Capulin Chronicle

National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Park News Newsletter The Capulin Title Chronicle Capulin Volcano Recipient of Three Grants from the National Park Foundation The National Park Foundation, the official charity of America’s national parks, has been extremely generous to Capulin Volcano National Monument (CAVO) this year by awarding the park nearly $50,000 to enhance its educational offerings. Three grants were provided by the National Park Foundation, each for a specific purpose. “Climate change is a profound problem & the youth of America need to be at the forefront of the solution.” America’s Best Idea Grant Inspired by the critically acclaimed Ken Burns documentary The National Parks: America’s Best Idea, the America’s Best Idea grant program funds park projects designed to connect diverse, under-engaged populations throughout the United States with their national parks in innovative and meaningful ways. With these funds, CAVO created an outdoor classroom, greenhouse, and interactive student program to engage local and regional youth promoting stewardship, conservation, sense of place, and an understanding of both the National Park Service and the natural and cultural resources of the park. Parks Climate Challenge Grant The 2012 Parks Climate Challenge grant program uses national parks as classrooms to educate teachers and students about climate change. “Climate change is a profound problem and the youth of America need to be at the forefront of the solution,” said Neil Mulholland, President and CEO of the National Park Foundation. “Parks Climate Challenge is just one of our programs that empowers our youth and strengthens our parks.” Now in its third year, the program first connects with teachers, giving them the tools to create engaging curriculum on the subject of climate change. The grant at CAVO gave 18 educators from four states the rare opportunity to work directly with USGS scientist Bruce Molnia, PhD., providing teachers the platform, information, and tools to develop hands-on service projects for their students incorporating national park experiences either within or outside the boundaries of a national park. Park Stewards Grant The Park Stewards grant program gives high school teachers and students the opportunity to explore the relevance of national parks to their lives, and encourages them to become civically engaged stewards of their national parks. The program places high school educators in national parks for immersive learning experiences during the summer months. As a result of their in-park experiences “These service-learning activities allow students to apply academic knowledge and critical thinking skills...” the teachers develop service-learning programs that are implemented by their students during the following school year. These service-learning activities allow students to apply academic knowledge and critical thinking skills (in addition to physical skills as appropriate) to address genuine needs of the park. Climate Challenge Grant Participants (from left front): Wendy Kendle (OK), Joe Curie (NM), Claudia Labeth (OK), Rick Peek (NM), Tonna Winford (CO), Ranger Lynn Cartmell, Suzanne Garcia (TX), Daniel Kendle (OK), Heidi Karr (NM), Christalina Donovan (NM), Michelle Brown (TX), Danny Kendle (OK), Keith Berry (CO), Gary Smith (OK), Jennifer Keeler (CO), Jason Allensworth (OK), Larry Arizmendez (TX), Chris Dobbins (OK), & Jeffrey Dilda (CO). The cial is newsletter CapulinLT Volcano Monument • labeled “Footer - date vol. no.”) • Issue number Volume 2, Issue This offi footer set in 8/10ofFrutiger Std 65 National Bold (or as the paragraph style goes here 2—Fall 2012 National Parks: Education for the Next Generation Since the creation of the National Park Service in 1916, visitors have been flocking to national parks to take in breathtaking scenery. Though our mission is to protect and preserve natural and cultural historical resources for future generations to enjoy, there is an unspoken responsibility in our mission. We cannot properly protect and preserve these resources without ensuring their safety by educating the next generation of park stewards. National parks throughout the nation offer educational and service-learning projects to academic institutions. Over the course of the last year, Capulin Volcano hosted 1,076 students and offered 29 curriculum-based programs to students. The majority of these programs were to schools from New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Texas, and Oklahoma. The park was also used by several colleges for geologic and natural resource studies. Two different universities, Oklahoma State University and Southwestern Oklahoma State University, held classes in the park during the month of May. These courses helped students gain valuable experience in resource management. With the volunteer work contributed by both schools, Capulin Volcano’s Natural Resource Team was able to accomplish several important exotic plant management projects. Students, however, were not the only visitors receiving education in the park. In July, Capulin hosted a Climate Change Workshop for teachers. The workshop allowed educators the unique opportunity to work with scientists to enhance their knowledge of climate change. As part of the workshop each teacher committed to completing a climate change service-learning project. Several projects have already begun. In particular, Wilson Public Schools (OK) brought an Alternative Education group to the park to learn about biodiversity, climate change, bio-architecture, and operation of greenhouses. The group plans to return to their school, construct a greenhouse and raise native plants for their local community. Through the efforts of Capulin Volcano and places like it, our youth are being educated to become the next generation of park stewards—proving that national parks are more than just scenery. A group of junior high students from Beaver, OK, in the new outdoor classroom with Ranger Amy Jewell preparing for a curriculum-based education program. Taking the Classroom Outside Art-in- the-Park The words “Outdoor Education” cover a span of definitions and mean something different to everyone who hears them. Here at Capulin Volcano National Monument, we have interpreted them to mean taking organized curriculum-based learning into the great outdoors. Keeping with that definition Capulin hired four classroom teachers to work as Teacher-Ranger-Teachers during the busy summer season, held a summer workshop for science teachers about climate change, and built an outdoor classroom and greenhouse so teachers who bring their classes to the monument will have a place to conduct lectures. Capulin Volcano is accepting applications for our 2013 Artist-in-Residence (AiR) Program. The Capulin Volcano Artistin-Residence program is managed by the Division of Interpretation There is one position to be filled. When visiting Capulin, keep an eye out for these students. They may be conducting hands on geology experiments during a curriculum-based ranger program, hiking one of the monument’s four trails, or working with a biologist in the greenhouse propagating native prairie grasses as part of a service-learning experience. We are proud and excited to host these class groups here at Capulin. Our hope is that these hands-on and outdoor experiences will not only foster academic excellence within the classroom but will fill each student with the desire to become a citizen protector of our National Parks. Our belief in this program is such that we do offer fee waivers for visiting school groups and also have a grant program to assist schools with transportation costs to the volcano. 