Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Just 125 miles north of Maine's northern border, Fundy National Park in New Brunswick, Canada, cradles protected forest wilderness. Dramatic tides at the Bay of Fundy surge as much as 33 feet, making the park the site of the most extreme tides in North America. Bring your dog to romp along the tidal pools pressed into the red clay among barnacle-strewn boulders, or head inland to explore trails through the forest leading to lakes and waterfalls. For a multi-day adventure, pitch a tent or park an RV, knowing your dog is a welcome visitor to the park.
Leafy and grassy, and sometimes sandy, Seattle parks include more than 6,000 acres in neighborhoods and space near large water bodies that define the city’s eastern and western boundaries. Seattle’s extensive park system is ranked in the top 10 among 40 large U.S. cities by the Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit organization that works to establish and improve city parks. More than 10 percent of Seattle’s land is dedicated to parks, and of the city’s 430 parks, about one-third are located in North Seattle, some with notable origins and themes. A handful of parks deserve mention because of their…
Mount Charleston, also known as Spring Mountain Recreation Area, exists as part of the Humbolt-Toiyabe National Forest (fs.usda.gov). Driving to Mount Charleston from Las Vegas takes less than an hour and grants you a reprieve from the neon lights, busy casinos and city traffic. Upon arrival, camp in one of the seven campgrounds, and take advantage of several hiking opportunities that provide magnificent views of limestone cliffs, waterfalls and glimpses of the Vegas Valley.
It takes just a bit more than four hours to drive from the palm trees of Los Angeles to the majestic forests of Sequoia National Park. At the southern end of the Sierra Nevada begin hundreds of miles of trails and peaks soaring up to 14,500 feet high -- and, of course, the largest trees in the world. Begin your exploration of Sequoia well-rested by pulling off at an interesting stop.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park (nps.gov) stretches along the Tennessee-North Carolina border south and east of Gatlinburg, Tennessee. The most-visited national park in the U.S. covers more than a half-million acres of high peaks and deep forest. Campers can stay at a developed campground, hike to a secluded campsite in the woods or saddle up for a ride to into the interior.
Yellowstone Lake, the largest high-elevation lake in North America, has more than 132 square miles of water surface measuring 20 miles long and 14 miles wide. Backcountry campsites situated along its 141-mile shoreline can be accessed by boat when the lake thaws in late May or June. Wolf Point is a promontory jutting into Wolf Bay on the lake's southern shore, marked by a boat dock and a campsite, Wolf Bay 7L5.
If you're a busy parent, your idea of fun might be to relax with your feet propped up on the coffee table, remote control in one hand, cool drink in the other. Young kids, however, will go stir crazy (and drive you crazy in the process) if you make them sit still too long. Strike a happy compromise and enjoy the many benefits of taking your kids to the park. With any luck they will tire themselves out, and you'll finally get a few moments of peace and quiet.
Yellowstone National Park in northwestern Wyoming and adjoining Montana and Idaho represents the glorious heart of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, a tremendous wilderness mosaic in the Middle Rocky Mountains. Few national parks in the world combine the history, geological splendor and ecosystem scale of Yellowstone, which set the standard in 1872. Visitors in mid-August can participate in the full spectrum of the park’s experience: from the hubbub of Mammoth and Canyon to the wild solitude of an Absaroka Range saddle or a lodgepole pine forest miles from the nearest road.
Named for a white rock formation that resembles the dome of the U.S. Capitol, Capitol Reef National Park (nps.gov) in southern Utah is a study in contrasts. Forbidding red cliffs rise above the green banks of rivers. Evidence of human habitation stretches for thousands of years, but there are few human inhabitants in the park. A developed campground in Capitol Reef accommodates RVs, and commercial campgrounds nearby have more amenities.
Sprawling across more than a million acres, Sequoia National Forest (nps.gov) is located near the southernmost end of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in California. The forest is named for the giant sequoia trees, which grow only on the western slope of the Sierra Nevadas and form several dense groves throughout Sequoia National Forest. If you'd like to stay overnight in the forest, accommodations are available at Lodgepole Campground.
Lassen Volcanic National Park is home to hot springs, pristine mountain lakes and mile after mile of forests and meadows. In the Cascade Mountains of Northern California, the park spans over 100,000 acres in the shadow of 2,000-foot Lassen Peak, the world's largest plug dome volcano, which last erupted in 1915. You can explore Lassen Volcanic National Park by day and spend your nights at one of nine campgrounds.
