Travel Report: Glacier National Park

“So basically what you’re telling me,” I asked Tim Gilk, IT administrator, and Bill Hayden, Interpretive Media Specialist at Glacier National Park “is that anything is possible?”

“Yes,” they replied.

We were sitting down in Bill’s office on Friday afternoon and they were showing me the ease at which their NPS website can be updated. Information like when a campground fills or the status of the Going-to-the-Sun Road or cross-country skiing conditions is displayed in real-time and bypasses the current CMS restrictions. Even historical data like the average temperature for, say September 7, between 1990 and 2000, can be determined. It seemed like whatever Bill, Tim, and David Restivo, another Visual Information Specialist, could dream up, it could happen.

It was at this point that my brain started firing away with little ideas we could try back at our own Research Learning Network and it was at this point that I felt very grateful for visiting Glacier.

While the park itself was stunning—a hybrid of North Cascades and Yosemite—it was the staff that truly impressed me. As I continue to find during my travels, National Park Service employees are enthusiastic and passionate about their work. Sure there might be some eye-rolling about bureaucracy, but at the end of the day we’re here because we believe in our NPS Mission.

Here are some highlights of what I learned:
-Apple computers are possible to be connected to the NPS network!

-Glacier has a huge fan-club following of web-cam viewers, to the point that there are daily e-mails thanking the park for having them and/or complaining that a camera has been bumped and that the view is off by an inch. In the greater scheme of things, these cameras have allowed park visitors to stay connected to their park resources, despite geographic distances.

-The Crown of the Continent Research Learning Center recently hired a new staff member to improve their publications and web-presence. Thus, they are addressing some of the same communication issues as our own network. I’m anticipating future collaboration, or at least park-to-park camaraderie in the future. Sallie Hejl, their director, was also very excited about the projects we are developing.

-After a conference call between Bill, Jerry and myself, it seems that the Yellowstone Science Learning Center model is something we should aspire to, at least in terms of our web-presence. It’s incredibly content-rich with material available for the general public and scientists alike.

-Discussions with park staff reinforced my belief that the national park experience isn’t limited to park boundaries and that digital media is one means of reaching out to non-traditional park visitors—be it the upcoming tech-saavy generation, urban populations or handicapped visitors. I now have digital templates for Glacier’s interactive e-hikes, have seen how their podcasts are produced and can now create 360 degree virtual reality panoramic movies.

-Lastly, I learned that hiking in grizzly bear country can be a little nerve-wracking. Fortunately, the views make up for having to carry bear spray and shouting loudly every few hundred feet.

As I reflected on this trip, driving across the flats of Eastern Washington, it was apparent that this was a fruitful learning experience. I witnessed not only very successful models of communication (Freeman Tilden Award!), but also staff that have the energy and creativity to lead the National Park Service. Knowing our own staff and resources in the Pacific Northwest, I believe that this too is something we can achieve. Thanks everyone for this opportunity!