Friends of Channel Coast State Parks, a nonprofit organization serving the Channel Coast area of the California State Parks, is launching a new kayak education program on June 9th.
Kayak lessons include all equipment, water safety lessons, and an educational tour of the harbor and run $40 (all fees associated with this program help to support educational programs and projects in Ventura and Santa Barbara county state parks). Continue reading
In celebration of National Get Outdoors Day, the U.S. Forest Service is offering a fee-free day Saturday, June 8.
Fee-free days are offered four times a year to encourage people to reconnect to the forest for some healthy, active outdoor fun. If you didn’t get out to the first free day this year (Martin Luther King Jr. Day), then this is your chance!
From the U.S. Forest Service website:
The pilot effort of National Get Outdoors Day was launched June 14, 2008, through a partnership between the Forest Service and the American Recreation Coalition. The partnership built on the success of More Kids in the Woods and other efforts to connect Americans – especially children – with nature and active lifestyles. Go Day, as it sometimes called, now includes federal, state and local agencies, key organizations and recreation businesses to create activities across the country.
Forest Service lands, which include 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, offer something for everyone, from the casual hiker to the thrill-seeking recreationist. There also are opportunities and programs for children, from Discover the Forest that helps kids learn what to do outside to becoming a Junior Forest Ranger that comes with special access to the online “JFR Clubhouse.”
If you can’t make it to the parks this weekend, then try to schedule some time during the next couple of free days: September 28th (National Public Lands Day) or November 9th through the 11th for Veterans Day Weekend.
You can read more about National Get Outdoors Day HERE.
The Public Relations Society of America has posted a great introduction to Scott Gediman – a terrific guy, who also happens to be the assistant superintendent for public & legislative affairs at Yosemite National Park.
From the article:
Scott Gediman is the assistant superintendent for public & legislative affairs atYosemite National Park. He manages all of the park’s media relations, legislative affairs, special events and dignitary visits. He has been in this position since 1996 and is a 23-year veteran of the National Park Service (NPS).
Lulu has launched a photo book printing service, available through picture.com. The service offers everything from bound books to calendars and even brochures.
From the TechCrunch article:
Founded in 2002 by Red Hat’s Bob Young, Lulu is one of the oldest self-publishing houses on the Internet. Initially the company offered printing services and editing tools for self-published authors and, arguably, in 2002 they would have still been called a vanity press. Now, however, they’re another solid link in the chain between authors and readers.
In a recent opinion piece by Eva Soltes, Jennifer Collins, and Karen Lowe in the San Bernardino County Sun, the authors lay out how the Sequester will damage our local economies – especially those around Joshua Tree National Park, Death Valley National Park and the Mojave National Preserve.
From the article:
Examples of these budget cuts are as follows: Joshua Tree National Park has been forced to impose a hiring freeze on permanent positions including those that make up the backbone of operations (law enforcement, maintenance and interpretation divisions). The park has also had to delay filling some seasonal park ranger positions, including those that interact directly with the visiting public. In addition, Joshua Tree National Park has had to reduce the procurement of supplies and materials, which means they have little or no flexibility in dealing with road damage, the failure of critical infrastructure like visitor center air conditioning, or vandalism of buildings, bathrooms or picnic tables at campgrounds. Finally, the park has had to eliminate all employee travel and training unless it deals with human health and safety. This puts the park’s resources staff at a grave disadvantage — a staff that needs to continually obtain the latest scientific training in restoration, invasive species elimination, managing endangered species and preserving archaeological sites.
You can read the full article HERE.