Dead Horse Point, in Utah's Dead Horse Point State Park, sits at the end of a mesa 2,000 feet above a gooseneck in the Colorado River. The park is 250 miles southeast of Salt Lake City and 9 miles northwest of Moab. Dead Horse Point got its name from late 19th-century cowboys, who used the mesa leading to the point as a natural corral for catching wild mustangs to keep or sell. Legend has it that several unwanted mustangs died of thirst on the point after being corralled. Today, visitors come to enjoy the park's spectacular scenery, trails for mountain…
Minun, one of the many Pokemon in the Nintendo DS game "Pokemon SoulSilver" is caught after listening to the "Hoen Sound" broadcast on the radio. Once caught, Minun has a variety of special abilities which may prove useful. Being an electric elemental Pokemon, he has a variety of lightning based skills such as "Thunder Wave," a skill which may paralyze an enemy when used. To catch him, tune into the radio show on a Wednesday and visit one of the many areas he is found.
Installing a Glacier Bay surface-mounted medicine cabinet is slightly different from installing some other brands. This is because the Glacier Bay cabinet has mounting brackets. The mounting brackets, which are on the back of the cabinet, have keyhole slots that slip over screws in the wall. You most likely will not find wall studs to secure the cabinet because of the spacing between the brackets. Plastic wall anchors can be used to hang the Glacier Bay surface-mounted medicine cabinet when you cannot use wall studs.
Glacier Bay manufactures a line of products, such as toilets, faucets and bathroom hooks, sold only at The Home Depot. They also make a line of engineered composite bathroom vanity tops. Read the installation guide that came with your Glacier Bay vanity for specific care and maintenance instructions, but in general, you can clean and care for all of them in a similar manner. Clean your vanity at least once a week to keep it shiny.
Park rangers work in state or federal parks as peace officers, historical interpreters or tour guides, depending on their seniority and the specific requirements of their assigned parks. Duties may include patrolling campgrounds, ticketing violators for various infractions or conducting search and rescue operations. However, the primary function of a park ranger is to protect the natural resources and property of the park and to ensure the safety of visitors.
The Wabash River forms the western boundary of Terre Haute in Vigo County, Indiana, with the river one of the natural attractions of the city. Visitors to the city also have the opportunity to view a number of other natural and man-made landmarks, ranging from the sculpture collection of Wabash Valley Art Spaces to the historic Collett Park.
One way to carve a daffodil from a branch is to whittle the wood. According to Don Mertz of Wood Bee Carver, the height of whittling was from 1865 to 1965, when soldiers from the Civil War brought back the fold art to their communities. Whittling is when wood from branches or scraps are carved with just a pocketknife. Select a soft wood, such as pine or willow for the daffodil, and start with a straight branch about 12 inches long and 3 inches thick.
National park rangers are responsible for the supervision of national parks and federally managed areas, including historical sites and landmarks. The role also consists of responsibilities related to fire prevention, natural conservation and educating the public about the nation's wildlife. The National Park Service has approximately 16,000 full-time, permanent employees but also employs 10,000 temporary workers each calendar year. Much of the orientation and training new rangers receive is acquired on the job.
The African American educator and political activist Mary McLeod Bethune was born in Maysville, South Carolina in 1875. The only member of her family born into freedom, Bethune's many accomplishments include founding a school for African American girls and acting as a delegate at the founding conference of the United Nations. Educate your students about the life and times of Mary McLeod Bethune with classroom activities.
Although the U.S. Office of Personnel Management classifies permanent National Park Service park rangers as law enforcement officers, a ranger's duties are varied. Park rangers may guide tourists to remote areas, present talks on the history or geology of a park, or patrol campgrounds to ensure security. The OPM pay scale for law enforcement officers applies for park rangers hired to fill permanent jobs, with pay grades of 5, 7, 9, 11, 12 and 13. Each pay grade contains 10 pay steps, allowing for periodic pay increases. In addition, the OPM pay scale incorporates cost-of-living adjustments for certain U.S. locations.
Nearly 70 percent of park rangers in the United States work for some level of government, reports the Bureau of Labor Statistics. While many find work with a bachelor’s degree in forestry, natural resource management or a related field, those who wish to secure research and/or teaching positions must also possess a master’s degree or Ph.D.
South Padre Island is a small island located just off the tip of Texas. There are numerous sand dunes on South Padre Island that populate the island's tropical beaches. These dunes vary in height. The simplest way to measure the height of a dune is to take some measurements and use Pythagoras' theorem to calculate the height.
