the catalyst - california department of parks and recreation 2003.pdf · page 2 the catalyst...

The Newsletter for Interpretation in California State ParksSpring 2003 Volume 6 No. 4

The

Catalyst™

New Volunteer ItemsA limited number of newly redesigned Volunteer and

Host caps and visors are now available for deservingvolunteers. They are khaki-colored with the departmentlogo (but don�t throw away those highly collectible brown& gold ones yet!). You may request the new caps andvisors through your District Volunteer Coordinator.

Four different types are now available:- Volunteer cap- Volunteer visor- HOST cap- HOST visor

Supplies are limited. But if districts want to order(and pay for) their own, the company is Safe Designs. Ourcontact is [email protected].

Ranger on Letterman ShowDid you see this �interpretive moment� on late night

television? State Park Ranger Mike Bradeen of PalomarMountain State Park appeared on the Dave LettermanShow in late February. For those of you who went to bedearly that night, we have the moment here. If you make alittle gargling noise you�ll have the soundtrack, too. Yes,that�s right, they had everyone gargling with PalomarMountain Spring Water. Oh well, at least he had hisstetson on!

The Catalyst Committee

Karen Beery SPI II So. Svc. Ctr. (619) 688-6103 FAX (619) 220-5400Wes Chapin DIS Channel Coast (805) 899-1406 FAX (805) 899-1415Diane McGrath SPI III San Simeon (805) 927-2049 FAX (805) 927-2117Julie Payne SPI I San Simeon (805) 927-2014 FAX (805) 927-2031Donna Pozzi CEA Interp./ Ed. Div. (916) 653-4643 FAX (916) 654-9048Jenan Saunders SPI II Interp./ Ed. Div. (916) 653-0768 FAX (916) 654-9048Mary Stokes DIS Four Rivers (209) 826-1196 FAX (209) 826-0284John Werminski RIS Interp./ Ed. Div. (916) 653-8959 FAX (916) 654-9048

Contributor's GuidelinesThe Catalyst welcomes your original articles of any length! Or, send copies of

stories published elsewhere that you think our readers will appreciate. Be sure toinclude information about the publication so we can get permission to use thematerial. You may submit an article at any time.

We really appreciate articles submitted on disk or by e-mail. We can readmost formats of DOS/Windows disks. Printed manuscripts, facsimile or phonemessages are also accepted. Please advise if you would like your diskette re-turned, otherwise we will recycle it in our office to save postage.

Illustrations are strongly encouraged. Drawings, graphs or other illustrationsmay be submitted on disk or hard copy. Black & white glossy photos are preferred;color prints or slides are usually acceptable. All photos and artwork submitted willbe returned promptly.

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Catalyst is published periodically byCalifornia State Parks. ©2003.Opinions expressed are those of theauthor and not necessarily those ofCalifornia State Parks. By submitting amanuscript the author warrants toCatalyst that it does not infringe on anycopyrights and that the author assumesfull responsibility for any such infringe-ment. Please contact the editor forpermission to reprint any item appear-ing in Catalyst.

For address changes or torequest a free subscription,contact Pam Rocksvold at

(916) [email protected].

ISSN 1089-9286

Catalyst Editor: Brian CahillColorado Desert District200 Palm Canyon Drive

Borrego Springs, CA 92004(760) 767-3716

FAX (760) [email protected]

®

�It is not necessary to change. Survival isnot mandatory.�

�W. Edwards Deming

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From the Editor

Brian Cahill, Editor

Each spring is a season ofnew promise, and that is espe-cially true this year. We hopeeach of you have survived thewinter (and the departmentalreorganization) and are ready tointerpret the nation�s finest statepark system to our springvisitors.

Just turn this page for a batch of fresh interpretiveresources and training opportunities. And you will find theMaster Interpreter presiding on page 4 as usual, offeringgratuitous advice to the interpretively challenged.

If you are ready for a little �chicken soup,� you willenjoy the piece by Sally Fouhse on page 6. Sally is withthe Santa Barbara Trust for Historic Preservation whichoperates El Presidio State Historic Park. Her story isabout a volunteer at a museum in Fresno. It was recentlypublished in �Chicken Soup for the Volunteer�s Soul.�Since interpreters often work closely with volunteers weare pleased to feature this piece.

Page 8 describes an outdoor exhibit improvemnentproject at MacKerricher State Park. Rouvaishyana, a StatePark Interpreter Assistant there, describes the project. Hecan be contacted at [email protected]

On page 9 Mary Helmich tells us all about thedepartment�s new Heritage Adventures brochures. Youcan reach Mary at at (916) 653-3913.

Page 10 announces the completion of the latest phaseof the Park Map and Brochure program. Fourteen newbrochures are nearing completion, perhaps one coming toa park near you. Pat McLatchey in the InterpretivePublications section brought us this update. She can bereached at [email protected].

Our new online partnership with California schools isfeatured on page 11. Joe von Herrmann coordinates thisprogram, and he would love to hear from you [email protected].

Page 12 brings a fun piece that many of you that workinformation counters will be able to relate to. Written byKaren Westcamp-Johnson, it comes all the way from astate park in Arkansas. This item also appeared in theVisions, the NAI Region VI newsletter and is reprintedhere with permission.

On page 14, I am pleased to present �Slow Down!We Move Too Fast.� This piece comes to us from KarenShragg who is an interpreter in MInnesota. This item alsoappeared in the Buffalo Bull, the NAI Region V newsletterand is reprinted here with permission. Karen can bereached at [email protected]. And page 15presents a different way of looking at California History.

It is time to start thinking about attending the NationalInterpreter�s Workshop in Reno next year. Perhaps youshould go? Page 16 provides a few tips to help you getthere.

Page 18 brings a Timely Reminder from one of myfavorite authors, Ed Abbey. And, you will find a specialtreat hidden way back on page 19. �Lighthouses� by TedCable, PhD. You may be familiar with him as the author of�Interpretation for the 21st Century.� This item alsoappeared in Visions, the NAI Region VI newsletter. It isreprinted here with permission.

On page 20 you will find a piece by Jamie Mendez,part of her ongoing series, �The Road Less Traveled.�Jamie is a Guide I at Hearst Castle;® you can email her [email protected].

And you�ll find another installment of �California�sTapestry,� back in its usual place.

Thanks to each of you for reading Catalyst! Andspecial thanks for your comments and suggestions. Wealways appreciate hearing from our readers.

