Selected items from the August 2009 edition of the Angeles National Forest’s Los Angeles River Ranger District Volunteer Newsletter from Recreation Officer Howard S. Okamoto (818-899-1900 ext 229 / hokamoto@fs.fed.us)
VOLUNTEERS ARE THE HEARTBEAT OF THE FOREST SERVICE The mission of the Forest Service is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the Nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations. The mission of the Forest Service is guided by the fundamental principle of providing the greatest amount of good for the greatest amount of people in the long run and is characterized by the slogan: Caring for the Land and Serving People. If you’re interested in assisting us in managing your National Forest or have questions about the Volunteer Program, please contact me at 818-899-1900 ext 229 or hokamoto@fs.fed.us /s/ Howard S. Okamoto Angeles National Forest Los Angeles River Ranger District Recreation Officer
VOLUNTEER TODAY Dedicate Yourself to Caring for the Land and Serving the People http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/angeles/volunteering/
ANGELES NATIONAL FOREST FIRE LOOKOUT ASSOCIATION (ANFFLA) Welcome to the Angeles National Forest Fire Lookout Association, a nonprofit volunteer organization dedicated to restoring, maintaining and staffing to lookouts on the Angeles National Forest. Be a Lookout! It’s probably easier then you realize to become an active Fire Lookout with the ANFFLA. It just takes a few classes training (which are quite fun!) and the desire to spend some time in the Angeles National Forest.
Angeles Mountain bike Patrol AFMBP@hotmail.com Our mission is to provide educational and a responsible image to all trail users. To encourage rider’s to obey forest regulations and working to preserve and protect trails. A.M.P is here to serve and inform the public.
Big Santa Anita Firesafe Council cafiresafe@sbcglobal.net Looking for volunteers to assist in fuel hazard reduction, trail maintenance and visitor information in Big Santa Anita Canyon.
Chantry Flat The summer has arrived as have all the festivities and nature lovers to our National Forest. Chantry Flat has been very busy of late and with the crowds come various challenges that we have either witnessed first hand or heard through one of our colleagues reports. May and June have had attendance numbers of 1600+ people on a weekly basis. That’s 536 rolls of toilet paper (single ply of course), 280 bags of trash and 48 bags of recyclable materials collected.
With the crowds, comes the need for patience and perseverance. All of the volunteers at chantry contribute in many ways. In just the last two months, the team has worked 557 hours. There have been numerous public assists, 13 rescues, over 250 noncompliance notices written, equaling $1250 .00 in revenue. Tina alone has probably sold 320 passes by directing the public to the (Adams Pack Station) to purchase their pass before going on a hike, again bringing in $1600.00 in revenue.
The volunteers at Chantry work very well together. They have developed their skills through training provided in the classroom and on the job training under the guidance of Kevin Hunt. The volunteers practice smooth public service habits and respond to the many duties that are required. Together, they have cleaned graffiti off of many a beautiful boulder and picked up trash. With a kind word, a smile or the use of our authority, we can go a long way on a very HOT day.
Always at the ready, the team of volunteers has hiked 85 miles collectively over the months of May & June, provided directions to hundreds of visitors and have helped keep people safe on the trails. The presence of the volunteers on the weekend has added to the peaceful and lawful experience our visitors expect in our National Forest.
Maintenance duties are not always the fun part of the job but necessary and done without complaint. The bathroom facility at Chantry Flat, Roberts, Spruce Grove, and Hoegees campground are kept clean and stocked constantly.
Special Recognition is deserved by two of our very dedicated volunteers. Chris Kasten because of his long standing interest in the National Forest, his value to the volunteer program and the attention he provides on a weekly basis to Spruce Grove is unmatched. He Hikes in 4.0 miles every week. He provides campers a great experience and is certain to make sure that all of the visitors are fire safety compliant. And Tina Chamley because over the past fifteen years she has given almost every weekend of her time to the needs at Chantry. Tina is the welcome committee that our visitors have come to recognize and her ability to direct the public and provide them with accurate and vital information makes for a safe and successful outdoor experience.
