Cabrillo National Monument VIP Newsletter | |
November 2023 Updates for VIPs | |
Don't Forget to Log Your Hours! | |
VSA Renewal & VIP Recognition | |
|
With the season of gratitude upon us, think back on your past year as a volunteer...
When you consider all you have done for the park, is it any wonder that we're grateful for you?
Not only does your service make a huge difference for the park, its nature, and its visitors, but it makes a difference to the youth volunteers and interns you work with.
As a CVA, I can't count how much encouragement and support I have received from all of you.
Thank you!
-
To stay up to date and compliant with service wide policy, VIPs must renew their Volunteer Service Agreement (VSA) annually to be considered ACTIVE volunteers.
Still haven't signed? Ask your supervisor on how to do it on your next shift.
If you cannot go to the park this month but still wish to remain active, please let us know at cabr_volunteer@nps.gov.
-
Couldn't attend the VIP Recognition Event? Never got a recognition item as a thank you for your volunteer service? Volunteers with 15 hours or more in the last year are invited to reach out to cabr_volunteers@nps.gov.
More than 3 years of active VIP experience? Pick up a NEW year pin as a thank you for your dedication to Cabrillo National Monument!
| |
|
NPS | H. Marquez
VIP Mary Rose greets visitors at the Kitchen garden.
| |
|
- Feature Story: VSA Renewal and Recognition
- VIP Spotlight: Katrina Gerace
- Volunteer Navigation Committee Updates
-
Safety Messages for VIPs: COVID Variant Caution & Holiday Turkey Safety

-
Administration: Welcome, Acting Superintendent Dr. Jodi Bailey!
-
Division Updates: Intern and staff successes, Greenhouse seeds, and try out Weed Warriors!
| |
|

- Now recruiting! Textile Team
-
Did You Know? Tasting History with Max Miller: Eating like a lighthouse keeper in the 1800s!

-
Continued Education Opportunities for VIPs: Taking iNaturalist to the Next Level! featuring Patricia Simpson
-
On the VIP Voice: FREE Archaeology Technician training with Anza Borrego State Park & What's in the Tidepools?
| |
VIP Spotlight: Katrina Gerace
As shared by TPERP Supervisor Pauline, "Katrina is an awesome volunteer who is here without fail, almost every Saturday, to help at the tidepools. She is well-known for her friendliness, and her ability to pick out graffiti from even the tiniest of spots!
We rely on her for a lot, and she has long earned the VIP Spotlight. Thanks Katrina!"
CVA Hannah adds, "Katrina is such an energetic and enthusiastic presence in the tidepools! As a shadow lead, she's also an incredible mentor to new volunteers. We're lucky to have her as a VIP!"
Thank you to TPERP Supervisor Pauline for this month's thoughtful nomination. Please send in future nominations to cabr_volunteers@nps.gov.
Thank you, VIP Katrina, for your continued dedication to Cabrillo National Monument!
NPS Photo | P. Geisler
(Above) VIP Katrina waves at the camera in full VIP uniform, with a broad smile.
(Below) VIP Katrina stands tall in front of sandstone cliffs, with a small smile for the camera, as she safeguards visitors from a sensitive collapse area.
| |
How Did We Shine? Kudos
Cabrillo National Monument has been sailing into its busiest season, so we would like to give thanks to our dedicated, amazing VIPs. You have made such a difference for our park with your service: other parks would be jelly-ous!
Here's some visitor and staff kudos for our amaze-wind volunteers:
For Weed Warriors VIPs: "The Weed Warriors were working so hard in rather warm conditions. They are amazing & Lonie is great!"
For VIP Allan: "Gave important information, so good!"
For VIP Jack V.: "Mr. Vallerga was wonderfully helpful, friendly, and informative. He helped make our experience amazing!"
For VIP Sandy: "Sandy ensured our children understood the Jr. Ranger program. We felt taken care of and encouraged to complete the children's books! We did just that, and our children enjoyed the experience of earning their badges. Thank you!"
For VIP Gary: "Appreciate the American history, very educational. Gary was excellent."
| |
Let's keep it going! Thinking of a fellow volunteer who deserves to be celebrated? Send us your kudos and spotlights to the link below, so we can share them in the next newsletter, and celebrate each other together! | |
|
NPS Photo | P. Geisler
Close-up photo of a bright blue By-the-Wind Sailor floating in front of green algae.
| |
Volunteer Navigation Committee (VNC) Updates
There is no VNC Meeting for December. We look forward to seeing you next year!
All volunteers are welcome to join in on VNC meetings!
| |
So, why would you join a volunteer committee—isn’t that just another meeting to your already full schedule?
The Volunteer Navigation Committee (VNC) provides all volunteers with a voice in the decision-making processes for the VIP program at CNM. You can make a difference. Join us at the next meeting!
NPS Photo (top) | Ranger Sandy and four wonderful VIPs and interns at the tidepool entrance.
| | | |
New COVID-19 Variant:
Feel sick? Please stay home!
All VIPs are recommended to stay home if you feel under the weather! This is especially important with all the holiday travel.
Cancelling a shift is as easy as emailing cabr_volunteers@nps.gov.
As always, VIPs are welcome to wear a mask during shifts. Thank you and stay safe!
NPS | Unknown
Flyer with raccoon in a facemask reads, "masks are in".
| | | |
OpenClipArt | Illustration of a roasted turkey. | |
November: Holiday Turkey Safety!
According to the CDC, a Thanksgiving feast can also be an opportunity for improper food handling to turn a holiday into a horror story.
Check out these turkey tips and keep your families and guests safe!
| | | |
|
Welcome, acting Superintendent Dr. Jodi Bailey!
Superintendent Bailey has a broad background environmental planning and resource management from a career with the NPS as well as with other public agencies and nonprofit organizations.
She comes to us from Mojave National Preserve, and for the next few months, will be leading Cabrillo National Monument. Prior to joining the staff at Mojave, Jodi worked at Yosemite for seven years.
VIPs, please say "hello" if you see her around the park!
NPCA | Julie Klein
Superintendent Bailey, when she was a ranger at Yosemite.