What's Up?Interpreters� Resources

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AAM MeetingThe annual meeting of the AmericanAssociation of Museums as well asMuseumExpo 2003 will be held May18-22 in Portland OR. With a themeof �Bridges to the World,� this is billedas the most comprehensive meetingfor museum professionals. See:www.aam-us.org/am03/

NIW 2003National Interpreter�s Workshop,November 11-15, 2003, JohnAscuaga's Nugget, Sparks, Nevada.See: www.interpnet.com. Keep

checking, updates willbe posted there assoon as they areavailable. Earlyregistration will be$315. California StateParks is a workshopcosponsor.

Sea to Summit - Water VideoThe �From Sea to Summit� videotraces the entire hydrological cycle,using a mix of computer generatedgraphics and filmed footage toillustrate the process as water falls toearth in the form of precipitation,before filtering down through water-sheds into urban and agricultural areasand finally flows out to sea, where itis eventually evaporated into theatmosphere to start the entire pro-cess over again. Produced by theSurfrider Foundation, $16. See:https://ssl-020.vianetworks.net/beachinfo/store/video.asp

Ranger Rick OnlineVisit the online interactive version ofRanger Rick from the NationalWildlife Federation. Find games,online tours, a reader�s corner andideas for outdoor fun. See: http://nwf.org/kids

Trail SurprisesWhen you are on the trail with littleones, do they want to run ahead?Perhaps you should keep a feather orsnake skin in your pocket. Whenthey get ahead, drop an item on thetrail and call them back to see whatthey �missed� by running ahead.

Recycle Cell PhonesDon�t send that old phone to thedump! It can actually be refurbishedand sold in a third world country. Youcan take a tax deduction by donating itto Keep California Beautiful. Forinformation call them at (800) CLEANCA.

Handling Deadlines BookCould you use a little help withdeadlines? Check out Dan Carrison�snew book �Deadline! How PremierOrganizations Win the Race AgainstTime.� This is not just fluff like�develop good time-managementskills� but a well-written book full ofdetailed, specific advice. $24.95from your favorite bookseller.

DFG on the WebCalifornia�s fishing and huntingregulations are now just a click awayon the Department of Fish andGame�s new interactive Web pages.Sport anglers planning a trip to goocean fishing can now go to DFG�sWeb site at www.dfg.ca.gov/mrd/fishing_map.html and easily downloadfishing regulations for specific regionsalong the coast.

Migratory Bird DayInternational Migratory Bird Daycelebrates the incredible journeys ofmigratory birds between their breed-ing grounds in North America andtheir wintering grounds in Mexico,Central, and South America. Theevent, which takes place on thesecond Saturday in May each year,encourages bird conservation andincreases awareness of birds throughhikes, bird watching, informationabout birds and migra-tion, public events,and a variety of othereducation programs.Join in the celebra-tion!See:www.birdday.org

WRISTWestern Regional Interpretive SkillsTraining, June 1-6, 2003, ColoradoSprings, CO. WRIST is in its twelfthyear of providing quality training tointerpreters from all over the UnitedStates. This year�s theme is �Everyresource needs a good spokesper-son.� Sponsored by the NationalAssocation for Interpretation andColorado State Parks, this workshopputs you with some of the bestinterpretive trainers in the world in thedramatic ponderosa pine woods ofthe Black Forest area of Colorado.Cost $200 - $500 including meals &lodging depending on options se-lected. See: www.interpnet.com

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Dear Master InterpreterDear MasterInterpreter,I am puttingtogether a littleself-guided trailbrochure forour park andmy co-workersare driving menuts! I tried tosolicit their opinions when I wasdoing the writing and editing and theyhad very little to offer. But now thatthe design is nearly finished they arefull of ideas on how to change things.They believe that anything done on acomputer is easy to change. I am anold-fashioned type that believeswriting and editing should be donebefore the piece is designed, notafter. What do you say?

Going Nuts

Dear Nuts,I�m with you, it is important to do thewriting and editing first before youmove into the design phase. But somepeople are better editors than au-thors, they need something tangibleto respond too. So I try to circulatelayout concepts early in the project.All I can suggest for next time is thatyou keep your expectations clearabout when you need to receive theirinput. I also try to be clear incommunicating what input is neededat each review point (e.g. Pleasereview for content accuracy only.Format was finalized following lastreview.) If they think it is easy to fitone extra sentence into a finishedpiece, they don�t know much aboutdesign.

MI

Dear Master Interpreter,I�ve been around parks for a longtime, but working with volunteers isnew to me. The volunteers allow usto do some things that we might nototherwise be able to do, but myproblem is that every volunteer has atleast one good idea that he is abso-lutely convinced the park should bedoing. Some have hundreds of ideasfor me. How can we get thesevolunteers to understand that we arenot lacking for good ideas, but whatwe really need is help getting donesome of the good ideas we alreadyhave.

Idea Man

Dear Idea Man,You won�t want to hear this, but youwill never win that one. Volunteersare driven to share their good ideaswith you. For many of them that is akey reason they are volunteering.Your best bet is to set up some sortof system to consider these ideas.Perhaps a suggestion box or a teamthat reviews these ideas and priori-tizes them for consideration mighthelp. If they feel like they are beingheard, then maybe they will be able tofocus on the work you need to havethem do today.

MI

Dear Master Interpreter,Sorry I sent you a computer virus. . .

Buggy

Dear Buggy,I know you really did not send this tome for publication, but perhaps otherscan learn from your recent experi-ence. Someone sent you a messageapologizing for possibly sending you acomputer virus and the messageincluded instructions for fixing the�problem.� The instructions alsourged you to immediately send themessage to everyone in your addressbook to stop the spread of thisterrible virus. Which of course youdid, when you sent it to me. As itturns out, you were taken in by ahoax. Hopefully you have learned tobe suspicious of any message thaturges you to send it immediately toeveryone you know. There are placeson the web you can check thesethings out before you send them on.There are a whole lot of these hoaxmessages spreading around. We allneed to stop and think before we hitsend.

MI

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The Role of Volunteers

Bless Every Evelyn!By Sally Fouhse

Santa Barbara Trustfor Historic Preservation

Most say that as you get old, youhave to give up things. I think you getold because you give up things.

�Senator Theodore Green

Evelyn was ninety-two when Icame to know her. As the newaccountant for a museum in Fresno,California, I inherited a cadre ofvolunteers assigned to �office func-tions.�

Evelyn was the queen of thesedevoted ladies, leaving the rest in the

dust, not only in volunteer years, butlife years. Although frail and tiny, shehad a feistiness that was legendary.Every Tuesday, without fail, she wouldsteer her ancient Plymouth throughthe streets of Fresno to the museum

for her weekly dose of culture.

I was hard-pressed to find tasksto keep Evelyn busy. Math skills were

not her forte. She could not operate acalculator, and the numbers onaccounting ledger sheets were toosmall for her to read. She couldn�ttype on an electric typewriter, letalone a word processor, and her lackof coordination and deteriorating

eyesight prevented her from puttinglabels on file folders. Alphabetizinginvoices seemed like a good assign-ment for her, but her concept of the

Each Tuesday afternoon, Evelyn rolled up in that bluewreck of a car, and I�d feel a headache coming on. Ibegan to dread Tuesdays.