The loyalty and commitment of this group of people is to be credited. These are people who can be counted on. And they count on one another’s dedication in order to get the work done. They keep tight schedules, they arrive early, divvy- up the duties and communicate the needs of the day as well as report the results.
Chantry Flat Volunteers: Jerry Baker, Tina Chamley, Don Davidson, Kelly Davidson, Dave Gollihugh, Jon Gollihugh, Mark Heltsley, and Chris Kasten
VOLUNTEER GROUP NEWS Community Hiking Club 661-259-2743 Dianne Erskine Hellrigel email: zuliebear@aol.com •Aug 22 nd – Chantry Flats- We’ll hike to 50’ Sturtevant Falls near Sierra Madre.
Only You Can Preven Wildfires!
Get your SMOKEY on How do you get your SMOKEY on? Go to: and http://www.myspace.com/wildfireprevention and look at the videos! Smokey Bear He’s a war hero who became a media mogul, celebrity pitchman, pop icon and philanthropist. He’s so famous he was given his own ZIP Code, 20252, to handle the fan mail. He is 65 years old but has no intention of retiring. Smokey Bear was born in August 1944, sired by a committee of ad men and government bureaucrats hoping to safeguard a key war material: wood. Smokey today remains the face of the longest-running public service campaign in U.S. history — a simple message delivered by an anthropomorphic bear.
EDITORS NOTE: The U.S. Department of Agriculture announced on June 17 that U.S. Forest Service chief Gail Kimbell has been replaced by Tom Tidwell.
Hello, I’m Tom Tidwell. In recent years, the Forest Service has focused on issues of vital importance to conservation—issues that Chief Kimbell has brought to the fore—issues consistent with the things that Secretary Vilsack feels are important—issues that I will build on.
We will continue our work under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. We will continue to meet our responsibility to provide job opportunities—to move our nation towards a more stable economy. I know that this work along with our 09 program of work will make a difference, especially in the communities where many of you live and work.
We will continue our focus on restoration to improve the health of our forests and grasslands —with an increased emphasis on watershed restoration. We are in an era of climate change, and we will continue to respond accordingly. The Forest Service is in a unique position to provide solid climate change science and solutions for mitigation and adaptation and we need to apply these solutions on a landscape scale.
In this era of climate change, the challenge with the fire seasons will only continue to increase. But we know based on our experience that we can continue to reduce the risk to firefighters and the public, while increasing the effectiveness of our suppression actions.
We will also continue reconnecting Americans to nature, especially kids. We want all Americans to appreciate the vital role our nation’s forests and grasslands provide in their lives. In that same spirit, I want us to always focus on how we leave these lands for future generations. That is a core value of mine and a responsibility I take very seriously. I will continue to focus on bringing people together. Landscape-scale conservation … collaboration across borders and boundaries … I believe these are the keys to our future.
The challenges ahead are many and I will need your help and support. So I ask you to join me. Together, we will continue to make a difference. So thank you for your support—- thank you for what you do … ensuring a bright future for the Forest Service, the lands we care for, and the people we serve.
Volunteer Today Send this in Right Away to Howard S. Okamoto—12371 N. Little Tujunga Canyon Rd San Fernando, CA 91342 Name_____________________________________________________________ Address___________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________ Phone # (hm)_______________________________________________________ e-mail_____________________________________________________________ Interests Indicate what you would like to do. Circle area or enter your interests. Campground Host/ Visitor Information/ Smokey Bear – Fire Prevention/ Recreation Aid / Forest Patrol /Resource Management / Computers/ Research-Librarian / Office Clerical / Tour guide/ Fire Lookout/ Conservation Education / habitat restoration and tree planting Other:___________________________________________________ _________________________________________________________ P 8 Vol. 7 TUNDRA by Chad Carpenter Los Angeles Times June 26, 2008 email: info@tundracomics.com P 8 vol. 7 Issue 8 Los Angeles River Ranger District 12371 North Little Tujunga Canyon Road San Fernando, CA 91342 P 81 2 V vooll. .7 7 I Issssuuee 8