The Newsletter for Interpretation in California State Parks Autumn 2002 Volume 6 No. 2 The Catalyst ™ Big Basin Centennial Celebration By Julie L. Sidel, Interpreter I, Big Basin On a spring evening in 1900, a small group of men and women camped at Slippery Rock within an ancient forest owned by a lumber company. While sitting around the campfire, they envisioned a park that would be avail- able for the enjoyment of all people. A hat was passed and $32.00 was collected, the Sempervirens Club was formed, and so was born a movement to create a state park. The momentum for the parks creation came from the communities of Santa Cruz County and the Bay Area up to San Francisco! Imagine a time in the not very remote future, wrote Carrie Stevens Walter for the San Francisco Chronicle, when the whole peninsula from San Francisco down to San Jose shall become one great city; then picture, at its very doorway, this magnificent domain of redwood forest and running streams, the breathing place of millions of cramped and crowded denizens of the city. Today the idea of a state park certainly doesnt seem radical. But a century ago, the concept of public land set aside for the purposes of preservation and enjoyment was revolutionary. We are grateful for the wisdom and fore- sight of those early citizens of our communities. Since the founding of Big Basin, the oldest park in the State Park System, our ideas of what parks are and how to best care for them have evolved. Big Basins legacy is reflected in its landscape, in the traditional architecture of its campfire center and headquarters buildings, and in the winding, mountainous approach. At the same time, 18,000 acres of redwood forest, chaparral ridges, waterfalls and beach give ample space for every visitor to discover the natural world. Our connections with nature and our changing views of preservation are all housed within Big Basin. It is a place that harbors tradition and simultaneously offers a wild open space where folks can develop their own relation- ship with nature. On this 100th anniversary, we celebrate the visionaries, visitors, and valued workers who have shaped the idea and character of the park since its incep- tion. We also celebrate the opportunity to discover the park for ourselves, and to participate in the future of the wildlands at our very doorway. For event info see: www.mountainparks.org
Transcript
The Newsletter for Interpretation in California State ParksAutumn 2002 Volume 6 No. 2
The
Catalyst™
Big Basin Centennial CelebrationBy Julie L. Sidel, Interpreter I, Big Basin
On a spring evening in 1900, a small group of menand women camped at Slippery Rock within an ancientforest owned by a lumber company. While sitting aroundthe campfire, they envisioned a park that would be avail-able for the enjoyment of all people. A hat was passed and$32.00 was collected, the Sempervirens Club wasformed, and so was born a movement to create a statepark.
The momentum for the park�s creation came from thecommunities of Santa Cruz County and the Bay Area up toSan Francisco! Imagine a time in the not very remotefuture, wrote Carrie Stevens Walter for the San FranciscoChronicle, when the whole peninsula from San Franciscodown to San Jose shall become one great city; thenpicture, at its very doorway, this magnificent domain ofredwood forest and running streams, the breathing placeof millions of cramped and crowded denizens of the city.
Today the idea of a state park certainly doesn�t seemradical. But a century ago, the concept of public land setaside for the purposes of preservation and enjoyment wasrevolutionary. We are grateful for the wisdom and fore-sight of those early citizens of our communities.
Since the founding of Big Basin, the oldest park in theState Park System, our ideas of what parks are and howto best care for them have evolved. Big Basin�s legacy isreflected in its landscape, in the traditional architecture ofits campfire center and headquarters buildings, and in the
winding, mountainous approach. At the same time, 18,000acres of redwood forest, chaparral ridges, waterfalls andbeach give ample space for every visitor to discover thenatural world.
Our connections with nature and our changing viewsof preservation are all housed within Big Basin. It is a placethat harbors tradition and simultaneously offers a wildopen space where folks can develop their own relation-ship with nature. On this 100th anniversary, we celebratethe visionaries, visitors, and valued workers who haveshaped the idea and character of the park since its incep-tion. We also celebrate the opportunity to discover thepark for ourselves, and to participate in the future of thewildlands at our very doorway.
For event info see: www.mountainparks.org
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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) 657-4747Pauline Grenbeaux MC III Museum Svc. (916) 653-4381 FAX (916) 657-4747Mary Stokes DIS Four Rivers (209) 826-1196 FAX (209) 826-0284John Werminski RIS Interp./ Ed. Div. (916) 653-8959 FAX (916) 657-4747
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.
You�re only given a littlespark of madness. Youmustn�t lose it.
� Robin Williams
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From the Editor
Brian Cahill, Editor
It has been a hot, drysummer in many of our parksthis year. We hope another coolissue of Catalyst can offer somerelief!
We start out with a freshbatch of interpretive resources and training opportunitieson the following page. You will also find the MasterInterpreter as usual, presiding on page 4 offering gratu-itous advice to the interpretively challenged.
Since there are probably more interpretive exhibitprojects underway right now than at any time in recenthistory, we thought it would be worthwhile to take acloser look at exhibits. This Catalyst will begin with a mini-theme of exhibit evaluation. Are we reaching our interpre-tive exhibit goals? Just what are the goals? On page 6 wepresent �Everyone Has an Idea That Won�t Work.� Thispiece comes to us all the way from Dallas, Texas whereK.C. Rudy works at the Lacerte Children�s Zoo. Thisarticle first appeared in VIsions, the NAI Region 6 news-letter and is reprinted with permission. He can be reachedat [email protected].
Continuing that thought on page 8 we find �Play Ball!�by Dave Aplin. He challenges us to use marketing tools totarget our audiences. Dave works at the Kilauea PointNational Wildlife Refuge in Hawaii and can be reached [email protected]. This article also appeared inTraveler, an NAI section newsletter and is reprinted withpermission.
Finally, our own Nancy Mendez and Karen Beerybring it all home, looking at a local case study. They takea detailed look at the brand-new exhibits just installed byNPS at Cabrillo NM focusing again on exhibit evaluation.Nancy and Karen would love to hear from you at (619)688-6105.
Shifting gears, page 12 brings a report on whatsounds like a lot of fun, the Family Kite Day at PachecoSP. Jennifer Morgan fills us in on this first annual event.You can reach Jennifer at [email protected].
Page 14 takes a lighthearted look at a serious subject,safety and liability in the outdoors. Brought to us via PhilBroder at Starr�s Cave Nature Center in Iowa, it alsoappeared in Buffalo Bull, the NAI Region 5 newsletter.
Another important subject these days is multi-usetrails. Paula David and Laura Westrup bring us up to speedon this topic on page 16.
Cara O�Brien�s story on the next page announces theroll-out of the new Junior Ranger Activity Guide. Cara is amember of the statewide Junior Ranger advisory team andan Interpreter II at Angeles District. She can be reachedat (805) 986-8591.
Page 18 brings an opinion piece on just what it meansto be a professional interpreter. Written by Tony Borman,who is an instructor at Minnesota State University, it alsoappeared in Buffalo Bull, the NAI Region 5 newsletter andis reprinted here with permission.
We feature another park special event on page 20,this time with an historical flavor. Sara Skinner and CrystalShoaf send us Step Back in Time from Petaluma Adobe.They can be reached at [email protected].
On page 21 you will find a piece by Jamie Mendez.She offers a personal look at the people who make up ourhistory. Jamie is a guide at Hearst Castle® and can bereached at [email protected].
On the following page we once again put the spotlighton California�s heritage and legacy of diversity. It iswritten by Jose Ignacio Rivera, who retired from Mt.Diablo State Park into the world of academia and muse-ums. Jose is now working for the Marin Museum of theAmerican Indian as Director of Education, and he teachesanthropology at Diablo Valley College.
