INDE 9 & 10

CAFE

   This week at Independence Hall has been one of the most interesting because I spent time working in 3 different divisions.  A few of the days I completed my daily duties in law enforcement which includes foot patrol, observing the operation in dispatch and assisting the Law enforcement park rangers when I can.  In the other divisions I got to see a different side of the Park Service. I spend a day in maintenance with the MVO staff. Unfortunately I didn’t get any hands on motor vehicle experience, but I was able to help the crew clean up the park. I went to two of the most visited grounds here at INDE and took trash from the cans and replaced the bags.  Washington Square and The café are areas where visitors walk around to enjoy the scenery and lounge on park chairs or benches. To my surprise INDE ‘s outdoor café not only sells food and drinks but they are also permitted to sell Alcoholic beverages. This site at INDE seams to serve a lot of professional people around the city who come to the park after work.

   

                                                                         Trash Truck

                                                    Maintenance Warehouse (North Philly)

   Working with maintenance was cool everyone seems to have their own scheduled duties for each day however when they finish their task they go help their co workers with their assignments. The team work this division uses to help each other out on a daily basis is incredible. Along with dumping trash I also helped the maintenance team lift and move large objects like wood to and from Franklin court. I assisted maintenance move In Franklin court the park has a partnership in which a new museum for Ben Franklin has created. The museum is incredibly high tech and interactive. I think this will bring a lot of visitors to the park and they will enjoy being in a museum that goes hands on with its visitors. I also got to work with Custodial and Grounds with the maintenance division. During those days I went hands on with making the park look great. I went up to the old white house aka Deshler-Morris house in Germantown and helped landscape the exterior. I also cleaned the trashed and recycling with Range Renee in the M.E.B.

TRASH

   The following day I spent back in Law enforcement. Being able to explore the park and make my own contacts is something I wasn’t able to do when I arrived. I am confident enough to assist the visitors and if I can’t I either find out how I can help them or point them to someone who can. Most of my shift was spent outside of the office. I stood up by Independence Hall with the guards protecting INDE’s cultural resources. The main things you have to do is make sure visitors stay within their permitted area, make sure no one crosses over the gates, and lastly making sure the visitors know about the events in the area.

  Also this week at INDE I completed online trainings for Hazard Communications. I was given this training to go along with the Hazardous Chemicals project that I assigned a few weeks ago. I have learned a lot about Hazardous chemicals and how to care for them in the work place. In the Park Service every division has chemicals that employees use every day and having them accounted for and used properly is very important and a benefit to the operation. Unfortunately these chemicals can be harmful so the training prepared me to be more responsible with the products used at work. I completed ½ of the training one day and then the other half thee following week.

   On Wednesday both of my program managers Ranger Krug and Ms McGarvey both came and visited me at INDE. During their visit I showed them my favorite part of the park, which is 18^th century and Rose garden. I claimed these two locations to be my favorite because these are the areas I find the most relaxing and unheard of. Of course at INDE our most prized cultural resources are Independence Hall and The liberty bell, but this National Historical Park has so much more to offer its visitors. Both locations open at day and close at night. They both are in the southern area of the park and they both have their own uniqueness. After showing them around I was included in a meeting with them and Ranger Vince who is a LE Supervisor at INDE. The four of us discussed topics like the strengths and weaknesses of The Pro Ranger program and the National Park INDE. The three of them had good conversation and great points.

  

Artifacts

  The rest of my shift I spent with Cultural Resource Management Division. I have been working with this division every Wednesday for the last few weeks in one of their storage rooms doing inventory task. Like LE, CRM has inventory projects that need to be completed annually. The volunteers who are also college students help out with this project. In the storage room we account for each and every stored artifact. One of us calls out the id numbers and the other records it on the laptop. This task is not difficult but time consuming. I am glad to be able to work with this division under the Curator Ms Karie Supervision. The last thing I wanted to inform my readers about in regards to CRM is that they have a monthly newsletter that gives the Park Staff a general idea of the tasks, projects and programs worked on in that division. This written communication is vital to giving the park rangers information about CRM. One of the most important things I’ve learned from working here this summer is that communication is key to achieving the mission of NPS

   The Following week I Spent Mostly with LE Division. I got to make a lot of my own contacts and help visitors navigate through out the park and find prime park areas to explore. I completed some online training. The DOI offers its employees a lot of online training  The more training I complete the more knowledge I obtain about the Park Service. This week like most I sat in dispatch and watched their operation for most of my mornings. I sat in the office with Dispatcher Rydeam who is acting supervisor and observed him complete scheduling for the dispatch team. The knowledge and information the dispatchers gave me this summer is appreciated.

GYM

   Most days before I leave work I spend my last hour in the M.E.B working out in the fitness room. This particular day I met up with Dispatcher Oshikia who wanted to get back in shape. During this hour I showed her some basic work out that she can use with the provided exercise equipment that can get her back into shape. First we warmed up with a lot of body stretching. Stretching your arms and legs gets them ready for physical activity. I then showed her 4 basic weight lifting exercises that helps get the heart beat up and tones the body. We did that for about ten minutes and then I introduced her to the Elliptical. Honestly the elliptical to me is the next best thing to running because it has less of a physical impact but you can adjust the levels of resistance so that even if you are taking slower strides the machine still makes you work harder to complete the stride. After 10 minutes on the elliptic, we got down on the mat and completed 50 sit ups which target your core, Stomach. After 50 of these, my work out partner was exhausted but she didn't stop or give up. 

  We got back on our feet and started the work out all over again. Back to stretching, and then free weight lifting, cardio on the elliptical and 50 more sit ups. Having little to no recovery time keeps your heart rate up and makes your work out stronger. We left The MEB and I sat in dispatch observing the dispatchers responding to visitor and park ranger calls. I ended my shift and left the park from there.

