BLM press release

Bishop Calif. – Ron Napoles, Recreation Park Ranger for the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Bishop Field Office, has received this year’s national award for contributions in the field of interpretation.

Ron was recognized for developing and designing a set of interpretive panels in collaboration with the fourth through seventh grade classes at Round Valley Elementary School in Bishop. The panels are being used on a nature trail at the Horton Creek Campground, managed by the Bishop Field Office.

In the fall and winter of 2014-2015, staff from the Bishop Field Office joined multiple partners to provide a series of classroom lessons to the fourth through seventh grade classes at the school. The classroom workshops taught students about local wildlife and plants, the Paiute people and the geology and ecology of the Eastern Sierra. Students also did their own research on the Sierra Nevada. As part of their lessons, they wrote text, drew and colored pictures, and created maps and images about what they learned.

 

“Ron took the text and illustrations made by the students and made a set of beautiful and creative interpretive signs for the nature trail,” said Jeff Starosta, Acting Supervisory Resource Management Specialist. “By engaging local school kids in creating the panel content, the Bishop Field Office, Ron in particular, helped to realize the primary goal of BLM’s Recreation Strategy: to connect with communities.”

Nominees for the award were evaluated on the basis of their success in enhancing the public’s understanding of the cultural and natural resources of our public lands, supporting BLM goals and objectives, helping the public to recognize their connection to public lands, creating programs that are accessible to diverse audiences, involving partners and developing strong working relationships with local communities.

For more information, contact the Bishop Field Office at (760) 872-5000.