That�s all, folks! We hope your summer interpretiveseason went very well. Enjoy this issue of Catalyst, thenget busy on next season.
What's Up?Interpreters� Resources
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National Interpreters WorkshopThe National Interpret-ers Workshop iscoming soon andmany of our bestinterpreters will bethere. How aboutyou? Several peoplefrom our departmentwill also be presentingprofessional sessionsto a world-wideaudience of interpret-ers. If you can�t join us in VirginiaBeach this year, plan on next yearwhen it will be held in Reno. Formore information seewww.interpnet.com or call toll-free:(888) 900-8283.
Interpretation Canada ConferenceOur neighbors to the north will holdtheir annual gathering October 24-26at Vanier Park, Vancouver, BC. Forinformation [email protected].
Science Teachers ConferenceThis year the conference is in SanFrancisco, October 24-27, and called�The Golden Gateway to Science.�The strand this year focuses on earthhistory and the nature of science.Check out the conference atwww.cascience.org.
Upcoming DPR TrainingSkills for Interpreting to ChildrenOctober 1-5, 2001Interpreting to Diverse Audiences October 22-26, 2001See: www.mbay.net/%7Edprmtc/Catalog.html
Tourism PerformanceMeasuring Tourism Performance iswritten for tourism project develop-ment. The book summarizes varioustourism performance indicators andprovides examples for their effectiveuse in the development of moresuccessful strategies. Softcover,$16.95. See sagamorepublishing.com
Wanted: BinocularsGolden Gate Audubon Society iscollecting used binoculars (workingor not) and repairing them for envi-ronmental education programs inLatin America. The binoculars help
local people to observeand learn about thewildlife in their area in away that would not bepossible without them.The binoculars are
enthusiastically received and used bystudents, researchers and parkpersonnel. Call (510) 383-9525 orsee www.goldengateaudubon.org/LAC/index.html
Riparian VideoLife on the Edge; Improving RiparianFunction is a 12-minute video explain-ing riparian functions from OregonState University Extension Service.$19.95. Order by [email protected], or by sendingcheck/money order to: PublicationOrders, Extension & Station Commu-nications,Oregon StateUniversity, 422Kerr Admin.Bldg., Corvallis,OR 97331-2119.
Iron Science TeacherHave you seen Iron Chefs on TV?San Francisco�s Exploratorium has aniron science teacher game. Primaryand secondary science educators areasked to whip up a science lessonbased on a �secret ingredient,� be itPVC pipe, pantyhose, toothpicks oreven marshmallow peeps! The goalof the project is to celebrate scienceeducation and to demonstrate thatgood teachers can teach the $10million state science standards on a$10 budget. See a broadcast at http://www.exploratorium.edu/iron_science/
Advice from a TreeRemember to stand tall and proud,remember your roots, go out on alimb, drink plenty of water . . . andenjoy the view! Good advice that is�environmentally entertaining� fromIlan Shamir. Advice From a Treemakes a great gift and his marketingworkbooks are worth consideringtoo. See www.yourtruenature.com
Girls Who Look Under RocksA great book for kids in grades 4-8.The six women portrayed in this bookall became award-winning naturalists.Born centuries apart, they all startedout as girls who embraced the naturalworld. All became enthusiasticteachers, energetic writers andpassionate scientists. Ask your localbookseller for Girls Who Look UnderRocks by Akins. $8.95.
Marine ResourceGood website on marine education.See: www.vims.edu/adv/mamea/
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Dear Master InterpreterDear MasterInterpreter,We have beentrying differentseating arrange-ments in ourvisitor centerclassroom, butwe are startingto get tired ofmoving chairs. What is the bestarrangement for about 35 chairs in aninterpretive setting, or does it reallymatter?
Seat Shuffler
Dear Shuffler,It may seem like a minor point, butthe configuration of chairs can reallyimpact the interpretive dynamics!Their arrangement can really help setthe mood. Chairs arranged in straightrows facing forward suggests moreformal one-way communication. Aslight change to semi-circular rowspromotes more two-way communica-tion. Arranging them in a circle takesthis idea all the way, and promotesconversation. I often like to have Jr.Rangers and school kids sit in a circle(without chairs) to achieve the rightfeel. The basic guideline is the moreformal the seating arrangement, theless you encourage audience partici-pation.
Of course the room size and shapewill impact your decisions, butconsider all the options. Don�t justautomatically put the presenter at oneend of a long room facing rows ofchairs. Try presenting from themiddle of the room facing a semi-circle of chairs. Be sure to provide
enough aisles, too. You should haveno more than about 11 chairs in arow without a break and be sure toleave enough room between rows,too.MI
Dear Master Interpreter,We have less seasonal help this yearso I am relying more on volunteers tokeep the VC open. What can I do tokeep our volunteers happy?
Volunteer Coordinator
Dear CoordinatorStart with the simple stuff. Here�s alist of words that should be usedmuch more frequently by every oneof us who works with volunteers:
�Thank you.�You did a great job!�What do you think?�Please.
By the way, the least important wordfor you to use is �I.�MI
Dear Master Interpreter,Our non-profit cooperating associa-tion is very proud that 86% of allfunds raised goes directly to interpre-tive projects in the park. I think that ispretty good, but I am curious howthat compares with others.
Bean Counter
Dear Bean,That�s pretty darn good. If you wantto look up a few other non-profitorganizations, you may find theinformation on the Attorney General�swebsite. The 990 tax forms from awhole lot of non-profits are posted on
the web for your inspection. Seehttp://justice.hdcdojnet.state.ca.us/charitysr/default.asp. That percentageis just one of the many interestingthings you might find on the 990s.Remember, though, that differentgroups include different numbers inthese calculations so there are somebig inconsistencies between groups,but that �public support percentage� isone important piece of the picture.MI
Dear Master Interpreter,We are getting ready to buy a digitalprojector for our park, but I mustadmit I am a little confused about�lumens� and LCD�s. What�s a lumenand why do I care?
Seeking Illumination
Dear IlluminatorLumens measure the amount of lightthat comes from a source, like theflow of water from a faucet. Lumenscan be measured at the source(projector lamp) or at the end point(the screen). This is importantbecause light is lost as it movesthrough the lenses and filters of theprojector and only about 10% of thelamp�s lumens make it onto thescreen. If your screen is large, thatsame number of lumens is spread outmore widely and the image is lessbright. Usually a projector that putsout more lumens weighs more, butunless you are taking it on the roadweight is probably not a concern.Get a projector that puts out as manylumens as you can; 800 to 1000 isoften enough, but a room with brightsunlight may need 2000 lumens.MI
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Everyone Has an Idea That Won�t WorkK.C. Rudy, Lacerte Family
Children�s Zoo at the Dallas Zoo
Forgive me for choosing an oldcorollary to Murphy�s Law as the titlefor this article. But it�s true. I wasreminded of it the other day while Iwas visiting with a friend. This person(who asks to remain nameless) is atanother institution (also wishing toremain nameless), and she spent asubstantial amount of money andmany hours of staff time developing anew program for visitors. Whilesome of the collaborators had somereservations, most were enthusiasti-cally optimistic. Until the first presen-tation, that is... See, even though itwas promoted well and professionallydeployed, few people attended. Andsome who attended did not stay forthe entire program.
Fortunately, none of us has everbeen (or at least would ever admit tobeing) directly involved in such anunfortunate thing. On the other hand,we�ve probably all seen or heard of anew program or exhibit thatunderwhelmed its intended audience.How does this happen? We all knowthat people who design and imple-ment these things tend to be talented,intelligent, dedicated, and oftenintuitive. (And I�m not just saying thatfor the benefit of my staff, who willprobably read this.) What couldpossibly go wrong?