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alphabet varied from the rest of ours.Most any task I assigned was eithertoo difficult or had to be redone byanother volunteer.

I�m all business. Museums mightbe nonprofit enterprises, but they stillshould be run with an eye toward thebottom line. I saw volunteers as non-human assets, pairs of hands waitingto perform useful work at no cost tothe organization. Evelyn taught mehow wrong I was.

Before I learned that lesson, herweekly arrival frustrated me. She�dshow up for her three hour shift,unable to perform �useful� work,taking up space, chattering constantlywith the staff and other volunteers,making extra work for others by notgetting her assignment done cor-rectly.

I would give her a box of penniesfrom the donation box and ask her towrap them into fifty-cent rolls. Evenwith a counter, her rolls containedforty-seven, forty-nine, fifty-three,whatever, number of pennies. As sheleft each Tuesday, I would dump outrolls and save the pennies for the nextshift.

� Busy work, � I fumed in myoffice. � What a waste!� Each Tuesdayafternoon, Evelyn rolled up in thatblue wreck of a car, and I�d feel aheadache coming on. I began to dreadTuesdays.

Then one week Evelyn didn�tshow up for her shift. Oftentimes,volunteers didn�t call in to let us knowthey weren�t coming. But when thefollowing Tuesday arrived withoutEvelyn, someone called her home tocheck on her.

Evelyn had been in a car accident.It was her fault, and she was okay butstill stiff and sore. She lost her driver�slicense. No one realized what apsychological blow this was to her.She saw the museum as family, like achurch almost, a major social outlet inher life. None of us, especially�business me, � realized this.

She became depressed, called usfrequently to continue the contact,but eventually even the calls droppedoff. Finally a few staffers went to herhome and were shocked at what theyfound.

As a tiny person, Evelyn could illafford to lose the amount of weightshe had lost. She had cloistered

herself in her small, modest home.Since she couldn�t drive any longer,she rarely got out. Her only child, adaughter, lived in another state. Shemade a brief visit after the accidentbut had returned to her home weeksbefore. Evelyn was fading fast.

That�s when the museum folkswent into action.

We connected Evelyn to varioussocial services for other assistance.But every Tuesday, without fail, wetook turns bringing her over for hervolunteer shift. She was alwaysdressed in her volunteer outfits, readyand waiting for the outing, the focusof her life.

I let go of my drive for productiv-ity and gave her tasks that made herfeel useful and needed, regardless oftheir impact on the museum�s opera-tion. She thrived as the center ofattention.

It was then that I realized volun-teers aren�t mere cogs in wheels.They�re there because they want tobe, not have to be. Their sense ofbelonging and contributing is equally,if not more, important than the actualwork that needs to be done.

After Evelyn died at the age ofninety-seven, the museum closed upoperations while our staff attendedher funeral. She taught us all, andparticularly me, that volunteers arethe soul of an organization, and thebody of an institution is just an emptyshell without the soul. Bless everyEvelyn!

She was always dressed in her volunteer outfits,ready and waiting, and I let go of my drive forproductivity and gave her tasks that made her feeluseful and needed.

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MacKerricher State Park

Whale Skeleton Exhibit EnhancedBy Rouvaishyana, State Park

Interpreter Assistant

MacKerricher State Park�s exhibitof gray whale and partial humpbackwhale skeletons sports two recentadditions. Park staff and volunteerscompleted a shelter building in latesummer and fall of 2002 to protectthe exhibits from deterioration due toweather. Park staff also installed alarge interpretive panel on the topic ofgray whales in January 2003. Both ofthese projects had involved extensiveplanning and months, even years, ofwork.

The whale skeleton exhibits havebeen in place since the 1990s, andeach year require cleaning andpainting to protect them from theeffects of weather. Some of thebones have begun to deteriorate andcrumble; to extend the life of theexhibits, staff began planning a shelterbuilding several years ago. We wentthrough several stages of design by askilled woodworker, a draftsman, anarchitect, and two State Park engi-neers, chiefly to ensure that thebuilding could withstand severe stormwinds. At one point, wood andmaterials were purchased for con-struction, only to have the planschange and the materials diverted toanother project.

During winter 2001-2002, Parkstaff dug massive footings, placedsupport posts, and worked with acontractor to pour heavy concreteanchors. Park staff and CaliforniaDepartment of Forestry fire crewsplaced the main roof support beamsand began adding roof rafters. Thiswork slowed as the busy spring/summer season began. At this criticaltime, a camp host with many years�experience as a building contractorarrived to complete the roof work.With the shelter complete in earlySeptember 2002, several staffmembers and volunteers convergedto move the skeletons into their newhome.

Mendocino District was awardedfunds from the Volunteer Enhance-ment Program during fall 2001. Oneof the projects slated for these fundswas design and construction ofsupplemental exhibit sections. Thatwinter (the same winter that saw work

begin on the whale shelter), park staffand volunteers began planning newexhibit items. We settled on a largeinterpretive panel to cover aspects ofgray whale biology and migration.This also went through severalpermutations and design changes.Eventually we closed in on a design.A local graphic artist assisted us infinalizing the design and converting itto digital format for the fabricatingcompany. The company completedthe panel and shipped it to us early in2003, at which time MacKerricherstaff installed it at the skeleton exhibitsite.

MacKerricher State Park held adedication of these additions to thewhale exhibit during the recent Ft.Bragg Whale Festival activities. ChiefRanger Ron Munson delivered awelcoming address, and staff anddocents were on hand to answerquestions. The park�s regular weeklyguided whale watch program followedimmediately after the dedication.

MacKerricher State Park recently dedicated additions to the whale exhibit during the Ft. BraggWhale Festival activities.

Park staff dug massive footings for the posts.

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Take an Adventure with Our New Brochures!By Mary A. Helmich

Interpretation and EducationDivision

Just in time for spring, theInterpretation and Education Division,along with department field staff andvolunteers, have developed fourthemed �Heritage Adventures.�These brochures take anaspect of California�s rich historyand link it together with interpre-tive facilities, historical landmarks,and other sites to tell a story. Theguides are free and include a tourmap, with directions, connectingoften little known, but interesting,histories with the sites along theroute. The four brochures are:

� California�s Wandering Capital;

� Harvesting the Hills: HydraulicMining and the Quest for Gold;

� In the Footsteps of the �49ersto the Southern Mines; and

� In the Interest of Time: 350Years of San Diego History in 35Miles.

