with the man on the ground, so she took her taser out of its holster and commanded them to back away. She then fired it at the man, striking him in the chest. The probes were too close to one another to be effective, though, so she fired a second time, this time causing the man to stop fighting. The man and woman were arrested. The woman was taken to the ranger station, but the man, as per protocol, was taken to a local hospital for evaluation, as one of the probes struck him in the upper chest close to his neck/throat. One of the rangers suffered injury to his knee, requiring a medical evaluation. Other rangers from both Delaware Water Gap and Upper Delaware responded along with officers from Milford PD and Eastern Pike Regional PD to assist in controlling the crowd.
[Submitted by Eric Provencher, Deputy Chief Ranger]

Colonial Campground staff members were contacted by a park visitor just after noon on Labor Day and advised that his father had collapsed in the morning at their Panther Creek backcountry camp and was unresponsive.  The son performed CPR but was unable to revive his father.  He and his nine-year-old daughter then hiked out three miles to the trailhead.  Rangers flew in to investigate and document the incident and long-lined the deceased out of the backcountry. Fourteen park staff, including a family liaison and a pilot from HiLine helicopters, were involved in this operation which was concluded by 8 p.m.
[Submitted by Kinsey Shilling, Chief Ranger]

National Fire Activity – Preparedness Level 3

NIFC is at PL 3. Initial attack was light on Thursday. Twenty-four uncontained large fires are burning nationwide, down six from a week ago today. Twenty incident management teams are committed.

Fire Weather Forecast

Isolated to widely scattered thunderstorms will form over the Southwest and the southern Great Basin, mainly over higher terrain. Cooler conditions will spread over much of the northern Rockies and northern Great Basin. A cold front moving through the Plains will bring scattered showers and thunderstorms to the central Plains and the upper Midwest. Warm conditions will continue across the East with hot temperatures remaining over the southern Plains. Scattered afternoon thunderstorms will develop over the coastal areas from the Carolinas to the Mississippi.

To see a NOAA map of today's critical fire weather areas, click on this link: http://www.spc.noaa.gov/products/fire_wx/fwdy1.html

Fire Summary (Five Day Trend)

National Resource Commitments (Five Day Trend)

NPS Fire Summaries

Park	State	Fire	Type	Acres	Percent Contain	Est. Full Contain
Yosemite National Park	CA	Cascade Fire	Wildfire	It has slowly grown to 1113 acres. The growth rate and fire ... See below for more...	0	Season ending weather event.
	Full Acreage Report: It has slowly grown to 1113 acres. The growth rate and fire behavior is not expected to change as the fire moves to the west and northwest. Latest Narrative: The fire has grown to 1113 acres. The most active flank is to the west with 30 to 40 percent of the perimter active. Air quality remains in the good range.

For additional information on all fires, check the following National Park Service and NIFC web sites:

NIFC

• Summary of current fires – http://www.nifc.gov/nicc/sitreprt.pdf
• Detailed reports on major fires – http://www.inciweb.org/
• Fire news and fire year in perspective – http://www.nifc.gov/fireInfo/nfn.htm
• Map of fire locations – http://activefiremaps.fs.fed.us/lg_fire2.php

NPS

• Details on current NPS fires – http://www.nps.gov/fire/wildland-fire/fires.cfm
• InsideNPS Fire and Aviation – http://inside.nps.gov/fire
• InsideNPS Structural Fire – http://inside.nps.gov/fire/structuralfire
• NPS Fire and Aviation - http://www.nps.gov/fire

Please submit information on upcoming training courses to Bill_Halainen@nps.gov no later than the Thursday morning before the Friday calendar update. New listings and revisions are in bold face.

Please note that the calendar includes ongoing, on-line training offerings. They appear at the end of this listing.

All entries must be brief and should have the following:

• Beginning and ending dates.
• Name and location of course.
• A short one- to two-line description.
• The closing date for application or registration.
• Name(s) and number(s) for more information.
• Most importantly, a link to a website where full announcements or detailed information can be found.

Note: Listings are removed from the calendar once the application deadline has passed.

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Scheduled Training

September 10 – September 14 – Effective Oral History: Interviews, Project Management and Practical Application, Stephen T. Mather Training Center, Harpers Ferry, WV.  For more information or to apply go to DOILearn.  Travel scholarships are available – apply at this link. For more information, contact: Lu Ann Jones 202-354-2219 or luann_jones@nps.gov .