For some reason, it is easier torecognize what we like in a programor exhibit than to create an effectiveone. An exhibit sign may have toomany graphics, too few graphics,
confounding graphics, too manywords, words that are too technical,words that are too simple, misspell-ings, bad grammar, incorrect �facts,�etc. Any one of these missteps canresult in a lost opportunity. Similarly,a new program can be boring,confusing, irrelevant, or just poorlypresented. (By the way, for thepurposes of this article, the terms�programs� and �exhibits� can gener-ally be interchanged.)
Evaluation is generally thought ofas a tool to see (1) how you did and(2) why. While these are fine reasonsfor evaluation, there are other, oftenmore important, considerations. Allthat is needed to be sure every baseis covered is to have some sort ofcomprehensive evaluation. Then youare guaranteed a successful program.Well, pretty much.
The best starting point may besomething like �How does thisprogram support our mission state-ment? And how does it support ourobjectives?� There should always besome clear connections. See whatyour potential audience thinks.
1 Front-end evaluation(�needs assessment� to those
wishing to sound less formal) gener-ally takes place following the develop-ment of an idea, prior to any imple-mentation. This may be the mostimportant�not to mention the leastutilized�type of evaluation. It shouldprovide an indication of interest orneed (at least perceived) on the partof your potential audience. Beforeyou do anything else, you must figure
out your visitors� knowledge, percep-tions, motivations, and strategies�their �agenda,� as Falk, et. al. (1998)put it. This can save you the time,expense, and embarrassment ofputting on a program no one isinterested in.
One way to conduct a needsassessment is simply to ask people,usually by some sort of standardizedquestionnaire, their level of interest invarious topics. Use simple questionswith simple answers. Scaled re-sponses (say, ranging from 1 to 5)make subsequent data analysis easier.Additionally, you could enact a scaled-down version (prototype) of yourprogram, possibly involving fewer orsimpler props. Interviews and focusgroups are appropriate for largerprojects requiring more specific andmore detailed information.
2 OK, so now you think youhave confirmation for a
particular project. It is during theensuing development phase thatformative evaluation is done. This isdue largely to the fact that it is verydifficult to predict the effectiveness ofinstructional content. For one thing,people learn differently. Also, theprogram designer usually can�t seethe forest for the trees. (i.e., Justbecause the designer built what he/she felt would be an effective pro-gram does not mean it will be.)
Formative evaluation is evolution-ary and can consist of the followingsegments:
Review�This will ensure that the
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interpretive goal corresponds wellwith items identified in the needsassessment and that the information isfactual and up-to-date. It will makesure the approach is appropriate forthe intended audience. A review,generally performed by an appropriatesupervisor, can also check to see thatany examples and exercises arerealistic and appropriate.
Testing�Small group testing andfield trials can be employed to checkthe success of individual programcomponents. After implementation,periodic checks are important to besure that the message is still beingeffectively communicated. This spillsover into our final category.
3 Summative evaluationrefers to evaluation following
the completion of a program. Thinkof it as an assessment of how you did.(Many people who conduct evalua-tions do only this step.) The primaryfocus is on the visitor�s behavior andexperiences, including learning.
Gathering data at this stage isoften done both indirectly anddirectly. When making direct obser-vations of visitors� movements,actions, and interactions, try to beinconspicuous. Visitors tend tobehave differently when they knowthey are being observed. Question-naires need to be relatively short and
done by the visitor alone, whileinterviews are longer with the experi-menter asking questions and record-ing answers. It is a good idea to offersomething (free passes, free conces-sions, gift shop coupons, etc.) forvisitors� participation.
Some possible summativeevaluation items for an exhibit:
Observation (sometimes referred toas �stalking)�Are all audience members attentive?�What do people ask questionsabout?�What is being discussed as peopleleave the program?�Do people respond to the humor orportions designed for participation?�At which components do visitorsstop?�How much time do visitors spend ata particular spot?�Which features do visitors notice(or fail to notice) most?�How often are visitors waiting touse interactive components?�How often do visitors encounterbroken exhibits?
Questionnaire/Interview�What are the visitors� opinions ofvarious exhibits?�What are visitors� cognitive experi-ences in each gallery?
Similar items could be developedfor programming; however, peoplehave fewer constraints while observ-ing exhibits.
In addition to questionnaires,interviews, and focus groups, system-atic observations can help determineeffectiveness. For example, in theinterview process, the visitor couldsimply be asked, �What did you getout of the program?� Responsescould be put into, say, three catego-ries that would provide an indicationof how well they got the intendedmessage. These results could then bequantified and analyzed.
For results to be as indicative aspossible, make an effort to get a goodcross-section of your potentialaudience. Randomization and a�large� sample size are important.And, finally, statistical analysis of thedata may be necessary to drawproper conclusions. Having said that,I would like to add that the mostbeneficial data will be qualitative anddifficult to analyze, since our primaryinterest is what motivates people.Bitgood, et. al. (1991), give a goodoverview of the summative evaluationprocess.
While most people find theevaluation process less than exciting,you can adapt to it. And when youdo, your exhibits and programs will beeven more successful than they arenow. Then you can be the first one tohave ideas that all work.
Bitgood, S., Benefield, A., and Patterson, D. (Eds.).1991. �Visitor Studies: Theory, Research, and Practice,�Vol. 3. Proceedines of the 1990 Visitor StudiesConference. Jacksonville, AL: Center for SocialDesign.Falk, J.H., T. Moussouri, and D. Coulson. 1998. �TheEffect of Visitors� Agendas on Museum Learning.�Curator 41(2): 107-120.
�How does this program support our mission state-ment? And how does it support our objectives?�There should always be some clear connections.
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Play Ball!by Dave Aplin, Kilauea Point NWR
I checked. Kevin Costner�s Fieldof Dreams is still available on my localvideo store�s 99¢ rack. You�ll remem-ber that Costner�s character wascompelled to carve a baseball dia-mond from his Iowa cornfleld by themysterious mantra, �Build it and theywill come.�
Sure enough, Shoeless JoeJackson and the rest of the 1922Chicago �Black Sox� emerged fromthe rows of tasseling corn ontocenterfield to play ball. A river of fansfollowed to witness the miracle and tobask in an irresistible nostalgia for theGreat American Pastime.
�Build it and they will come�While the video gathers dust on
Bockbuster�s discount shelves, thephrase �build it and they will come�lives on in popular American culture.It seems especially alive in the world
of interpretive planning. As a result,it�s not difficult to find interpretivecenters, aquariums, and museums thatconsistently underperform.
Attendance at these facilitiespeaks quickly, then consistentlymisses visitor projections. In manycases, it seems these shortfalls resultfrom more than poor marketing oroverly rosy attendance projections.These failures represent an incom-plete understanding of the audience.The good news: with careful planning,and with the help of people like GaryMachlis, we�re moving beyond thatsimple, and frequently wasteful,approach.
Dr. Machlis is the Visiting ChiefSocial Scientist for the U.S. NationalPark Service. He is also an AssociateVice President for Research andProfessor of Forest Resources andSociology at the University of Idaho.
In December, Gary spoke to 250
US Fish and Wildlife Service visitorservices professionals gathered at theNational Conservation Training Centernear Shepardstown, West Virginia.His program, �Human Dimension andVisitor Services,� was a provocativeforay into the future that rattled realityfor many of us in the audience.
With the detached eye of afuturist, Machlis is doing his part tohelp move us away from simplisticassumptions about our customers andtoward a more complete appreciationfor the complexity of American andworld cultures. The sociologicaltrends Machlis tracks mean certainand profound changes for interpretersand recreational planners in both theprivate and public sectors.