                                                                18th Century Garden

    On Wednesday I worked again with CRM, Cultural Resource Management. MS Karie informed me and another Volunteer about the 18^th century landscape in particular the 18^th century garden.  We walked the park from the south to the north end where the artifact storage is to continue the project we've been completed the last few weeks. In the storage room there are cabinets and draws full of old objects in which the park owns and preserves for the future. I worked on this project for about 4/5 hours and we got a lot done.

Independence Hall Week 8

  Sunday July 14, 2013 I started my shift a lot earlier than normally because I switched to day shift in order to keep the same scheduled hours as my supervisor. I was told that the days at INDE are very different from the nights and working day shift would give me a different perspective on the park. I arrived to INDE and changed into park service uniform then reported to my Supervisor. Supervisor Snow informed me about the opportunity to work with cultural resources the coming Wednesday and I am excited about that. I have not worked in another division other than LE since last summer. About an hour into our shift all LE Rangers met for a briefing in the east wing of INDE HALL.

  Once all Rangers were present Supervisor began talking about the transition of both him and I working day shifts. He told all rangers what he expected from them and what he is expected to do as a supervisor. I think that Supervisor Snow is a great supervisor and leader for the Park Service. He carries himself very well and professional, I believe the Days shift Rangers and especially I can learn a lot from Ranger Snow. The briefing last about 45 minutes and then we all dismissed ourselves and headed out of the east wing back into the field.  Ranger Snow and I head to the ranger station.

  At the Ranger station I logged onto the computer to check and address some emails that were sent to me. I emailed my supervisor an electronic copy of the property assignment I had been working on.  He looked over it and asked me to make some changes adding more information and description to the document about the property. I completed the task ASAP and sent the finished product back over to him. Most of my day was spent typing up reports and getting information from online. I got to explore the park briefly as I cleared the M.E.B and shadowed the Staff in Dispatch. In dispatch I watched the park visitors enjoy themselves from the surveillance cameras. I observed dispatchers multitask by taking calls, looking up visitor’s information and entering data into the computer for future reference.  To me dispatch has both an interesting and difficult job. They definitely help the operation at INDE run smoother. I took a few notes while I sat in dispatch but not too long after that I was back in 339.

  At 339 I took a lunch then back to researching MSDS Material safety Data sheets for hazardous or chemical products list I made. Attaching the MSDS to the list is very important to determine what’s in each product and how to treat a spill. I was given the task to put together a uniform for an incoming permanent LE Ranger. I will complete that tomorrow because I will need the Help of an LE Ranger for access to the uniform cache and supervision. My first day working with the day shift was very good. There are a lot more going on and a lot more visitors. I left INDE after my shift ended.

   On Monday I arrived on Park Property and jumped into uniform. I log onto the computer and checked my emails first.  After checking emails and responding to them I logged off the computer and checked with my supervisor to get my task. Ranger Snow assigned me to go into the uniform cache and put together a uniform for an incoming permanent law enforcement Ranger.  One of the LE Rangers Sinclair helped me find and unlock the uniform cache in Franklin court. When searching for the items to complete the uniform I was able to locate class A pants, long and short sleeve shirts, and an acorn belt. I was unable to find cargo pants, a tie or tie tack. Before leaving Franklin court I stopped and spot with 2 Interp Rangers working in the printing press side of Franklin court.

 Interp Rangers working on printing press

  The Interpretation Rangers were putting on a demon station in which they used ink and a printing press to recreate important documents like the declaration. I watched them demonstrate step by step and so did a few visitors. The printing that they have in Franklin Court are sold to visitors who want to take souvenirs home. Right before I left Franklin court the rangers invited me to check out The Edgar Alan Poe house that INDE covers. At the ranger station I dropped off the uniform and left the park to pick up Ranger Nicole who had been working in the Poe House.  Visitors are currently not allowed inside the Poe House due to construction, but it will reopen sometime in the late summer/early fall and I cannot wait to check it out.

When I got back to the ranger station I continued to work on my inventory reports. I am complete with researching and gathering information now I’m putting everything together so that I can turn it in.

The next day I arrived at INDE at my new scheduled time. Working mornings is something new I have to get used to. I geared up and was informed by my supervisor that I would be shadowing dispatch for half of my shift today. I am familiar with the staff in dispatch so this was something else I looked forward too. At dispatch I met Marc who has a lot of knowledge of the Park Service and INDE. He used to be a Law Enforcement Ranger and Interp Ranger so that means he knows a lot about the different sides of the operation.

   Mark informed me about the communication at INDE. He told me the different tools they use to communicate with other staff members and contacts outside the park service. I learned that each division has different communication devices. Maintenance has push to talk radios and interpretation uses the radios like R&VP does.  One of the most important things that I noted was that the alarms in the park don’t just alarm when there has been some type of threat but also they will notify dispatch that they need to be changed, reset or fix.  That is great because it makes the building more secure and hazardous things away.

  I patrolled around the park and was stopped by a staff member who was dressed in 18^th century clothing. He asked me to report dead squirrels in the park that cause disturbance to the visitors especially the kids. I told him I would notify the staff in R&VP and he thanked me. I patrolled around INDE until 1400 when I was asked to meet my Program Manager Ranger Krug for a package he had for me. I met him in front of Independence Hall and we spoke briefly because we both were working during that time. After he went back to his office I walked around Independence Hall to introduce myself to the dayshift Sectek guards. Since I have been on day shift I have gotten the chance to meet with a lot more NPS rangers and Sectek guards. Everyone is interested in the ProRanger program and I give them as much information as I can from the experience I have gotten here. The remainder of my shift I spent in the ranger station getting caught up on my blog.  I left INDE when my shift was over.

