Cabrillo National Monument VIP Newsletter | |
July 2022 Updates for VIPs | |
Don't Forget to Log Your Hours! | |
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NOTE: Volgistics is no longer supported on Internet Explorer.
Please keep that in mind when logging in your hours. Use a different browser. Thank you!
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Celebrate Latino Conservation Week
July 16 - July 24
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"Join us for Latino Conservation Week July 16-24, 2022! This annual celebration seeks to engage Latino communities (and everyone) in National Park Service recreational activities and stewardship that benefit their local communities and parks, and it emphasizes the community’s role in conservation. Join the National Park Service in strengthening opportunities for Latino communities to show their support and commitment for permanently protecting our natural, cultural, and recreational resources and inspire the next generation of stewards.
Latino/a/e or Latinx refers to a person who is from, or a descendant of someone who is from, a country in Latin America.
Hispanic refers to a person who is from, or a descendant of someone who is from, a Spanish-speaking country.
Join the celebration on social media by using #LatinoConservationWeek, #LCW2022 and #LatinoHeritage."
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How can you celebrate Latino Conservation Week? Here are a few tips!
- Explore a park and recreate responsibly
- Learn about Latino leaders in the conservation field
- Discuss shared conservation experiences
- Research parks and historical sites with Latino heritage
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Join THESE free online webinars by national parks in Boston on July 20th
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Find an EVENT near you
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Story Time with Ranger Sandy! In Honor of Latino Conservation Week (LCW)
I have been with the National Park Service for over five years now. I remember the culture shock I went through after my first week at Yosemite National Park when I quickly realized very little of my peers looked like me. I struggled with my identity as both a park ranger and a Latina. It's been a journey for me to view these things that made me feel "different," at first as my superpower. I now lead with vulnerability in hopes that I can inspire Latino/a/e/x or others in the National Park Service to bring their full authentic selves to work and be the change they want to see.
Flash forward to starting my current assignment at Cabrillo National Monument, I was afraid of going through that same feeling of culture shock, but in a different park. To my surprise, there was another ranger who also identified as Latina who greeted me at the front gate on my first day of work. She patiently waited with excitement that there was going to be another Latina in the park and she expressed this to me. I hope she knows those words made me even more excited on my first day of work and made a world of difference to me! The welcome I received from other park staff, volunteers, and the Diversity Committee made me quickly realize that Cabrillo National Monument was the right choice for me. Thank you everyone for continuing to make Cabrillo National Monument a welcoming place for all!
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Image descriptions | NPS Photos
Top) Image designed by the National Park Service. Image reads, "National Park Service. Latino Conservation Week," on a black background. In the center is a ranger flat hat made out of colorful figures of outdoor graphics and activities one can do in honor of LCW (examples: canoe, bison, redwood tree, flowers, tent, etc.).
Bottom) Two Latina rangers smile happily and pose as they stand with San Diego bay in the background.
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- Celebrate Latino Conservation Week!
- High Risk for COVID-19 in San Diego County: Masks Required and Attestation Forms
- VIP Spotlight: Joel Kalmonson
- VIP Kudos: Radio, Uniform, and Roving
- Volunteer Navigation Committee Updates
- Customer Service VIP Training
- Park Compendium Overview with Ranger Chad - Training
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- Mental Health Resources for VIPs
- Diversity Committee Update: Pride!
- Ecologik Camp - Student Exhibition
- American Cetacean Society: Recorded Lectures
- What's Your Migration Path?
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Safety Update:
High Risk for COVID-19 in San Diego County
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MASKS REQUIRED INSIDE ALL FEDERAL BUILDINGS, REGARDLESS OF VACCINATION STATUS. | |
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From Sandy Hernandez, Volunteer Coordinator:
Dear volunteers,
San Diego county is once again at a high risk spread for COVID-19. What this means is that everyone is once again required to wear a mask inside all federal buildings, regardless of vaccination status. This includes the administrative building, exhibits, lighthouse, Visitor Center, TPERP trailer, greenhouse, entrance station, bunker, auditorium, and any government vehicles. Please be sure to always wear a mask when indoors. Masks continue to be available in the Visitor Center for your convenience. If you need masks in your work site, please communicate with your volunteer supervisor.