Valuable NPS planning toolsYou can explore these trends at
an outstanding website maintained bythe National Park Service. The site:wwwnps.gov/socialscience/waso/vroducts.htm will be invaluable to
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those in the business of providinghigh quality interpretive experiences ina changing world. It�s requiredreading for entrepreneurs makingbusiness decisions about heritage andecotourism.
It�s also mandatory for thoseentrusted by the public to makedecisions about the location, type,and content of interpretive facilitiesand programs for public lands.
Information crammed onto theNPS website provides us with someof the tools Madison Avenue and D.C.beltway consultants use to developsuccessful commercial products andpolitical campaigns. We now canaccess these same resources to guidethe development of interpretiveprograms and facilities. This approachwill be more difficult for someindividuals and agencies than others.Governmental agencies seem particu-larly resistant to innovation.
Time for teamworkThat said, it�s time for the most
intractable of us in the public sectorto change our planning paradigm. It�stime to shift from the �build it andthey will come� model to an approachthat carefully considers the demo-graphics, motivations, and expecta-tions of present and future customers.
Collaboration between agenciesand private sector to provide relevantinformation and experiences throughappropriate delivery systems iscritical, but it is easier said than done.We �guardians of the public trust� cannever lose track of our responsibili-
ties to the missions of our respectiveagencies, to preserve and protect.
Those of you in the private sectorhave probably already been frustratedby storms of red tape and inconsis-tent policies in acquiring access to
resources on public lands. Butperseverance will be rewarded.
Sociological and marketingresearch can, and should, be used toproduce products, services, andfacilities that meet our customer�sneeds. In this approach, there arescores of opportunities to team withthe private sector to catch up withthose already in the game.
Into the coach�s box, teamInterested in helping move the
interpretive profession more firmlyinto the Big League? We can worktogether to adopt more sophisticatedstrategies to provide our visitors andcustomers with more meaningful andrelevant experiences that relatedirectly to who they are. It�s up toyou. All you have to do is step up tothe plate and play ball.
NPS provides us with some of the toolsMadison Avenue and D.C. beltway consultantsuse to develop successful commercial productsand political campaigns.
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Using the New Cabrillo National Monument Exhibit as a Case Study
Exploring Evaluation Possibilities at CabrilloBy Nancy Mendez & Karen Beery,
Interpreter II SSC
A new exhibit at Cabrillo NationalMonument in San Diego entitled��Cabrillo and the Age of Exploration�opened in June, just in time for theinterpretive staff at the SouthernService Center to try out an exhibitevaluation experiment. It is our goalto identify a practical and useful toolor instrument that can be used inevaluating interpretive exhibits. Withthis in mind, we obtained the assis-tance of Karl Pearce, Chief of Inter-pretation for the National ParkService at the Monument site, andwere able to use the new exhibit as acase study.
The Exhibit�Cabrillo and the Age of Explora-
tion� consists of 1,150 square feet ofexhibit space that includes: threemannequins wearing historic repro-duction clothing to reflect Cabrillo�svarious occupations over time; onecomputer interactive that allowsvisitors to select a date, which thendelivers a combined audio and writtenjournal entry from Cabrillo�s voyageto San Diego; one relief map that ispush-button activated to show theroute of Cabrillo�s journey; severalreproduction objects in various casesettings that reflect 17th centurymaterial culture; three cases ofmuseum objects, including originalKumeyaay items; and ambient sea/creaking ship sounds. Projectedvisitation over the anticipated 20-yearlifespan of the exhibit is 19 millionpeople. The cost to plan, design,fabricate and install the exhibits,
including building preparation, totaled$497,210.
The Evaluation ProcessWe made two visits to the exhibit.
During the first trip, we discussed ourinitial reactions as �visitors�: Whatcaptured our attention? What did wesee as the take-away message?Where did the exhibit meet or fallshort of our expectations? During thesecond visit, we met with Karl Pearceso that we weren�t evaluating in acomplete fog. We also brought a setof museum exhibit standards (click onto http://130.160.178.161/Standards.htm) that was developed bythe American Association of Muse-ums (AAM). Although not specificallydesigned as an evaluation instrument,the �Standards for Museum Exhibi-tions and Indicators of Excellence�(hereafter referred to as the �Stan-dards�) contain a wealth of informa-
tion. The �Standards� are divided intosix categories: audience awareness,content, collections, interpretation/communication, design/production,and ergonomics, (human comfort,safety, and accessibility). Eachcategory includes a set of questionsto generate responses about thesevarious aspects of exhibits. With our�Standards� in hand, we boarded theCabrillo exhibit ship and began theevaluation voyage.
Evaluating the ProcessThe �Standards� provided more
substance than sea biscuits and water,but were definitely not a full courseevaluation instrument meal. Thequestions posed in each of the sixcategories definitely got us thinking.In fact, the questions were provoca-tive enough to get us to interact withthe exhibits, but in an evaluatingmanner. For instance, the �collections�
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category asks: Have conservation andsecurity matters been appropriatelyaddressed? As a former museumcurator, Nancy sure dove into thatone, peeking into the various cornersof exhibits to look for sealed cases,safe mounts, and happy artifacts.
Going back the second timemade us more aware of areas wherethe exhibit might have been strength-ened had the design team used the�Standards� as a touchstone duringthe design process. For example, anopportunity to interpret to a youngeraudience may have been missed at theexhibit areas that drew in children. Ontheir own, children were pushing
buttons to see things light up. Mostof the text, which was written to a 7th
grade level, was too in-depth forthese younger visitors. In addition,knowing that a majority of the audi-ence would only visit briefly, morebite-sized information may have beenappropriate.
Navigating Toward a Goal: WhatWe Learned
The �Standards� provided a goodtemplate which we think can be theanchor for future evaluation instru-ments. What�s even more helpful isthat the six categories actually give aclue as to who should be evaluatingexhibits: a multidisciplinary teamcomprised of the audience/visitors,
subject specialists (e.g. curators andhistorians), museum conservators,museum educators/interpreters,exhibit designers/coordinators, andaccessibility specialists. Incidentally,Karl had an �ergonomics� relatedevaluation tool that was developed bythe Smithsonian Institution: a checklistthat corresponds to the Smithsonian�sExhibit Accessibility Guidelines. (LindaCanar of the DPR Accessibility Unit hadalready recommended we use theSmithsonian�s Exhibit AccessibilityGuidelines, but their �checklist� was atool that was new to us.)
Becoming familiar with the�Standards� would be an excellentstarting point for any exhibit develop-ment team. If a checklist similar tothat designed by the Smithsonian toevaluate exhibit accessibility is avail-able or developed for the other fivecategories identified in the �Stan-dards,� then the Exhibit Developmentand Evaluation Ship would be ready totravel full steam ahead.
Becoming familiar with the AAM �Standards� wouldbe an excellent starting point for any exhibitdevelopment team.
Page 12 Catalyst
Family Kite Day at PachecoBy Jennifer Morgan, Interpreter 1
After 6 summers working as aninterpreter in an ancient redwoodgrove in northwestern California, mynew permanent position in California�sCentral Valley was a completelydifferent experience, with newchallenges. My two parks, PachecoState Park and San Luis ReservoirS.R.A., are within a half hour�s drivefrom Los Banos, whose population isnearing 30,000, and yet amazinglyfew residents there are aware of thebeautiful parks in their backyard.(We�re just over the hill from theGilroy�Santa Cruz area as well.) Oneof my primary interpretive missionswas to figure out how to get all thesenearby people into our parks to seehow wonderful they are.
