In the Groove

Wow, what a whirlwind the best couple months have been! Last time I blogged I had just returned from vacation in California...which was back in September. A lot has happened since then, but I'm going to attempt to keep this short (I promise).

In early October the White House hosted the fall garden tours, where the public can tour the South Lawn of the White House. I helped to coordinate the volunteers, as usual, and all went well. The other thing that occurred in October was the big meeting that I had been planing since March. On the records as the 'Millennials in the National Park Service Roundtable Discussion', the meeting brought together top NPS officials, program managers, and a selection of youth working for the NPS to discuss the millennial experience working for the agency. There was a lot of fruitful discussion that will hopefully lead to some concrete actions. We discussed things such as hiring opportunities, career paths, generational differences, and trends that attract/turn away our generation. The meeting also presented me the opportunity to then sit on a Department of the Interior 'Hiring Excellence' panel, where I helped hiring officials and folks from HR better understand the new generations perceptions and frustrations with hiring and the federal government. Lastly, I closed out October by helping with the grand opening of the new REI store here in DC. The National Park Service has a partnership with REI and has a first-of-its-kind visitor contact station inside the new store. I helped staff the visitor contact station for the opening weekend and had some great conversations with folks about getting outside!

November started out with getting outside myself, going on the second annual CVA trip to Shenandoah National Park. I had another great trip to the mountains with friends. Always a great place to see the fall colors and get a breathe of fresh air. Both October and November at work with filled with planning and coordinating the ornaments project, similar to last year. Work also included preparing for the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony and the Pathway of Peace display. Since writing any more about this topics would probably make you fall asleep, I'll leave it at that :) At the end of the month I was able to go home for Thanksgiving, which was relaxing and a much needed break. It's always nice to be back in Minnesota and see the family.

December kicked off with the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony on the 1st, where the President and First Family lit the tree and there were numerous performances. I got to see Kelly Clarkson perform, as well as Garth Brooks, Yolanda Adams, Chance the Rapper, and others. We had over 200 volunteers for the event, which requires a lot of coordination, communication, and logistics, but all went well. Then, I had the opportunity to go on the White House Holiday Tour, where the house is decorated for the season. Every time I tour the White House I remember what a historic place it is and all that has happened there.

The past few months has also included a few visits from friends, including the Murrays, the Westbergs, the Walzs, and college friends Megan and Kathryn. As I have said before, it is always fun to have visitors, so if you're thinking about visiting call me up!

All and all, the past few months have been very busy at work but have been very fulfilling. I have done a fair amount of reflection and I can say that not knowing what life would look like when I move here a year and a half ago, things have worked out and I like where I'm at. Although it may not be what I had imagined (at all!), around every corner opportunities present themselves, and for that I'm very grateful. As I close out the year, I hope that 2017 allows me to continue to embrace the adventures life presents to me!

Vacation in California!

The time certainly seems to fly by around here! It's hard to believe that another summer has past and by now I've participated in some annual events for a second time. Not knowing how long I'd be in this city when I first moved here, I can say that I am still enjoying my time in this bustling city.

The month of September was abnormally warm, with the rain and gloom just recently setting in. Now that the family is all spread out, we have turned to using Google Hangouts to catch up with each other. It's so great to see everyone :)

At work I am well into the ornaments project for the National Christmas Tree Display. We have also been preparing for the Fall White House Garden Tours, which are next weekend. And preparations have already begun for the National Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony and for inauguration. For many parks the fall season is a time of winding down. For us at President's Park, things are just picking up. And to cap off the summer and the centennial for our park, we had a park-wide picnic to celebrate, which was a fun event filled with cake, yard games, and an appearance by the White House chief usher.

And then it was vacation time! When many things in life are uncertain sometimes you have to take advantage of the current situation. I have friends currently working at National Parks all over the country right now and it seemed right to take advantage of the opportunity to visit while I can. I took myself to California and visited Point Reyes National Seashore, where my friend Joey works in the same position as I do in my park. Point Reyes is full of beautiful beaches, high cliffs, and a lot of wildlife. It was great to return and explore more in depth, as the time we as a family spent there in 2009 was too short. I helped with a beach cleanup event and got to meet some of the staff. I hiked a few of the trails, got to see some great sunsets, and all around had a great time.