September 18 – White-Nose Syndrome Webinar, 1 p.m. – 2 p.m. EDT. The white-nose syndrome (WNS) situation is grave and may have far reaching consequences. Millions of bats have died in the U.S. and Canada from this emerging fungal disease since its discovery in 2006. Billions of dollars could be at stake nationwide should bats be lost in great numbers, in addition to striking changes in ecosystems. Collectively, the NPS, other federal and state government agencies and non-governmental groups are investing enormous amounts of time and millions of dollars toward research, surveillance and monitoring, public education and screening, and means to limit the spread of the disease. This webinar will provide updates on efforts to enhance bat monitoring and disease surveillance, education, and communication within NPS and with our partners, and is open to all NPS park, regional, and WASO personnel, including facilities and maintenance, cultural and natural resource management, concessions, law enforcement, interpretation, and education and outreach. This webinar will consist of the following sections – 1) updates on WNS distribution and national efforts to investigate and manage the disease; 2) national and NPS-specific WNS surveillance and bat monitoring efforts; 3) national and NPS-specific WNS education and communication efforts; and 4) a question and answer session with panel members. Please register for this webinar: http://www1.nrintra.nps.gov/brmd/WNS/webinars.cfm .

October 1 – Deadline for proposals for Protected Areas in a Changing World: The 2013 George Wright Society Conference on Parks, Protected Areas, and Cultural Sites, which will be held in Denver next year from March 11th to March 15th. The conference is the USA's largest interdisciplinary meeting focused on parks, protected areas, and cultural sites. The more information, go to the conference website: http://www.georgewright.org/gws2013.

October 2 – October 5 – Firearms Instructor Refresher Training, Fresno, CA. Click on this link for the course announcement; contact Wiley Golden at FLETC (912-267-2246) with any questions. The deadline for applications is September 7th.

October 10 – October 20 – Use of Force Instructor Training, Grand Canyon, AZ. Click on this link for the course announcement; contact Wiley Golden at FLETC (912-267-2246) with any questions. The deadline for applications is September 7th.

October 15 – October 18 – Interagency Regional Wilderness Stewardship Training Course, Jackson Hole, WY.  Sponsored by the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center.  Click on this link for course information.  Contact: Tim Devine (406-243-4612, tim_devine@nps.gov) with any questions.

October 15 – October 26 – Fire Apparatus Driver/Operator Course, Glen Canyon NRA, AZ. This 80-hour class is designed to provide persons participating in NPS structural fire suppression efforts with the technical information and primary skills essential for the safe operation and proper maintenance of a fire apparatus. Emphasis is on hands-on training of pumping skills critical to the support of personnel assigned to fire control functions. Personnel will become proficient in troubleshooting, hydraulics, drafting and multiple line pumping evolutions. This will be supported with technical literature and training manuals.  After successful completion of this course the individual will be certified to drive, pump, and maintain structure fire apparatus for the NPS. The closing date is September 14th. For more information, contact Mark Gorman at 208-387-5244 or check the website at http://npsfamshare/structural/operations/default.aspx.

October 17 – October 19 – Firearms Instructor Refresher Training, Cape Hatteras, NC. Click on this link for the course announcement; contact Wiley Golden at FLETC (912-267-2246) with any questions. The deadline for applications is September 14th.

October 22 – October 25 – Interagency Wilderness Interpretation and Education Workshop, Estes Park, CO.  Sponsored by the Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center.  Click on this link for course information.  Contact Tim Devine (406-243-4612, tim_devine@nps.gov) with any questions.

October 22 – October 26 – Equipment Operator Safety, Grand Canyon National Park, AZ. This course will examine the risks of operating heavy equipment and steps required to minimize them. To enroll in the class: Click on this Link  or log on to DOI Learn, and search for Equipment Operator.  Your Supervisor must approve the class in DOILearn.  Learning and Development is offering travel scholarships. After enrolling in the class, email sarah_polzin@nps.gov for a scholarship application. For more information or questions, please contact Sarah Polzin, 301-663-8206 x 115 or Steve Hastings, 301-663-8206 x 134.