Last summer, at our South SectorInterpretive Improvement Teammeeting, we were brainstorming howto get people up to Pacheco StatePark. (It is a new wilderness statepark located at the top of PachecoPass, which has been a primary routefor travel between the Central Valley
and the coast since ancient times. Itis not yet developed for camping, butis a paradise for hikers, mountainbikers, and horseback riders, particu-larly in the spring.) Once the wild-flowers are gone, we mused, there isnothing much up there but sun andwind, with plenty of both. Someonesuggested putting on a Kite FlyingDay, which sounded terrific, so I filedthe idea away.
The next spring I began workingon Pacheco State Park�s First AnnualFamily Kite Day. My first step waschoosing the date when we could befairly sure the wind would be blowing.I called the manager of InternationalTurbine Research which operatesover a hundred energy-generatingwind �mills� at Pacheco State Park andhe told me their wind season runsfrom June 1st through October 1st.We thought we should have it beforeschool vacation started and everyonebegan summer activities, and choseJune 1st. (This date selection proved apoor choice.)
Next I looked up �Kites� in everyphone book from places within twohours of us, and called each vendorto discuss my plan and see if theywanted to come participate, and toget their address to mail them a flier.I also solicited ideas from our staff.
Page 13Catalyst
I had a very small operatingbudget and decided to pass outsouvenir buttons to everyone whoflew a kite, and have a Best Home-made Kite competition with threecategories. I had a great stroke ofluck when Old City Kites of Sacra-mento volunteered to come downand have a �Make Your Own Kite Free�table�that meant that everyone whoattended could earn a button! I alsolined up volunteers to staff a tableexhibiting Pacheco State Park�shistory and wildlife, and sun and windgadgets, as well as a disc jockey toadd an audio component to the kiteflying.
June 1st dawned, the sky wasovercast and the winds were howlingover 25 m.p.h. (It was so strong thatthe banners I had hoped to hang onHighway 152 to attract all the pass-ersby would�ve been torn to shreds.)We put up the signs and mini-kitesdirecting cars to the event, as well asthe demonstrator tables, etc., andwaited for the crowds to materialize.
The first to arrive were membersof the Merced Kite Club. (Talking withthem gave me my first inkling of themeaning of fanatic. Most of themown thousands of kites.) They set upa number of colorful kites thatimmediately lent a very festive air tothe event.
As the day progressed, the suncame out, and people drifted in.Although the visitor turnout was wellbelow my dreams, the enthusiasmwas enormous. I greeted all new-comers, showed them the �Make YourOwn Kite Free� table, and gave themtheir buttons. There were manyunusual, colorful kites dancing in theair, and the up-beat music enhancedthe show. One person rode his four-wheeled �bike� that was kite powered,and we all enjoyed watching him whirlaround. The Kite Hospital we�d set uphelped repair what the wind toreasunder. Everyone who attended hadfun.
By 3:00, when we ended, weestimated about 80 people haddropped by. I was a little demoralizedby this low number. However, boththe Old City Kites people as well asthe Merced Kite Club thought thatwe�d had a fairly respectable first timeturnout. They felt it was such awonderful place for a kite festival theywere all looking forward enthusiasti-cally to a better planned, betteradvertised Kite Day next year, and
were even offering to help me workon it!
Only a few days after the event, Iwas thrilled to hear that one of theMerced Kite Club enthusiasts hadvoluntarily created an entire visualmontage of our day, complete withcute captions. It can be found at:kitenerd.com; (go to) shops andfriends; (go to) Gone with the WindKites; (at the bottom) news andupdates; (at the bottom) photos; then(in the middle) Pacheco Fun Fly 6/1/02.
Kite flying is truly a wonderfulpastime for families, and for any parkthat has wind and clear space over-head. It gets you out in the fresh air,enjoying an inexpensive activity thatanyone (except perhaps CharlieBrown) can do, and it�s restful andmesmerizing to just relax and watchthe wind make kites dance around.We�re anticipating seeing our PachecoState Park Family Kite Day grow intime, thanks to local kite aficionadosand the wind. Look for it in lateJune!
Page 14 Catalyst
Safety Schmafety or
Better Safe Than Sorry?
Phil Broder of Starr�s Cave
Nature Center in Iowa sent us
this article, and assured us this is
an actual park sign. Read on and
consider what this could mean
to your risk management
strategy!
Warning!!All Guests Of Nelson Rocks Preserve Must Read This!
Nature is unpredictable andunsafe. Mountains are dangerous.Many books have been written aboutthese dangers, and there�s no way wecan list them all here. Read thebooks. Nelson Rocks Preserve iscovered with steep terrain with loose,slippery and unstable footing. Theweather can make matters worse.Sheer drops are everywhere. Youmay fall, be injured or die. There arehidden holes. You could break yourleg. There are wild animals, whichmay be vicious, poisonous or carriersof dread diseases. These includepoisonous snakes and insects. Plantscan be poisonous as well. We don�tdo anything to protect you from anyof this. We do not inspect, superviseor maintain the grounds, rocks, cliffsor other features, natural or other-wise.
Real dangers are present evenon trails. Trails are not sidewalks.They can be, and are, steep, slipperyand dangerous. Trail features made orenhanced by humans, such as steps,
walls and railings (if any) canbreak, collapse, or other-wise fail catastrophically atany time. We don�t promiseto inspect, supervise ormaintain them in any way.They may be negligentlyconstructed or repaired.They are unsafe, period.Live with it or stay away.
Stay on the trailswhenever possible. Theterrain, in addition to beingdangerous, is surprisinglycomplex. You may get lost.Carry food, water and first aid sup-plies at all times. Rocks and otherobjects can fall from the cliffs. Theycan tumble down slopes. This canhappen naturally, or be caused bypeople above you, such as climbers.Rocks of all sizes, including hugeboulders, can shift, move or fall withno warning. Use of helmets isadvised for anyone approaching therock formations. They can bepurchased or rented at Seneca Rocks.They won�t save you if you get hit bysomething big or on another part ofyour body. A whole rock formationmight collapse on you and squash youlike a bug. Don�t think it can�t happen.
Weather can be dangerous,regardless of the forecast. Beprepared with extra clothing, includingrain gear. Hypothermia, heat stroke,lightning, ice and snow, etc. can killyou. Rain can turn easy terrain into adeathtrap.
If you scramble in high places(scrambling is moving over terrainsteep enough to use your hands)without proper experience, trainingand equipment or allow children to doso, you are making a terrible mistake.Even if you know what you�re doing,lots of things can go wrong and youmay be injured or die. It happens allthe time.
The Preserve does not providerangers or security personnel. Theother people in the preserve, includ-ing other visitors, our employees,agents, and guests, and anyone elsewho might sneak in, may be stupid,reckless, or otherwise dangerous.They maybe mentally ill, criminallyinsane, drunk, using illegal drugs and/or armed with deadly weapons andready to use them. We aren�t neces-sarily going to do anything about it.We refuse to take responsibility.
Page 15Catalyst
If you climb, you may die or beseriously injured. This is truewhether you are experienced or not,trained or not, equipped or not,though training and equipment mayhelp. It�s a fact, climbing is extremelydangerous. If you don�t like it, stay athome. You really shouldn�t be doing itanyway. We do not provide supervi-sion or instruction. We are notresponsible for, and do not inspect ormaintain, climbing anchors (includingbolts, pitons, slings, trees, etc.) As faras we know, any of them can and willfail and send you plunging to yourdeath. There are countless tons ofloose rock ready to be dislodged andfall on you or someone else. Thereare any number of extremely andunusually dangerous conditionsexisting on and around the rocks, andelsewhere on the property. We mayor may not know about any specifichazard, but even if we do, don�texpect us to try to warn you. You�reon your own.
