Two Wonderful Programs That Support the National Park Service

The two programs that I refer to are:

• Student Conservation Association SCA


• NPS Volunteer Program NPS Volunteer

SCA began in 1957 and the NPS Volunteer program was authorized in 1970. During my nineteen years of service to CAVE, I was very fortunate to work with some excellent employees from both programs.

On Saturday evening August 2, 2008, Interpretive Supervisor Ruben Andrade and his wife Diane hosted a very nice party at their home. I was fortunate enough to meet and talk with some of the SCAs and one VIP. One SCA is leaving in a little over three weeks, and one just arrived yesterday.

I didn't catch where all the SCAs were from (or the VIP), but the three SCAs pictured here hail from St. Louis, Boston, Massachusetts, and Yakima, Washington. One SCA preferred not to have a picture taken, but all four SCAs and the VIP were very nice.

Isn't it great to have such talented and bright and idealistic and enthusiastic employees like these volunteering to work at CAVE? What great contributions they make to the accomplishment of the CAVE mission and in turn to the accomplishment of the NPS Mission.

At one point, one of the SCAs began to laugh and asked me what my last name was. She wondered if I knew anything about the day that a ranger accidentdally hit a baby with a ranger flashlight in the audience at the Top of the Cross?

Because she was so nice I told her what I knew about the ranger who did that many years ago.

By the way, on August 3, 2008, I will have been retired from the NPS for 3 1/2 years. It's a great life if you can keep your socks up and watch where you are going at the same time. And, of course, if in addition, you can remember ranger flashlight legends.

Note: Thanks to Avelina who spotted an error I made on the day of the party. I have corrected it.