October 22 – November 2 – Law Enforcement Instructor Training, Artesia, NM. Click on this link for the course announcement; contact Wiley Golden at FLETC (912-267-2246) with any questions. The deadline for applications is September 5th.

October 29 - November 2 – Effective Interpretation of Archeological and Cultural Heritage Resources, National Conservation Training Center, Shepherdstown, WV.  This five-day course will enhance interdisciplinary communication skills for using a team approach to developing and carrying out effective public interpretation and education programs and products. For more information and nomination form: http://www.nps.gov/history/seac/course-of-study/nctc-2012/index.htm  or call John Jameson, 850-580-3011 ext. 243

October 29 – November 9 – Physical Security Training, Glynco, GA. Click on this link for the course announcement; contact Wiley Golden at FLETC (912-267-2246) with any questions. The deadline for applications is September 6th

October 29 – November 9 – Basic Tactics Instructor Training, Glynco, GA. Click on this link for the course announcement; contact Wiley Golden at FLETC (912-267-2246) with any questions. The deadline for applications is September 6th.

October 29 – November 9 – Law Enforcement Control Tactics Instructor Training, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Click on this link for the course announcement; contact Wiley Golden at FLETC (912-267-2246) with any questions. The deadline for applications is September 6th.

October 29 – November 9 – Firearms Instructor Training, Artesia, NM. Click on this link for the course announcement; contact Wiley Golden at FLETC (912-267-2246) with any questions. The deadline for applications is September 6th.

November 5 – November 9 – Fire Instructor I Course, Glen Canyon NRA, AZ.  This course is designed to provide firefighters with the information needed to meet the job performance requirements in NFPA 1041, Standard for Fire Service Instructor Professional Qualifications. This 40-hour class prepares fire service personnel with the skills necessary to deliver instruction materials, including assembling course materials and the use of instructional aides and evaluation tools. Knowledge and skills will be tested throughout the course and course graduates will be qualified as fire instructors within the National Park Service with accreditation through the National Board of Fire Service Professional Qualifications. The closing date is October 5th. For more information, contact Mark Gorman at 208-387-5244 or check the website at http://npsfamshare/structural/operations/default.aspx.

November 5 – November 9 – Advanced Photovoltaics Design and Installation, Zion National Park, UT. This class is a follow-up to the Introduction to Photovoltaics course and will task students with installation of a PV system.  Completion of the Introductory course is a prerequisite.  An online version of the Intro to PV will be available in October.  To enroll in the class: Click on this Link  or log on to DOI Learn, and search for Adv Photovoltaic.  Registration is open until October 12.  Your supervisor must approve the class in DOILearn. Learning and Development is offering travel scholarships. After enrolling in the class, email sarah_polzin@nps.gov for a scholarship application, which must be received by September 28th. For more information or questions, please contact Sarah Polzin, 301-663-8206 x 115 or Steve Hastings, 301-663-8206 x 134.

November 6 – February 1 – Criminal Investigator Training, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Click on this link for the course announcement; contact Wiley Golden at FLETC (912-267-2246) with any questions. The deadline for applications is September 19th.

November 11 – November 22 – Inland Boat Operator Training, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Click on this link for the course announcement; contact Wiley Golden at FLETC (912-267-2246) with any questions. The deadline for applications is October 4th.

November 26 – November 30 – Law Enforcement Adjunct Instructor Training, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Click on this link for the course announcement; contact Wiley Golden at FLETC (912-267-2246) with any questions. The deadline for applications is September 28th.

November 26 – December 7 – Physical Security Training, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Click on this link for the course announcement; contact Wiley Golden at FLETC (912-267-2246) with any questions. The deadline for applications is October 4th.

November 26 – December 7 – Firearms Instructor Training, FLETC, Artesia, NM. Click on this link for the course announcement; contact Wiley Golden at FLETC (912-267-2246) with any questions. The deadline for applications is September 28th.

December 3 – December 7 – Engine Company Fire Officer Class, Glen Canyon NRA, AZ.  Using the incident command system, participants will develop technical knowledge and leadership skills essential for the command and control of structural fire emergencies. Individuals are introduced to the management skills of preplanning, communications, decision-making, fire attack strategies/tactics, and logistical support functions and will practice their skills through dynamic group sessions and video simulations. The closing date is November 2nd. For more information, contact Mark Gorman at 208-387-5244 or check the website at http://npsfamshare/structural/operations/default.aspx.