Although developed by CaliforniaState Parks, the tours are not exclu-sive to our system and usually includemore than one park along the route.The �Adventures� also direct visitorsto city and county museums andparks, historical societies, nationalmonuments, forest ranger stations,and California State Historic Land-marks. Mileage is noted for segmentsof the routes to aid visitors planning atour.

The idea for the project was bornduring California�s Sesquicentennialperiod. Among those who havecontributed to the development of thefour brochures are: Jonathan Will-iams, Philip Carey, Mary Stokes,Darci Moore, Ken McKowen, JohnUnderwood, Andrew Franklin, DianeBarclay, Anne Marie Tipton, MichaelGreen, Peggy Ronning and T.K.Komura. Donna Pozzi was instrumen-tal in continuing to support theconcept for the project well aftermany 150th anniversary activities wereover.

As the former SesquicentennialCoordinator for the department, I hadthe pleasure of facilitating the bro-chure project and overseeing theirproduction. It is my hope that thenumbers of �Heritage Adventures� willgrow in future years to meet theincreasing demand for heritagetourism.

The brochures are being sent tothe field now. If you would like copiesof one or all of them at your park, orjust the inspiration for developinganother �Adventure,� please contactme at (916) 653-3913 [email protected] .

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Completion Of Phase II On The Horizon

Park Map And Brochure ProgramBy Pat McLatchey

Interpretive Publications SectionThe Interpretive Publications staff

is excited to report the substantialprogress we�ve made on the secondphase of the Park Map and BrochureProgram, which will see the comple-tion of 14 brochures. The followingbrochures will be in the parks by theend of June: Angel Island SP,Calaveras Big Trees SP, CaliforniaCitrus SHP, Garrapata SP, Gaviota SP,Jedediah Smith Redwoods SP, LakeOroville SRA, Marshall Gold Discov-ery SHP, Russian Gulch, Van Damme& Mendocino Headlands SPs, SanLuis Reservoir SRA, Sunset andManresa SBs, and Torrey Pines SRand SP. Candlestick Point SRA andColonel Allensworth SHP were thefirst two off the press and arrived atthe parks in early February.

Phase II of this program followson the heels of the 21 brochurescompleted last year: Chino Hills SP, ElPresidio de Santa Barbara SHP,Folsom Powerhouse SHP, FremontPeak SP, Indian Grinding Rock SHP,Leo Carrillo SP, Los Osos Oaks SR,MacKerricher SP, McConnell/GeorgeJ. Hatfield SRAs, Millerton Lake SRA,Mount San Jacinto SP, Old Town SanDiego SHP, Pigeon Point Light StationSHP, Richardson Grove SP, SanClemente SB, San Simeon SP, Seacliffand New Brighton SBs, Shasta SHP,Sonoma SHP, California State CapitolMuseum, and Tomales Bay SP.

Our goal is to produce a colorbrochure for each of our park units atno expense to the park, the district orthe visitors. We asked district super-

intendents to prioritize their brochureneeds and choose three brochuresthey would like produced over thenext three years. For several parksthe new brochures represent theirfirst in decades. In some cases it�stheir first brochure ever!

Laurena Cabañero, Gail Duddingand Ron Warr have assumed thelayout and design of the Phase IIbrochures and completing map workthat was previously contracted. CarolCullens recently completed theinterpretive text for 11 of this year�s14 brochures, and Pat McLatchey hasbeen instrumental in the editing andcoordination. Working closely withTom Lindberg - who supervised theunit as the new program was born andhas since taken a position with thecurrent Marin District - Sherri Vargasprovides invaluable support. JenanSaunders recently joined the unit andis looking forward to assisting us in

continuing this worthwhile project.Many of you have worked with us byphone and email� now you canconnect our voices to each of us inthe photo.

Additional good news is that theInterpretive Publications Sectionreceived the necessary funding tocontinue with phase III of this crucialprogram. Phase III will provide 21new brochures for Bidwell-Sacra-mento River SP, Half Moon Bay SB,Turlock Lake SRA, Monterey AreaBeaches (North), California Mining &Mineral Museum, William R. HearstMemorial SB, Antelope Valley IndianMuseum, Carpinteria SB, PicachoSRA, California State Railroad Mu-seum, Mt. Tamalpais SP, HumboldtRedwoods SP, Sonoma Coast SB,Bodie SHP, Columbia SHP, SantaCruz Mission SHP, Silverwood LakeSRA, Crystal Cove SP, Border FieldSP, Will Rogers SHP and a yet to bedetermined park in the currentSilverado District.

Please visit www.parks.ca.gov tosee the new publications. Choose�Find a Park� and then the link to thebrochure. The brochures are in PDFformat and can easily be printed fromhome. If you have any questionsabout the program or need assistanceonline or with obtaining a particularbrochure, please call JonathanWilliams or Jenan Saunders.

Laurena Cabañero, Jenan Saunders, Gail Dudding, Ron Warr, Pat McLatchey, and Carol Cullens.

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Online TechnologyPuts Park Programs Directly Into Classrooms

Live video images of 4,000elephant seals flashed across thescreen at the Borrego Springs Middleschool library as an audience ofyoung science students watched astate park educational program aboutthe seal�s mating and breeding activi-ties.

The live video feed was transmit-ted direct to the Borrego SpringsSchool library from the Año NuevoState Reserve, the largest breedingcolony in the world for the northernelephant seal. Located 25 miles southof San Francisco, the 4,OOO-acreseaside park has become widelyknown for interpretive programsexplaining the elephant seal�s matingbehavior and winter breeding seasonfrom December through March.

Middle school students in SallyTheriault�s science class were amongthe first in the state to see a live inter-pretive presentation about the seals byAño Nuevo ranger Kevin Williams.

The online video feed from site toclassroom is the latest technologicalinnovation sponsored by the Califor-nia State Parks in partnership with thestate Department of Education andthe county Offices of Education.

Mark Jorgensen, superintendentof Anza-Borrego Desert State Park,said the pilot program uses high-speed Internet access to feed educa-tional programming to the schools.The science class at Borrego SpringsMiddle School is one of four schoolsin California initially involved in thepilot program.

Similar programs also are beingdeveloped at schools in Marin,Sacramento and Orange counties.Eventually, live state-park videoprogramming will reach all CaliforniaK-12 public schools through theDigital California Project (DCP),according to Joe von Herrmann, anInterpreter II who is in charge of thestate parks �distance interpretation� or�distance learning� effort.

Von Herrmann said one of thekey components of the program,called Building Bridges, allows twoclassrooms from different areas ofthe state to study a state park nearthem. A park interpreter works withthe teacher throughout the schoolyear to address academic contentstandards and park themes, vonHerrmann said. Joanie Cahill hasbeen assigned as the interpreter forBorrego Springs Middle School.