2 The Newsletter Capulin Title Chronicle This program is open to all professional artists and art students. Writers, composers, and visual and performing artists are invited to interpret the unique cultural and natural landscape of northeast New Mexico. Deadline for artist applications is December 31, 2012. If you are interested in being our next AiR representative, please contact the park at (575) 278-2201 or by email at cavo_interp@nps.gov. New Opportunities for College Students Interested in the NPS A student from Sunray High School in Sunray, TX, participates in a hands-on education program designed to teach students about volcanic eruptions. Capulin Volcano National Monument Set aside in 1916, Capulin Volcano National Monument preserves a striking example of a recent extinct volcano. Superintendent Peter Armato Mailing Address P.O. Box 40 Des Moines, New Mexico 88418 On the Internet www.nps.gov/cavo Join the conversation. Find us on Facebook & Twitter. Phone 575-278-2201 E-mail cavo_interp@nps.gov During the 2012 summer, Capulin Volcano began an internship program in hopes of creating new opportunities for college groups who held coursework at the park. CAVO wanted to offer field experience to students interested in working for public land agencies after graduation. Integrated into our parks Volunteer-In- Parks Program, led by Ranger Ty Labeth, interns received valuable experience in each division and worked alongside park staff for college credit. In the first year, the program was a success! Students from across the nation applied and participated hailing from Oklahoma to Maryland. Going into its second season, both Interpretation and Resource Management Divisions have dedicated themselves to developing new perspectives on traditional NPS programs and making these programs more sustainable. In doing so, college students from around the nation will have the chance to participate in prairie restoration, landscaping, projects associated with our on-site greenhouse, and exotic plant management such as the reintroduction of grazing for a green option to synthetic herbicide. College students will also have the opportunity to participate in A Call to Action events that include participating in youth programs on-site and via technology that allow students to learn about America’s national parks from thousands of miles away. Our goal is to offer a wide variety of experiences that can be implemented long after leaving Capulin Volcano and perhaps spark interest in the National Park Service as a career. The park is eager to share these new opportunities as they appear. For more information on college internships and how to apply, please contact Lynn Cartmell at (575) 278-2201 or lynn_cartmell@nps.gov. Meet Zach Cartmell, Biologist The National Park Service and its employees are tasked with preserving and protecting the natural and cultural resources of the United States for this and future generations. That job would be impossible without Resource Management staff like Zach Cartmell. However, Zach wasn’t always a biologist. A native of Pawnee, Oklahoma, he worked as a teacher and coach in Oklahoma after graduating from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond. In 2010, he relocated with his wife to Capulin, New Mexico, to begin a career with the National Park Service. Zach first worked as a seasonal maintenance employee at Capulin Volcano. However, his passion has always been wildlife biology. This led him back to school to pursue a M.Ed. in Parks and Recreation Management with an emphasis in resource management through Southwestern Oklahoma State University. Zach serves as a member of the regional steering committee for Exotic Plant Management and as a member of the park’s management team. He has also been integral in developing partnerships with universities and secondary schools. Newsletter Title 3 The Capulin Chronicle National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Capulin Volcano National Monument Site name set in 8/10 Frutiger LT Std 65 Bold P.O. Box set 40 in 8/10 Frutiger LT Std 55 Roman or by using Address Des Moines, NM 88418 the paragraph style “Mailing panel-return address” First Class Mail Postage and Fees PAID City, State Permit number Optional cooperator name set in 8/10 Frutiger LT Std 65 Bold Address here. Optional cooperator logo aligns with top line of this text block. E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A™ National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior The Capulin Chronicle is the official newsletter of Capulin Volcano National Monument. Editor Lynn Cartmell Contributors Kara Blodgett Amy Jewell Ty Labeth NPS Photographers Zach Cartmell Lynn Cartmell Comments? Write to: Capulin Volcano National Monument P.O. Box 40 Des Moines, NM 88418 The National Park Service cares for the special places saved by the American people so that all may experience our heritage. 4 The Newsletter Capulin Title Chronicle Superintendent’s Corner Having been a part of the team for nearly a year and a half, I am comfortable saying that Capulin Volcano National Monument is truly a place for everyone. Visitors can hike trails that traverse ancient lava flows, hike around the rim of the volcano, and explore its depths on a trail that descends into Capulin crater. While the views from volcano rim parking lot and the rim trail are inspirational, the short quarter mile-long hike into the crater evokes feelings of the explosive events that built the volcano and splashed searing hot lava across the landscape. As our guest you will have the opportunity to participate in Ranger–led activities and learn about nature and the fiery processes that shaped this dramatic landscape. At Capulin, learning is fun for all ages. The monument has an outstanding Junior Ranger Program loaded with fun activities for everyone. In 2012, more than 1,700 people, young and old, participated in our Junior Ranger Program. Participation in this program helps build knowledge and a brighter future for your parks while providing opportunities for young and old to engage one-on-one with a National Park Service Ranger. Equally important, this program helps build future generations of National Park stewards, conservationists, and park supporters. Thinking about the Junior Ranger Program, one of my most rewarding experiences is watching as kids, having completed their Junior Ranger Program activities, raise their hand to the square, are sworn in as National Park Service Junior Rangers, and receive their badges and certificates. However, learning does not stop with the Junior Ranger Program. If you are a teacher searching for classroom materials, a student doing research, or a person looking for a place to spend some time, breathe fresh air, appreciate the views, have some fun and learn in the process, then a visit to Capulin Volcano is for you.