In addition, COVID-19 Vaccination Attestation forms are once again a requirement. If you have shown this form to a volunteer supervisor back when it was implemented in January, you are clear as long as you continue to carry the form with you. If you misplaced this form, please communicate with your volunteer supervisor for a new copy. If you have never signed this form, please be sure to grab a copy from your volunteer supervisor to fill out as soon as possible. Volunteer supervisors will once again continue to make sure that if you plan to come into the park to volunteer, that there is record of you having filled out an attestation form. Reach out to your volunteer supervisor if you have any questions or concerns.
As we are seeing COVID case numbers go up across the county (and the nation), here is a reminder that there are useful tools online to determine how long and under what conditions one needs to isolate (if sick or confirmed with COVID), or to quarantine (if exposed in close contact to someone with a confirmed case). There is a Quarantine and Isolation Calculator available, linked below.
These changes will remain in place until further notice. Thank you for your cooperation!
Please reach out to the cabr_volunteers@nps.gov or your VIP Supervisors should you have any additional questions or concerns.
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Alt text for flyer: a yellow and teal poster showing an owl with large eyes wearing a face mask. The poster reads "Owl wear one." Behind the owl, the word "thank you" shows in multiple languages. | |
VIP Spotlight:
Joel Kalmonson
Over Joel’s years of service, he has donated more than 2,700 volunteer hours to Cabrillo National Monument. Volunteers give Cabrillo one of the most sacred things they can provide- their time. Here is what a few staff members at Cabrillo have to say about Joel:
“He is super friendly and is truly knowledgeable about the park and its operation. He freely shares his knowledge with all visitors and makes them feel welcome. We are most fortunate to have him as a valuable adjunct to our maintenance and landscaping programs. He is our "behind the scenes guy" in keeping our park well-tended.” - Greenhouse VIP Supervisor, Patricia Simpson
“Joel is always the first person to say hello when I enter the park before it opens. I’ll just be starting my day, but Joel will already have accomplished so much, whether it’s trimming vegetation, getting the VC area ready for visitors, or assisting the rest of the maintenance team with repairs. We are so lucky to have Joel as part of the team. He is friendly and outgoing with park visitors, so I often see him helping families with directions and sharing information about the park.” - Previous Visitor Services Program Manager, Elizabeth Skinner
Image description: NPS Photo | VIP Joel, on the left, poses with park ranger next to newly installed park wayside interpretive sign that is titled, "Making it Clean and Green." It shows a birds eye view of the Visitor Center area. The Visitor Center area is in the background behind VIP Joel and the park ranger.
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VIP Kudos
Double Wieder Kuddos! – VIP Dan was very quick and efficient with radio transmission for another slip and fall incident in tidepool area this past month. Thank you everyone for the essential role you play in keeping visitors safe while they enjoy the park! Additionally, VIP Becky volunteered to do our annual uniform inventory. Thanks to Beky’s help, we will be able to order some new volunteer uniform items soon. Are any of your official volunteer uniform items worn or torn? Please communicate with your VIP supervisor, so we can exchange your items. - Sandy Hernandez, Volunteer Coordinator
VIP Gary rose to the occasion this past month when there was a low tide during the time the park was opening. Some park staff were delayed at the entrance station, so Gary headed down to support the coastal area (where he is typically not stationed) to help answer visitor questions and keep our resources safe. Way to go, Gary! - Pauline Geisler, TPERP VIP Supervisor
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Let's keep it going! Thinking of a fellow volunteer who deserves to be celebrated? Send us your Kudos and Spotlights to cabr_volunteers@nps.gov so we can share them in the next newsletter, and celebrate each other together! Thank you to volunteer Peter-Lee for this month's nomination for VIP spotlight! | |
NPS Photo | C. Aurrecoechea | VIP Dan stands behind the TPERP education table in full volunteer uniform. He engages with two visitors on the other side of it. In the background is the beautiful ocean sky and blue water, as well as coastal vegetation. | |
Volunteer Navigation Committee (VNC) Updates
Please join us for the next VNC meeting on Saturday, August 6th at 9am in the Cabrillo National Monument auditorium. Masks and social distancing required. The VNC is setting up “working groups” for training, continuing education and community building. Details asking for help will be coming soon in a separate email.