Using digital photos, digital video,presentation software and other tools,students will prepare reports on �theirpark.� The classrooms then willvideoconference via the DigitalCalifornia Project and teach eachother about �their park.�

These students were among the first in the state to see a �live� interpretive presentationabout elephant seals by Año Nuevo ranger Kevin Williams.

Students will prepare reports and teach eachother about �their park.�

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The Mystery of the Unidentified TrackBy Karen Westcamp-Johnson

Petit Jean State Park, Arkansas

As interpreters, we are all facedwith mysteries. Visitors to our sitesare always asking new questions,wanting answers to common myster-ies, or ones we have never dreamedof investigating before. Oftentimesthose questions are redundant andmight be as simple as �how long hasthis site been a state park,� or �howold are the rocks?� However, moreoften the questions go along with thefollowing scenario.

Guest Jane Doe (outfitted in thetraditional tourist straw hat, binocularsgracing the neck, T-shirt proclaimingthat her grandkids visited WashingtonD.C. and all she got was the shirt, newhiking boots complementing the feet)enters the Visitor�s Center andapproaches the front desk. Herhusband is in tow, dressed similarly instraw hat, khaki shorts, and anatrocious Hawaiian print shirt. DeskClerk Debbie greets them with herusual friendliness, �Good afternoon.How can I help you?�

�Is there someone here who cantell me about birds?� Guest Jane Doeasks, looking around hopefully.

Desk Clerk Debbie points auto-matically to me and says, �Karen, ourNature Lady, can help you.� And Ioblige, as always.

�My husband and I were hikingand we saw a bird ... can you tell uswhat it was?� Guest Jane Doe queriesof me.

I hide a smile at the nondescriptquestion. �What did the bird looklike?�

�Well, it was kind of a gray color,about the size of a robin.�

�No. It was brown, and smallerlike a chickadee, � her husband, GuestJohn Doe, chimes in.

And the investigation has begun,with no clues to lead me anywhere.But by golly, we�ll find out what birdthat was!

tion on which to base an answer. Butmy trusty identification guides alwaysdo the trick. Let them use their ownobservations and experiences todeduce what they saw. Isn�t that thebase of interpretation, to stimulate thevisitor to find the answers on theirown? Yes. My trusty field guideshave always worked. Until this lastsummer.

It was an average hot summerday, humid and stifling outside. I hadjust finished my morning hike anddemonstration, my uniform gracedwith the sweat of the morning. I hadstopped by the Visitor�s Center on myway home for lunch when the follow-ing scenario occurred.

At countless times in our inter-pretive careers we all get questionslike that�guests wanting to knowwhat flower, tree, or bird they sawwithout giving us any detailed informa-

Local Resident John Q enteredthe building. Desk Clerk Debbiecalled out a greeting, �Good after-noon!�

Local Resident John Q ap-proached the desk and asked, �Isthere anyone here who knows aboutanimals?�

�Our Nature Lady, Karen, does,�Desk Clerk Debbie replied.

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�How can I help you?� I asked,always eager to help, even whendripping sweat.

�Well ... there is a track in the dirtin my driveway, and I have never seenanything like it before.�

Ah. A mystery. �What did it looklike?� I asked, somewhat intrigued. Inmy four years of work at Petit Jean,no one had ever asked me about ananimal track before.

�It was at least as wide as myhand. It looked like something wasdragging the ground or slithering

The hint taken, I followed him tohis driveway just behind our campinggrounds. Once there, I climbed outof the park van and carefully ap-proached the mystery track site. Theunidentified track was just as he haddescribed ... an impression in the softdirt about the width of his handdragging all the way across thedriveway. On either side were smallhalf moon-shaped impressions that

I opted for a comparison experi-ment. I found a box turtle after lunchand transported her to a spot in thepark where the dirt was soft andpliable, similar to Local Resident JohnQ�s driveway. Then the turtle wasplaced on the ground and I waited. Itwas a hot day, the sun beating downon the turtle�s shell, so she quicklyopted to maneuver across the dirttoward the shade of nearby trees.The impression she left in the dirt wasalmost identical to the unidentifiedtrack in Local Resident John Q�sdriveway! My hypothesis wascorrect. I quickly returned to myoffice and gave him a telephone callreporting my findings. I think he wasjust happy to know that a roguepython or anaconda wasn�t hiding outin his yard.

Yes. We are all faced withinterpretive mysteries to solve. Abiologist at heart, a biologist bytraining, any type of science mysterygets my juices flowing. Especiallywhen scientific experiments back myhypothesis. The mystery of theunidentified track just needed aninterpreter to close the case!

across it. If I didn�t know better, I�dsay it was a python or an anaconda,�Local Resident John Q explained.

Now I was very intrigued. Amystery indeed!

�How long was it?�

�It went all the way across mydriveway, like it was slithering acrossthe ground. And on each side of theslither were these little half moons inthe dirt.�

Half moons?

�I was wondering if there wassomeone who could come take alook at it for me,� Local ResidentJohn Q hinted.

suddenly reminded me of the imprintlittle legs would leave as they pushthemselves forward across theground. My mind flew to work,trying to think of what animal wouldbe so close to the ground that itsbelly dragged, probably with little legspushing it along.

Hmmm.

And suddenly it hit me ... a boxturtle! I deduced that a turtle�s shellwould more than likely sit closeenough to the ground that when itwalked in the soft dirt , the plastron,or bottom of the shell, would drag.Local Resident John Q wasn�t overlyconvinced when I gave him my initialhypothesis. So I promised him athorough investigation.

Catalyst

Slow Down! We Move Too Fastby Karen I. Shragg

In 1967, Simon and Garfunkeltold us to slow down in the famouslyrics to their �59th Street BridgeSong.� If we moved too fast 35 yearsago, what can we say of our livestoday? We live in a fast paced, fast-food world where waiting one minutefor a computer to spit out its data isconsidered to be slow. I know of athree-year old child who tried toorder french fries when her motherrolled up to make a bank deposit,leaving her mother to reflect on howfast-food restaurants were a part oftheir daily routine.

Gridlocked traffic of in a hurrycommuters provides a breedingground for road rage and stressrelated illnesses. Look up in anybusiness phone book under the word,�Fast�, �Speedy� or �Rapid� and youwill find dozens of entries; FastPrinting, Fast Signs, Fast Frames, andFast Photo services, the list goes onand on. Now try looking up a busi-ness with �Slow� in its first name andyou will come up empty handed.We�ve all been asked at one time oranother, �How long does it take to dothat trail?� It�s a question that revealshow pressed for time we are in aculture that places such a highpremium on rapidly delivered goodsand services.