December 3 – December 7 – Active Shooter Threat Instructor Training, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Click on this link for the course announcement; contact Wiley Golden at FLETC (912-267-2246) with any questions. The deadline for applications is October 11th.

December 10 – December 21 – Use of Force Instructor Training, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Click on this link for the course announcement; contact Wiley Golden at FLETC (912-267-2246) with any questions. The deadline for applications is October 23rd.

December 10 – December 21 – Law Enforcement Fitness Coordinator Training, FLETC, Artesia, NM. Click on this link for the course announcement; contact Wiley Golden at FLETC (912-267-2246) with any questions. The deadline for applications is October 18th.

December 17 – December 21 – Inland Boat Operator Training, FLETC, Glynco, GA. Click on this link for the course announcement; contact Wiley Golden at FLETC (912-267-2246) with any questions. The deadline for applications is October 11th.

January 6 – February 2 – NPS Parkmedic Training, Fresno, CA. The biannual park medic training program is designed to refresh the student's knowledge of basic life support and to provide instruction in advanced life support and pre-hospital care. Patient care in the remote setting will be emphasized. Candidates successfully completing the course will be tested at the National Registry of EMTs, Advanced Emergency Medical Technician (AEMT), and receive NPS certification as a park medic. For more information, go to this PDF file: http://classicinside.nps.gov/documents/Parkmedic%20Training%202013.pdf.

April 15 – April 26 – National Parks Institute Executive Leadership Seminar. Tailored to executive-level managers of national parks, protected lands, marine sanctuaries, and cultural heritage sites, this international seminar focuses on strategic protected area leadership, innovation and organization renewal.  The course also builds professional friendships that serve as an international peer association that continue to deepen each year. Participants learn to lead strategic change by anticipating change, reinvigorating their organizations, and incorporating innovative thinking into their management. A practical framework is applied to real-world case studies, and participants develop a take-home action plan to address a challenge that participants bring from their own park. The four modules focus are as follows: Leading Change and Organizational Renewal, Context Matters: Trends and Critical Issues in Public Land Management, Innovation in the Field, and Generating Motivation and Commitment. The seminar begins at the Institute at the Golden Gate in San Francisco, proceeds to UC Merced, and wraps up in Yosemite National Park. Past keynote speakers include Professor Charles O'Reilly III of Stanford Graduate School of Business, Ruth Coleman, former director of California State Parks, NPS Director Jon Jarvis, Harvard Professor Emeritus E.O. Wilson, and former President Jimmy Carter. Twenty-seven applicants will be selected to participate in the seminar.  Selection will be based on a competitive application process and committee review.  Last year, NPI received seminar applications representing over 25 countries and five continents. The application deadline is October 12th. For more information, and for application materials, visit http://parkleadership.ucmerced.edu/. Questions should be directed to Ashley Adams (209-379-2038, ashley_adams@nps.gov ).

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Online and Ongoing Training

Cultural Resources

Nationwide Programmatic Agreement Toolkit. To help guide NPS staff on implementing the NPS nationwide programmatic agreement, which governs Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, the NPS has developed a "toolkit." The toolkit is mandatory training that provides guidance to NPS superintendents and Section 106 coordinators, division chiefs, and facilities staff at region and park levels on using the programmatic agreement during Section 106 review. NPS employees may earn a certificate for their review of the toolkit through DOI Learn by taking a final assessment. Register for the course in DOI Learn, then review the contents of the toolkit website before returning to DOI Learn to complete a final assessment. The toolkit website is available online at: http://www.nps.gov/history/howto/PAToolkit/index.htm. For more information about the NPS nationwide programmatic agreement toolkit, please contact: Jeffrey Durbin, NPS Section 106 compliance program officer, at 202-354-1816 or Jeffrey_durbin@nps.gov

Managing Archeological Collections. Learn about caring for archeological collections and help to overcome the curation crisis. The course is designed to assist those who are interested in, or need to learn more about, preserving and managing archeological collections over the long term. Register for the course in DOI Learn, then review the contents of the course website before returning to DOI Learn to complete a final assessment. The course website is available online at: http://www.nps.gov/archeology/collections/index.htm. For more information, contact Teresa Moyer (202-354-2124, teresa_moyer@nps.gov).