The job of a park ranger varies considerably from one position to the next. Some park rangers primarily work to enforce laws and park rules, while others primarily work to educate the public about the natural features or historic significance of a park. However, in general most park rangers regularly perform both law-enforcement and educational tasks. If you are interested in becoming a park ranger, it is important to understand the different types of jobs available, as well as the salary and benefits these park rangers earn.
A park naturalist is sometimes known as a park ranger, an environmental education specialist, a historical interpreter or an interpretive naturalist. Such professionals instruct the general public about various natural, historical and scientific features of a park, by planning, developing and conducting programs. The salary of a park naturalist depends on his industry, experience and location.
Theodore Roosevelt, the 26th president of the United States, was a charismatic and popular leader whose presidency helped to shape America and foreign policy. Introduce your class to President Theodore Roosevelt with engaging activities that will teach your students about Roosevelt's policies, private life and impact on the country.
Park rangers are law enforcement officials with jurisdiction over one or more parks. They prevent violations in forests, deserts, fields, rivers, lakes, streams and other wildlife areas. Their educational requirements vary according to whether their primary function is interpretation or protection.
Slavers' Exile is a high-level dungeon featured in the computer game "Guild Wars: Eye of the North." You may only enter Slavers' Exile once your character has completed the "A Time For Heroes" quest. The entrance is located in the southeast corner of the Verdant Cascades zone, which itself is entered via the Umbral Grotto. Slavers' Exile is a challenging dungeon that is recommended for parties of eight players.
The competition to become a wildlife park ranger is high, as jobs in this industry are few and far between, according to the Princeton Review. To be a wildlife park ranger you must enjoy the outdoors and have the ability to exert yourself physically as the job requires a lot of walking. In addition to protecting wildlife, a park ranger provides information to the public, completes safety inspections, helps keep park visitors safe, maintains recreational sites and responds to emergencies.
When referring to landscaping, weeping walls are rock wall structures from which water seeps or trickles out and down the rock face. The inspiration for these soothing water features comes from natural rock formations that appear to weep and are fed by a water source, such as snowmelt or springs.
Today there are approximately 30,000 bison in herds on public and private lands in North America. This number is significantly smaller than the 30 to 60 million bison which roamed across the country prior to the 1800s and the subsequent settling of America. Bison are the largest land animal in North America, and require access to acres of open grasslands. For that reason, bison herds are now primarily found in national parks and refuges on the plains and prairies of North America.
A purchased "Slurpee" from a 7-Eleven store comes with a reward code printed on the bottom of the cup. This reward code may be redeemed online through the "Slurpee Nation" website. If you collect points from rewards codes, you may redeem them for a variety of prizes. Prizes include DVD rentals, "Facebook" credits and posters. The "Slurpee Nation" website is free to use, though you will be required to create an account to redeem reward codes.
In the "Pokemon" video games, Flareon is a fire-type Pokemon that excels in offensive power, as well as special defense. In addition, Flareon holds an elemental advantage over bug-, steel- grass- and ice-type opponents. In "Pokemon SoulSilver," Flareon doesn't appear in the wild. Instead, you must evolve Eevee, a fox-like Pokemon, by exposing it to a fire stone.
Park rangers may work for the federal government through the National Park Service or through a state park system, each of which is managed by an individual state government. Beginning salaries of park rangers may fall within a range based on a variety of factors, including education level and experience. The beginning salary ranges are different for temporary and permanent park rangers with the National Park Service, as well as for park rangers employed by state park systems.
According to the Minnesota House of Representatives research department, the state contains approximately 51.2 million acres of land and i known as the "Land of 10,000 Lakes." (It should be noted that this figure does not include the areas covered by water.) A House research department article states that about one-quarter of Minnesota land is owned by various governments and subsidiary agencies and roughly 75 percent is privately owned.
BETA stands for Bicycle/Equestrian Trails Assistance. BETA is a volunteer-based organization that provides assistance to organizations that frequently use bicycle trails, horseback riding trails and hiking trails in the Monterey Bay region. Their aim is to provide these organizations with information on how to navigate trails, how to maintain the integrity of trails and how to adhere to trail etiquette. BETA works with such organizations on a range of programs encompassing a variety of naturalistic activities. These activities are all free.
Characterized by the profusion of conifers populating the region, the coniferous forest, also known as the taiga or boreal forest, stretches across large areas of North America, Europe, and Asia. This major ecosystem lies between the tundra to the north and the deciduous forest to the south. The climate in the coniferous forest biome corresponds with regions of subarctic and cold continental climates, but varies based on latitudinal location.
