Program Visit: BUFF

Last but not least:  the final visit of Summer 2016!

Junior (Pro) Ranger Finn and I arrived at Buffalo National River just before dinner time.  We arrived at the campsite of Mom and Dad Lewis (my parents) who drove from Texas to meet us there.  

The Lewis Family campsite

They invited ProRanger Shauni Kerkhoff and her summer roommate Ranger Patrick Jarrett to join us for a homecooked meal.  The weather was crazy hot.  After tent camping for the night, I headed to the Ranger Station for some meetings and a plaque presentation to District Ranger Kevin Moses.  The junior ranger stayed with his grandparents and finished up his junior ranger books.

Kerkhoff and Moses in the final plaque presentation of 2016

Later we all made a visit to the Tyler Bend Visitor Center.  Shauni had been thinking ahead and mailed a number of junior ranger books to our house.  It took Ranger Montana quite some time to review all his books and administer several oaths and award badges!

Working on badges with Ranger Montana!

We took a long drive from the Middle District of the park to the Upper District where we met Ranger Bell (see Shauni’s blog for the hospitality Ranger Bell and his wife have shown to Shani this summer) and a visit to the Ponca Elk Education Center.

Fun at the Ponca Elk Education Center

Then it was a hike on the Lost Valley Trail to see the Natural Bridge and the Cob Cave. The hike was beautiful, despite the late summer dry creek beds this late in the summer.

Dry creek beds

I learned that there are many similarities between OZAR and BUFF, both the parks and there issues as well as the physical environment.  Also, did I mention that they were both really, really hot?  Like steam baths.  Heat indexes were running between 100 and 105 degrees while I was visiting the parks.  Although the days were roasting, it was surprisingly comfortable to sleep in a tent.

Meet the staff at the Tyler Bend Visitor Center

Our last day at Buffalo National River started with some cinnamon rolls as big as our heads!  Then we spent some time back at the Visitor Center where Finn helped out!  

New employee

Then, it was time for us, and for Shauni, to leave Buffalo River.  Shauni was heading back home to Ohio and Junior Ranger Finn and I were stopping to see some relatives near Jonesboro, Arkansas. Then I flew back to Philadelphia and Finn headed out for a weeklong adventure of some national parks with his grandparents.

Up next:  PHL.  Home Sweet Home.  See you again in Summer 2017!

Program Visit: OZAR

The visit to Ozark Scenic Riverways began with a flight to St. Louis where we stopped to visit the Jefferson Expansion Memorial.  It was great to see alumnus Dan Sweeney and to get some feedback on the changes we’ve made to the program.  Then Junior (Pro)Ranger Finn and I went up the Arch and completed the junior ranger programs at both the Arch and the Old Courthouse.  We learned from some of the rangers that there was another local park, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, located on our way out of town.  We stopped by there and toured the home and farm of Ulysses S. Grant and earned a third junior ranger badge before (a late) lunch.  Score!!

Ranger Sweeney and Junior Ranger McGarvey

McGarveys and the Arch

Swearing in.

We arrived in Van Buren, MO late in the afternoon and met ProRanger Julia for a visit to one of the park’s many springs, and quick tour of the park’s cabins that were built the Civilian Conservation Corps.  They looked beautiful but are unfortunately closed for restoration.  Next visit!

The next morning Julia and Emily, one of the other rangers, picked us for a canoe tour of the Current River.  

Ready to tour the park by canoe

Although we could see the concessionaire’s huge inventory of tubes, rafts and shuttle vans, it was hard to believe this peaceful and quiet river (on a Tuesday morning) is a crazy party scene on the weekends.  We only saw one other boat the whole morning.  Julia described the patrols she’d done on the river and many of the interesting cases that she’d had the opportunity participate in this summer.

Chief Weiland, ProRanger Julia, Superintendent Johnson

Then we headed back to headquarters to present the plaque to Superintendent Larry Johnson and Chief Ranger Dennis Weiland.

