LETTER TO MY CONGRESSMAN

Hello Mr. Burgess:

My name is Carl, and I have lived in Texas all my life.  When you were a doctor, you delivered my brother Eric in Lewisville.

Right now I am employed by the Student Conservation Association (with the National Parks Service) and have made a short-term home in the Grand Tetons of Wyoming. 

I am very concerned about H.R. 1581, especially now that I have seen these beautiful areas in the West and know that once they are gone they may never return.  Especially, it seems, if this bill sets that precedent. 

The best argument I have heard is financial, that jobs can be created while building roads and doing construction work in these areas: I feel that is not a valid reason to impair or do away with so much pristine land and wildlife. 

Those hypothetical jobs would be better left in the hands of conservationists-in-training like myself and my 30 peers with the N.P.S. "Spring Break Academy": a hand-picked roster of college students from all over the United States who are ready to share their passion for conserving our lands and sustaining our environment with the kind of leadership exercised by Theodore Roosevelt.

Between the outcomes of pollution and land depredation if H.R. 1581 does pass, there is also the potential for injury to the national parks of the United States.  These monuments of our shared heritage are under immense and unnatural pressure to prove their worth, or else be chiseled away by budget cuts and legislative action such as H.R. 1581. 

The N.P.S. is doing everything in its power to rejuvenate and diversify its work force so it can meet all federal demands while incorporating a much wider cultural variety in its staff and visitors.  In fact that is specifically why I and my fellow Academy students are here in our respective parks.  We come from all races and backgrounds, and we are placed all over the country right now. 

We have the privilege to train as rangers, firefighters, curators, scientists, administrators, all with a love of nature and a philosophy of conservation and sustainability.  We are putting all our potential into these pursuits every day.  We strive to attain careers in conservation with the skills and values given us by the N.P.S. and S.C.A.     

In the meantime, I ask you to not support this bill and assure you that these lands are too important to modify so irreparably.  Thank you. 

EVENING AT SNOW KING

CHAPEL OF THE TRANSFIGURATION

Monday at Noon

The stained glass at the Chapel of the Transfiguration is absolutely stunning. 
I went there today and felt some great unburdening tranquility.  Beautiful things like this
help me set aside my worldly troubles; and I can get so lost in the mosaic beauty of stained glass
in a way that no other visual art approaches for me.

From there it is 0.1 miles of walking to this complex of rustic historic cabins: Maud Noble cabin, smokehouse, and a well.  Very quiet and humbling out there.

Nara observes the historical vehicles of Teton's past.  There is a neat buggy that was one of the first generation vehicles used to give tours at Yellowstone.  Just thinking about those old days of crinoline, bodices, and dog mills... it's like taking a step into The Shining.

I met Heather here at the General Supplies store.  She sold me sarsaparilla and let me play

with her triangle.  There are a lot of interesting goods and artifacts in that house, including

some soiled pajamas and a chair made out of antlers.  Even Heather herself is

bedecked in fetching garments of yesteryear–by which I mean the 1800s.  

 

I recommend a trip out to Menor's Ferry and the Chapel of Transfiguration to all SCA people.  Heather is great to chat with, and you will definitely leave with an interesting thought in your head afterward.  

  

BRAVO, JOSEPH!

Pura Vida - Different Faces of Leadership

Today was the 3rd day of the Pura Vida program and I finally had the opportunity to spend more than an hour with the kids! After a short program about careers in the NPS to the TSS Field and Natural History group I jetted off to the Jenny Lake Rescue Cache at Lupine Meadows to find the kids rock climbing with George Montopoli and Phil Edmonds, Jenny Lake Climbing Rangers spotting the kids as they climbed. After a request and refusal by me to partake in the climbing I gave in after a chant of "Vanessa, Vanessa, Vanessa..." How could I say no! So with flat hat and all I successfully climbed the rock wall without any injuries. After climbing the kids took turns riding around in the wheeled liter with each one of them taking their turn in "driving." We all squeezed back inside the cache and we learned how to devise a pulley system in order to hoist Susie up towards the ceiling while in a rescue harness.

Shortly after saying farewell to the kids new best friends, George and Phil and taking our photo outside with the Tetons as the backdrop, we followed Nara to Lucas-Fabian Ranch. With all the snow this year a majority of the trail is under water, so we were prepared to get our feet wet. By "we" I mean the kids, I completely forgot about this portion of today's itinerary and of course had my service uniform on so got completely wet and have had to wear soggy shoes all day. Nara orchestrated a scavenger hunt for the kids to find Geraldine's grave site with GPS units, while explaining her story of how she got here.

I just got back from Gros Ventre campground where we played a game to learn about campground safety and the students began setting up their tents. Tonight a handful of NPS Academy students will join the students for dinner, campfire stories and camping. This is probably one of my favorite parts of my job, being able to get out and be a part of the programs that I develop. A great day was had for all. I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings!

VAYA CON PURA VIDA, SENORS Y SENORITAS!

The first meeting of Pura Vida, during which some kind of

"robot jive" dance was used to welcome Vanessa into the group.

Vanessa prepares seasoned jicama slices as Alfredo dusts

the flavorful Lucas dust off his hands at the first Pura Vida

picnic yesterday.

Joseph and Daniel drift across String Lake during a day

of hiking and discussion; of rain and sunshine; of the old and

the young; under trees and under areas without trees.