INDE 7

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18th century Garden

On Sunday July 7, 2013 I arrived to the park my regular scheduled time and worked my regularly scheduled 10 hr shift. Once I got geared up I reported to the ranger station’s main office for duty. I was given a few property and inventory tasks to complete by Supervisor Snow. After that I continued my chemical inventory assignment that I was given by Ranger Saperstein. I walked over to another R&VP building to check for chemicals or hazardous products that need to me documented. I was surprised to see a good amount of cleaning supplies in a maintenance closet and other cleaners in the office room. I listed these items, the size/amount of the product and the manufactures name on a sheet of paper in which later I will put on the hazardous product/chemical list electronically.

I left out of the V&RP building and headed back to the ranger station. On my way back I was stopped by visitors on two different occasions asking question. Both groups of visitors were in 18^th century garden observing its beauty. The second group of visitors actually surprised me with the amount of history they already knew. They ended up informing me about important people from the 18^th century who helped our historic leaders create America. One of the visitors informed me about Baron Augustus Von Steuben who came from Europe to the states and helped George Washington train and discipline his troops in Valley Forge which lies outside of Philadelphia. After conversing with him I advised him and his family to check out magnolia garden which isn’t far from 18^th century garden.  I left 18^th century garden and headed into 339.

Once I go to 339 I spoke with the night shift rangers and Supervisor Snow, I logged on to the computer. Online I checked my emails, looked over the ProRanger blog page, and even researched information on Baron Augustus Von Steuben, the guy that a visitor mentioned to me earlier. The remainder of the night I patrolled around the park. Making sure the visitors and resources were safe. I checked a few exterior building making sure they were secure. As the shift came to an end I took my gear off in 339 and left the park

On Monday I returned to work and immediately got into uniform. I began to continue the inventory tasks that I have been working on. Since I am working on two at once for the same division I doubled up and worked on them both at the same time. On one task I listed the new chemicals and hazardous products on it and the other I relooked over unused property and determined if they were fixable or not. Some things are old and just out of date so those things were added to the list.  I took a break from inventory and walked to the M.E.B and once I was clear of it I returned to the ranger station.

At the ranger station I began another Doi learn course. This course was about the no fear act and whistle blowing. I think this course was very important because it addressed discrimination in the work place. The course also taught me how to report acts of discrimination and assured me that anyone would be protected if they were to report someone for it. It’s a great thing to protect employees from retaliation.  After that course I went into the basement and began working on a report for property found in the park. Safely I went through the property with my gloves and removed everything from the trash bags they were in. the only things I found were clothes, newspapers and water bottles. Nothing in the bags could be used to identify the owner. I listed all the property found on the report and placed the items back into the bags they were found in.

As the night continued I logged on the computer to type up the inventory from the projects and the report I had just completed. I later went to dispatch and observed the park on the surveillance cameras. It’s different to look at the park from dispatchers eyes. You see the visitors and resources but they cannot see you.

I ended my night working out at the MEB. I got out of my uniform and into my work out clothing to lift weights. I used the lat pull down bar to strengthen my arms and the bench press as well.  I ended the workout with cardio on the elliptical which is my favorite piece of work out equipment. I left the park and ended my shift after working out.

The next evening I reported to the ranger station and got dressed up into my uniform. I reported to the main office greeted the morning rangers and headed to the Merchants exchange building. After clearing the MEB I went over to dispatch to greet them and get a look at the park with the cameras. The dispatchers informed me that there are about 160 cameras in the park and they can see just about everything in the park. I hung out with the dispatchers for a few hours and headed to the ranger station to continue the inventory reports.

In the ranger station I logged onto the computer and began gathering all the Material Data Sheets for all the chemicals gathered in the R&VP building and offices. The Material satefy data sheets are documents that manufactures have for their products. When items are chemical hazards MSDS sheets are handy because they have the useful information for the buyer or owners of the products.

MSDS example

The rest of the night I worked on these inventory reports for R&VP division. I take pride in completing this annual task and making sure every product, chemical or piece of equipment is accounted for. I ended my shift around midnight and left INDE.

On Wednesday I came into work and edited my blog post before I posted it. I checked and read over a few other Prorangers blogs to see what kind of experience they are getting. I logged out of the pc and radioed Ranger Dottie to see where she was located. I was scheduled to come into work earlier than my normal scheduled time so that I could help her and Ranger Nichole with evidence. In the evidence room I spent about half of my shift moving, sorting and organizing evidence and law enforcement equipment. I did not touch the evidence myself Ranger Dottie did, however I was able to assist with moving equipment and boxes around

   In the evidence room we sorted evidence by the year it was processed. Using my height to my advantage I was able to reach high shelves for storage. In the evidence room we found some really cool things that the LE ranger may find useful in their everyday duties. Also in the evidence room we through trash away and took things we could use in the office back to the ranger station. Dottie and I left the evidence room with only 2 boxes left to organize. I can say we accomplished a lot in that little amount of time.

After we left the evidence room we headed to the Ranger Station to get ready for our weekly briefing. The weekly briefings are something I look forward too. I have an interest in intellectual conversation and socializing so the briefings are great for me to hear new and old news in the LE division. In the meeting the supervisors talked about FLTEC and more coverage for the upcoming events at the park. We also had a chief ranger from another Jefferson Expansion National Memorial Park sit in our briefing. It was cool having someone new in the meeting giving a different opinion, in site and advice. The briefing was pretty brief but a lot of information was shared. We rapped up our meeting and the staff headed back into the field.

    In the field I patrolled around INDE square and second bank. I keep my eye and ears open to the visitors and resources while patrolling. I didn’t make any contacts the evening was quiet so I headed back to the ranger station to post my blog. I edited my blog after my supervisor checked over it and added pictures to give my readers a visual. I posted my blog and left back out to grab dinner. After Dinner I checked my emails and sent some responses. The rest of the night I focused on completing my timesheet and quick time. I am still getting the hang of these two T&A documents so I called on The Rangers and Supervisor to help me. At the end of my shift I went into the M.E.B to work out in the aerobics room. I concentrated on cardio and a few weight lighting techniques. I ended my shift and went home.