Entering Round Spring Cave

After lunch, we headed to the Upper Current District to tour the Round Spring Cave. Unfortunately this is the only open cave in the park due to White Nose Syndrome which is affecting the bat population. The inside of the cave is about 58 degrees year around, which was a welcome respite from the heat index of over 100 degrees outside!  We finished the evening with a visit to a Van Buren institution, The Jolly Cone, for a cold treat!

Disinfecting shoes to prevent the spread of White Noise Syndrome

Bob the cat and Finn the junior ranger

On our final morning, we headed to the Visitor Center to finish the junior ranger program and earn another badge!  Finn was asked to pose for the OZAR Facebook page!  

Another day, another badge

Then we stopped by the Fire Cache while we waited to see if the storm was going to pass.  While we were there, we tested out some equipment.  

Testing the equipment

The rain stopped so we paid a visit to Alley Mill where we got to check out the old flour mill’s working equipment.  Maintenance was removing a damaged tree nearby so we didn’t get to see the turbine in action.  

Grinding by hand

Finally, we took a picnic lunch to a popular family swimming spot that Julia had learned about while patrolling.  Finn enjoyed swimming and climbing on the rocks while Julia and I sweated in the hot, hot sun.

We said goodbye to Julia and hit the road for Buffalo National River a few hours away in Arkansas.

Up next:  BUFF

Program Visit: VAFO

ProRanger Stephanie Hudson was the only ProRanger this summer to get a visit from not one, not two, but from three members of the ProRanger Program staff!  One hot summer morning in July, Adrian Fernandez, Tony Luongo and I met at nearby Valley Forge National Historical Park for a visit.

After a tour of the Visitor Center and a screening of the park’s movie, we headed to park headquarters for meetings.   

It was great to meet with long time program supporters!   After interviews with Chief Ranger Mike Valora, Supervisory Ranger Lofton Wiley, we presented the program plaque to Acting Superintendent Pat Madden.

Luongo, Fernandez, Hudson, Wiley and Valora outside headquarters

Stephanie had clearly done her homework and planned a visit to the park that covered a lot of ground that none of us had ever seen!   We saw several areas of the park where Stephanie has been working and also checked out the Bone Cave and some ruins.

Checking out some ruins

  

Stephanie shows us how to identify crawfish

The “Crayfish Corps” at Valley Forge works to remove invasive crawfish species from the Valley Creek.  So, we donned waders and joined the corps!  Stephanie taught us how to catch the crawfish, determine if they were native or invasive, and to remove or release them as appropriate.  She kept a careful count of efforts for the park’s resource management staff.  We also had a little friendly competition amongst ourselves (I don’t want to brag, so I won’t tell you who won!).

Cool water on a hot day!

Measuring our catch

A private carillon concert up close and personal!

Crayfishing in the cool water on a hot day seemed like the highlight of the day.  But, Stephanie had one more surprise for us.  There is a church, Washington Memorial Chapel, that is encircled by VAFO, but not actually part of the park.  The carillonneur, Doug Gefvert, took us on a tour of the chapel.  The chapel houses the Justice Bell, which is a replica of the Liberty Bell commissioned by suffragists - the bell's clapper was chained to remain silent until women were permitted the right to vote.

On the Veterans Wall of Honor, I was excited to find the name of my great-(not sure how many greats to put in there)-grandfather, Abraham Miller, a Revolutionary War soldier who was part of the winter encampment at Valley Forge.  Finally, we ascended the carillon tower for a better view and got to watch up close as the carillonneur played a private concert for us.  Well, as private as an instrument that broadcasts its music from a tower can be!  If you've never seen a carillon played before, it is quite amazing to watch!

Fernandez, Hudson and McGarvey at the end of the day!

Since it was well into the evening, all the offices and conference rooms we closed, so we finished up the day with a meeting in Valley Forge’s [air conditioned!] gym! 

Up next:  OZAR