Cabrillo National Monument VIP Newsletter | |
May 2022 Updates for VIPs | |
Don't Forget to Log Your Hours! | |
Celebrate AANHPI Heritage Month | |
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To watch the recent TODAY Show feature about Yosemite's Chinese Laundry Building Exhibit with Yosemite Ranger Yenyen Chan, please click HERE.
The Volunteers-In-Parks program commemorates Asian American and Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander Heritage Month! This May, we pay tribute to the generations of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders who shaped our nation’s history—and who were shaped by it.
You can engage with this servicewide theme by diving into these stories or watch the recording of last year’s Power of Parks for Health Roundtable discussion. Inspired by something you've learned or found a bit of family history in a national park? Share your experiences on social media using #AANHPIHM, #AsianPacificAmericanHeritageMonth, and #FindYourPark / #EncuentraTuParque
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- VIP Spotlight: Craig Binns
- VIP Kudos: Bioblitz and Radio Protocol
- Volunteer Navigation Committee
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- Upcoming Paid Opportunities
- Division Updates and Engagement Opportunities
- Partner Updates: CNMF - Cabrillo Under the Stars!
- Continued Education Opportunities
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Brace Yourselves.
Extended Hours Are Coming!
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Cabrillo National Monument will begin extended park hours over Memorial Day weekend (the last weekend in May). These extended hours will continue through the summer on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays, during which Cabrillo National Monument will be closing at sunset.
We are looking forward to extended hours on weekends!
NPS Photo | C. Aurrecoechea
Image description: Beautiful golden hour ocean sunset.
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VIP Spotlight: Craig Binns | |
NPS Photo | Image description: Three smiling VIPs in uniform next to the Old Point Loma lens. The lantern windows are behind them with a view of the coast. | |
Craig has such a positive and can-do attitude that is noticeable to those around him. If you know him, you know about his excellent sense of humor, as well. Ha! 😀
Last month, that same energized attitude of his was essential in getting a handful of those Cleaning Days going and making them happen. Craig is also great at providing excellent customer service at the Visitor Center and other VIP roles. Thank you, Craig, for all the care and dedication you bring to Cabrillo National Monument!
| Have a project you would like to work on that would benefit the park or volunteer program? Contact us at cabr_volunteers@nps.gov. | | |
VIP Kudos
Saturday, April 30th – VIP Debra received notice from a visitor of an incident where someone fainted near the Cabrillo Statue. VIP Debra quickly reported onto the radio and, as a result, park staff where able to respond to the incident. Luckily, everyone was fine! Thank you to all VIPs who continue to make quick and precise use of park radios to report incidents. You help keep this park safe every time you carry a radio during your shifts 😊
- Sandy Hernandez, Volunteer Coordinator
A very special shout out to all the volunteers who helped with the 24-hr Bioblitz. It was a big success and both the public and the scientists who participated had a wonderful experience due to the amazing guidance and warm welcome from dedicated volunteers. Thank you!
- Patricia Simpson, Greenhouse VIP Supervisor
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Image description: Four different iNaturalist observations by VIP supervisor, Patricia, during Cabrillo's 2022 Bioblitz. Upper left - California Swollenstinger Scorpion. Upper right - Short-horned Grasshopper. Bottom left - Orange-crowned Warbler. Bottom Right - Kellet's Whelk. | |
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!
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Volunteer Navigation Committee (VNC) Updates
Please join us for the next VNC meeting on Saturday, June 4th at 9am in the Cabrillo National Monument auditorium. 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.
At the next meeting we will be creating different work groups to tackle upcoming projects the VNC will be working on. These projects involve creating a Volunteer Handbook, more VIP digital training resources, and more! If you are looking for a unique volunteer opportunity, want to develop additional skills, or take part of a work group, then this is a great opportunity for you!
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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Please continue to be cautious. COVID numbers are going up, and while San Diego remains in the green/low community spread, it is is back in the "high" category for community transmission. Masks are optional now, but consider when it might be safer to wear one. Staff and volunteers can continue to wear a mask if they are comfortable doing so. Please respect the decisions of your colleagues either way, as some people have very good reasons for continuing to wear a mask.
If you have been in close contact with a positive COVID 19 case, please follow CDC guidelines for quarantine and isolation: COVID-19 Quarantine and Isolation | CDC
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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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Upcoming Paid Opportunities! | |
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Cabrillo National Monument is recruiting a paid Scientists-in-Parks intern this coming fall (October-December 2022) to study dark unicorn whelk (Mexicanthina lugubris) abundance at the park! The whelk is native to rocky intertidal habitats in Baja California, but their range has shifted northward into southern California. To understand how the abundance of this whelk changes over time and determine whether it should be included in our list of taxa for long-term monitoring, the intern will (1) assess whelk abundance in 2022 field surveys and historical photos 1990-2021 and (2) determine if the number of whelks is positively correlated with warm water events. The internship is primarily data analysis and scientific writing with 1-2 weeks of field work. During their term, the intern will communicate the results of their study through a Natural Resources Data Series publication and science communication post.
