UTV and Conservation Project

UTV Training 

This week I was able to get my certification to use an ATV/UTV within the park service. With this certification, I can use these vehicles to maneuver through the park grounds and trails easier and quicker than on foot. I was trained by Ranger Alan McLoughlin in First State National Historical Park. 

 (July 27th - July 31st)

Here I am during my physical portion of the certification after passing the online course. I am driving and weaving through the sticks to get familiarized with driving the UTV. After the rigorous training, I was sent to patrol the trails in First State. 

Here I am again driving on one of the trails and ready to patrol the current hotspots of First State. 

Conservation Project

For my project in First State National Historical Park, I was tasked with putting up surveillance cameras in three known hotspots for which the general public destroy and disrupt the natural and cultural resources here. The three hotspots where the cameras are located are each capturing a different type of criminal activity. Through the photos, I will elaborate on the activity the camera was supposed to focus on. Each camera was strategically put in spots where the general public would not be able to see them. Ergo, they were hidden well enough to get the job done.  

First things first, I never put up cameras before. I focused my time on Monday, July 27th, and Tuesday, July 28th getting familiar with the settings of the types of cameras I was going to be working with. I had two different types of cameras. One was specific for capturing the license plates of vehicles and the other one was meant to capture general surveillance. The license plate camera was called the HyperFire 2 License Plate Capture Camera (HL2X). The general surveillance camera was called the HyperFire 2 Security Covert Camera (HS2X). 

Vandalism 

Unfortunately, this sign had been vandalized with a bag of flour. An individual through a bag of flour through this sign and left that huge hole. A new sign has been ordered to replace this one. However, to prevent this I put up the license plate camera in a tree.

This camera is focused on capturing the license plates of vehicles. If the new sign gets vandalized again, we would have photos of the license plate of the car. This camera on a huge tree and used an extension ladder to position it correctly. I used a 5-inch piece of bark behind the camera to get it on an angle and positioned to capture license plates. Ironically this was the only tree in the area that was on National Park Service property and it was positioned perfect for what I needed to capture license plates.

Unauthorized Vehicles, Alcohol, and Drugs 

This camera was used to capture unauthorized vehicles and people bringing alcohol on this trail. This trail is considered a hotspot because people would drive their cars down this trail when no cars are allowed back here. However, this camera is not another license plate camera but the general surveillance one. This camera is pointed in the direction cars would need to pass by it. Therefore, it is would be looking at license plates. I also used another piece of bark to position the camera at an angle to capture the photos it would need to get the job done. 

Here is how the camera looks up close and in its final position where I was able to get it right. For this camera, I used a 12-foot ladder to get up on that tree. However, it took a few minutes to actually find the right tree to put the camera on. Ranger Justin and I climbed a couple of trees prior to finding the perfect one. It was trial and error until we got it right. 

Here Ranger Justin and I took a photo of where the camera is from a distance to give the perspective of where the camera actually was and how it would look. 

Here is a picture from a greater distance and including the UTV. In this photo, the camera is a little bit above the UTV roof lights. The point of view of this photo to see how the camera is well enough that the general public won't see the camera unless you are really looking for it. However, this camera is well enough to capture cars and people walking by. Therefore if a car drives by, we have the license plate. Or if people go down this trail with drug paraphilia or other criminal activities we have them on camera too. 

Littering 

The final camera was used to capture the huge amounts of litter within Smith Bridge Parking Lot. Every morning I would take two hours in the parking lot picking up litter left by the general public while three dumpsters are in the lot. 

However, the position of this camera is too open and anyone can see it. I placed the camera opposite from the entrance of the parking lot where it can capture people that litter and as well as the cars that are in the lot. This is also a general surveillance camera, not a license plate camera. 

I ended up changing the location of this camera since the last location was too visible and anyone can see it. The new location of the camera was positioned at an angle facing the entrance of the parking lot and the two dumpsters across the street. This camera was hidden better than the last location. The pale looking tree was able to hide the camera a bit better and it never blocked the camera lens.  

 

This is a photo of me one-morning doing litter control. I have my mask, gloves, trash picker, and a trash bag (with two trash bags more in my back pockets). This is how I spent the majority of my morning working here at First State and I personally like doing this. I like knowing that I'm making a difference and cleaning up this parking lot from litter. 

First State National Historical Park

Covid-19 Update

Unfortunately due to Covid-19 Hawaii Volcano National Park had to cancel plans. However, I've been interning at First State National Historical Park. This is the first and the only National Park in the State of Delaware. It is a fairly new park within the Park Service. Its enabling legislation was created on March 25, 2013, under the Obama Administration.

First Reaction

I personally like this park. Even though it does not have Law Enforcement, I'm able to work with the Facility Operations Specialist, Alan McLoughlin, and see what goes on in this park. I actually like that I get to see what other U.S Rangers do that are not Law Enforcement. It gives me an understanding that a Park Ranger certainly has many hats and is capable of doing extraordinary things. Working with Alan, I've seen first hand how landscaping and resource protection are essential to a park. However, unfortunately this park has a couple of issues that are caused by the general public. From what I've seen a huge issue is littering, illegal parking, and soil erosion. I am tasked with developing a method that can reduce these harmful actions towards First State National Historical Park.
                                                                   

Where is it?

Here below is the map of First State, I am interning at the Beaver Valley (Brandywine Valley) section at the top of Delaware and below Pennsylvania. 

First State National Historical Park runs from the top of the State to the bottom of the state. Brandywine Valley consists of 1,100 acres of land with 18-mile trails.