Archeology for Interpreters. Through this training, interpreters and anyone with an interest and need to know – including law enforcement rangers, natural resource experts, and managers -- may gain basic knowledge about archeology. The course provides opportunities to learn about archeological methods and analysis and how to encourage concern for the preservation and protection of archeological resources. A park-based case study provides practice. Register for the course in DOI Learn, then review the contents of the course website before returning to DOI Learn to complete a final assessment. The course website is available online at: http://www.nps.gov/archeology/AforI/index.htm.  For more information, contact Teresa Moyer (202-354-2124, teresa_moyer@nps.gov).

Interpretation for Archeologists. Archeologists and other resource professionals can take this training to gain a firm foundation in and understanding of the purpose, philosophy, and techniques of interpretation. The course encourages archeologists to frame their work for the public and to work with interpreters to integrate archeological perspectives into interpretive products and tell compelling stories.  Register for the course in DOI Learn, then review the contents of the course website before returning to DOI Learn to complete a final assessment. The course website is available online at: http://www.nps.gov/archeology/IforA/index.htm.  For more information, contact Teresa Moyer (202-354-2124, teresa_moyer@nps.gov).

Study Tour of Archeological Interpretation. View interpretation with "fresh eyes" to evaluate choices and strategies for interpreting archeology in parks and historic sites. Download worksheets to assist in evaluating both onsite interpretation and virtual visits.  Register for the course in DOI Learn, then review the contents of the course website before returning to DOI Learn to complete a final assessment. The course website is available online at: http://www.nps.gov/archeology/studytour/index.htm.  For more information, contact Teresa Moyer (202-354-2124, teresa_moyer@nps.gov).

Assessment of Archeological Interpretation. Use the interpretive analysis model to evaluate the effectiveness of interpreting archeological resources on the basis of visitor experience at the levels of short-term outcomes, long-term outcomes, and audience feedback. Learn more about the National Park Service evaluation strategy. Register for the course in DOI Learn, then review the contents of the course website before returning to DOI Learn to complete a final assessment. The course website is available online at: http://www.nps.gov/archeology/aiassess/index.htm. For more information, contact Teresa Moyer (202-354-2124, teresa_moyer@nps.gov)

NPS Fundamentals

NPS Fundamentals I: NPS Mission and History. A cornerstone for your NPS career. Learn online at your own pace about the history of the NPS, how the NPS is organized, and how the NPS fits into the federal government. Completion of this course is a prerequisite for NPS Fundamentals II: Introduction to NPS Operations.  Cost: free. For more information, go to the NPS Fundamentals website: http://www.nps.gov/training/fund/index.htm . Contact: Judy Geniac, (Judy_Geniac@nps.gov, 928-638-7881).

NPS Fundamentals III: NPS Career Management and Retirement Planning. Look ahead in your NPS career and eventual retirement. Learn online at your own pace about career and retirement planning, including sessions on advancing in your chosen career path, financial planning, insurance, and making healthy lifestyle choices. Cost: free. For more information, go to the NPS Fundamentals website: http://www.nps.gov/training/fund/index.htm. Contact: Judy Geniac, (Judy_Geniac@nps.gov, 928-638-7881).

NPS Fundamentals IV: Managing Work Life in the NPS. What are the expected legal and ethical behaviors of NPS employees? Why should diversity matter to you? What can you do to ensure a safe work environment? Get these questions answered and more in this online course studying public ethics, diversity, and safety in the NPS. Cost: free. For more information, go to the NPS Fundamentals website: http://www.nps.gov/training/fund/index.htm.  Contact: Judy Geniac, (Judy_Geniac@nps.gov, 928-638-7881).

Wilderness

The Wilderness Act of 1964. Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center/Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands.  Click on this link for course information.  Contact: Tim Devine, 406-243-4612, tim_devine@nps.gov with any questions.

Minimum Requirements Analysis. Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center/Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands.  Click on this link for course information.  Contact: Tim Devine, 406-243-4612, tim_devine@nps.gov with any questions.

Wilderness Stewardship Planning Framework. Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center/Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands.  Click on this link for course information.  Contact: Tim Devine, 406-243-4612, tim_devine@nps.gov with any questions.