INDE NHP week 6

               

Sunday I arrived to work and quickly geared up in the men’s locker room of 339. I reported to Ranger Snow to get the details on the briefing the Law Enforcement Rangers had earlier in the day. I had unfortunately missed the briefing but Mr. Snow was able to inform me on what I had missed.   After conversing with both supervisors and getting my orders for the day I introduced myself to Ranger Tim who is a ProRanger program graduate. He currently works at Valley Forge National Historical Park, which isn’t too far outside of Philadelphia. A little while later, we spoke all LE staff met over at Peoples Plaza to get ready for the events that was scheduled for the day.

At Peoples Plaza a big group of people gathered from all over to rally for marijuana. Sometimes these events can get intense as it did, and extra police officers were in attendance from other agencies. What happened on this day to me was another eye opener. I have heard about gatherings like this and even watched them on TV, however to physically be in the area observing the event was really intense. Through my observation I can appreciate the communication and the plethora of resources the National Parks Service has. This agency is well rounded and ready for everything thrown their way. It was also interesting to see a different side of Law enforcement than I am used to. During the event I was able to record some video, take pictures and be a part of the eyes and ears in the background.

     After being a part of the event today at INDE I am even more excited about working as a LE Park Ranger. I have realized that every day in service isn’t the same and I have a lot to look forward to. Moments after the event all units united in the Liberty Bell Center to discuss what happened earlier. During that time all units also talked about what could be done better next time. Quite of few rangers asked me how I felt about the event. Others gave me advice and encouragement, I appreciated it all. The rest of the night slowed down a lot. I returned to 339 and watched some videos I recorded. I also sat and watched Ranger Martina process evidence. She showed me how to correctly process evidence and the paperwork to go with it. It seems one must have enough time and patience to properly process evidence. There are many aspects of processing evidence, like documenting the chain of command, and if you rush you might miss something. All around today was a learning experience for me. I got to be a part of something great. The rest of my shift I did my own paperwork, posted last week’s blog, updated my new blog and patrolled the park.

The following day I arrived to work at my regular scheduled time. I got geared up and headed downstairs to the main office where I spoke to the LE staff. Everyone was reflecting on the event that happened the day before. All rangers met to have a briefing in which the SET team also took part in. During this briefing the rangers discussed the events and things to consider for future events. The SET team gave advice as well. After the briefing I headed into the field and did some foot patrolling around the park.

During the middle of my shift I went back to the ranger station to work on the chemicals list project I was given. I started taking inventory from the top floor and worked my way down to the basement. I had a few questions about the project so I directed them to my supervisor Ranger Snow and he was able to help me out a lot. I checked every room and closet in the R&VP rooms that I have access to. My next few days of work coming up I plan on completing the project and attaching the Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to the list. The rest of the night I spent in dispatch again observing the things they do on a daily basis.  In dispatch I paid a lot of attention to the plethora of surveillance cameras they have set around the park. Having so much surveillance is absolutely necessary because the Rangers and the Sectek Guards may not be able to see everything, and dispatch can help look for unusual things in the park without leaving their location.  Working in dispatch seems to be a great job because they are the main communication unit for the park. They help LE keep the park safe and notify them when something is wrong.

On Tuesday I arrived on site around my regular scheduled time again. I gear up and talked to the rangers. At the beginning of the shift I worked on the chemical inventory project adding more information to my list. I then reported to the east wing for our weekly briefing. At the briefing LE staff and the SET team met to talk about the events this week which is welcome week.  Having extra coverage in the park is great for big event when we expect more visitors. After the briefing the SET team taught and demonstrated tactics that all rangers should find useful in the field. I got a chance to speak with Ranger Joe who gave me more information about the operation of the SET team. He informed me that the set team is a special events tactic team and each region in the National Parks Service has one. He also informed me that rangers need 3 years of experience after leaving FLETC to qualify for the SET Team. I found it interesting that this team goes all over the United States to help Law Enforcement Park Rangers with rallies, demonstrations and where extra resources are needed. After they finished the training I patrolled the park by myself, then met up with Ranger Melissa and her and myself cleared 2^nd bank.

After patrolling I came into the ranger station and updated my blog. This week has definitely gone by fast but I learned a lot about the service that I didn’t know before. The last thing I did before leaving the park was work out in the M.E.B. I worked on my upper body strength with the free weights and my lower body and cardio with the elliptical. This was one of my best work outs yet. With each week I feel myself getting leaner, yet stronger than before. The next few days of PT I will push myself even harder. After exercising I cleared the gym and left INDE. 

That was my 6th week at INDE.

INDE NHP WEEK 5

Week 5

Sunday evening I came into the ranger station ready to start my 5^th week here at INDE. Although I haven’t been here long I have done a lot of cool things and I look forward to coming into work every day. I gear up in the men’s locker room and head to the main office in 339. In the main office I greet every one and have a seat at one of the computers to start my shift. I log onto the PC and respond to a few emails that were sent to me during my days off.  After housekeeping I log onto DoiLearn and began a training course about the constitution. This training course was quit informative. It discussed the creation of the constitution and how it applies to the government and citizens. In all I think these important documents are absolutely necessary to keep the United States organized. I read each and every module and completed the course. Like the other courses I've successfully completed, I printed out my certificate to keep for my records.

After taking the online course I posted my new blog on the Pro Ranger Blog site. I am getting a lot of great feedback from members of Temple University and The National Parks Service. It’s an awesome feeling to see positive reactions from the internships we do and the blogs we write. After I posted my blog I logged onto the uniform website to check out the gear available and see what I need to order. I logged off the PC and went on foot patrol for a few hours. I also checked Franklin Court inside and out. Patrolling and conducting building checks are becoming routine and I am being more observant when I’m in the field. Franklin court was clear so I headed to Independence Hall with Ranger Melissa.