This Week 

I patrolled Smith Bridge parking lot with Ranger Fernandez. This location is considered a hot spot for constant littering and refuses from the general public that visit. In this park, it is prohibited to bring any alcoholic beverages. However, that does not stop the general public from bringing a huge case of beer and then leave the trash. I spent two hours on Monday morning picking up trash such as beer bottle caps, pampers, pads/tampons, liquor bottles, paper plates, T-shirts, underwear, swim trunks, and inflatable tubes. 

Tuesday 21/2020

This case of beer was found on one of the trails within a social trail which was created by the general public. This case of beer maybe one to you, but it's the 10th I've seen in a day. There are numerous bottle caps within trails and Smiths Bridge Parking lot. These beer bottle caps so engraved in the dirt that bare hands can not get them out. 

Monday  20/2020 & Tuesday 21/2020

This is one of many social trails that I came across in a day. This little trail leads straight into River. It is beneficial for the general public but disastrous for the environment as it causes soil erosion and devastates the vegetation. In the photo, you can see how the vegetation is destroyed and only left with dirt in the middle and grass on either side.

Tuesday 21/2020

On another patrol Ranger Fernandez and I took, we saw a shotgun casing that was used deep within one of the trails. This shows evidence that individuals shoot rounds on Government property and that these isolated trails need to be patrolled more often. We did not find any other rounds or shells near this location. However, I would be surprised if some ended in the river.

Tuesday 21/2020

On another trail, I saw a tree that was craved up with a bunch of initials of couples and drawings that simply indicate that this tree was vandalized. The vandalism on this tree can lead to the death of trees as the bark is meant to protect and secure the tree. Now that the bark has been exposed, the tree can actually get sick and cease to exist. 

Monday 20/2020

Here is another social trail that was located near Smith Bridge parking lot. The soil erosion exposes the rocks that can be seen as steps for the general public to enter the river. Individuals would set up their picnic stations near these social trails to have access to the water instead of walking down to the proper river entrance. 

Tuesday 21/2020

Another social trail near Smith Bridge parking lot that has a similar characteristic of the other social trails have. Easy access into the river and building the picnic station around this entrance. 

Monday 20/2020 & Tuesday 21/2020

Here is a photo of the illegal parking that occurs at Brandywine Valley. There is a sign right there that says "No Stopping, Standing or Parking". Yet there are five cars that have illegally parked here. Other than being illegal, the cars are parked on what used to be grass and vegetation. The cars have caused the grass to recede and cease to exist with the constantly parked cars.  With the cars that park here, I would like to add a camera that captures the license plates of the vehicles and report them to law enforcement. First, start with a warning and write some of the plates down and determine if they are repeat visitors. After the warning, the vehicles should be towed from the location. 

Grateful to be here

Hi, I’m Johan Urena and I will tell you a few things about myself. I am a first-generation

college student as both my parents are from the Dominican Republic.

I spent most of my adolescent years in Queens, New York City, and Brooklyn, New York City
until the age of 15. I then moved to Philadelphia in 2012 with my brother, father, and mother.

Therefore, I’ve been a Philadelphian ever since, but a New Yorker at heart.

Since living here in Philadelphia, my family and I have rescued four cats and one dog
from the ASPCA and given them a forever home.

The dog was my idea. I always wanted one. 

Leadership Camp at New River Gorge, WV

Starting my college career at Temple Univerity in 2016, I originally joined as a

Biology major and I discovered that Biology was not for me.

I then switched majors to Criminal Justice. After doing some research in the types of careers with
a Criminal Justice degree, I was overwhelmed with the possibilities.

That was when I first heard of the ProRanger Program by Professor Travis Meyers.

What drew my attention towards the ProRanger Program was the chance to go out and broaden my
knowledge of National Parks. Since I grew up in urban neighborhoods my entire life,

I never had the chance to go out and explore nature. This opportunity jumped out at me, and

I had to take the chance. I was attracted to the diversity that the ProRanger Program has and what
I can bring to the table. I was also attracted to the opportunity this program offers such as the
training in law enforcement that grew my passion for this Program even more. 

It gave me a sense of community and fitting in with these extraordinary people

Recruitment Table at Temple Ambler's Campus 

During my summer internship, I hope to learn better communication skills. I hope
to learn this by listening to other Law Enforcement Officers to communicate with the general public.
Communication is an important skill Law Enforcement Officers need to be proficient in.
This skill can help de-escalate situations between the officers and the general public. 

During my summer internship, I also hope to learn how to be a better ranger.

I want to be a sponge and absorb the information that my mentor and fellow U.S Park Rangers
will teach me. I know I will learn a lot on the summer internship and I want to take all that

information in and be the best ranger I can be. In general, I’m grateful for this opportunity to
even be here.

Recruitment Table with Ranger Fernandez 

I hope to spend my summer in a park that I will love. All parks are different in their own unique way.

I’m just grateful to have this opportunity to visit U.S National Parks. Having the opportunity to
work in any U.S National Park is a privilege to me. I can adapt to any environment and
will do the best I can to prove myself to the park. I love to challenge myself and help out as much as I can.

Any U.S National Park I get to summer intern at, I will do my best to represent myself. 
Hawaii Volcanoes, Thank you for having me, I look forward to being a helpful hand and doing my best.

Welcome New ProRangers

The ProRanger Program welcomes Cohort 7 to the program.

Francis Bednarczyk

Brunilda Bilalaj

Daniel Boyce

Connor Caruso

Sarah Dover

Trevor Gardner

Destiny A Greene

Anna Howard

Tom Kidd

Quinn Kirlew

Hannah Moore

Tim O'Hanlon

Carlos E. Orellana

Laura M. Patton

Dylan T. Stephens

Tirzah E. Terry

Johan J Urena

Check back soon to learn about our 2019 Partner Parks.