Rescueservices are notprovided by thePreserve, andmay not beavailable quicklyor at all. Localrescue squadsmay not beequipped for ortrained in moun-tain rescue. If youare lucky enoughto have somebodytry to rescue youor treat yourinjuries, they maybe incompetent orworse. This includes doctors andhospitals. We assume no responsibil-ity. Also, if you decide to participatein a rescue of some other unfortu-nate, that�s your choice. Don�t do itunless you are willing to assume allrisks. By entering the Preserve, youare agreeing that we owe you no duty
of care or anyother duty. Wepromise younothing.
We do notand will noteven try to keepthe premisessafe for anypurpose. Thepremises are notsafe for anypurpose. This isno joke. Wewon�t even try towarn you about
any dangerous or hazardous condi-tion, whether we know about it ornot. If we do decide to warn youabout something, that doesn�t meanwe will try to warn you about any-thing else. If we do make an effort tofix an unsafe condition, we may nottry to correct any others, and we maymake matters worse! We and ouremployees or agents may do thingsthat are unwise and dangerous.Sorry, we�re not responsible. Wemay give you bad advice. Don�t listento us. In short, enter and use thepreserve at your own risk. And havefun!
By Paula David, Statewide Trails,and Laura Westrup, Planning Div.
Local agencies throughout thestate are recognizing the significanceof trail linkages from downtowncenters, community destinations orfrom residential areas � as functionaltransportation routes and for theirhighly sought-after recreational andhealth benefits. For many of thesecommunities, a multi-use trail systemfunctions as a recreational amenitythat serves a wide range of users:equestrians, bicyclists, walkers,joggers, in-line skaters, children instrollers, people using mobilitydevices (such as wheelchairs), crosscountry skiers, hikers, wildlifeviewers, and anglers.
Many local governments arenoting an increase in user demandsfor developing multi-use, regionaltrails that in addition to providingrecreational experiences and places toexercise also serve as importanttransportation linkages. It is wellknown that properly located trailsystems can buffer adjoining land usesand help define and shape communityboundaries. In addition, urban trailsbenefit the local economy by attract-ing tourists from outside of theregion.
Fortunately, potential funding isavailable to regional planners throughProposition 12 and Proposition 40,the Environmental Enhancement andMitigation Program (EEMP), National
Recreation Trail Program (NRTP) andTEA-21. In addition, grant programsunder the Habitat Conservation Fund(HCF) and the Land and Water Con-servation Fund (LWCF) are available.Projects that show a direct linkage toother trail systems often rate morefavorably than those submitted asstand-alone trails.
What makes a regional multi-usetrail successful?
The answer: Good, solid planningstarted well in advance.
A well designed trail decreaseslong-term maintenance costs andprotects natural and cultural re-sources. The most successful multi-use regional trails are located alongcorridors that have the same triporigins and destinations as motorists.For example, bicyclists and walkersgenerally need to get to and from thesame facilities, community serviceareas (e.g., libraries, schools, shop-
ping centers), and places of work asthose using cars or taking publictransportation. Of course, access,climate, and the perceived safety ofthe trail user will affect the success ofthe trail.
Many local recreation and parkagency planners have worked hard tocreate trail systems that meet therecreational and destination needs ofa diverse and insistent population.New trails may be so popular thatthey will fill to capacity within a fewyears after opening, leaving trailoperators at a loss to accommodatethe flood of users. Other aspectschange as well, including the equip-ment and needs of the trail user. Inthe mid-1980s, mountain bikes and in-line skates introduced a whole newset of opportunities and user needs.Today, planners are learning moreabout the special needs of those usingscooters, skateboards and racingwheelchairs. Undoubtedly the futurewill present new recreational varia-tions not even considered today.
Page 17Catalyst
Three Stages ofRegional Trail Planning
Trail planning can be divided intothree distinct and fundamental stages:
1. Visualizing the �Trail Plan�
Early in the planning phase,technical matters such as identifyingthe general location of the trailcorridor, agencies that would beinvolved, potential funding sources,trail layout, design, and trail use arecarefully analyzed. Do remember toinclude ADA trail standards forpedestrian use trails; check outwww.access-board.gov/PUBS/outdoor-rec-rpt.htm for more infor-mation. Community participation isabsolutely vital and will help to createa sense of community ownership ofthe project (more on this below). Tobe effective, regional planners mustuse trail user studies and seek com-munity input at public meetings.
A general time frame for develop-ing a simple trail plan can be aslengthy as 24 months, depending onthe complexity of the situation.
2. Developing and RetainingCommunity Partnerships
After the initial planning process,the master trail plan will need to beincorporated into the community�sgeneral plan. It is very important toform a coalition of diverse groups ofcitizens and potential trail users earlyon, preventing any one group fromtaking ownership of the project.
Experienced trail planners know thatbroad-based support is needed to:
· Provide a better understanding ofthe needs of the community;· Understand different user groupsinterests and concerns;· Develop compromises amonggroups that have different priorities,needs, and interests; and· Generate ideas for trail design,location, and uses.
When a city or county agencydecides to amend its general plan toinclude a regional master trail plan, itwill develop and follow a set ofplanning procedures in accordancewith the California EnvironmentalQuality Act (CEQA). The purpose ofthese procedures is to identify anddisclose to decision-makers and thegeneral public the potential environ-mental consequences of adopting themaster trail plan. CEQA is most
Learn more by attending�
19th AnnualCalifornia Trails and Greenways Conference
Education and networking for all planners, trail builders,managers, and supporters
September 6-8, 2002Granlibakken Resort in Tahoe City
Presented by the California Department of Parks and Recreation and theCalifornia Recreational Trails Conference
Contact the Statewide Trails Office for registration and sponsorshipinformation: Paula David (916) 651-6915; Exhibit and vendor opportuni-
ties: Doug Wilber (916) 651-6916, or visit www.parks.ca.gov
effective and efficient when the publicis actively involved.
3. Going for it -Implementing the Plan
Issues such as liability, CEQAcompliance, easements, operationand management policies (adopt-a-trail, organizing volunteer mainte-nance programs, jurisdiction, andmanagement of various segments ofthe trail) are the focus of this planningphase.
It is critical to develop a detailedfeasibility plan on how to obtainfinancing to ensure that a trail plan willbe implemented following its inclusionin the general plan. Solid planning andallocated funding go hand-in-hand. Awinning grant application includesproof that all aspects of technicalplanning and community partnershipsare covered.
Page 18 Catalyst
�Adventure Guide� Makes It Fun andEasy to Interpret Park Values to Children
By Cara O�BrienInterpreter II, Angeles District
The new self-guided JuniorRanger Adventure Guide offers allCalifornia State Park units an opportu-nity to have their own educationalprogram available for visiting childrenbetween ages 7-12. Whether yourpark is a museum, historical unit,natural preserve or beach you will beable to offer each child visitor in thisage group the self-guided activitybook that will help them learn moreabout your park unit. You can evencustomize the Adventure Guide andaward to make them unit specific sochildren attending a program at oneunit will get a different award and/orAdventure Guide than the one theycomplete at another unit in the samesector. This will encourage childrenwho live locally or regionally toexplore many different parks in orderto earn the different awards available.
