Who's Who in the Park

It takes a legion of people working together to protect this special park for you and future generations of visitors. Many of the faces you may see during your stay are those who came to Yosemite as youngsters and have returned to continue the park's mission of protection and stewardship. You, too, can extend your connection to Yosemite well after you return home.

National Park Service

The National Park Service (NPS) is the federal custodian of Yosemite National Park. As an agency of the U.S. Department of the Interior, the NPS has the responsibility of preserving and protecting the natural and cultural values of our national parks, protecting the wildlife therein and providing for public use and enjoyment of the parks. The NPS operates visitor centers, museums, wilderness centers, entrance stations and conducts interpretive programs. To learn more about the NPS at Yosemite, write to the Superintendent, P.O. Box 577, Yosemite, CA 95389; or visit us at www.nps.gov/yose. To join the National Park Service in Yosemite, call the employment hotline (209) 379-1805 or check for vacancies online at www.nps.gov/yose/ parkmgmt/jobs.htm.

Volunteers in Parks

Volunteers in Parks (VIPs) are playing an ever-increasing role in the national parks. They consist of men and women who have particular talents or skills that are needed in the parks. They perform tasks in areas such as park information, maintenance, education programs, research, photography, preservation and more. Join the 70,000 people yearly who volunteer their time and talents to help safeguard our national parks.

Individuals and groups interested in community service projects can take part in the park's VIP program. Free camping is provided and entrance fees are waived during work projects. Call (209) 379-1850 or visit online www.nps.gov/yose/supportyourpark/ volunteer.htm.

Parks As Classrooms

The park offers educational outreach and information for teachers through the NPS Education Branch. Its Parks As Classrooms program coordinates with the California State Frameworks for elementary grades. Each program lasts one to two hours and entrance fees can be waived for the educational visit. These programs emphasize the National Park Service message of protection and preservation of natural and cultural resources. For more information, call (209) 372-0303 or (209) 372-0307 or visit www.nps.gov/yose/forteachers. Obtain fee waivers for educational groups by calling (209) 372-0206.

Yosemite Association

The Yosemite Association (YA) is an educational, nonprofit organization dedicated to the support of Yosemite National Park through a program of visitor services, publications and membership activities. Since 1923, YA has provided important financial support to the National Park Service and its members have performed thousands of hours of volunteer service. The support of its membership has become increasingly important to the continued health of Yosemite National Park. Anyone who loves Yosemite and wishes to become more closely involved and affiliated with the park is encouraged to become a member of the Yosemite Association. For more information on YA, write to: P.O. Box 230, El Portal, CA 95318; (209) 379-2646; www.yosemite.org.

YA also supports the park's educational mission through sales of books relating to Yosemite and Sierra Nevada natural and cultural history, which can be purchased at any park visitor center or at www.yosemitestore.com. YA also operates Yosemite Outdoor Adventures which provides educational courses for park visitors. There's an adventure for everybody—hiking, photography, art, natural history, backpacking, writing—and all are taught by park rangers, veteran outdoor leaders and seasoned naturalists. Proceeds from all of YA's programs directly benefit Yosemite National Park. To request a catalog, write to YA above; call (209) 379-2321; or visit online at www.yosemite.org/seminars.

Yosemite Institute

Since 1971, thousands of school-age children have benefited from learning in "nature's classroom" through the residential field-science programs offered by Yosemite Institute (YI). A YI experience strives to foster a life-long connection to the natural world—whether it is in Yosemite, on a city street or in our own backyards. Multi-day explorations in the park feature hands-on learning and team-building. Students stretch their physical capabilities by learning new skills, such as cross-country skiing, that bolster self- esteem. Programs are available to students with disabilities. Over the years, this park partner has provided valuable opportunities to scores of under-served and inner-city youth who might otherwise never experience the wonders of the outdoors. YI also offers professional development for teachers, summer youth programs, backpacking adventures, community outreach programs and service learning projects such as aquatic habitat assessment, non-native Himalayan blackberry removal, asphalt removal, and giant sequoia inventory and monitoring. For more information, contact Yosemite Institute at: P.O. Box 487, Yosemite, CA 95389; (209) 379-9511; or visit www.yni.org/yi.

The Yosemite Fund

The Yosemite Fund is the primary nonprofit fundraising organization for Yosemite. Since 1988, the Fund has committed over $35 million to complete over 200 projects in the park. Donations to The Yosemite Fund help keep Yosemite's beauty alive by providing fund grants for managing wildlife, restoring habitat, repairing trails, providing new educational exhibits and more. For more informa-tion or to make a donation, call (415) 434-1782; write The Yosemite Fund, 155 Montgomery Street, Suite 1104, San Francisco, CA 94104; or visit online at www.yosemitefund.org.

DNC Parks & Resorts at Yosemite

Delaware North Companies (DNC) Parks & Resorts at Yosemite operates hotels, restaurants, sightseeing tours, recreational activities, interpretive programs, stores, shuttles and service stations in the park under contract with the U.S. Department of the Interior. Among their facilities in Yosemite are The Ahwahnee, Yosemite Lodge at the Falls, Curry Village, Housekeeping Camp, the Wawona Hotel, Tuolumne Meadows Lodge, White Wolf Lodge, Yosemite High Sierra Camps, Yosemite's Badger Pass Ski Area and concessions operations at the Mariposa Grove, Glacier Point and Crane Flat.

DNC encourages its employees to develop a strong relationship with the park during their tenure. DNC Interpretation offers different programs that enable Yosemite community members to pair a skill with education. Courses that have been offered include skiing, snowshoeing and winter ecology, outdoor photography and hikes during the lunar moonbow. For more information see Yosemite Today. For employment opportunities with DNC at Yosemite, visit online at www.YosemitePark.com/jobs.

U.S. Geological Survey Yosemite Field Station

The USGS Yosemite Field Station provides technical assistance to the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and other client agencies. Using expertise on fire behavior and ecology; plant and wildlife ecology; geographic information systems; and inventory, survey, and mapping techniques, scientists at Yosemite Field Station address resource issues of concern to land managers.