At Independence Hall I stopped and talked to the 2 Sectek guards.  We talked about fitness and eating healthier. Being physically fit is something that is mandatory in law enforcement. Your body needs to be healthy and ready to be physical. After patrolling around Independence Mall I head in to 339 and take a lunch break. Every time I step out of the office I observe the visitors on park property making sure nothing unusual is happening. With my eyes I clear my surroundings and head into the ranger station. At the ranger station I take a break but not before long I am back on the clock. The night is slow, some of the rangers are out contacting visitors and others are on the computers completing projects. The rest of the night I check the Pro Rangers blog site again and added comments to the newly posted blogs from my fellow Pro Rangers. I then start my new blog for this week and get myself ready to head home. I leave the ranger station around 0330.

Monday I walked into 339 with enough time to settle in and change into my uniform. I greeted the day shift LE Rangers and went up to the men’s locker room to get myself ready for the night shift. I came down stairs and met Ranger Martina. The both of us headed over to Independence Square to screen a few visitors who had permits to record a documentary at the park. At independence square there was another ranger and a Sectek guard there as well. The LE rangers screened the Visitors and we escorted them around the area.

While they were recording their documentary Ranger Martina gave me some advice about patrolling. She advised me that when making contacts as law enforcement officer you must always maintain professional and inform the contact why you are contacting them. Usually you can keep the contact and yourself safe and sound by maintaining effective communication. Interpretation Rangers were also outside with us so all the questions that the visitors were asking were answered. We escorted the visitors with a permit into Independence Hall. Interpretation and LE Rangers were there to protect the resources and the visitors. As always it’ was great to witness the staff from the different divisions of INDE working together to achieve the National Parks Service’s Mission. I left Independence Hall and walked into the east wing. The east wing is a part of independence Hall that is attached to its east side and on the other side there is a west wing that is connected to Independence Hall as well.

The rest of the night I checked 339, The Liberty Bell center and the Independence Visitor Center IVC with Ranger Dottie, looking for lost property. I spent the end of my shift observing dispatch and how they operate. When I was in dispatch I talked to Will about the Pro Ranger program, the new experiences that the program has brought me and also about the difference between the commissions you earn at the seasonal academy and FLETC. Will had spoken to me about his work experience in and outside of the National Park Service. I saw the different types of computers and monitors at dispatch and asked as many questions as I could think of. Not too much longer dispatcher Rydeam walked into dispatch and began his shift. The dispatchers taught me the difference in the alarm sounds that go off in their office. By listening and being able to identify the different sounds, they can determine what type of alarms the rangers need to respond to. I finished my shift at dispatch, returned to 339 to get out my uniform and exited the park.

Tuesday I arrived at work 3 hours early so that Ranger Snow and I could meet with Ranger Alan. We discussed a new task he wants me to complete involving inventory. This is the second inventory project I have been given, but this one is different from the last. With this one I will need to create a list of the hazardous products and chemicals we have in the R&VP division. Also I need to attach Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) for each product and chemical. After meeting with him I headed back to the ranger station where I could organize my thoughts and the task given to me. The day shift began to come to an end and the night shift came in soon after.

Ranger Juan and I took a few extra patrol bikes from the Ranger Station to 313. While walking back Juan was stopped by a group of visitors. I stepped into 339 and began editing my blogs. On the computer I tried to complete another course on Doilearn; however the course would not completely load so I figured I would try again later on another computer. I got out the office and foot patrolled The Park with Ranger Melissa. We closed Christ Church garden and headed toward Independence Hall.  I left Independence Hall and came back to 339 to update my blog post again and get permission to take PT. During PT physical training I focused more on weight lifting and less on cardio. I usually try to balance the two, but with the advice of some of the rangers and guards here I choose to switch it up tonight. I ended my 10 hour shift took off my gear and left.

Wednesday I arrived at INDE ready to finish the work week. I got geared up and headed to the main office in 339 to check my emails. While online I added a few details to my blog and logged off the computer. Rangers Snow, Martina and I headed to the Liberty Bell Center to watch the rally out in the field. It was rainy so before we all left the office we put on our rain gear so we could stay as dry as possible.  Once we reached Independence mall by 5^th and market, we noticed a small crowd getting together to celebrate the Supreme Courts gay marriage ruling. They were in the area from 6-9pm.  As the weather cleared up a few more people came out and supported the rally. Halfway through the event most of the LE Rangers left the scene and headed to the east wing of independence hall to have our weekly briefing.

                   

                                           Rally 

In the east wing we waited for the rest of the rangers to show up. Once they did arrive the supervisors shared information about upcoming events in the park, the resources we have and the amount of coverage. I was asked to come in early on my next working day. The meeting didn't take long and we all headed back out into the field. I jumped into the cruiser with Ranger Stevens and we closed Christ Church gates and also checked the exterior of the church. After that we visually cleared a few more areas in the park and I was dropped off at the Ranger Station. At the Ranger station I spoke to the rangers about upcoming events at the park. The staff at INDE is always planning ahead and I think it’s a great thing to do. It helps the operation run smoother when you’re better prepared for each work day.

The rest of the night I spent in 339 working with QuickTime and Microsoft excel entering my time and attendance. Before, someone used to enter my time for me using a spreadsheet I created, however now the Pro rangers have been trained and given access to QuickTime to start entering payroll for ourselves. This was a good thing because as men and women we should be accountable for entering our own time and attendance.  Ending my shift I went over some operation details with Ranger Martina. Martina has been a great help to me since she has started. I think the experience she has working with different parks has made her a great ranger. I ended my shift and the next few days I will have off and I plan on spending it with my family.

Until next week bloggers

Daviryne Hall

Independence NHP #4

INDE/WEEK4

  Sunday evenings are my first shift back from my three day weekend. I am excited to see what kind of things I will do and learn this week. I begin my shift in the Ranger stations main office after I put on my uniform in the men’s locker room. In the office I log onto the computer and start putting the finishing touches on my blog post. I removed, then added a few things and uploaded the post to the Pro Rangers blog page.  To complete my blogs I add a few pictures to show my readers the beauty of the park that I get to see daily. I post my blog and then move on to my next assignment.  While online I  log onto DOI-learn and complete the third course given to me by my supervisor. I take the time to read every page and module because I know that there will be a test at the end of it. I complete the Government Ethics course and print out a copy of the certificate for my personal records.