And then my rental car and I made our way to Yosemite National Park! Yosemite is known as a dream destination, and with many expectations, it did not disappoint. 3000 foot cliff faces, beautiful mountain tops, golden meadows, big trees, blue skies, and peaceful waterfalls. Honestly it was overwhelming. I went for a few hikes, went camping under the stars, got to see my friends Claire and Alyck, and participated in a volunteer trail cleanup event. Even though the park was busy with visitors, on the trails and while camping I was able to experience the true quietness of the wilderness. There are no words that accurately describe the contrast between what has become my daily life and my time spent in Yosemite. It was a much needed retreat from work and the craziness of city living. I could go on and on about my vacation, as there are lots of fun things to comment on. Instead I'll let the photos speak for themselves. Check out my vacation photo album!

The Month I've Been Waiting For!

August got off to a great start when I attended the State Arrival Ceremony for the President of Singapore to the White House. This is now the 4th State Arrival Ceremony I've been to and they never cease to be an amazing experience.

The beginning of the month meant the end of the season for the park's youth staff, which was marked by a youth summit, a gathering I helped to put on.  This year's youth staff shirt sported a design created by yours truly :)

Also near the beginning of the month my friend Joseph stopped by while on a road trip. Always great to see friends and spend some time together, even if just a few hours.

Myself with my Park's leadership

Believe it or not, I went to two baseball games this month, one as a SCA networking event and one to celebrate the 100th birthday of the National Park Service. More on the birthday celebrations in a moment...

The Student Conservation Association (SCA) hosted a summit here in DC to bring the new generation of the workforce together with senior leadership of the NPS and give feedback on how things could be better. While the opportunity to give feedback on a topic I care about was great, seeing my friends was even better! SCA paid for some former CVAs to attend, meaning lots of my friends were in town! I had a great time showing them around and hanging out :)

And then it was birthday time! On August 25th the National Park Service turned 100 years old! This is the whole reason my position was created over a year ago. There were many celebrations associated with the centennial, including a music festival in Harpers Ferry, tons of social media attention, a Nats baseball game, and a world record broken for the largest NPS arrowhead! I got the opportunity to be a part of largest arrowhead event on the Washington Monument grounds, where we each held colored umbrellas and stood in position. Read more by reading a blog I wrote specifically about the event!

And after a week of birthday celebrations, including some for my birthday, the month of August came to a close. I finished out the month by having the Pechmans visit me here in DC. Again, always great to show folks around and see familiar faces.

At work, while most of the focus this month was on the centennial, I have also been actively working away on the Ornaments Project. You may remember this from last year, but to refresh, I lead the effort to find artists/groups to create the ornaments for the National Christmas Tree Display. This involves reaching out and creating partnerships in every state and territory with the state's art agency, having them go through a selection process, and then working with the selected artist/group to create 12 ornaments to then have shipped here to DC for the Display. There are a lot of moving parts to the project and lots of deadlines, but the excitement of seeing the Display look great for the President to light during the National Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony in December is great motivation. It would be remiss of me to fail to mention that I have 7 volunteers helping me with this project this year. They are fantastic individuals who deserve the credit for making the project happen!

Lastly, I want to wish my sister Angela good luck as she begins her freshman year of college at UW-LaCrosse. I also want to insert a special note for my sister Kayla, who began the journey to become a Catholic nun this month. She has joined the Franciscan Sisters, TOR in Toronto, Ohio. With these changes, Mom and Dad are empty nesters and the family now lives in five different states (ND, MN, WI, OH, and MD). It feels weird to have us all be so far a part, but I know we will stay as close as ever :)

Alright, that brings us to September. This month holds the potential of lots of great adventures! Look forward to a travel blog...

Side note - My friends and I were unexpectedly and unknowingly placed on the backside of the new nation-wide NPS map!

Summer Fun!

Here are my July happenings!

After the 4th of July and moving houses at the beginning of the month things started to slow down.

This month I had the very cool opportunity to help out at the White House Kitchen Garden! We heard the Michelle needed some help pulling weeds and picking veggies so we came to the rescue :)  It was such a cool experience to spend a morning at the White House and help out. Thanks to NPS for coordinating the fun event!

This month I also got to help lead a large service project at the 1st Division Monument, which is in President's Park. I had a great time helping others make a difference and help the park. Facilitating service projects is always a rewarding experience.

