Last week, I had the opportunity to travel east on Route 66 and visit with community members in Moriarty and Santa Rosa. It was a wonderful experience and allowed me to talk directly with Hispanics who grew up on the Mother Road and greatly influenced...
One caveat of surveying subalpine and alpine butterfly populations is that they reside in areas of high altitude, which can be tricky to get to. Because this year’s snow melt in Washington is behind schedule, four out of the five sites we are supposed to...
This week there were two important events that took place. The first was that my supervisor called me one day in the morning and asked me to come down to the visitor center. He asked if I would like to help with the Timucuan hut...
“I don’t like anything outdoors because videogames are better,” said Esteban, a young boy who attended the event with Families in Nature, who then spent most of the event having fun on a canoe, paddleboard and kayak. A few hours outdoors can broaden the...
Summer at Everglades National Park is an experience unlike any other in the United States. Summer storms bring heavy rainfall leading to higher water levels and as a result, sawgrass prairies and freshwater sloughs thrive once again. This seasonal change makes for spectacular views of...
So far this week with only three days in, there has been two meetings, an interview, and I also held a workshop designed for the volunteers on the Barrio Viejo National Historic Landmark (NHL) project. My early Monday morning meeting was with Carol Beidleman from...
As America’s most diverse national recreation area, Lake Mead offers the opportunity for people to hike, boat, camp and fish, among many other fun activities. Throughout my time roving, I’ve witnessed people enjoying their adventure on the beaches, kayaking on the lake, and cooking by...
“We never travel to the past, the buildings take us there…” -Arleen Pabón, Architectural Historian It’s been almost a month since I started my internship at San Juan National Historic site and it’s been a process full of discovery and learning. I have...
[caption id="attachment_11557" align="alignright" width="225"] YCC Intern giving her Critter Chat Program[/caption] Hello! So this week was a pretty short week, but still very busy. I luckily had a four-day weekend because of the 4th of July, but that definitely didn't slow down the week....
Rosie the Riveter WWII Home Front National Historical Park [caption id="attachment_11502" align="alignnone" width="169"] John Muir's Home[/caption] Although a short week, it was one of the best weeks so far. Every week I feel this internship just gets...
So, my cornhusk doll-making skills that were featured in the newspaper last week are going to make it onto local TV. A local news station will be airing a documentary on Homestead National Monument of America sometime next week, and they wanted examples of different...
This week I actually learned that there are still protesters against the movement of the Freedom Riders National Monument. A few years back, there was vandalism at the site where the bus burned. Currently there is a sign that states that this is the location...
[caption id="attachment_11482" align="alignnone" width="200"] Fordyce Spring[/caption] With the 4th of July holiday, it was a pretty busy week here at Hot Springs. We had over 2,000 visitors on Monday. While I don’t work the front desk, I can tell when the Fordyce (the most...
I am at the end of my fifth week at Fire Island National Seashore. School is out and it finally feels like summer. The beaches are becoming packed with visitors of all ages enjoying the sun. I received my Personal Identity Verification Card a couple...
This week I trekked back to Mt. Wanda. The 580 feet (fairly small) mountain was first beloved by the Ohlone tribes, then utilized by the Spaniards and ranchers, and eventually protected and appreciated by John Muir and his family. Today, it belongs to all of...
One point emphasized in the many Route 66 oral histories I've looked through is how long it took to travel from place to place. It might seem obvious, but the way we experience travel today—getting on the freeway and driving anywhere between 60–80 mph—is not...
The looming program that I have been preparing for is finally facing me on Monday. Not only have I been worried about giving a 20-minute presentation, but this stress caused some serious writer's block. I am excited, though, because I know that after I do...
HELLLLLLLOOOO, I hope that everyone in their parks and anyone else reading this blog is having an enjoyable summer so far. These past two weeks have been a little mellow in terms of projects, so I have been doing more evening programs with visitors...
Hello everyone, This is the fifth week of my internship with the YCC vegetation crew at Grand Canyon National Park. We had a wonderful day off during Independence Day. I took this time to be with my immediate family and watch the Williams firework...
Last night I saw the most magnificent night sky and stars I've ever seen and probably will ever see. The Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve is a certified dark night skies park, which means on a night when there are no clouds and...