Wilderness Visitor Use Management. A suite of three courses: Fundamentals, Strategies, and Monitoring Impacts and Uses.  Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center/Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands.  Click on this link for course information.  Contact: Tim Devine, 406-243-4612, tim_devine@nps.gov with any questions.

Natural Resource Management in Wilderness. A suite of twelve courses: Fundamentals, Challenges in Natural Resource Restoration, Monitoring, Evaluating Proposals for Scientific Activity, Fish and Wildlife, Fish and Wildlife Inventory and Monitoring, Threatened and Endangered Species, Air Quality, Soil and Water, Vegetation, Soundscapes, and Night Sky.  Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center/Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands.  Click on this link for course information.  Contact: Tim Devine, 406-243-4612, tim_devine@nps.gov with any questions.

Managing Cultural Resources in Wilderness.  A suite of three courses: Fundamentals, Inventory and Monitoring, and Evaluating Scientific Proposals.  Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center/Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands.  Click on this link for course information.  Contact: Tim Devine, 406-243-4612, tim_devine@nps.gov with any questions.

Managing Paleontological Resources in Wilderness.  A suite of three courses: Fundamentals, Inventory and Monitoring, and Evaluating Scientific Proposals.  Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center/Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands.  Click on this link for course information.  Contact: Tim Devine, 406-243-4612, tim_devine@nps.gov with any questions.

Deciding to Keep Wilderness Wild: Four Cornerstones for Wilderness Managers. Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center/Eppley Institute for Parks and Public Lands.  Click on this link for course information.  Contact: Tim Devine, 406-243-4612, tim_devine@nps.gov with any questions.

EMS

EMS Training. The Branch of Emergency Services is announcing various levels of emergency medical services (EMS) training. This is offered to NPS employees at no cost by the Air National Guard. A list of offerings and dates are located under the "Training" link on the NPS EMS InsideNPS website. If you wish to attend one of the listed sessions, please contact Bob Wightman at 865-436-1261 or bob_wightman@nps.gov.  He will provide additional details about the courses and will put you in touch with ANG liaison.

EMS Training. The 445th Aeromedical Staging Squadron at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Fairborn, Ohio, is offering 22 EMS refreshers, each combined with American Heart Association CPR for Healthcare Provider classes. These courses are offered tuition free to NPS employees. Reduced-rate lodging may be available on base. Refreshers, or portions, may be attended for CEU's. Remaining EMS Refresher/CPR offerings are on the following dates: September 10 – September 14, September 17 – September 21, and September 24 – September 28. Contact Keith Gad by email (Keith_Gad@nps.gov) or by phone at 937-681-8308 to receive more information and instructions.

Retirement

Firefighter/Law Enforcement Officer Retirement Training for Human Resource Specialists, Managers and Supervisors. This course is designed to provide firefighter and law enforcement officer retirement training for human resources specialists, managers and supervisors. Cost: Free. For more information, see DOI Learn website: http://www.doi.gov/doilearn. Registration: DOI Learn Help Desk 1-866-466-1998 or email at doilearn@geolearning.com. FLERT Contact: William (Alan) Sizemore, Alan_Sizemore@ios.doi.gov 208-334-1556.

FERS Retirement Training for Firefighters and Law Enforcement Officers. This course is designed to provide firefighters and law enforcement officers with information on FERS special retirement provisions so that they can manage their careers in such a way that they maximize their benefits. Special retirement provisions apply to employees occupying these positions and they have specific responsibilities that are critical to know about and act upon throughout their careers if they expect to qualify for special retirement. Cost: Free. For more information, see DOI Learn website: http://www.doi.gov/doilearn. Registration: DOI Learn Help Desk 1-866-466-1998 or email at doilearn@geolearning.com. FLERT Contact: William (Alan) Sizemore, Alan_Sizemore@ios.doi.gov 208-334-1556.