Then, as the summer heat began, the Water Lily and Lotus' at Kenilworth Aquatic Gardens began to bloom. I helped coordinate the volunteers for the big festival and got to enjoy the blooming flowers myself.

I don't know I've mentioned it before, but I've been working on big project to present to senior management of the National Park Service regarding engaging youth, the flaws of the internship and youth programs, and some solutions that could help create a better experience for all. This project is self-initiated, along with a few other interns, and involves lots of conference calls, researching and reading data and reports, and meetings. It will hopefully help to create some momentum to change some things!

Then, just this past weekend I went to New York City, just for fun! My friend Anne Marie was already planning to go to NYC to visit her brothers, Eric and Danny, and so I decided to tag along, taking the bus from DC. It was great to take a vacation that was solely for myself and for complete fun! We explored the city and did so many fun things! Just a few of the places we visited include the MET, Central Park, Times Square, the NYC Library and Bryant Park, the 9/11 Memorial, walking the Brooklyn Bridge, up the Empire State Building, Washington Square, the High Line, and walking many of the neighborhoods such as Chinatown, Little Italy, and Greenwich Village.

It was great to be able to hang out with Anne Marie and to see a new city! While there we also got to see our high school friend, Camille! It was great to catch up! The only other time I was in NYC was two years ago with Mom for just a few hours, as we were driving through on our epic road trip. I had such a fun time, thanks to Anne Marie, Eric, Danny, and all the great places we visited in NYC!

As the month comes to a close so birthday messages are in order to my Great Aunt Laverne, Kayla, Aunt Nicole, Ruthie, and my friend Michael! Wishing you all another year of happiness!

PS - My new house has two adorable cats, Chester and Sunshine. They often join me for breakfast :)

Trainings and Travels

...and I'll pick up this blog where the last one left off.

The week after Memorial Day I had the opportunity to help facilitate the training for the new cohort of Centennial Volunteer Ambassadors at Valley Forge near Philadelphia. I helped the National Park Service and Student Conservation Association put on a week long training for the new CVAs, giving presentations, facilitating discussions, and answering questions. I had an awesome time meeting the new cohort and spending time with my friend Mirit!

Then I was back in DC for just two days and got to see my friend Shannon and go to dinner. Then....it was off to Minnesota! As you all know now, I took a surprise visit home to MN for Angela's high school graduation party. As always, it was great to go home, eat good food, see family, and have some fun. Besides Angela's party, my favorite part of going home was going kayaking and canoeing with the family.

As soon as I returned to DC I got to see my friend Chris. I had a great afternoon exploring DC with him and his uncle. Also that week I got to network and meet some fantastic NPS folks who were town for the Urban Fellows conference. And shout out to my friend Kyle for visiting me and grabbing dinner while he was in town for a conference. Always great to see familiar faces!

The CVAs for the DC area then had another week of regional training, which I also helped to facilitate. The highlight of the week was getting to go to the Main Interior Building and meet Director Jarvis and go on the building roof, which has a fantastic view of the city. I also had the awesome opportunity to help lead a service project along the Potomac River.

As the month came to a close so did my year of hanging out with the Novaks. Sarah, Nick, and Nia are moving to Malawi in Africa in August and their time in DC came to a close. I am so thankful to have had their company over the past year. Church on Sundays, weekend hang outs, and fun excursions will be missed.

At the end of the month I was given the opportunity to go to a volunteering conference in Detroit, MI. It was a great experience in which I learned a lot and had a fun time hanging out with old and new friends, not to mention exploring a new city. While in town I also got to see my friends Dan and Hannah! And, while there, the cities celebrated Canada Day and Independence Day with joint fireworks over the river--how fun!

And lastly, but certainly not least, as June closed itself out, so did my time living at 812 Elm. Starting at the beginning of July I now live in Silver Spring, MD. Moving was quite the ordeal, but it feels good to be settled in my new place.

I should also mention that I was once again in the 4th of July parade, this year on the National Park Service float! It was a lot of fun! Alright....I'm catching up :)  That just about sums up June. More on July happenings in the next blog.

A New Phase

Busy, busy busy! That's the story of my life -- and I like it that way :) Since I haven't blogged in almost 2 months (whoops), here a brief summary of what's been going on.