I know of at least one organiza-tion that professes to be slow and tobe proud of it. A group of peoplehave tried to slow the world down bystarting the �Slow Food Movement.�This movement starting simmering inthe 1980s in Italy. Slow dining is an

integral part of Italy�s age-old cultureand this movement has made its wayslowly but surely across the Atlantic.With over 60,000 members world-wide, the Slow-Food folks focus onstriking a balance with nature, byslowing down to enjoy well preparedand nutritious food. It is the antithesisto the fast-food movement whichfocuses on quickly prepared andquickly eaten food. Slow fooders areself-defined �eco-gastronomes,�believing that the pleasure of eating isconnected to the equilibrium that ispreserved or revived in the environ-ment which provides the food. Theyare activists trying to change theworld one Pasta Primavera at a time.They even give out a Slow FoodAward for the Defense of Biodiversity(see: www.Slowfood.com).

Striving to be healthy in modemday society seems to present morechallenges than ever before. To beout of balance and stressed promotesdisease and all of its subsequent coststo society. We put others in dangerof decisions made while under stress.To be in balance one must reducestress, and to reduce stress expertspoint to the need to slow down.

Nature centers, national parks,and other open spaces offer balanceto the ever quickening pace of life inthis new century. They provide aplace where slowing down is re-warded with better vistas of land-scapes and greater chances of havingwildlife encounters. Many of thosesurveyed to see how they werecoping with the news of September11, 2001, said that they turned tonature to be reminded of the beautythat is still in the world. Calmingdown a society in times that areoverwhelmed with news of terrorismand warfare is a key value, notsomething to be dismissed as fluff oras low on the funding priority list.Perhaps connecting more directlywith the Slow Food Movement and itspride of helping the world to slowdown is a way to promote ourinstitutions.

As funding for parks and naturecenters is threatened by tighterbudgets and reordering of spendingpriorities, it is important to remindour respective agencies that promot-ing wellness to our constituents is farfrom being an extra. It is an essentialpart of the quality of life in our

communities. The benefits of wellmaintained and interpreted

sites far exceeds theindividual experience

of the personwho has takenthe time toslow down andexperience anatural set-ting.

Catalyst

Slicing and Dicing California HistoryCalifornia�s complex human

history is the product of people who,through their individual knowledge,tools and social constructs, haveacted and reacted to the environ-ments around them. In a way,California history is the sum ofcountless human and natural events,stretching over more than ten thou-sand years. How can these vast,interlocking strands be collected,examined, illuminated, and meaning-fully interpreted for the enjoymentand enlightenment of present andfuture generations?

In the past, �history� has beensubdivided into certain, seeminglymutually exclusive, topic areas orchronological frameworks � politicalhistory, military history, the SpanishPeriod, the World War II Era, etc.While this simplification and focusmay be suitable for in-depth academicstudy, it often lacks the cross-culturaland cross-temporal elements thatwould bring history alive for thegeneral public. The draft State ParkSystem Plan identified the need torepresent California�s rich history,while reaching out to its 85 millionannual visitors with a new, morerelevant and meaningful approach.

Recently a five-person task force,chaired by department Historian/Interpreter Mary Helmich, proposed�slicing� California history from adifferent, more inclusive angle. Theirproposed framework aggregatesCalifornia history into six broad, coreconcepts:

California PeoplePeople and the EnvironmentDeveloping EconomiesGoverning CaliforniaSocial and Community LifeExpressing Intellectual and

Cultural Life

Each of these concepts is furtherdefined or �diced� into a number ofsubordinate ideas. �GoverningCalifornia,� for instance, is repre-sented through the following sub-concepts:

Control and DefenseLaw and Civic OrderGovernment InstitutionsPolitics and Political Processes.

This way of looking at our historyshould enable department staff to puta more human face on history, whilecreating interpretive materials andprograms that are more meaningfulfor the nonspecialist interests of thevisiting public. Additionally, theconcepts should help programplanners and analysts understand howwell or completely the State ParkSystem has covered California history.This, in turn, may show weaknessesor gaps that need to be filled throughthe acquisition of new sites orartifacts or the creation of new orrevision of existing programs andfacilities.

The conceptual framework forCalifornia history, this new angle ofexamination, is being reviewed by arange of interested individuals andorganizations to ensure it is compre-hensive. It is hoped that many ofthose in the field outside of CaliforniaState Parks will join the department inusing this new approach to under-standing our past.

This way of looking at our history should enabledepartment staff to put a more human face on history,while creating interpretive materials and programsthat are more meaningful for the visiting public.

Catalyst

Attending a National Interpreters Workshop

If you have ever thought aboutattending the National InterpretersWorkshop (NIW) but didn�t go, thisarticle is for you. We�ll answer manyof the common questions about theseworkshops and hopefully offer a fewpractical tips to help you get there.

The NIW is absolutely the bestinterpretive training available any-where, and the opportunity to net-work with over a thousand fellowinterpreters can be just as valuable.But no one is going to just hand youthe opportunity to attend. You willhave to work for it.

This year the workshop will be inReno / Sparks, Nevada. It is closerto us this year than it will be for thenext several years. But being acrossthe state line poses some specialchallenges for a state employee whowants to attend the training.

The first question that comes tomany interpreters is why is it soexpensive, why does it have to be atsuch a fancy hotel? The answer liesin the numbers. The logistics forbringing together this many peoplelimit us to larger facilities that cancomfortably accommodate a thou-sand people. But costs ARE impor-tant. So among those facilities thatcan accommodate our group, NAIselects one that will offer competitiveroom prices within government perdiem rates. But don�t let that stopyou, there are always lots of inter-preters that stay at budget accommo-dations near the workshop.

The registration fee can alsocause a little sticker shock: this yearearly registration is $315. But there�sa lot packed into that basic registra-tion fee. Many meals are included,but that is not always obvious whenyou sign up. There are full, long daysof training capped off with eveningspecial events. The workshop teamknows that price is important to you,and they work hard to keep it reason-able. Once you get past the price andjump into the workshop, we areconfident you will see a good valuefor your money.

So what do you need to do if youwant to go? For starters, remember itis a workshop, not conference (stateemployees need special approval toattend a conference). The first step isto submit an �Out of State TravelRequest� (DPR791). These are due inheadquarters April 18, so start early

to allow time for it to work upthrough your chain of command. Alot of people are convinced theirrequest will never be approved sothey do not submit one. This may bea mistake - it is a simple little onepage form, so try it (but then againdon�t expect any miracles)!

Some folks grumble about thecumbersome nature of the approvalprocess. But this is not somethingour department created. It applies toall state agencies. We need to justifythe importance of the out-of-statetravel, and dollars will be very limited.But we have good justification.