Applications are open until 6/12/22 but may close early if 100 applications are received.
Eligibility summary (see full list on application website):
👩🏽🔬 Applicants must be US Citizens/Permanent Residents
👨🏾🔬Applicants must work full time on the internship during their term
👩🏻🔬 Open to students and recent graduates
👨🔬 Data analysis, scientific writing, and communication skills necessary
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Community Volunteer Ambassador (CVA) positions for 2022-2023 are now live! And guess what? Cabrillo National Monument is on the list!
This CVA position will support VIP program operations, but will also help with re-envisioning and expanding our volunteer group operations at Cabrillo National Monument. Volunteer group programs are a great way to engage historically underrepresented groups in our national park units. It allows them the opportunity to not only come into the park to work with park rangers and staffing, but also helps them gain a sense of ownership of these places. We hope that through these programs that people’s needs and safety are prioritized, their identity and boundaries are respected, and that we provide them the space to be part of a community. Folks that take part in our volunteer groups program will be able to take their experience back home with them and share what they learned with friends and family.
The CVA position will start on Monday, September 12th, 2022, and run for 50 weeks until Friday, August 25th, 2023. Applicants will need to apply HERE.
Application must be submitted by Friday, July 15th to ensure full consideration.
Conservation Legacy and the National Park Service strongly encourages applicants from diverse backgrounds to apply.
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Please share these paid opportunities with your networks. If you are interested in applying, you can reach out to us directly at cabr_volunteers@nps.gov if you have any questions or concerns. | |
Interpretation & Education | |
Naturalization Ceremonies | |
Naturalization Ceremonies continue on Tuesdays throughout 2022!
The next Naturalization Ceremonies will be Tuesday, May 24th. Although our slots are full, you can still sign up for the ceremony on Tuesday, June 28th!
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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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NPS Photo | Collage of four images during staff orientation. Upper left - presentation to group in auditorium. Upper right - group in circle outdoors, listening to instructor. Bottom left - group hiking along coastal trail. Bottom right - two park employees in park cart completing driving obstacle course. | |
We have some new and returning seasonal employees (across all divisions) joining us this summer! Seasonal employees and some new permanent employees took part in a four day training and onboarding session last week where they were trained on everything from customer service skills to park themes to the various natural and cultural resources of the park. More new staff members will continue to trickle in over the summer. If you see someone that you don't recognize, please take time to introduce yourself and what you do as a volunteer. | Sandy's schedule is changing! She will now be off on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, and teleworking on Thursdays. Both Elizabeth and Amanda are back from leave. | |
Training Opportunity: Visitor Center | |
Curious about the type of resources we have available for our visitors at the Visitor Center? Whether you are interested in working at the Visitor Center Information Desk or not, this is a great training opportunity to get an overview of what is available there. From field guides to comment forms, we've got it all!
Join Ranger Sandy for an overview of Visitor Center Operations on Sunday, May 29th from 10 am to 11 am. Available on a first-come, first-serve basis. RSVP on Volgistics under Special Events for that day. See you then!
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NPS Photo | Smiling volunteer in uniform behind Visitor Center Information Desk. | |
Resources Management & Science | | |
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Scientists in Parks program interns will be here beginning May 16th. They will be setting up a fog monitoring system at the park (to discover which areas of the park get more fog, so we can plant things that thrive in foggy conditions in those areas). They’ll be here until mid-August. Please be sure to welcome Taro and Brent when you see them!
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NPS Photo | C. Aurrecoechea
Resource Management and Science Division at the Coast Trail leading to the tidepools.
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Weed Warriors have been working on the Coastal Trail from parking lot #1 toward the first steps. The trail is looking so much better. Thank you for all the hard work!
Two High School Apprentices, Troy and Joey, from High Tech High Chula Vista are joining us for the month of May. Please be sure to greet them and introduce yourselves when you see them in the field!
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NPS Photo | C. Aurrecoechea
Volunteers weeding with Point Loma Lighthouse in the background.
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NPS Photo | C. Aurrecoechea
VIP watering plants at greenhouse.
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Thank you to the greenhouse crew for all the hard work. It’s been fun doing some seed collection on the Bay Side Trail and Coastal Trail. Plant salvage efforts on the New Trail continues. We are now working at the bottom of the trail off of Cabrillo Rd.
A special thank you to Greg, Dave and Joel for helping with assembling our new beautiful grow tables. It is not an easy task!
A warm welcome to Jean, Rise and Mohamad who joined our crew recently.
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Visitor & Resource Protection | |
NPS Photo | Park Ranger with San Diego Bay in the background. | |
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Ralph Jones retired after 34 years of federal service. His last day with us at Cabrillo National Monument will be Thursday, May 19th! Join us for a BBQ potluck at Upper Maintenance. This will be a great opportunity to gather outdoors and wish Ralph Jones a happy retirement.