My Lock and Locker at 339

  I was told by my supervisor Ranger Snow that I will need to pick up my radio one day soon, and I could come in earlier to do so. Also Ranger Snow and I reviewed my time sheet and made changes to it. I’m glad he was able to help me because completing spreadsheets are not my strong points. We finished my time sheet and then emailed it to HR.I was given permission to walk around the park, so I left 339 and headed toward Independence square. While patrolling the park I ran into a few individuals who were asking for directions. I kindly gave them as much direction as I could and they were on their way. I arrived at Independence Square, where I spoke with two Sectek guards and an LE Ranger. I asked these guys about the events that occurred in the park earlier and for the most part they informed me that nothing eventful had happened. I stood outside Independence Hall, protecting it from visitors and watching people walk by. Standing in one spot can get boring so I’m sure the guards appreciated my conversation.  I was called over the radio to report to 339.

  Once I arrived at 339 I was escorted by Ranger Dottie to the evidence room. In the evidence room I created a list of unused property to add to the list I had already created. In the evidence room Dottie helped me find and move things around that did not belong. With the things I found, I wrote down their serial numbers, property number or anything detailed that could be used to describe it. With Ranger Dottie’s help we were done in no time. I returned to 339 for my next task and Dottie ended her shift. At 339 Rangers Juan and Martina escorted me to Franklin Court. At Franklin Court we navigated through the buildings to find the Visitor and Resource Protection office. We ended up finding a storage room with riot shields so we took the shields and placed them into the cruiser to transport to the equipment room in the ranger station. The two rangers left me in Franklin court so I could complete the inventory of property in the V&RP room. It took me a little less than an hour to document all the property onto my list but it was necessary. For the rest of the night I added information to my next blog and clocked out at 0230.

  On Monday I arrived at the Ranger Station 339 a little before 1700 to change into uniform and still be on time.  As always I log onto the computer here at 339 to check my emails. I decide to walk around the park and make some contacts. I was able to again give directions to a few visitors but mostly I spoke with the Sectek guards again. A lot of the guards are curious about the Pro Ranger Program and I always tell them how awesome a program it is. I explain to them the application process, and the P.E.B requirements. One of the guards informed me that he was a police officer in PA.  While talking to him he told me how much he enjoys working in the law enforcement field.  After the conversation with the Sectek Guards I did some more exploring.

 While patrolling a visitor had stopped me while I was walking an informed me about a potential safety hazard. He said that there was a metal board that covers a hole on the corner of 4^th and Chestnut that had been moved slightly and needed to be placed back to cover the hole correctly. I spotted the area he was talking about and Ranger Juan adjusted the board correctly so it wouldn't move and no one could potentially hurt themselves.

Not too long after that all the rangers reported immediately to the open field directly next to the LBC (Liberty Bell Center). I was the last one to arrive on the scene but I had no idea what was going on so I kept my distance. From a distance I saw the LE Rangers assisting a man who had been lying on the ground. I walked a little closer just to show the rangers I was there, In case there was any way I could help. The rangers had large medical/jump kits with them so I assumed they were on a medical contact. After they escorted the guy into the Cruiser I was able to communicate with the rangers and they told me that the man was intoxicated and may have medical issues.  Two rangers took him to the hospital and I walked back to 339. At 339 Supervisor Snow gave me more detail about the incident.
                                                                  Medical Contact

  As the night progressed I completed building checks with Ranger Melissa, we cleared the Pemberton complex and 2^nd bank.  To end the night Ranger Juan helped me deliver some mail to the M.E.B and we parked a government vehicle in the parking lot. I ended my shift watching the rangers cite a visitor for drinking over the legal limit and destroying park property. I left INDE around 0230.

On Tuesday 6/18 I came into work at 1530. I immediately reported to the dispatch building to meet with Ranger Drake. Ranger Drake is in charge of the radios and alarms here at INDE. This day was the day I was issued my radio, so that I can communicate with the Rangers and dispatch better.  While meeting with Ranger Drake, he also gave me a crash course on using and protecting the radio issued to me. This was my first time meeting him and he was very friendly, funny and informative. I am pleased to be working with the diverse group of Rangers here at INDE.  A lot of people here come from different places and are skilled in different area, and I have taken note of that. After my meeting with Ranger Drake, I step into the Dispatch office to meet the two dispatchers whom I hadn’t met yet and headed over to 339.

  At 339 I greeted all the Day shift rangers and headed to the locker room to properly put on my full uniform and equipped my gun belt with my new radio. Once I’m fully dressed I went down to the main office in 339 and talked with the day shift rangers. When my supervisor arrived he gave me another key. I put the key on my key ring and sign a document regarding me receiving it. This key will give me access to lock and unlock the doors of 339. A few moments late ranger Trouper gives me a few tasks to complete during my shift and I return to the office to log onto the computer. Online I read and reply to emails and jump on the Pro Ranger Blog page to see if there were any new blog posts.                               Hazard

  On this particular day, the weather wasn't so good. It rained for most of my shift. I stayed indoors, worked on my blog and did research online for my supervisor. I also started my fourth online learning module on DOI-learn. I did not get to finish the course but I will certainly finish it as soon as possible. I got away from the desk for a few hours and patrolled the park. Near the Pemberton complex Ranger Melissa noticed a potential hazard. One of the flat stones in the ground used for walking on was not stable and someone could fall if they stepped on it. She put in a work order for it and then she and I went and placed an orange cone with yellow caution tape to mark it. I took a lunch and spoke with two Sectek guards who were also taking a break. After the conversation ended I returned to the ranger station and worked on my blog. I briefly left 339 to assist Ranger Juan in obtaining light bulbs for our office from maintenance. Riding around the park with Juan is always interesting because he always shows me something new. The remainder of the night I worked on the inventory task. I used some of my pt time at the M.E.B and ended my shift with a great work out. I worked on both my upper and lower body and then got in some cardio to complete my work day. I clocked out at 0200.