The Adventure Guide does notreplace the traditional presentedJunior Ranger program but insteadworks with it or by itself to make sureany park can offer a quality children�seducational program with or withoutstaff to present Junior Ranger pro-grams. Children can do both the self-guided Adventure Guide and attendguided Junior Ranger programs ifthey are offered. Children can alsoget credit in their Adventure Guide forexploring self-guided trails/tours orgoing on docent/ranger-guided tours,trails and other presented programs.
address the resources in the park.Staff as well as children will appreciatethis �plug and play� program becauseit will teach the child visitor and his/her family how to interact safely withthe resource while learning to appre-ciate the park�s values. You can evendirect child and family away fromover-used areas and toward moredurable or under-utilized resources/exhibits by adapting the AdventureGuide. Whether you use the Adven-ture Guide just the way it comes ormake changes to it, the possibilitiesfor reaching children in the parks arelimitless and require little time andstaff.
For questions on how to obtainthe Adventure Guide, please contactyour District Interpretive Coordinatoror Jessica Watrous at (916) 653-9069.
This gives the family flexibility tocomplete the Adventure Guidewhether they visit the park for anhour or enjoy an extended visit. Anadded benefit of the Adventure Guideover the regular Junior Rangerprogram is that it encourages parents/guardians and older and youngersiblings to work with the childrenwhile they learn and explore the parkin a safe and educational way. Ofcourse this program is notdesigned to replace the valuableinteraction between Rangers andchildren on presented Junior Rangerprograms but instead to complementit and provide programming when it isnot available. Each program offersunique benefits.
Even parks where there is littlestaff will be able to make the Adven-ture Guide available to visitors inbrochure racks and can make prizesavailable by mail if there is no otherway for them to be awarded. How-ever, the interaction with park staffwhen the child receives his/her awardfor completing the Adventure Guide isso valuable and rewarding for both thechild and the staff that it is worthfinding a way to make it possible.
One of the biggest benefits of theAdventure Guide is the chance tomake it park-specific. Using theprovided template to make theAdventure Guide park-specific is easy;it can be as simple as adding yourpark�s name on the cover or evenadapting questions so they specifically
Page 19Catalyst
One Perspective
Professional Development
I see professional development as akey to preventing the demise of agood interpreter. Attending profes-sional meetings is a privilege for me.
Participation is something I valueenough to make the effort to paydues and fees, take vacation to attenda conference, rearrange work sched-ules and childcare, and negotiate withmy spouse. Presenting at meetingsand attending sessions at workshopsis one way for me to keep fresh. Not
by Tony BormannInstructor, MN State University
As the primary professionals inthe teaching/leaming process of ourrespective institutions, we ought toplace continuous emphasis on thedevelopment and improvement of ourprofessional competence and produc-tivity. This professional growthoccurs in areas such as effectiveinterpretation skills, scholarly orcreative activity, and active involve-ment in our local communities andprofessional organizations. Scholar-ship and current knowledge in ourareas of expertise and interest to-gether with a desire to improve ourmethods, are instrumental to being agood interpreter.
I am fortunate to have the en-couragement of my supervisor andinstitution when it comes to profes-sional development. It actually goesbeyond encouragement. It is re-
quired. The performance of my jobduties is evaluated annually and isdirectly related to my attitude anddesire to do well and improve myself.We all know people who don�t liketheir job and could care less abouttrying new things. One of my goals isto not become one of those people.
We all know people who don�t like their job and couldcare less about trying new things. One of my goals isto not become one of those people.
staying fresh means to become stale;autopilot. What follows is a set ofblinders that narrows my perspectiveof opportunities for growth. Doingthe same old things the same old waymakes me anxious and bitter and soonI will be one of those people Imentioned earlier. Involvement in theleadership of an organization ispriceless. The friendships I havegained are numerous. Leadershipresponsibility outside of work hashelped prepare me for leadership inmy job.
I will continue my involvement inNAI and treat it as a privilege. I thankNAI and its leadership for the oppor-tunity to grow as a professional. Allthis said....I will continue to enjoy myjob and care about what I do andstrive to do better.
Page 20 Catalyst
Step Back in TimeBy Crystal Shoaf, Ranger I
and Sara M. Skinner, Guide I
The Petaluma Adobe once servedas the headquarters for the 66,000-acre cattle rancho owned by GeneralMariano Guadalupe Vallejo. Therewere many people living near andworking at the Adobe in the 1830s-1840s. The rancho included over3,000 sheep, 2,000 horses, and25,000 head of cattle.
Living History Day at PetalumaAdobe State Historic Park is held thesecond Saturday in May. The publichas the opportunity to meet thevaqueros, traders, cooks, craftspersons, soldiers, and others thatlived in Old California in the 1840s.The costumed volunteers and re-enactors recreate activities andscenarios that were typical of ordi-nary life on a Mexican Californiorancho in the 1840s.
Upon embarking for the 1840s,visitors must acquire a passport at theentrance. The passport gives thementrance to Mexican California. Theyalso can acquire a settlement deed ora land grant if the soldier at the gatefeels they are worthy. The visitorsthen cruise the courtyard and see thevolunteers in action.
Jane Beckman, a volunteer whoreturns every year, demonstratescooking an authentic meal that isprovided to the volunteers. We havecandle making and basket makingstations where people can try theirhand at crafts that were essential todaily life. Our incredible brick maker,
Jerry Kelly, also demonstrates how tomake adobe bricks and the kids canjump in if they want to.
The event was started by one ofour living history volunteers, TroyDunham, in 1982. He has encouragedthe public, examined the volunteersfor period wear, and been a tremen-dous asset in getting the event off ofthe ground over a decade ago. Ourevent this year was a huge success.We always have competition with
nearby events in our county, butattending Living History Day hasbecome a tradition for many families.This year we were also lucky to havemany members of the Hudson BayTrading Company attend as well assome Russians from Fort Ross. Wehad a large turnout and the staff wasvery pleased.
So, if you are in the area on thesecond Saturday in May 2003, comeon out and walk into Alta California.
Page 21Catalyst
The Road Less Traveled
The Travel TrunkBy Jamie Mendez
I have always preferred a sponta-neous, spur-of-the-moment style oftraveling. The best vacations seem tohave been those with only a generaldestination in mind and just thedeparture and return date chosen inadvance - no particular place that I hadto get to nor any specific time that Ihad to be there. If something lookedinteresting then I would stop �maybe for an hour or maybe for a dayor two. This way my very ordinaryvacation would be transformed into agrand adventure! But even the mostdaring adventuress needs to maketravel preparations, and so beforeeach trip � I never left withoutrummaging through my old traveltrunk to ensure that I had everythingthat I would need along the way.
With the advent of this columnmy adventures have been of a differ-ent sort, even though my style oftraveling has remained pretty muchthe same. My destinations aregeneral and � like my time schedule� flexible and subject to change. Inow, however, more so than before,need to keep tabs on the contents ofmy trusty travel trunk. In fact I wasrummaging through it just the otherday searching for exciting places togo and people to meet. I foundreams of research on all aspects ofCalifornia�s many state monumentsand parks. I dug past the historicbuildings and right into living history. Ihad almost located the interview I hadin mind when a photograph albumcaught my eye. I was about to put it
aside but opened it instead. A familiarface smiled at me. I began to feelmyself being transported back in time.A time in the not too distant past thatI did not want to revisit.
Time seemed to stand still thatbright February morning. For thesmiling face in the photograph, timefrom that day forward would standstill � forever. The sense of loss wasoverwhelming. The sounds of grief �individual and collective � deafening.The void created by the passing �more akin to a black hole slowlyengulfing us all with no end in sight.A tragic ending and an equally tragicloss revisited. I mechanically beganto thumb through the rest of thealbum. More familiar faces smiled atme and the black hole began togradually recede. Soon the void wasgone � filled with smiling faces offriends and family. What kind of crueltricks was my mind playing on me?This was not what I had intended towrite about. This person had nothingto do with historical monuments orthe people who worked at them. ThenI came to the sudden realization that Iwas wrong.