Ocean trenches are narrow and elongated depressions within the ocean floor and they form the lowest points on Earth. One such trench is the Mariana Plate and it descends about 7,000 miles deep into the ocean floor. According to the Encyclopedia of the Earth, 70 percent of the Earth's surface is water and the Pacific Ocean contains 30.5 of the Earth's hydrosphere. Trenches are found in all of the world's oceans and they influence natural phenomena such as earthquakes and volcanic activity.
Altimeters are devices on an airplane that indicate the aircraft's actual height above sea level, called the true altitude. They read the changes in barometric pressure by calculating the weight of the air pushing down on the aircraft from above. Warm air increases air pressure, and cool air lowers pressure, but the altimeter can't calculate temperature and air density. The standard atmosphere is an internationally agreed-upon variation of atmospheric conditions representative of the average yearly conditions at middle altitudes. Changes to instruments and flight plans can be made when the pilot compares his aircraft's performance in particular conditions to this…
Conifers are a division of cone-bearing seed plants within the Plant Kingdom. There are approximately 550 living conifer species on Earth, all of which are trees or shrubs. Conifer plants dominate high-latitude boreal forests and have evergreen needle-like leaves. Cedars, pines, redwoods, firs, spruces and hemlocks are some of the best known members of this family.
Tropicl rainforests are located across the world from Central America to Africa, Indonesia, Australia and Southeast Asia. Tropical rainforests have a wet climate and although, according to rainforestinfo.org, cover only 12 percent of the world's land area, more than half of the millions of the world's species live here. Tropical rainforests are so rich in biodiversity that less than 1 percent of their species have been studied by scientists.
Texans like to say that "Everything is bigger and better in Texas." This is certainly the case for events in Austin, Texas during the Christmas holiday season. There are many Texas sized fun-filled options for the entire family if you are planning to visit the city of Austin during the month of December. Two venues offer holiday train rides, but many other events are available to entertain you at Christmas in Austin.
Yellow road signs in Texas are warning signs. These signs are placed on the road by the Texas Department of Transportation. Regulations regarding yellow warning signs require that they be few in number because the state fears that too many warning sings in an area could cause drivers to disregard important warnings. Warning signs must be subject to an engineering study before being placed in order to ensure there is a real need for the sign.
Sand dunes are as ever changing as the weather, because the weather is what precipitates their constant changes. Regardless of where sand dunes are present throughout the world, stabilizing these natural formations and preventing them from falling victim to Mother Nature's harsher elements remains an ongoing concern. There are several techniques that can be used to stabilize a drifting sand dune, depending on what elements are causing it to erode.
Along with new languages, you will find a variety of electrical sources when traveling across the world. While the United States runs on a 120-volt standard, much of the world uses a 240-volt standard, creating some difficulty when attempting to use your electronics in faraway lands. In order to keep plugged in with your laptop or camera, you need a voltage converter, easily found at any department store or in shops in the international terminal of an airport.
Mention "The Emerald Isle" and most listeners will assume you're talking about Ireland. That's because many people don't know about Kodiak Island, a spectacular, verdant wilderness north of the continental United States, which equally qualifies for that colorful distinction. At 3,588 square miles, Kodiak is the second largest island in the United States, surpassed only by the big island of Hawaii.
The deepest part of the Earth is located in the Pacific Ocean north of New Guinea, near the Mariana Islands. Scientists have long known that this Mariana Trench plunged far deeper under sea level than any other surface on the planet, but the exact deepest point wasn't located until 1960, when a US Navy vessel explored what is now called Challenger Deep, at 35,838 feet below sea level.
Many of the world's natural wonders -- state parks, geological features and wildlife habitats -- are in danger of disappearing due to alterations in the ecosystems which sustain them. Climate change, industry and the encroachment of human habitation put these places at risk. Conservation groups such as the Nature Conservancy continue to track the status of these sites, and a new kind of travel, ecotourism, allows a glimpse of endangered natural wonders before they vanish.
Landforms are the natural physical features of the earth's terrain. They can range from very small in size, such as the grooves on rock surfaces, to the massive mountain ranges and ocean basins. All seven continents are home to many distinct landforms, such as mountains, plains and rivers.
Fall is the perfect time for a road trip through Ohio. The fall colors spread across the state will appease even the simplest nature seekers and, for the more expert naturalists, there are many different types of trees lining the roads and in preserves and parks across the state.