NationalInterpretersWorkshop

November 11-15, 2003

A Dummy�s Guide

The Nugget Hotel in Spasrks Nevada will host this year�s National Interpreter�s Workshop.

Catalyst

I usually put something like thison my DPR791:

�This trip will permit me to attendthe National Interpreter�s Workshop.This is an opportunity to meet withover a thousand of the nation�s bestinterpreters and attend the finestinterpretive training available any-where. There is no better way tokeep current in this fast-moving field.

This workshop allows me tofollow the latest trends in exhibitfabrication and audiovisual develop-ment and to share ideas with col-leagues from across the country.Sessions will focus on techniques ofprogram management, empiricalresearch, practical field experiencesand interpretive philosophy.

It is critical that California StateParks be represented at this work-shop if we are to maintain our statusas leaders in interpretation.�

For state employees, thatDPR791 is your first step. Get busyand get one submitted. But let�s faceit, taxpayers can be rather critical ofpaying bureaucrats to travel aroundthe country. So to answer to theconstituents, state government placessevere limitations on out of statetravel. Approval comes all the way

from the top, the Governor�s office.And there simply won�t be a lot of outof state travel approved. In a goodyear we might get two interpreter�s

travel requests approved. And I�mhere to tell you Bucky, this is not agood year! The memo to superinten-dents clearly states �Due to limitedfunds, any non-essential ornon-required trips such as seminars,conferences, or training will not beconsidered.�

But wait, don�t give up yet.There is another way to use thatform. You can do a request for�time only� and not request travel

This year the workshop will be in Reno / Sparks,Nevada. It is closer to us this year than it will be forthe next several years.

expenses. This authorizes you totravel on work time instead of leavetime, which is a good start.

Once you get your time paid,you can look into a CSPRA scholar-ship to assist with your travelexpenses. Park cooperating asso-ciations also provide a lot of grantsto interpreters every year to helpthem attend. Don�t be afraid to ask,remember we have a good reasonto go. Be sure to include on yourDPR791 how the trip will be paidfor, that is, at your own expense,paid by Foundation, donation orwhatever.

Also look at creative ways tobring down your travel costs. NAIoffers a roomate referral service.Usually you are allowed to pack upto four people in the same room atthe conference rate. Or shoparound for a budget motel orcampground nearby. Carpool witha friend and split the gas. Eat all ofthe free food provided with work-shop registration and you won�tneed to buy that many meals out.

Get creative. You won�t bealone. There will be lots of inter-preters there on limited budgets.But they make it every year and youcan, too.

In the next issue of Catalyst wewill de-mystify the workshopregistration form and do everythingelse we can to get as many of youto the workshop as possible. Don�tmiss it!

Catalyst

A Timely Reminder�Do not burn your-selves out. Be as I am� a reluctant enthu-siast, a part-timecrusader, a half-hearted fanatic. Savethe other half of your-selves and your livesfor pleasure and ad-venture. It is notenough to fight fornatural land and thewest; it is even moreimportant to enjoy it.While you can. Whileit�s still there. ... En-joy yourselves, keepyour brain in yourhead and your headfirmly attached to thebody, the body activeand alive, and I prom-ise you this much: Ipromise you this onesweet victory overour enemies, overthose deskbound menwith their hearts in asafe deposit box andtheir eyes hypnotizedby desk calculators. Ipromise you this: youwill outlive the bas-tards.�

� Edward Abbey

Catalyst

LighthousesBy Ted Cable,

Kansas State University

Lighthouse. n. : a tower or otherstructure located at some placedangerous or important with apowerful light that gives a signal forguiding travelers.

Explorers and settlers referred tothe Great Plains as an ocean � a seaof grass. The wide horizons andtreeless expanses were as daunting tothese travelers as the Atlantic Oceanwas to those who had crossed it inearlier journeys. Settlers hesitated atthe wooded shores of the forestedregions before mustering the courageto set off across this ocean in theiroxen-driven vessels. Some attachedsails to their wagons and literally, triedto sail across these seas.

Millions of travelers still sailamong our wind-swept waves of grassand grain. Sailors in air-conditionedcars speed through unfamiliar spaces.Some travel aimlessly, oblivious to theenvironment around them. Some sailthrough our seas on maiden voyages;others have sailed these seas foryears. Many of these visitors wash upon our shores, some by accident.Others, keen explorers longing to seenew places, arrive by design.

To sailors everywhere, especiallythose sailing in strange seas, light-houses are beacons of comfort andsecurity, guidance and hope. Everydaypeople wash up on your shoresregardless of where you are. That iswhy it is so wonderful that light-houses exist. Lighthouses, such as

nature centers, zoos, museums, andhistoric sites guide people throughsandy pine forests, limestone glades,estuaries, reservoirs, cypressswamps, dry rocky steppe, and thoseoceans of grass called prairies.Interpretive centers light their sur-roundings and guide wanderingpeople through unfamiliar places.

Interpreters are lighthousekeepers. They care for places thatprovide a sense of security, a senseof place, and a sense of belonging.Interpreters see to it that theirlighthouses effectively illuminate theirsurroundings.

Since the 19th century, light-houses have had what are known asFresnel lenses. These lenses increasethe power of the light and focus it inone direction. According to a recentPBS documentary, a Fresnel lens is�an elaborate orchestration of an arrayof lenses and dozens of prisms. Eachpiece is molded, polished, and setprecisely to redirect diffuse lamp lightinto a unified far-reaching beam.� Isthat not what nature centers and otherinterpretive facilities seek to accom-plish? Are not the best interpretivesites an elaborate orchestration ofmedia and individuals molded, pol-ished, and set precisely to directunified far-reaching beacons ofinformation and inspiration?

Individually each interpreter at aninterpretive site is a single lenscontributing to a beam of light that isfar-reaching and focused. Eachinterpreter works with other lenses toproject unified interpretive themesdeep into the hearts and minds ofpeople passing by.

We are all wayfarers on our ownpersonal journeys. In light of that, Iwill extend this metaphor to say thateach interpreter can be a lighthouse.To people in unfamiliar seas, seekingunknown destinations, and trying tonavigate the rocky coasts in theirlives, individual interpreters canpersonally provide comfort, security,and guidance. In times of troubleinterpreters � like lighthouses �provide beacons of joy and hope topassersby. Each day it is our respon-sibility, privilege, and pleasure to lightour worlds.

Interpreters see to it that their lighthouseseffectively illuminate their surroundings.

Catalyst

The Road Less Traveled

Something New to Check Out By J. Mendez - Guide 1

What is it that can be found inmost state parks, allows users toremove things from it, is aninterpreter�s treasure chest, and isfree?