History is about people � whothey are; what they did; and why theydid it. What we venerate as historicalsites were built and occupied bypeople. The details that historians andinterpreters get so involved in are thedetails of these historic people�s lives.What people of the past believed hasformed the foundation of our cultureas we know it today. But sometimesone person � like that smiling face in
the photograph � creates such anoverpowering cultural presence thatall the other smiling faces in thecommunity and their accomplish-ments are eclipsed. It is only after thatoutstanding individual is gone that theother shining stars become visible.
By this time, the album hadslipped from my hands back into thetrunk. I picked it up and slowly beganto thumb through the pages. Thistime, though, I didn�t stop at the firstsmiling face. I focused instead on thephotographs of all the others and thestories that each person had to tell.Soon I found that my interpretivetravel trunk was filled with so manyfresh new ideas and so much re-newed enthusiasm that I could barelyclose the lid!
I chose not to pack away thatphotograph album � at least not yet. Ihad one photograph remaining uponwhich to ponder � that familiarsmiling face that had so recentlythrown me into such a tailspin. As Ilooked down once again upon thatpicture I thought I heard a lowchuckle and caught a hint of a twinklearound those eyes staring back at mefrom the past. The story has beentold and the lesson has been learned.Your passing was not an ending but anew beginning. Of course you knewthat all along. It was for me to findout. The other stars have always beenout there shining. You did not eclipsethem. It was my own inability to scanthe greater horizon that clouded theuniverse beyond and the road lesstraveled.
Page 22 Catalyst
Cultural Diversity:California�s Heritage and Legacy
Jose Ignacio RiveraThe Legacy (Part 2):
During the Gold Rush peoplefrom all over the world travelled toCalifornia to find their fortune. At thistime we see the first large migrationof Chinese to California. In fact, theChinese term for California was �GoldMountain.� Most of the Chineseentering California were Cantonese.
The worldwide migration toCalifornia during the Gold Rush wasvery one sided, in terms of gender.There were very few women inCalifornia early on. Some women didmake a living out of prostitution, butby far not all. Most women whoentered California during this timeperiod were not very well educated.The few women who were educatedleft us a treasure of first hand informa-tion about California from an interest-ing perspective, such as DameShirley.
Most women made a living justdoing simple domestic chores that thegold miners missed, such as bakingpies, doing laundry, sewing andmending clothes, running a boardinghouse and the like. Some womenbuilt a fortune, obtaining their originalinvestment money doing this type ofdomestic work. A good example of awoman rising to prominence doingdomestic work to earn investmentmoney would be the well-known LosAngeles black woman, Biddy Mason.
The gender of the Gold Rushimmigrants was varied. During thistime period we see the first �gay� orhomosexual life style finding a safeharbor in the homeport of the GoldRush - San Francisco. San Franciscobecame a haven for homosexual men,with many leading a very open lifestyle even then.
Since the Gold Rush there havebeen other large immigration waves,such as the 1930s �Grapes of Wrath�dust bowl immigration, and of coursethe post World War II migration intoCalifornia by returning �vets� to name
a couple. We see large waves ofFilipinos, East Indians, Japanese, andof course migrations from all overLatin America. Even though Californiabecame a part of the United Statepolitically, it never stopped being apart of Mexico culturally � not onlybecause of the long tradition of theCalifornios such as the Castros,Selpulvadas, Vallejos, and Lugos toname a few, but the constant waves offresh immigrants that kept the culturealive and strong.
An interesting rule of thumb, asmany of us who have worked in the
California Indian and Mexican commu-nities have found out: if a Mexicanfamily has been in California for fourgenerations or more, chances arethey have California Indian blood. Inthe first 30 years after California wasannexed by the United States, theCalifornia Indian population wasreduced by 80% due to diseases andespecially homicide. In order tosurvive, many California Indiansmelted into the Mexican community.Despite popular belief, in realityMexicans are really Indians who livefarther south. Mexico has alwaysbeen an Indian nation, and the demo-
graphics keep proving it. Even thename Mexico is rooted in Nahuatl,one of the many indigenous languagesof Mexico.
Diversity is the legacy Californiawill leave to her future generations.While California�s population isdiverse, this is not the case for therest of the country. �White flight� isstill happening, but no longer on theneighborhood level; now it is on astate-to-state level. William Frey, aUniversity of Michigan demographer,pointed out in his book AmericanDemographics (June 1998) that out
Diversity is the legacy California will leave to herfuture generations.
Page 23Catalyst
of the nation�s 325 major metropoli-tan areas only 21 are trulymulticultural.
The nine largest multiculturalurban areas are: New York, LosAngeles, Chicago, Miami, Houston,Dallas, Washington D.C., San Fran-cisco, and San Diego. Frey�s list alsoincludes 11 smaller cities, but theyare all located in California and Texas.Only one city with a population ofless than 2.5 million outside ofCalifornia or Texas made the list, andit is Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Logically, the most diverse statesare the �port of entry� ones, such asNew York, Texas, California and thelike. A little known fact is that, upuntil recently, only Mexico City hadmore Mexicans living it than LosAngeles. Now Guadalajara is numbertwo, and Los Angeles, California isnumber three. Mexicans and other
Latin American immigrants are nowmaking huge inroads into states likeMichigan, Nebraska, Iowa, and theRocky Mountain states. Asian immi-gration also falls within these param-eters. The twenty metropolitan areaswith the greatest Asian populationsare along the Boston to Washington,D.C. corridor, and of course on theWest Coast.
Nationally, white populationgrowth is slow, but due to �whiteflight� from the �port of entry� states,the white population is exploding incities like Seattle, Portland, Minne-apolis-St. Paul, Salt Lake City, LasVegas, Phoenix, and Orlando. Eventhough America loves to expound
upon its �melting pot� myth, WilliamFrey points out that the majority ofthe U.S. counties are still 90% white.
The good news is, although olderAmerica wants to keep their distancefrom the new immigrants and staywith their own, the youth do not. Theyoung and the educated are changingthe American attitude toward diversity.Of the new freshman class, 63% say
In the sea of humanity that we all come from, thiswave is the wave of diversity, and the surfboard istolerance
they frequently socialize with some-one from a different racial or ethnicbackground. New neighborhoodswithout the stigma of racial traditionsare attracting people of various ethnicbackgrounds. These people willsocialize with whites who have similareducation, jobs, and children aboutthe same age. Thus we may beheading toward the social make-up ofLatin America, where it does notmatter what your ethnic backgroundis, but the new guide may be classand possibly age.
As we stand today, California issurfing the crest of this new youthfulacceptance to diversity. In the sea ofhumanity that we all come from, thiswave is the wave of diversity, and thesurfboard is tolerance, and we muststay on it for the ride of our mutuallives. We can all be proud as Califor-nians of our heritage and legacy ofdiversity. Going back to Part 1, whatis true in nature is also true culturally,�In nature diversity is good, anddiversity is healthy.�
Catalyst Autumn 2002 Contents
Big Basin Centennial Celebration Page 1From the Editor Page 3Interpreters' Resources Page 4Dear Master Interpreter Page 5Everyone Has an Idea That Won�t Work Page 6Play Ball! Page 8Exploring Evaluation at Cabrillo NM Page 10Kite Day at Pacheco Page 12Warning, All Guests Must Read This Page 14Multi-use Trails Page 16�Adventure Guide� Makes It Fun and Easy Page 18Professional Development Page 19Step Back in Time Page 20The Travel Trunk Page 21Cultural Diversity: California�s Heritage and Legacy Page 22
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