The document is a newsletter from Yosemite National Park that provides information on the park's Management Team and their efforts. It introduces the Management Team and their purpose to implement projects that support the park's strategic vision. It outlines some of the Management Team's current projects, such as creating workspaces and reviewing processes. It also provides information on other park programs and recognition awards. The newsletter aims to share information about collaboration across the park to support the strategic vision.

1. PEAKS & VALLEYS INSIDER’S GUIDE Issue 1
1
Peaks &
Valleys
Insider’s
Guide
August 2015
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK CONTENT
.
What is the Management Team?
The Management Team was formed to
achieve the goals of the Yosemite
Strategic Vision and enhance
communications with park staff. The
team consists of 20-30 self-nominated
members who were approved by the
Executive Leadership Team.
What is the purpose of the
Management Team? The Team’s
purpose is to implement strategic
projects and practices that foster
stewardship of the Park and its resources.
Specifically, members lead
implementation of the Park’s Strategic
Vision.
What is the Management Team doing?
The following are some of the items that
the Management Team is addressing:
 Create touchdown workspaces
in all districts
 Ensure all supervisors meet
regularly
 Review housing bid process and
seasonal allocations
 Develop emerging leaders and a
job shadowing task book
 Produce a park-wide
organizational chart
Where can I find more information
about what the Management Team is
doing? For meeting agendas/minutes,
information on the projects and progress
of workgroups, and a list of team
members, visit the Management Team
SharePoint site.
Our goal with this
newsletter is to introduce
you to the Yosemite
Management Team and
to share information
about the on-going
efforts made by your
colleagues toward the
Yosemite 2020 Strategic
Vision. As an employee of
the Park you contribute
to the vision every day, so
read on to find out about
what else is going on
across your Park.
About the Communication
Newsletter
Introducing the Management Team
Barry Hance Award
Work/life balance Quiz
Kudos
Mentoring Program
Yosemite Leadership Program
Feedback Box
Welcome to the first edition of the
Peaks & Valley’s Quarterly Newsletter!

2. PEAKS & VALLEYS INSIDER’S GUIDE Issue 1
1
In June, NPS employees at Yosemite
awarded the 2015 Barry Hance Award to
Glenn Gibbons from the Arch Rock
Entrance Station. Like Barry, Glenn is
known for his positive attitude and
concern for fellow employees. Tom Richie
from IT visited with Glenn about his
reaction to receiving the Park’s highest
honor.
One of the things that struck me most
about Glenn was his humility. Glenn said
he was excited when he saw Brendan
Bonner get on stage, thinking Brendan
would be a good recipient. “When he
turned and pointed to me I was so
surprised I was actually breathless. That’s
not me. I’m not a very social person.”
When I expressed disbelief that someone
that greets hundreds of people
a day isn’t very social, he explained that
the man on line is Ranger Gibbons and
that Glenn is the man that goes home in
the evening. When asked about how he
keeps such an upbeat attitude for what
seems to be a repetitive job, Glenn
recalled a visitor from his earlier days at
the Park. “I had gotten into a robotic
mode; ‘Hi, welcome to the park. That’ll
be $10 please, here’s your change.'’’ A
woman came through and
Kudos
Have you seen coworkers do an
exceptional job, go above and
beyond to help someone out, or
put in an extra effort to meet a
team goal? We have all
experienced it, but did you take
the time to thank the employee
or recognize him or her for what
they did? We rush from task to task and
we achieve great results, but recognition
is often lost in the shuffle.
As part of a project during the spring
session of the Yosemite Leadership
Academy, Angelina Long proposed that
we create an easy way to share a thank
you note among employees. Her cohorts
came up with a process and Peter
Lindstrom implemented it in SharePoint.
after the
transaction
said she
felt like
she’d just
been
processed.
It was then
I decided I
didn’t want
to be that
person.
When
people come to the Park they’re excited
and even a little intimidated as they
approach the gate with uniformed
personnel. We’re the first impression
visitors get when they come to the Park.
A bad first impression could sour their
entire visit. I want to make visitors feel
comfortable and that we’re here to
provide information, maybe some advice
on the best trail for a short visit, in
general to help make their visit as
enjoyable and memorable as possible.
The idea is to
make it simple,
and to make it
easy for any of us
to go read about
the great things
that we do.
When you see an
employee / team
excel or deliver great results go to Kudos
from the SharePoint home page.
Identify the person or team worthy of
the recognition and describe what they
did that you appreciate. You can add a
supervisor or division if you like, and the
supervisor will receive an email
notification.
Interested in the Mentoring Program? Click here for more information and apply!
Are You Balanced?
Do you know your work/life
balance flexstyle?
Click here to read more and take
the quiz!
Barry Hance
Award

3. PEAKS & VALLEYS INSIDER’S GUIDE | Issue 1 3
The YLP Summer Internship is a 12-week
professional development program that
focuses on leadership, professional skills
development, environmental awareness,
stewardship, and creating positive
change. Various students ranging from
different majors and previous outdoor
experiences apply for this extraordinary
opportunity to live and work in the
incredible Yosemite National Park.
These students work alongside NPS staff
and park partners such as the Yosemite
Conservancy and Delaware North
Companies as they gain practical field-
based experience that involves
wilderness protection, search and rescue
skills, and resource management. These
youth are from all over California. The
park stewardship shown to them by the
passionate employees all over the park
help to encourage these youth to bring
back to their own communities the
knowledge they have gained and
continue to be the next scientists,
community leaders, and educators to
further protect the lands we love.
The internship program was introduced
in the fall of 2009 and has had over 100
interns join the National Park Service as
volunteers in the summers since then.
For the summer of 2015, 15 interns have
been accepted into this prestigious
program. Also joining us this summer are
13 of the past interns who now work for
the National Park Service because of the
benefit of YLP’s Direct Hire Authority.
These former interns continue to serve
the environment not only in Yosemite
but at school as student rangers in the
Wilderness Education Center at UCM as
they advance their Park service career.
Former intern Moses Chun now works in
the Superintendent’s Office as an
Administrative Support for special
events. The internship position he had in
the summer of 2013 was in the position
under Public Involvement and Outreach
that gave exposure to a lot of
major park initiatives.
Working here he says,
“I used to think nothing
lasts forever. But the vision
of Yosemite is to conserve
everything here for future
generations…for people you won’t
even know.” says Chun. “You gain an
extensive and better perspective on why
and how work is done for the public in the
Park Service.”
Besides having a job, students attend a
Friday environmental leadership class
that allows them to not only have a work
outlook while in Yosemite but also
practice leadership skills for everyday life
and living at home with the cohort.
As the students stay in Yosemite for their
summer job, they are able to increase
their belief in their own abilities and be
inspired to recognize their own potential.
With that in mind, the greatest benefit to
this intern program is that it takes who
they are and what they can do to connect
them to a larger world of opportunities
that help these individuals grow,
innovate, and impact the world given to
them.
Yosemite Leadership Program
Summer Interns 2015

4. PEAKS & VALLEYS INSIDER’S GUIDE | Issue 1 4
THANKS FOR READING!
Now that you've read through our first issue and have at least some sense for what Peaks & Valleys
is about, let us know what you think!
"SUBMIT FEEDBACK FROM THE LINK ON THE MANAGEMENT TEAM SHAREPOINT
SITE"
"PEAKS & VALLEYS IS ASSEMBLED BY THE MANAGEMENT TEAM'S
COMMUNICATIONS WORK GROUP, WITH HELP FROM YLP INTERN JUDY CUENO"