Need a hint? Internet users liketo think it is obsolete and most citieshave one. Nothing at all rings a bell?Give up? It�s a library, but I�d guessthat you already knew the answer.What you probably didn�t know wasthat many state parks have quiteextensive libraries.

You might also be surprised todiscover that your local Marion thelibrarian has really let her (his) hairdown and does a lot more these daysthan just check out books! MichelleHachigian�our guest columnist�is agood example. Since joining the guidestaff at Hearst Castle® in 1996 shehas�in addition to her duties as guideand librarian � been part of the guidetraining and oral history programs, amember of the tour manual commit-tee, written articles for various in-house publications, and been a panelpresenter for the 2002 CaliforniaCouncil for the Promotion ofHistory�s (CCPH) annual conference.

Now tongue-tied Hearst Castle®guides are forever in her debt be-cause her latest project � Remember-ing San Simeon � gives them plentyto say when they�ve finally lined upthat hot date! (See It�s Friday Nightand I�ve got nothing to do� in the fallissue.)

Never at a Loss for Words (An Easy-to-Use Interpretive Tool)

The goal was to have a �one stop� resource for greatstories and quotes to enrich the tours that guides giveto some 800,000 visitors annually.

by Michelle Hachigian-Guide 1

Around March of 2001, aftermusing for years with my colleaguesat Hearst Castle®, we concluded thatthe time had come to put together aninterpretive tool for guides who dailytell about the life and times of WilliamRandolph Hearst and Hearst Castle®.Thus was born the 215-page compila-tion - Remembering San Simeon -which comprises over 170 accountsby some 150 individuals, excerptedfrom dozens of oral history interviewtranscripts, autobiographies, biogra-

phies, and monument correspon-dence with San Simeon guests andemployees. (All materials utilized inthe project are housed in themonument�s staff library for employeeuse.)

As the originator/author of theproject, I tried to select the mostrelevant and representative excerpts(with help from fellow guide SandraHeinemann) � a �best of� compilation� one that would offer a broadpalette of the time and place: W. R.Hearst�s luxurious country estateduring the first half of the 20thcentury, through the memories ofthose who experienced it firsthand.

The goal was to have in oneplace, instead of hundreds of scat-tered accounts and formats, asampling of stories and associates, aswell as the principal characters(architect Julia Morgan, Hearst�scompanion/hostess Marion Davies,and W. R. Hearst himself).

In this way, Remembering SanSimeon, would provide a �one stop�resource for great stories and quotesto enrich the tours that guides give tosome 800,000 visitors annually. Thematerial is indexed and each alphabeti-

cal entry (by person�s name) includescitations, making it convenient to findor fact-check a particular story withits source. Of course, these areexcerpts, and guides are encouragedto visit the Hearst Castle® StaffLibrary for the complete content andcontext of any account.

Working during my once-a-weeklibrarian hours over the course ofapproximately 18 months, I typed upthe excerpts and researched bio-graphical information to include witheach person�s entry. The experiencewas educational and fun for me, as Ihope reading it will be for all of mycolleagues at Hearst Castle.®

Catalyst

California�s Tapestry A Section of The Catalyst Office of Community Involvement Issue #16 - Spring/03

Submit articles and comments to: Jack K. Shu, Park Superintendent, OCI-Southern California, c/o Southern Service Center, 8885 Rio San DiegoDrive, San Diego 92108, Ph# (619) 220-5330.

A New Book on Race in AmericaRace is a difficult subject for

Americans and maybe even more sofor Parks people. Oh, we can discussor tell the story of Blacks or earlyCalifornians with little hesitation.Likewise, a discussion about the needto have a more diverse visitor baseduring a visitor center planningmeeting is easy enough. But, when itcomes to topics like environmentalracism and the distribution of re-sources it becomes more difficult.

Is it because the data is clear thatthere is a need for change, that someof the values we hold so dear arebarriers to many people? Last yearseveral papers on the lack of accessand visitation to National Parks bypeople of color as an environmentaljustice issue were published. Later inthe year, a study on the distribution ofLos Angeles County�s local parkproposition funds showed that muchof it did not end up in the inner cityminority neighborhoods as wasoriginally promoted. A few yearsago, the results of a U.S. ForestService telephone survey indicatedthat visitors felt unwelcome anddiscriminated against at outdoorrecreation facilities.

To help us deal with such achanging and sensitive topic, we needto be aware of the most currentthoughts on this topic. A new book,�Searching for the UncommonCommon Ground, New Dimensionson Race in America,� 2002 W. W.Norton & Company (ISBN 0-393-32351-X), may help in this regard.The authors are Angela GloverBlackwell, Stewart Kwoh and ManuelPastor, all from California and accom-plished leaders in the field of racerelations. The American Assembly ofColumbia University commissionedthis volume as part of its �UnitingAmerica� series.

Here are some �Dimensions� onrace from the book with along withmy comments on how they can beapplied in Parks.

�Black and White� paradigmversus multiculturalism � There ismore than one minority group yet westructure our understanding of race inthe black-white experience. We needto work towards a multiculturalapproach rather than working withone group at a time.

Diversity versus Racial andSocial Justice � It is more than an

issue of skin tones of employees andvisitors. Are the benefits of parksreaching everyone?

Universal versus ParticularStrategies � Do we develop pro-grams for specific schools andcommunities or try to serve allschools and communities to the samedegree?

National versus Local Responsi-bility � For an example in the preser-vation field, how do we shape Na-tional or State policies with regard tomulticultural site preservation andthen take action locally?

Structural Factors versusIndividual Initiative � Just becausesome people of color succeed ingetting employment, access to parks,or receiving their full benefits, thatdoes not mean the system works.Structural factors must be examinedto see how they can be improved.That means recruitment or themechanges to tried and true interpretiveprograms is not enough. The wholevisitor program from sites to activitiesmay need changes.

Through the work of our parkpeople we have the ability to establisha lot of a lot of common ground thatis uncommon in California. That iswhy we have to take on the difficulttask of understanding race,multiculturalism, diversity, justice andmore.

Catalyst Spring 2003 Contents

From the Editor Page 3Interpreters' Resources Page 4Dear Master Interpreter Page 5Bless Every Evelyn! Page 6Whale Skeleton Exhibit Enhanced Page 8Take an Adventure With Our New Brochures! Page 9Park Map And Brochure Program Page 10Technology Puts Park Programs Into Classrooms Page 11The Mystery of the Unidentified Track Page 12Slow Down! We Move Too Fast Page 14Slicing and Dicing California History Page 15Dummy�s Guide to Attending a NIW Page 16A Timely Reminder Page 18Lighthouses Page 19The Road Less Traveled Page 20California�s Tapestry Page 21

Interpretation & EducationRoom 1431P.O. Box 942896Sacramento, CA 94296®

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