DATE/TIME: 19 May 2022, 12:00 - 1:30
Due to ongoing COVID concerns, you are invited to bring your own food and share if you feel comfortable.
See you there!
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Welcome Albert, who will be serving as Acting Chief Ranger through August!
Chief De Alba has been with the U.S. Department of the Interior since 2010, with over two and a half years with the National Park Service. He is excited to bring his experience and knowledge gained throughout his career to San Diego.
Chief De Alba learned that he wanted to work in law enforcement at a young age. In 1993 he took the first step and became a Sheriff's Explorer with the Merced County Sheriff's Department. Chief De Alba graduated from Dos Palos High School. He attended San Jose State University, where he worked for the University Police Department as a non-sworn Community Service Officer and Police Cadet. In 1996, at the end of his first year of college, Chief De Alba joined the Marine Corps Reserves. He attended Bootcamp at Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego and School of Infantry in Camp Pendleton, California. In 1999, Chief De Alba returned to his roots and became a Reserve Deputy Sheriff and later a Full-time Police Officer in the Central Valley. In 2003, Chief De Alba was called to Active Duty to service at Marine Corps Air Station San Diego and in Iraq for two years. In 2005, Chief De Alba went to work for Blackwater USA, followed by Armor Group North America, where he worked in dignitary protection operations in the United States and Afghanistan. In 2010, Chief De Alba returned to Law Enforcement to work with the U.S. Department of the Interior Bureau of Indian Affairs Police, working in Patrol and focusing on drug investigations. He served the last three years in addition to his patrol assignment on the U.S. Marshal's Task Force.
Chief De Alba holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Criminal Justice from American Military University. He is a graduate of the Bureau of Indian Affairs Supervisory Course and a member of the South Florida Law Enforcement Diversity Coalition and the Federal Law Enforcement Officers Association.
Chief De Alba and his partner currently reside in Miami. Chief De Alba loves to learn and be hands-on in addition to spending time with his family, friends, and the outdoors.
NPS Photo | Smiling Park Ranger selfie in front of Lincoln Memorial statue.
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Partner News: Cabrillo National Monument Foundation | |
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Volunteer Opportunity:
Volunteers needed for Cabrillo Under the Stars on Saturday, May 21st! A great opportunity to be in the park after sunset.
This message is direct from Cabrillo National Monument Foundation.
"Cabrillo Under the Stars is the Cabrillo National Monument Foundation's largest and most popular fundraiser of the year! We hope you will join us on Saturday May 21, 2022 for a magical after hours event at Cabrillo National Monument from 6:30 - 10 p.m. At the event you will enjoy stations of local fare and local vintners from around San Diego County; an online auction that benefits the Park; Corks 4 Cabrillo, a fundraising wine pull with a multitude of wines ranging from $15+ per bottle; entertaining music; and much more! The event raises funds for programs at the park in youth education, park discovery, and volunteer support.
CNMF is still seeking volunteers to help at the event, you do not need to buy a ticket if you are helping at the event. You can sign up on Volgistics following the link below. In addition, we would also love to have our dedicated volunteers as attendees at the event! If you are not able to support the event at $125, contact emily@cnmf.org and CNMF will provide you a discount code for $25 off. This discount only applies to official CABR volunteers. All attendees are required to be at least 21+ years of age to attend. Tickets are available at cnmf.org."
Never volunteered for a CMNF Special Event, 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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Volunteer Opportunity: Cleaning Day with Cabrillo National Monument Foundation
Sunday, May 22nd - the morning after Cabrillo Under the Stars
8 am to 9am, please meet at the Visitor Center
Spots available on Volgisitics. Please contact emily@cnmf.org if you have any questions or concerns.
See you there!
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Continued Education Resources | |
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Don't forget to access educational videos on our park's YouTube page, which also features the newest film with the Maritime Museum's replica of the San Salvador.
Videos could also be found on our park website.
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Take the Outdoorist Oath!
The Oath (for short) is an action-based commitment to planet, inclusion, and adventure. It offers tools/education for inquiry, a shareable educational model, and the hub for a community that cares to build a better future.
Sign up for the newsletter to find out when the next free online workshop is!
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Park Leaders podcast connects the wisdom of Park Managers, leaders in the park system, and thought leaders of the business world with up-and-coming park leaders. This is the show for Park Rangers, Park Managers, and leaders who want to have an impact. Why not also volunteers? Or maybe you are volunteering to pursue a career as a park ranger? Join host Jody Maberry as he talks to park leaders from all over the world. | |
On the CNM VIP Voice: What's In the Tidepools? | |
What's in the Tidepools? - April 2022 | What's In the Tidepools? - April 2022 (NPS Photo/P. Raetzman) Our dedicated volunteers at Cabrillo National Monument take photos of the exciting flora and fauna down in the tidepools! We want to try and capture the wonderful photos that volunteers are taking in the tidepool area. | | | | | | | |