Supervision

New Supervisor Development Program. This new training and development program, which was begun last year, is designed specifically for first-time supervisors within the 12 month probationary period of their initial appointment. The New Supervisor Development Program (NSDP) is a blended learning program that is delivered both online and in residential (three day) sessions across the country in collaboration with Bureau of Land Management, and the Fish and Wildlife Service. The online modules (completely free of cost) are available on DOILearn as preliminary work, and include the basics of in knowledge and skills for a first-time supervisor. Completion of these modules is followed by a three day Supervisory Skills Workshop (SSW) that provides synthesis and skills practice. The NSDP satisfies the initial 40-hour new supervisory training required by OPM (5CFR 412.202). There will be no cost to parks and regions in FY 2012 – all costs (tuition and travel) are being funded by WASO Learning and Development. Registrations for the SSW are managed via regional employee development officers by slot allocation.  For more information, please contact Katrina Roberts, NSDP Training Manager, 202-354-1487, or Brigitte Keels, 202-354-1406, or your regional employee development officer. This program is expected to continue in FY 2013, but funding has yet to be determined. Additional information can be found at: http://www.nps.gov/training/ - click on the link under "Featured Links:New!"

The Washington Office has issued an announcement for an executive director for the National Parks of New York Harbor.

The executive director oversees the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island, Gateway, and all of the Manhattan Sites – Federal Hall, Castle Clinton, Theodore Roosevelt Birthplace, St. Paul's Church, Hamilton Grange, General Grant, Lower East Side, and Governors Island.

Click on the link below for a copy of the announcement with full details on duties and procedures for applying.

It closes on September 27th.
 More Information...

Natchez Trace has issued an announcement for a supervisory interpretive ranger.

Click on the link below for a copy of the announcement with full details on duties and procedures for applying.

It closes on September 20th.
 More Information...

Catherine Light, currently superintendent for Chamizal and Gila Cliff Dwellings, has been selected as the park's deputy superintendent. She assumes her new duties on September 23rd.

Catherine has worked for the National Park Service for 19 years, beginning her career as a co-op landscape architect at Denver Service Center. She then served in several positions in Southeast Regional Office in Atlanta and left there in 2001 to serve as the site manager for the Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail. 

In 2006, she became the superintendent at Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee Airmen and Selma to Montgomery National Historic Trail. 

Catherine shares her life with her husband Xavier Light and their four daughters Kennedi, Moye', Carington, and London.
[Submitted by William F. Reynolds, Assistant Regional Director for Communications, Southeast Region]

For Kristina Heister, the new chief of natural resources for the Northeast Region, her bond with the natural world began in childhood .

"There was a permeable barrier between home life and wildlife," Heister explained.  "My father was a biology teacher for 30 years and he would wake me up in the middle of the night to go and investigate fish kills with the local waterways conservation officer. Heister admits that, due to her parents, "many creatures were temporary residents of our house, including owls, turtles, and roosters." 

She began her work at the Northeast Regional Office in Philadelphia on August 13th.  Heister replaces Dave Reynolds, who now serves as an advisor to the International Union for the Conservation of Nature.

Originally from King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, Heister has worked for the National Park Service for 20 years and was the natural resource manager at Valley Forge National Historical Park from 2006 until the present.  One project she is particularly proud of is the development and implementation of a white-tailed deer management plan.   She grew up visiting Valley Forge and remembers the forests as containing, "a rich diversity of wildflowers and a dense understory," that, by 2006, had been completely eliminated as the deer population increased over time. She is excited at the prospect of being able to "observe the process of recovery as woodland wildflowers come back and trees begin to regenerate" in response to lower deer densities.

"These are the types of projects and measureable outcomes that bring a tremendous sense of reward to park managers", she said. 

Kristina has natural resource management experience in small, medium, and large parks from Pennsylvania to Nevada, where she served as the network coordinator for the Mojave Inventory and Monitoring Network. She also has a strong background in natural resource interpretation, youth involvement and volunteerism, and building successful partnerships.

In 2009, she received the Trish Patterson Award for Natural Resource Management in a Small Park. She is a biologist by training, with a bachelor's degree from Salisbury State University and a master's degree in wildlife and fisheries science from Penn State.

In accepting the position Heister said, "I am looking forward to learning about the diverse natural resources and challenges facing parks across the northeast region, working with the dedicated team of park and regional professionals to help protect and manage these resources and building partnerships that will be necessary in the future to address the complex challenges facing our parks."
[Submitted by Cyrus Forman, cyrus_forman@nps.gov, 215-597-7015]

NPS serious incident submission standards can be found at the following web site:

http://inside.nps.gov/waso/custompages.cfm?prg=45&id;=8728&lv;=2&pgid;=3504

All reports should now be submitted via this automated system.