The Morning Report
Thursday, April 09, 2015
INCIDENTS
Redwood National and State Parks (CA)
Man Arrested For Theft Of Campground Fees
Early on the morning of Monday, April 5th, law enforcement rangers from California State Parks and the National Park Service conducted a surveillance operation at Jedidiah Smith Campground, which had seen a string of thefts of money from the campground's "iron ranger" over the past two months.
A surveillance camera was put up in the area and within a day a man was seen on camera stealing money envelopes from the iron ranger. On April 5th a team of seven rangers from both the national and state parks surveyed the area and were able to catch him in the act of stealing money envelopes. The man and an accomplice were arrested and charged with grand theft, possession of burglary tools, and possession of methamphetamine.
The man admitted that he had stolen over $5,000 from the campground over the last two months. He has a long history of theft and burglaries and admitted that he had previously been caught in a national park in Utah for doing the same thing and been sentenced to six months in federal prison.
[Submitted by Greg Morse, North District Supervisory Park Ranger]
NEWS AND NOTES
Centennial and Communications Offices
Find Your Park Campaign Continues In Los Angeles
The Find Your Park public awareness campaign successfully kicked off on Thursday, April 2nd, with a launch event in New York City featuring one of our Centennial Ambassadors, Bella Thorne, and many friends and partners.
The event generated a steady stream of social media from parks across the country, news coverage across new and traditional media outlets, and fun park-to-park digital interactions.
Thank you to the many employees, parks, programs, and partners who helped make the day a success--especially Frank Barrows, NPS Centennial Ambassador and Superintendent at Fort Stanwix National Monument. Highlights from the day can be seen here.
Setting the stage for National Park Week (April 18-26), the Find Your Park campaign continues today and tomorrow with an event at El Pueblo de los Angeles Historical Monument in Los Angeles that will bring the parks to the public.
Virtual kiosks will enable passers-by to connect virtually with NPS rangers and other visitors on a Virtual View Tour of Grand Teton National Park, Martin Luther King Jr. National Historic Site, and Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The Virtual Kiosk will travel to Washington D.C. on April 16 and 17, and we'll share more news from that event as well!
Kick-off Event
The day started with an ad takeover of Times Square, bringing Find Your Park to thousands of residents and tourists. In the afternoon, Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell joined Director Jon Jarvis, National Park Foundation Interim President Dan Wenk, and Centennial Ambassador Bella Thorne in New York City to unveil a musical installation and Find Your Park Virtual View Kiosks, officially kicking off the campaign.
Media Coverage
The campaign launch was covered by a wide range of media outlets. Here are a few:
- MSNBC The Rundown - interview with Director Jarvis
- Yahoo Travel - interview with Director Jarvis
- People.com - photo of Bella Thorne and Superintendent Frank Barrows
- Wired - interview with Bill Nye
- DigitalTrends - highlighting the kiosk tour
- Out - article on Mary Lambert's support for Find Your Park
Social Media
The launch also received extensive coverage on social media. Some highlights:
Now is a great time to join the digital conversation and tune into the excitement and enthusiasm of so many people sharing their love for parks. Search for #FindYourPark on various social media channels, including Facebook, Twitter, and our newest platform: Instagram.
If you haven't done so already, be sure to check out the Find Your Park website. The Share Your Park section is especially full of a great variety of creative content!
Below are some highlights from the campaign launch, including coverage from media outlets that don't usually feature national parks. This is an important success for the National Park Service as we continue to meet the centennial goal to connect with and create the next generation of park visitors, supporters, and advocates.
Visit the Centennial Office google site to get the latest updates on centennial plans and activities, Find Your Park campaign toolkits, guidance, and more. You can also email nps_centennial@nps.gov if you have any questions about the Find Your Park campaign.
Death Valley National Park (CA)
Park Management Team Wins DOI Environmental Award
Death Valley National Park's management team has been recognized by the Department of the Interior for its accomplishments in being designated an International Dark Sky Park, preserving the treasured dark sky resource while saving energy.
Death Valley is the largest park in the world with such designation with 3.4 million acres and is the largest National Park in the lower 48 states.
The park's staff recognized that nighttime darkness is one of the most valuable natural resources in the park and took significant measures to protect it. The dark of night provides a spectacle for visitors, an appropriate habitat for native fauna, and an opportunity for astronomical observations.
Seven years ago, the park agreed to the daunting task of having the entire 3.4 million acres of the park designated as an International Dark Sky Park. Over the years, park staff completed comprehensive outdoor lighting guidance documents, replaced inefficient lighting with energy efficient lower wattage and lumen lights, and installed intelligent lighting controls.