| |
Interpretation, Education, & Volunteers (IEV) | |
|
Thank you to VIPs who attended the Birch Aquarium field trip! We hope you had fun, especially if you saw the penguin feeding!
A HUGE THANKS to the VIPs who supported the park, when we led the Birch Aquarium's volunteers through a tour of the Lighthouse and Tidepools. They really loved it!
Welcome, Ranger Julia! We are happy to announce that she has accepted a permanent position with the IEV team as the Education and Seasonal Program Manager. Formerly, Ranger Julia was the Entrance Station Supervisor.
Her first "official" day was November 19th. VIPS, please make sure to congratulate her!
NPS | C. Aurrecoechea (Top left) Ranger Julia talks to a crowd of visitors.
H. Marquez (Bottom) VIPs in the tidepools and lighthouse help guide volunteers from the Birch Aquarium.
| |
|
Naturalization Ceremony
The next Naturalization Ceremony hosted at the park is on Tuesday, November 21st. Please sign up for a Naturalization Ceremony if you are available, as we need VIPs' help!
Never volunteered at these ceremonies but would like to give it a try?
Email cabr_volunteers@nps.gov for more details!
Thank you for your continued commitment and support with the Naturalization Ceremonies!
Limited availability. RSVP on Volgistics!
| |
|
NPS Photo | VIP Kim
Trees frame the image of the Old Point Loma Lighthouse's lens and lantern in the distance. The historical 38-star flag also waves in the frame.
| |
Help Wanted: Join our Textile Team VIPs!
Want a flexible volunteer opportunity, where you can even "work from home"?