All volunteers are welcome to join in! You can RSVP by signing up on Volgistics for the next meeting. Never attended a VNC meeting but would like to give it a try? Email cabr_volunteers@nps.gov so we ensure you are able to sign up on Volgistics.
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So, why would you need a committee run by volunteers—isn’t that just one more thing to add to your already full to-do list, and yet another meeting to attend? The Volunteer Navigation Committee (VNC) is so much more than just another committee and another meeting. The group provides volunteers with a voice in the decision-making processes related to the VIP program at CNM. See you at the next meeting!
NPS Photo | Seven smiling volunteers take a selfie in front of the Assistant Keeper's Quarters.
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Customer Service VIP Training | |
"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." -- Maya Angelou
Customer service is perhaps one of the most vital parts of leaving visitors with everlasting memories of their experience at Cabrillo National Monument. Join Ranger Tom and Ranger Sandy to learn how to communicate successfully with visitors, create a good first impression of the National Park Service, detect any biases, and be prepared for anything.
Each training is 2 hours long with breaks, and a max capacity of 15 VIPs. All trainings are the same, so no need to attend more than one. You can sign up on Volgistics as it is listed as a Continued Education/Training assignment. See you there!
Please email cabr_volunteers@nps.gov if you have any questions, concerns, or need any accommodations.
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NPS Photos | C. Aurrecoechea
Alt text for flyer: A blue flyer reads, "Customer service training (image of five yellow "customer review" stars) on Saturday, June 18th at 10am or Monday, June 20th at 10am in the CABR auditorium. Sign up on Volgisitcs." Inside two decorative circles are images. Image 1: Smiling VIP interacts with a young visitor exploring the TPERP education table. Image 2: VIP stands with group of visitors as he does a guided walk in front of the lighthouse.
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Join us on Sunday, July 31st, 2022 for a Questions & Answers session with Ranger Chad!
A handful of VIPs recently expressed that changes have been made to the park compendium over the years they were unaware of. Ranger Chad will be doing an introduction to the compendium and allow volunteers to ask questions for anything that might need further clarification.
What is a park compendium? The Superintendent's Compendium is a compilation of designations, closures, permit requirements, and other restrictions made by the superintendent, in addition to what is contained in Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations (Chapter 1, Parts 1 through 7 and 34), and other applicable federal statutes and regulations. The latest version was approved by Andrea Compton, Superintendent, on 3/23/2022.
Plan to attend? Prepare by reviewing the park compendium beforehand (available on the park website HERE) and have your questions ready. See you there!
Space is limited. Please RSVP on Volgistics. Event is listed as Continuing Education/Training.
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Image description: NPS Photo | Red, white, and blue flyer that reads, "Q + A with law enforcement ranger, Chad. Sunday July 31st, 3pm, Cabrillo National Monument auditorium. RSVP by signing up on Volgistics, max 15 volunteers, masks required. Different circles decorate the flyer, but one of them holds an image of a coastal sunset. The coastal cliff in the corner is dark in the image, but the sunset shines with blue and red coloring on the clouds. The deep colors reflect on the ocean water. | |
Mental Health Resources for Volunteers
Volunteer-specific resource list now available! Click below! WASO VIP partnered with the Wellness and Resilience Branch in the Office of Risk to create a list of volunteer-focused mental health resources, which is now available to you all!
"Seeking help is not a sign of weakness; it is a sign of courage."
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Interpretation & Education | |
Naturalization Ceremonies | |
Naturalization Ceremonies continue on Tuesdays throughout 2022!
The next Naturalization Ceremonies will be Tuesday, July 26th. We currently have NO volunteers signed up. Please sign up if you are available! Ceremonies are currently scheduled for longer on Volgistics to reflect the backlog that the organization (USCIS) is working through. Thank you for your continued commitment to the Naturalization Ceremonies!
