National Park Service handbooks available free online

The online library of almost 4,000 books, reports and articles developed by the National Park Service (NPS) keeps growing. Historian Harry Butowsky expands the collection every week. Recently, he added the popular NPS handbooks. First published in the 1950s by the NPS Harpers Ferry Center, they provide a wealth of comprehensive information drawn from the latest scientific and historical research available at the time of publication. Photographs, maps, and original art complement the texts. The contents of many of these handbooks are available online at http://www.nps.gov/history/history/online_books/handbooks/index.htm.
To access the entire History E-Library, go to http://www.nps.gov/history/history/hisnps.

Volunteers sought for Adopt-A-Trail program in Great Smokey Mountains National Park

Great Smoky Mountains National Park is recruiting for volunteers to participate in the Adopt-a-Trail (AAT) program, an effort that helps to maintain the park’s 800-mile trail system.

The Volunteers in Parks (VIP) program has integrated volunteerism into many of its Park operations, including trail maintenance that covers everything from picking up litter to removing tree falls and reporting trail problems to the park.

A mandatory training program is scheduled on July 31 in the North Carolina area of the park for those who are interested in participating in the program.

AAT volunteers must be 18 years of age or older and in good physical condition. They are expected to hike/patrol the trail(s) at least eight times per program year -- March through October. Specific trail duties include: Collect and remove litter; clean waterbars and drainage systems; perform brushing and removal of small windfalls or branches (hand tools only); perform minor trail tread maintenance; remove illegal campsites and fire rings found along trail; inspect trail and trail signs; and promote Leave No Trace outdoor ethics.

The training will be held on July 31 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the park’s North Carolina Trail Shop Training Room near the Oconaluftee Visitor Center, two miles north of Cherokee.

In order to attend, participants must register by July 26 with Christine Hoyer, Trails and Facilities Volunteer Coordinator at (828) 497-1949 or Christine_Hoyer@nps.gov.

The later part of the training will take place outside on the trail so people should wear appropriate clothing including sturdy footwear. Also, a packed lunch will be necessary.

All who are interested but are unable to attend the July training can contact Christine Hoyer to be placed on a mailing list to attend future training sessions in Tennessee as well.

Mesa Verde National Park offers new camping, tour package

ARAMARK Mesa Verde has announced a new camping package, a guided tour and "green" upgrades at Colorado's Mesa Verde National Park's Morefield Campground. Campers can enjoy sleeping under the stars in the natural beauty of the park's scenic Morefield Canyon.

The package deal, which starts at $89, includes a dry campsite (or $115 for a base campsite) plus two seats on the new Far View Explorer Tour, a driver-guided adventure that departs directly from the campground. The tour takes guests to the popular Far View archaeological sites, including the third largest cliff dwelling Spruce Tree House, and includes short hikes to scenic and archeological overlooks and a picnic lunch in a wooded canyon. The package, which is valid for stays through Oct. 13, 2010, also includes an all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast for two and s'mores fix’ns to cook by the fire.

The full-service 350-space Morefield Campground is located inside the park, four miles from its entrance, and offers single, group and base camping; along with amenities like Wi-Fi access at the camp store, a cafe, hot showers, picnic tables and grills.

Together with the National Park Service (NPS), ARAMARK Mesa Verde worked to curb water consumption through a complete water system overhaul at the campground which saved 1.3 million gallons of water in its inaugural year.
 
Mesa Verde National Park was named "The Number One Historic Monument in the World" by Conde Nast Traveler, "One of 50 Places to Visit in a Lifetime" by National Geographic Traveler and a "Top 10 Fodor's Destination." The park was established by Congress on June 29, 1906, to preserve from injury or spoliation the ruins and other works and relics of prehistoric humans. It contains world-renowned dwellings of the Ancestral Pueblo peoples within 52,000 acres, 8,000 of which have been designated by Congress as protected wilderness areas. For more information, log on to visitmesaverde.com.

Photo copyright 2010 by Emily Woodbury