Want to take part in the care and protection of the Old Point Loma Lighthouse?
Join Cabrillo National Monument's Textile Team!
Please reach out to Ranger Sandy at sandy_hernandez@nps.gov if you are interested in joining the VIP Textile Team, or if you have any questions about the role.
| |
|
NPS | C. Aurrecoechea
Three VIPs in the Textile Team and Ranger Sandy pose with stitched pillows and a "Textile Team" sign.
| |
Resources Management & Science | |
|
NRAC Visit – From November 14th to 16th, the Natural Resources Advisory Council (NRAC) visited our park. Thank you to the volunteers who spoke with them as they hiked and explored the tidepools!
SiP Successes – Scientists-in-Parks interns Christine and Anthony just returned from the California Islands Symposium. They worked with NPS, The Nature Conservancy, and other stakeholders to understand the threats of climate change to California ecosystems, and work through planning options.
Welcome – Lonie is welcoming a Wildlife Foundation intern that will be helping with fine fuels and invasive plant management in the coastal area for the next few months.
Congrats, VIP Supervisor Patricia! – She presented her research to the San Diego Beekeeping Society on the evening of November 13th.
NPS Photo | L. Pandori
Natural Resources Program Manager, Ranger Lauren, smiles next to a sign reading "Ask me anything! I'm a scientist!"
| |
Weed Warriors
The Weed Warrior team has worked very hard around military history, event bluff, and the lighthouse. The red bricks and curbing are all so obvious now. The lack of weeds is amazing. The top section of the park has never looked so good!
Weed Warriors need your help to protect native plants!
Interested in joining? Talk to VIP Supervisor Lonie, if you see her in the field, or contact cabr_volunteers@nps.gov.
NPS | L. Brown
Photo of the path leading to the Lighthouse, showing how clear and neat it is after Weed Warriors worked on it.
| |
Greenhouse
Welcome to Julie Nydam, our newest volunteer. She is a long time CABR VIP who decided to try Greenhouse work and we all think it’s a match. Thank you Julie for joining the crew!
We are starting to grow plants for next season! A lot of babies are being born right now at the greenhouse and we are taking good care of them.
We are also continuing with Seed Collection, though it is slowing down (but never quite stops). Seed Cleaning is going strong. This is when we separate the actual seeds from their floral surroundings (stems, petals, sepals, etc...). This helps our storage space a lot and provides better conditions for seeds to retain their viability over time.
Planting season is right around the corner. We’ll be rolling up our sleeves to plant in the upper monument areas. Stay tuned.
NPS | Unknown
VIP Greg collecting Toyon seeds by the Visitor Center.
| |
CNMF: Join the team!
Cabrillo National Monument Foundation (CNMF) is now hiring.
CNMF is the private, non-profit partner organization which helps support and fund our interpretive, cultural, historical, scientific, and educational programs.
If you know someone who may be interested, please check out available opportunities on the CNMF website below.
Thank you!
| |
|
NPS | P. Geisler
Sunrise at Cabrillo National Monument from between tree branches.
| |
|
It's much easier for people to get the ingredients to make delicious meals today, then it was for the residents of the Old Point Loma Lighthouse in the 19th century. On a horse and carriage, the drive to the nearest grocery store in Old Town could take 8 hours...and that's only one way!
Learn more about what cooking was like back then, and get a historically accurate recipe perfect for chilly weather, by watching:
Tasting History with Max Miller: Eating like a lighthouse keeper in the 1800s!
Thank you, CVA Hannah, for suggesting this month's "Did You Know?"!
Have a "Did You Know?" message you would like to share with other VIPs? Send your submissions to cabr_volunteers@nps.gov!
Max Miller | Video Thumbnail
A bowl of corn chowder in a blue ceramic plate, next to antique-style photos of a lighthouse and a keeper, lie under the caption reading "Tasting History with Max Miller: Lighthouse Corn Chowder."
| |
Continued Education Opportunities | |
|
Mission Trails Regional Park: Taking iNaturalist to the Next Level!
Thursday, Nov 30th
6:30 - 8 pm PST
MTRP Visitor Center - 1 Father Junipero Serra Trail, San Diego CA 92119
Registration: $10
Featuring our park's amazing Greenhouse VIP Supervisor, Patricia Simpson!
"Have you heard about iNaturalist? It is an online social network where amateur and expert naturalists come together to share observations and learn from each other’s findings.
Join Mission Trails Regional Park (MTRP) Trail Guides and iNaturalist aficionados Millie Basden, Patricia Simpson, and Mark James as they provide tips on using iNat, how to hone your skills on the platform, and why this is important to preserving our biodiversity..."
| |
MTRP Foundation | Text reads "Taking iNaturalist to the Next Level | Mission Trails Regional Park Foundation" over a close-up photo of a fluffy brown spider. | |
Interested in Becoming an Archeology Technician? | |
A FREE six-weekend program will be offered December though January at the Begole Archaeology Research Center (BARC).
Learn how to identify artifacts and features, document findings, survey sites and more!
You will be working outside examining and recording real archaeological sites here in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
- 6 consecutive weekends, Dec. 1 & 2 through Jan. 5 & 6
- Fridays from 5 - 7 pm (BARC classroom)
- Saturdays from 8 - 2:30 pm (Fieldwork)
If you ARE interested, please contact past Associate State Archaeologist Robin Connors at robhelcon@gmail.com or learn more at the Colorado Desert Archaeological Society website.
| | | |
Colorado Desert Archaeological Society | Flyer shows photos of archaeology volunteers, wearing hiking clothes, learning in a field site out in Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Text around the photos reads what's states above, with more details found at the website. | |
What's in the Tidepools? - October 2023 | |
As tidepool season starts up again, October's highlights included, sea hares, keyhole limpets, brooding anemones, ants and butterflies. Here is a sampling of what our volunteers observed during this month, and during the summer - thank you to everyone who contributed.
Check out the rare photos of a baby octopus, spotted by VIP Eugenia!
Have wonders to share? Submit your tidepool photos at cnmvipvoice@gmail.com!
| | | |
|
NPS | S. Kristiansen
Close-up of a rainbow sea star, with long, knobby, and color-shifting limbs sprawled on the sand.
| | | | |