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NPS Photo |
Drive-thru naturalization ceremony at Cabrillo.
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Never volunteered at these ceremonies but would like to give it a try? Email cabr_volunteers@nps.gov so we can provide more details and ensure you are able to sign up!
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Photo description: NPS Photo | Keanu on the left in volunteer uniform. He posses with Ranger Sandy (middle), as she holds her progress Pride flag, and Greenhouse VIP Supervisor Patricia (right), as she holds a Pride umbrella. | |
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"Hello! My name is Keanu, and I’m soo excited to be the newest addition to Cabrillo. I will be interning as a Volunteer Program Assistant under current Park Ranger Sandy! I am lucky enough to be part of this program at Cabrillo National Park through a nonprofit organization called Outdoor Outreach. Outdoor Outreach connects under-represented and under-resourced youth to the wonders of the outdoors through many of their outing expeditions. I interned there as well, and was able to advocate at the capital with Outdoor Outreach for accessibility for youth in outdoor spaces. I first came to Cabrillo when I was much younger, and it so cool to be here now and meeting everyone!! :) "
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Other Updates
Ranger Amanda is Acting Visitor Services Program Manager until further notice.
Ranger Sandy will be on annual leave from August 7th to 18th. This may cause a delay on the next newsletter. Apologies in advance.
A Save the Date for our annual VIP recognition event will be coming soon!
NPS Photo | C. Aurrecoechea
Close up on Shaw's Agave.
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Resources Management & Science | |
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From Linh Anh:
"This is my last message to the VIPs before I head off to a promotion at Kalaupapa National Historical Park to be the Natural Resources Management division lead/Supervisory Ecologist! I will miss CABR and San Diego so much. I appreciate all the assistance with the numerous Resources programs we have. I am always impressed to hear how many bags of invasive plants Weed Warriors remove (I have said before that it is great news and terrible news at the same time!), the different types of visitor behavior that TPERPers are able to change to modeling stewardship for the rocky intertidal, the number of native plants salvaged from the Future Trail corridor by the Greenhouse crew, and all the data collected from monitoring programs like herpertofauna, landbirds, and shorebirds (the last of which is in a new report coming out from intern Lauren and marine biologist Lauren at the end of this summer). I also want to give kudos to my staff, who love working with their VIPs and have worked together to build a wonderful Resources team I have been so lucky to lead.
The highlight of this summer is watching everyone hit full stride with their programs: Taro and Brent have done an amazing job setting up a new fog monitoring system which involves everything from welding to programming to dyeing to bushwhacking. Pauline is managing a TPERP program with the largest budget ever which also has an amazing new training pipeline to increase efficiency for a much-needed program (especially as visitation increases after the Future Trail is built) . Speaking of the Future Trail, the Greenhouse crew has done amazing work under Patricia’s leadership doing a massive native plant salvage effort and are getting some infrastructure upgrades to the actual greenhouse in the near future. Lonie is not only coordinating the diligent Weed Warriors but is also undertaking projects with California Invasive Plant Management Team and leading the Urban Corps of San Diego County for five weeks starting this month to tackle non-natives and do vegetation brushing on the Future Trail Corridor. And Lauren is putting her data visualization and data analysis skills to work on our long term monitoring data across multiple programs (as well as data from other networks in NPS) in addition to her duties as marine biologist and second-in-command of the Resources team. Please know we appreciate all the help from the VIPs as the team juggles all the demands from various park priorities."
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Photo description: NPS Photo | Linh Anh in full park ranger uniform, smiling (we will miss that smile!) at the camera. San Diego Bay and downtown are in the background. | |
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On July 1st, the Kitchen Garden team had their annual Soil Moving Day! Kuddos to the team for keeping the Kitchen Garden looking great and providing an engagement opportunity for our park visitors. The Kitchen Garden provides families with an opportunity to create memories with us here at Cabrillo.
