CABR Monthly News & Updates
|
|
Welcome to the sixth edition of our monthly newsletter!
|
|
The National Park Service Celebrates the
100th Anniversary of the 19th Amendment!
|
August 26, 2020 will mark exactly 100 years since the 19th Amendment became law, ensuring that gender could not exclude women from voting. Our state of California was ahead of the Nation and
recognized a women’s right to vote in 1911
. Women in California began to run for political office and used their new political power to help ratify the 19th Amendment.
This milestone in our Nation’s history was won through struggle and protest in the streets, in courtrooms, and in Congress. While we celebrate this important moment in history, we also recognize that law and practice continued to exclude women of color from voting for decades more. After the 19th Amendment was ratified, women continued to fight against voting barriers and other forms of discrimination, as they still do today.
The National Park Service will be celebrating the 19th Amendment Centennial throughout August. Cabrillo National Monument will join the Women’s Suffrage Centennial Commission’s “Forward Into Light” movement by lighting up the Old Point Loma Lighthouse in purple and gold, the colors of the 19th Amendment Victory Flag. Stay tuned for an official press release from Chief of Interpretation Elizabeth Skinner on this and other 19th Amendment programming at Cabrillo.
There are many online resources, both created by the National Park Service and others, available to deepen our understanding of the women's suffrage story and women’s fight against voting discrimination after the 19th Amendment. Here are just a few for those looking to learn more:
The
19th Amendment NPS subject page
has links to articles, podcasts, short videos, history of the 19th Amendment by state, and a collection of lesson plans on 19th Amendment, plus much more.
The
NPS StoryMap Timeline
of events leading up to the 19th Amendment ratification brings you on a virtual road trip of significant places in the fight for ratification. Almost feels like traveling again – and a chance to add to the bucket list of places to visit!
The
For Kids! Page
and
Girl Scout program
bring the history to our youth. We have Girl Scout patches to award to Girl Scouts who complete the 19th Amendment program. Please share with any Girl Scouts or scout leaders.
Hope these online resources get you fired up to help tell the story of the women’s fight for the right to vote! I’m excited to dig into these resources myself and also check out a few good books on women’s suffrage and female leaders. If you know of or come across any good sources, please share.
For more information about the upcoming event or if you have any questions, please email Julieanne at julieanne_fontana@nps.gov.
|
|
When volunteering at the park during Covid-19:
Remember to email cabr_volunteers@nps.gov before your arrive for
every
shift to verify that you passed the self health screening. More information on the self screening process can be found at the bottom of this newsletter.
When returning a radio, keys, and/or magnets, make sure you hand them off to a ranger. We want to make sure you had a good shift, weren't injured in any way, and hear about your time in the park.
|
|
There was another bluff collapse in the tidepools this Friday! The good news is that it took away the lower portion of the ledge that visitors used to access the off limits cave area. This serves as yet another reminder of the ever-changing geology of the tidepool area and to remain vigilant and aware at all times. Cabrillo seasonal Erin Gelfat generated the social media post below to alert the public of our most recent geological event.
|
|
Extended Hours...Extended!
|
|
Join the rangers for sunsets at Cabrillo for another month! That's right, through August, the main part of the park will stay open until sunset, with the tidepools closing 30 minutes prior to sunset, and the bayside trail closing one hour before sunset.
If you have thought about re-onboarding as a rover, the afternoon shifts are absolutely majestic. Most of the crowds seem to leave after 6:00 PM, and a quiet calm descends upon the monument. Roving these shifts is an opportunity to feel the balance being restored to nature after a long day interacting with the public. It's a chance to see the rainbow painted sky, feel the cool approach of evening, and smell a sea spray farewell. If you would like to sign up to be a rover, please email cabr_volunteers@nps.gov.
|
|
Resource Management & Science
|
- Herp survey remains unavailable to VIPs due to social distancing concerns. The monitoring program is undergoing a review by USGS, so it’s possible the methods will look a little different once VIPs return!
- The bayside trail remains partially closed due to the Africanized bee hive. It has been treated by exterminators and Linh Anh and Jay have foamed it a few times as follow up treatment, but stragglers remain.
- Finally, we look forward to hiring a marine biologist in the coming months.