  On Wednesday I arrived to work at my regular scheduled time 1700 and immediately put on my NPS uniform. Soon after I got to work on Quick time training, which was recently assigned to me. Quick time training is definitely appropriate because every employee should know how to submit their own Time and Attendance. It took me about an hour to complete the course. I spoke to a few Rangers who were also interested in taking the training. So I showed them how to access it. Around 1930 the LE staff at INDE had our weekly briefing in the east wing. During the briefing the supervisors shared information about upcoming events that need coverage. 

    Later in the day I worked on a report of survey form in which I added the property from the unused property report I made last week. I submitted it to my supervisor and left 339 to check out the activity in the park. Like most nights it was pretty slow. The rangers kept themselves busy by completing reports on the computer and checking areas in the park. At 0020 I went over to dispatch. Radeam, Will and Rob were there so I greeted all of them and introduced myself to Rob because it was my first time meeting him. Observing dispatch is always interesting because I like the constant communication and professionalism they add to the park. If anyone needs information they usually ask dispatch because they are very informed about the activity here and if they do not know then they help finding out. I headed back to 339 to update my blog with the things I had done today. I then headed to the M.E.B around 0225. In the gym I used the free weight dumb bells to compete a few sets of upper body exercises. I want to tone up so those weights help my upper body. I use the mat for stretching and sit ups. Last but not least I used the elliptical for my cardio workout. I finished my shift and headed home for my off days.

INDE Week 3

Independence Hall National Historical Park

Today I arrived at INDE early to put my vest on underneath my uniform. I will be around the Law Enforcement division the whole summer, and if anything was to happen I would use this bullet proof vest to protect myself. I logged onto the Gov computer and immediately checked my emails. After that I went out into the field briefly to see if I could make any contacts.  I was able to give directions to a few visitors and then start conversation with Sectek guard Dana. Just like the other Sectek guards, Mr. Dana informs me about the history here in Philadelphia.  He also congratulates me on my internship and shakes my hand. It really feels amazing to be a part of an agency who has a strong mission with employees working together to achieve it. After talking with him I headed back to 339.

At 339 (Ranger Station) Supervisor  Snow assigns me 4 courses on DOI LEARN to complete. One of them is an ethics course and another one is about safety. These two of the four are important to me because it’s very critical to behave in a professional manner and also working as safely as possible. I hadn't started any of the 4 yet, but I cannot wait until I have down time to start them. As the day progressed I went out into the field with Ranger Melissa to Washington square. At Washington square we found tire tracks alongside the pavement. The tire tracks had damaged the dirt and really take away from the scenery.  Melissa used the parks digital camera to photograph pictures for evidence. After that Melissa and I went throughout the park to lock gates and check doors. Now, since I have my own set of keys Melissa and I can lock the gates twice as fast.

Franklin Court

A few moments later we drove to Franklin court. I think Franklin court is becoming one of my favorite places here at INDE. From a visitors stand point Franklin court sits on Market Street and appears to be a local shop. However, Franklin court is so much more. Inside Franklin court you can see demonstrations on how people lived and worked in the past. It has so many antique mechanisms, it is incredible.  In this area  there is also a uniform cache. I sign out a pair of pants and Melissa signs out a shirt. We clear a few other areas in the park and return to 339.

Before

 At 339 I decide to clean out the Law Enforcements

division’s refrigerator in the basement.  It took me almost a whole hour to clean the fringe and freezer but it was worth it, plus everyone knows some things you can’t rush if you want to do it right.

Once I’m done cleaning I return to the office to log onto the computer. I edit last week’s blog and post it onto the ProRanger blog website. I also got started on week 3’s blog. In the office Ranger Juan advises me to incorporate more stretching into my daily workout routine. He shows me some easy to do stretches in the office and I imitate the exercises he does. Juan is right; I need to stretch more because I realized how stiff I am. Today has been a productive day and I look forward to tomorrow. I ended my shift at 0330.

                                             After

The second day of my 3^rd week, interning at INDE was great. Today I came to work a few minutes early to properly put on my uniform and vest . At the ranger station 339 I spoke to some of the morning shift LE rangers about the National Park Service and the military. A few of the rangers here have military backgrounds and they have told me that the military has been very beneficial to them. A little while later LE Supervisor Ranger Snow returns to 339 after he conducted a few interviews for the open LE Ranger position he has. He told me that he was impressed by most of Rangers whom he interviewed. We spoke briefly about how the interviews went and after that he gave me orders to complete an inventory report on all unused property here at INDE. I think this is a big task because INDE has so many facilities and so much property.  Still I am excited to be completing this task because I am ready to do anything that will help benefit the parks service.

Today was a rainy day so most of the day I stayed indoors. The park usually isn't busy during rainy weather conditions. Inside 339 I logged onto the government computers and started checking and replying to emails. I do this every day at different times because I like to give speedy response when someone reaches out to me via email. I also log into employee express and DOI-learn as well.  Tonight I started and finished an overview course about the history of the NPS. The course was broken up into 3 modules and within each one I learned something new about the parks service. I learned that the Organic Act of 1916, created the National Parks Service. I also learned that the NPS is under the executive government branch. After completing the course I truly understand why it was assigned to me. I recommend everyone who is new to the National Parks Service take this course because it contains lots of information about the agency. It took me longer than expected to complete this course because I had gotten distracted multiple times by good conversation and updates about the activity in the park. Eventually I did finish the entire course and I am happy to have completed ¼ of the courses assigned to me by my supervisor.