During the event, we had a visitor come up to the team and comment on how great it looked. Such a valuable resource in the park. Thank you!
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NPS Photo | S. Hernandez
VIPs Pam, Greg, and Dave soiling and planting in the Kitchen Garden.
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NPS Photo | C. Aurrecoechea
VIP Greg watering plants at greenhouse.
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You may have seen greenhouse VIPs in the park collecting seeds lately. As our plants enter dormancy, we are collecting just enough seeds for next season’s production. We are also working hard at the greenhouse with infrastructure improvements, transplants, and seasonal cleaning. A big thank you to the greenhouse crew for always being ready and willing! We couldn’t do it without you! | |
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Special Update from Diversity Committee:
San Diego Pride!
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A historical moment for Cabrillo National Monument's first time partaking in a community Pride parade!
To feel accepted and visible - that's something we all share as humans.
Cabrillo National Monument Foundation (CNMF), in cooperation with Cabrillo's Diversity Committee, was able to participate in this year's San Diego Pride Parade. Thank you to everyone who was involved in allowing the National Park Service to participate in this community diversity and inclusion event. What a joyful day it was!
Photo 1 (top): NPS Photo | S. Hernandez
A combination of park rangers, CNMF staff, Cabrillo staff, interns, volunteers, family, and friends. Two park rangers in front of the group photo each hold an end of a green banner that reads, "Cabrillo National Monument, 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Drive San Diego, CA 92106." The rest of the group is in the background cheering and holding up Pride swag (umbrellas, flags, etc.).
Photo 2 (bottom, left): Screenshot by VIP Peter-Lee of Channel 8's broadcasting of the Pride parade. The camera focuses on Ranger Sandy in full uniform and sun glasses, as she waves her progress Pride flag. Other participants of the Cabrillo group could be seen all around her.
Photo 3 (bottom, right): Screenshot by VIP Peter-Lee of Channel 8's broadcasting of the Pride parade. The front of the Cabrillo group is in focus, once again holding the green banner. Some of your favorite Cabrillo rangers are visible (Thuy, Bri, Amanda, Tom, Matt), as well as intern Keanu and other staff/family.
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Ecologik Camp - Student Exhibition | |
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Ecologik Camp is coming up! Science Educators Sam and Andrew are very busy preparing for this amazing program for young women interested in STEM/STEAM.
Join us August 6th from 10:15am - 11:15am!
Student Exhibition at Cabrillo National Monument is August 6th from 10:15am - 11:15am in the walkway in front of the Visitor Center. Come learn and show your support!
Photo description: Ecologik full logo.
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American Cetacean Society: Recorded Lectures | |
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On January 30, 2021, the national ACS chapter hosted its first virtual conference. In case you missed it, each speaker has their own presentation uploaded on YouTube. Click on the button below to access those previously recorded lectures!
There's even a recorded lecture from January 2022 by Dr. Steve Swartz: "Update on the Eastern Pacific Gray Whale." Feel free to record these as continued education hours!
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What's Your Migration Path? | |
Mapping Migraciones - Audubon California and Latino Outdoors | |
Birds have no borders and migrate thousands of miles every year.
Mapping Migraciones is a year-long project by Audubon California with National Audubon Society and Latino Outdoors celebrating Latinidad, migration, and the stories that connect us across the Americas.
The interactive map uses migratory bird data and stories from people like you to give us a full picture of how birds and people are connected through geography and culture.
Want to deeper dive? Check-out videos of past panels and discussions for an opportunity to learn more about the joy of migration. Also, learn about some of the birds that migrate. Feel free to record these as continued education hours!
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Register for August 9th at 9am PST Workshop! | |
The Oath workshop is an interactive experience that teaches a model to approach allyship for planet, inclusion, adventure.
During the workshop, you’ll reflect and create a unique action plan to help you unlearn, learn and be in community with other aligned outdoorists.
The 1.5 hour Oath workshop will provide you with a personalized compass for you to take action for people and planet.
After the workshop, participants have the opportunity to take The Outdoorist Oath and be a part of our community with access to continuing education. Feel free to record this as continued education hours!
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