To begin, I'm still living here in DC, and have decided to continue in the Centennial Volunteer Ambassador program. So, until further notice, I'm here in DC in same position. And with the first year over (wow, time flies!) other pieces of my life are also in flux. While it has been a fantastic year here in Takoma Park, MD, and I don't want to move, I am moving to a house just a little further north in Silver Spring, MD. New address info on my Contact page!

----
Going back to April....we had the Spring White House Garden Tours! This event is relatively manageable (from a volunteer perspective), and we had some good weather to enjoy the South Lawn of the White House. Around that same time I attended the first ever NPS Learning Summit, which was an NPS conference to talk about education and integrating it into the parks.

Then, at the end of April I had a few days off before I headed to North Carolina! I went to NC to attend a re-certification course for Wilderness First Responder. I passed the course and along the way I met some awesome people! Then, since I was already in Brevard, NC, I headed a little further south and visited Brasstown Bald! It was great to be back in GA, even if only briefly, and get to see some old friends. There will always be a place in my heart for the GA mountains.


When I returned to DC, the Logans came to visit! I took a few days off and we saw the sights of the city. Some highlights included the Renwick Gallery and visiting the Air Force Memorial for the first time. And just a few days after the Logans, the Westbergs were in town! Again, we saw some of the big attractions, saw the monuments at night, and attended church at the Basilica here in DC, which is apparently the largest Catholic church in the US.

Inside the
Washington Monument

Then, as May was getting underway, so were going away parties and celebrations for the other CVAs. It is sad to have the 'original' group of CVAs disband, but all good things most come to an end. During May we had our last Every Kid In A Park program through the White House. I also had the opportunity to walk down the 896 steps of the Washington Monument on a special tour--pretty neat! To wrap up my first year contract we had a big event called BioBlitz. We had 200 school kids and the public visit and help us identify all living things we could find in the park. And although the day ended with too much excitement (shooting at the White House), all went well.

And with that, my first year as a CVA was over! My friend Michael and his fiance Madeline visited me briefly for an afternoon and then my friend Kevin was in town for the Memorial Day weekend. For Memorial Day we went to Arlington Cemetery for the ceremony, in which the President was in attendance. While Kevin was in town we also went to the my first Nats baseball game of the season.

OK, I'll wrap this blog up here! That closes out the months of April and May :)

Post 100

Can you believe it....this is blog post number 100! I have been at this since the fall of 2011 and here I am 5 years and 100 blog posts later. Whether you've read every single one or you're a new reader, thanks for following my adventures!

Here are some of my latest happenings!


On March 10th the White House held the official State Arrival Ceremony welcoming Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his family to the US. I had the great opportunity to attend this ceremony on the South Lawn of the White House. It is always so cool to be a part of these historic events. Also, on a separate occasion at the White House (while conducting a 4th grader tour) I got to meet the Presidential dogs, Bo and Sunny!

Like mentioned previously, things are pretty busy at work. We just had the White House Easter Egg Roll on Easter Monday. I attended the White House's event training at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building which was really cool. At my own office we hosted our own trainings for the event, which I have helped put on. The day was filled with over 30,000 adults and children coming to participate in the festivities on the White House South Lawn. My day consisted of making sure the volunteer operations went smoothly. The day also included all sorts of weather changes, ranging from 45 and raining to 80 degrees and sunny back to 40 degrees and 30mph winds. In the end...I survived :)

This past month was also a big month for visitors! My friends Dan and Adam each came and visited me on different weekends. We saw the highlights, including Arlington Cemetery, the National Archives, and the White House. Adam came to see the cherry blossoms, but was just a few days early. However, eventually they did bloom and Grandma Yarusso and Angela were here and got to see them! We had a great week exploring DC and navigating the cherry blossom crowds. And then Grandma and Grandpa Widenstrom came to visit! They also got to see the blossoms as they were finishing their blooming period. We had a great long weekend, including a US Capitol tour, seeing the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, and going to Atlantic City, NJ for a bakery show. It was so great to have so many different family members and friends come to visit me here in DC. It means a lot to me that people would travel to come see me and the city!


Lastly, I know many have asked about my future plans. I don't know what I'll be doing next quite yet, but will hopefully be making some decisions soon! Stay tuned....

PS - Shout out and a happy birthday to my sister Rachel and belated birthday to my Grandma Widenstrom!