National Parks

John Muir NHS Celebrates California Arbor Week

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Special Presentation Kicks Off Seasonal Speaker Series 

Celebrate California Arbor Week by attending a special presentation by guest speakers Timmy Womick and Chad Brey of TreeCircus on Sunday, March 9, at 1 PM at the John Muir National Historic Site (NHS) in Martinez, CA. Womick and Brey’s hour-long program, “What Did John Muir Teach Us?”, is the first in a series of presentations by guest speakers exploring John Muir’s modern legacy. The series will continue throughout the spring and summer with special events on select weekends (Separate press releases will follow). Continue reading →

National Parks

Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement has been released

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

Comprehensive Management Plan will provide access and protect Merced River resources

Yosemite National Park announces the release of the Merced Wild and Scenic River Final Comprehensive Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

“This plan will protect the Merced River and its outstandingly remarkable values into perpetuity and provide quality visitor facilities and access,” stated Don Neubacher, Yosemite Superintendent. “The planning process has been a monumental effort and we appreciate all the public input we have received. We now want to move forward with actions in the Plan that are critical to the preservation and enjoyment of this iconic national treasure.”

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National Parks

Yosemite Conservancy 2014 Spring Gathering

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

150 Years of Inspiring Generations

Friday, March 28 and Saturday, March 29, 2014

The Yosemite Conservancy is planning a Spring Gathering Weekend at the end of March.  It’s a great event, and I’d like to see y’all there!  From the Yosemite Conservancy website:

Please join us for a special Spring Gathering weekend in Yosemite Valley, celebrating the extraordinary gift Americans received 150 years ago. In 1864 President Abraham Lincoln signed the Yosemite Grant, setting aside Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias for all of us. The theme for Spring Gathering this year will be 150 Years of Inspiring Generations. Bring the entire family to explore the park and spend time with friends old and new.

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Beagles, News

Put Snoopy the beagle on your license plate!

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

snoopyplateThere’s a program that’s just getting started that helps put money towards California’s museums and lets you let everyone know you love Snoopy.  If you’re a beagle lover, this is definitely something you should look into.  From the press release:

SNOOPY LICENSE PLATES NOW AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC

Proceeds to benefit California museums

A program is now fully underway to put the beloved beagle on California license plates, and help fund the state’s museums at the same time. The special license plate, available for pre-order now at www.snoopyplate.com, will feature a reproduction of an original drawing of Snoopy by Peanuts cartoonist Charles Schulz.

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General Aviation, Geocaching

International Space Station Travel Bug Mission Update

Posted on by Shawn E. Bell

I just got an update from geocaching.com about the Geocaching Travel Bug that hitched a ride with astronaut Rick Mastracchio to the International Space Station. This is a great way to interest students (and us older folk who geocache about geography and science.

From the email:

Nearly 100 days have ticked by since geocachers cheered as a Travel Bug® rocketed toward the International Space Station. It’s in the capable hands of astronaut Rick Mastracchio. Like everything else on the space station, the Travel Bug has a mission. Mastracchio is using the Travel Bug to teach students back on Earth about geography and science. The Travel Bug’s page is the chatroom of a teacher’s or parent’s dreams. More than 1,200 posts have been logged so far, as classrooms (and even Geocaching HQ!) asked questions and Mastracchhio answered them from the weightlessness of low Earth orbit.

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