Later, Ranger Melissa invited me to complete area checks with her in the Tahoe. Riding around in the Tahoe is great because it allows us to check the hot spots of the park. Car Patrol is faster than walking or biking and it allows me to stay off my feet as much as possible. We cleared Welcome Park, Christ Church and checked around Washington Square. The few visitors that were out were behaving themselves and enjoying the park so we didn't need to contact anyone. We both took lunch breaks and met back up to complete PT exercises in the MEB. The MEB is another important facility here in the park. It houses a lot of the offices for the parks Rangers and also has a nice gym/aerobics room in the basement. Another good thing about interning here at INDE is that the Customs House which is also called the Northeast regional office has a gym room in the basement as well. So technically I have two gyms in the area I can use. At the gym Melissa and I both used the free weights to warm up. After my heart rate rose and I started to break a sweat I jumped on the elliptical and completed a 10 min work out followed by more stretching and sit ups on the mat. I get back on the elliptical for 10 more minutes and hit the free weights to finish up. I like to work out in my own time but to work with law enforcement and be granted 3 hours a week to exercise is a wonderful thing. While I was using the elliptical for cardio, Melissa used the bike. We finished our work out and reported back to duty at 339.

At 339 I started working on the inventory report for the park. Since I started so late in the night I decide to do as much as I can before my shift ends. I actually clear the whole building except 2 rooms that I will finish my next shift. I found a lot of unused equipment like a computer, a few sets of speakers, a whole copy/printer/scanner and a few other electronics. I determined that these things were not being used because they are not plugged into anything and have collected long term dust. Most of these things I found tossed to the side, in a corner or closet. I collect as much information as possible like their serial numbers, property numbers and a brief description of the products. I finish my shift by updating my blog with the things I have done today. Again, I end my shift at 0330.

 18th Century Garden

Tuesday, I arrived at Independence Hall National Historical Park an hour and ¼ before my normal scheduled time so that I could meet Ranger Alan who is the security specialist. To my knowledge Alan works close with all the divisions at this park. He is the go to guy for all employees. Alan was not at his office so I will try to meet back up with him another time. Outside the M.E.B I got the chance to meet L.E Ranger Mary who needed my help bringing some items into the M.E.B.  After assisting her I headed back to ranger station 339 to talk with the L.E Rangers from the day shift. Near the ranger station is a beautiful area. The area is called the 18^th Century Garden because it was designed to look exactly like gardens did in the 1700’s. The garden contains a walking trail to navigate throughout and gazebos to shade the visitors from the sun. This location at INDE is so beautiful I suggest every visitor check it out when touring. I mentally cleared the area by myself and walked into 339. My supervisor had not come into the station yet so I took this time to log onto DOI-Learn.

                                                 18th Century Garden

On DOI-Learn I signed in and began the second of four online training courses that I need to complete. While reading the information from the modules I took very brief breaks to converse with the staff and see what was going on in the park. Halfway through the course my supervisor came into office and spoke to the new seasonal LE Ranger Martina. Martina told me that she has worked at quit a few National Parks, but she informed me that she thinks Glacier was the most beautiful. Supervisor Trouper gave Martina and I a task to go online and research information for him. I recently took a research and analysis class and I believe it helps to gain information on something you may know nothing about before hand. Also, I think being proactive in law enforcement is a necessity because people react to crime, but there are ways to deter crime from the beginning.

On my way to the M.E B

Later in the evening, I followed the LE Rangers to the M.E.B because a fire alarm had gone off. The local fire department also responded to the alarm. The LE Rangers and the Fire Fighters all cleared the M.E.B and found it to be safe. Watching the Rangers work with the Fire Fighters was a great experience for me. To see civil servants responding to an incident together shows how good the communication is here at INDE. Once every one left the M.E.B I started closing gates. I have noticed that working with other rangers to close gates is a great opportunity to have intellectual conversation. 

One of the park areas we have to close at night is Magnolia Garden. This area like most is very grassy and has a nice fountain that adds to the scenery.  After closing gates I went on a ride along with Ranger Melissa. Melissa and I cannot conduct bike patrol yet. So I am able to accompany her with car and foot patrol .We cleared a few important areas of the park. The rest of the night was slow in the park . S. I headed to the ranger station and ended my shift.

                  

Magnolia Garden

My final work day of the week I arrive 30 minutes early. I believe one of my weaknesses is time management and I’m using this experience to help me better myself. This whole summer I plan on arriving to work on time, if not before, and bringing my positive attitude with me. After I completely put on my uniform, bullet proof vest and belt gear, I take care of a few housekeeping tasks. Today, I brought in my own lock to put on my locker. I want to make sure my property is safe and locked away. Also having a locker makes it easier for me to leave things at the ranger station instead of toting my gear back and forth every day. I logged onto the computer and check my emails shortly after.

Around 1300 I began typing up an inventory report that I had started for my supervisor a few days ago.  I start this task while the day and night shift communicate in the background with the supervisor. Although I am not finished the assignment yet, I want to get feedback from my supervisor so that I can make sure I’m on the right track.  Like every other night the rangers and I clear some park property, lock gates and patrol the park. Later, I headed to 339 and converse with the night shift rangers. I had another interesting conversation with Ranger Martina; she is a seasonal Ranger with a lot of experience. She reminds me that this is her 6^th park she has served. She also informed me about her experience at the seasonal ranger academy, giving me some helpful advice about physical training (PT) and being a proactive ranger.  The rest of the night I worked on my Pro Ranger Blog post, which is very important to me. I want everyone to see how much I’m learning and how much fun I’m having at the same time.  I took a break from the field and the blog and went to the M.E.B to work out. Having a gym on site is definitely a perk because at my last internship all rangers had to go off park property to work out. At the gym I use the elliptical, and the free weights. I return to 339 to add to my blog. I ended my work week and headed home.

-Thank you for reading my post

Daviryne Hall