Linh Anh Cat, Ph.D. (she/her)
Chief of Resources Management & Science
|
|
Interpretation & Education Updates
|
- Safety reminder: Volunteers operating under signed volunteer service agreements are covered for liability through the NPS. Volunteers are considered “employee equivalent” for legal purposes outlined in volunteer service agreements. Like federal employees, workers’ compensation is covered while performing official duties; if you get injured while volunteering, report it ASAP. Injuries, near-misses, and exposures should be reported ASAP so we can 1) make sure you are okay and get help if needed 2) make sure the same hazard doesn’t cause someone else to get hurt And 3) document the information in our safety tracking system. A volunteer is not required to submit a workers’ compensation claim to the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) if they would prefer to handle the injury through their private insurance. But no matter what, let us know ASAP. You will not get in trouble for reporting an injury. We will keep it confidential and will not sure your name with anyone. For the purposes of information sharing, I will share that in the last 1.5 years that I have been here, we have had a few VIP injuries reported, mostly minor, like slips, trips, falls, and objects in someone’s eye that caused a scratch. Getting these injuries in our system within 24 hours protected the volunteers because, for example, if that little scratch on someone’s eye turned into a major issue, it was in the system, and a doctors’ office visit would be covered under Worker’s Compensation. If it wasn’t reported, the volunteer would not have been covered under Worker’s Compensation.
- Procedure for returning radios: Whenever possible, the rangers will meet you in person for returning radios. From 11 am – 3 pm we are staffing the Visitor Contact Desk. You can return radios to us there. This gives us a chance to say hello again, and see if anything unusual happened during your shift: for example, safety hazards, resource damage, visitors doing something they shouldn’t, etc. If no one is available, we will ask you to place your radio on the back patio picnic table.
- Naturalization Ceremonies – Hosting two more on Wednesday August 19 and Wednesday September 23. A timelapse video of the ceremony we posted on facebook went slightly “viral.” It was shared by Yahoo News and other news websites, and had over 50,000 views as of yesterday.
- Accessibility training is on VIP voice. This training was led by park seasonal Tera Lynn Gray. Check it out!
Elizabeth Skinner
Chief of Interpretation
|
|
Join ranger Amanda August 13th, 2020 at 10:00 AM for an intriguing look into the world of situational de-escalation. During this Microsoft TEAMS meeting, you will receive tools that you can place in your volunteer toolkit for future use in many situations. Possible situations include, but are not limited to:
A person approaching you within six feet without a mask.
A visitor who is displeased by the statue of Cabrillo.
A person who is angry that they had to pay $20 to enter the park.
Someone who is upset because other visitors aren't wearing masks.
Learn how to approach these situations and what tools you can utilize to maintain your cool and keep everyone (Including yourself!) safe during these interactions.
Please RSVP to ranger Amanda at amanda_gossard@nps.gov by August 11th. An invitation will be send to everyone who RSVPs on August 12th.
|
|
Badges?! We've Got Your Stinkin' Badges!
|
We have developed a new name badge system for the park. To help expedite the process of getting badges to volunteers and to help reduce cost, we have moved to an in house badge making process. These new badges have magnetic backs, which will make removing and putting them on a snap!
|
Replaceable inserts means that we can replace badges easily for things like name changes, years of service increases, etc. Please email Amanda at amanda_gossard@nps.gov if you need a new badge, need an upgrade from a button badge, or just want to replace your existing badge with a magnetic one. Priority will be given to volunteers who have been re-onboarded since the pandemic.
|
|
Covid Self Screening Process
|
Before each shift
, you must complete a COVID-19 Self Screening with the following 3 steps and email cabr_volunteers@nps.gov with the results.
1. Have I had any recent known potential exposure (household contact or close contact within 6 feet) to anyone with COVID-19 infection? If your answer is yes, you should stay home until 14 days after the last exposure, maintain social distance (at least 6 feet) from others at all times, and self-monitor for symptoms* including taking your temperature twice daily.
2. Have I had COVID-like symptoms* or fever (temperature of 100.4˚F or higher) within the last 72 hours including today? [Note: Check for fever before entering the park.] If you answer, “yes”, do not report to the park. Contact your Volunteer Coordinator to cancel your shift. Utilize the CDC Self-Checker and follow up with your healthcare provider as needed.
3. Did I develop COVID-like symptoms* or fever during the day while working? If you develop fever or other symptoms during the workday, go home immediately. Contact your Volunteer Coordinator, isolate yourself, utilize the CDC Self-Checker, and follow up with your healthcare provider as needed.
* Symptoms of COVID-19 include cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing or at least two of the following: fever, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat, or new loss of taste or smell.
|
|
Would you like to be featured for a VIP spotlight? For the past couple of months, we have interviewed VIPs to learn more about them and capture their service stories. If you’re passionate about what you do for the park and would like to participate in sharing your experiences, email us at cabr_volunteers@nps.gov.
Check out
VIP-Voice
every Monday for a new weekly spotlight!
|
|
Don't Forget to Log Your Hours!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