In 2013, Death Valley became the world's newest and largest "Gold Tier" International Dark Sky Park, the highest designation possible. This prestigious designation requires meeting stringent outdoor lighting standards and innovative community outreach aimed at protecting and enjoying the dark night sky. In the process of protecting the dark sky at night, Death Valley has reduced its energy consumption and associated greenhouse gases.
For more information on this and other DOI environmental awards, see http://www.doi.gov/greening/awards/2014/DEVA.cfm
[Submitted by Cheryl Chipman]
CAREER OPPORTUNITIES
Yellowstone National Park (ID,MT,WY)
GS-0025-11 Deputy District Rangers
Yellowstone National Park is seeking candidates for two vacant GS-11 supervisory law enforcement ranger positions.
These deputy district ranger jobs are located in the Mammoth and Old Faithful Districts of the park. The position in Mammoth is located at the headquarters of Yellowstone National Park. The position in Old Faithful is an "interior" position during the winter, with access via snowmobile and/or snow coach.
Supervisory and rangering responsibilities include visitor and resource protection in areas with a large variety of significant wildlife, front and backcountry work, large overnight lodging and campgrounds, large in-park concession populations, water, oversnow, and land based operations. Yellowstone rangers also perform the full spectrum of emergency services in the park. Yellowstone has a 24 hour interagency dispatch and 911 call center, an AUSA, jail facility, US marshal, federal courthouse and US magistrate stationed inside the park.
If you are interested in more information, please contact District Ranger Colleen Rawlings at Old Faithful (307-344-2702, Colleen_Rawlings@nps.gov) for the Old Faithful position or District Ranger Eric Morey at Mammoth (307-344-2133, Eric_Morey@nps.gov) for the Mammoth position.
The announcement closes on April 20th.
More Information...
Canyonlands National Park (UT)
GS-0025-9 Supervisory Interpretive Ranger (Lateral)
Canyonlands National Park is recruiting for a supervisory interpretive ranger interested in a lateral reassignment.
The position is duty-stationed in the Island in the Sky District, located 30 miles from Moab, Ufah. The person selected will work in an isolated area supervising permanent and seasonal GS-5 park guides, SCAs and VIPs. She/he will be responsible for the day-to-day supervision of the personal services component of the Island in the Sky District, which may include visitor center/museum and fee collection operations, campfire programs, formal walks, hikes and talks, and roving interpretation.
The Island in the Sky District is a vast landscape of deep canyons, rivers, and plateaus against the backdrop of the snow-capped LaSal Mountains and surrounded by thousands of scenic acres of BLM land. Temperatures in spring and fall are mild, but summer temperatures are hot and often exceed 90F. Opportunities to hike, run rivers, rock climb, and bicycle are numerous and varied. Government housing is available. The town of Moab is 35 miles away and offers most necessary amenities, including grocery stores, library, coffee shops, churches, hospital, and schools. Travel, transportation, and relocation expenses will be authorized. The position is permanent, subject-to-furlough.
To be considered, submit the following to Brenda Tupek, Human Resources Specialist, by the close of business on Wednesday, April 15th:
- An OF-612, Optional Application for Federal Employment, or a resume/application that includes the information identified in the Resume Builder area of USAJOBS.
- A copy of your most current performance appraisal.
- A current SF-50, Notification of Personnel Action, documenting permanent competitive civil service status.
Application materials may be mailed, faxed, or emailed directly to Brenda Tupek's attention. Mail to National Park Service, Canyonlands National Park, Attn: Human Resources, Brenda Tupek, 2282 SW Resource Boulevard, Moab UT, 84532 (fax: 435-719-2322, email: Brenda_Tupek@nps.gov).
Applications will be kept on file and may be used for filling other vacancies at Canyonlands and Arches National Parks.
For further information about this position, please contact Mary Wilson, Chief of Interpretation and Visitor Services (phone: 435- 719-2140, email: mary_wilson@nps.gov).
[Submitted by Mary Wilson, mary_wilson@nps.gov, (435)719-2140]
National Capital Region
GS-1035-09/11 Public Affairs Specialist
Dates: 04/08/2015 - 04/18/2015
National Capital Region's Office of Communications is looking for a savvy, energetic public affairs professional to join its team.
Click on the link below for a copy of the announcement with full details on duties, area information, and procedures for applying.
It closes on April 17th.
[Submitted by Jennifer Mummart, Jennifer_Mummart@nps.gov, (202) 619-7174]