Ishi Returns to Lassen Volcanic NP (CA) -  The remains of Ishi, the last known member of the Yahi tribe, were returned to the park on September 16th. Ishi died in 1916; portions of his remains, sent to the Smithsonian, were only recently discovered. They were returned to the Redding Rancheria and Pit River tribes, who have ancestral links to the Yahi tribe. Ishi's remains were interred at an undisclosed location outside the park. Approximately 300 Native Americans from throughout California celebrated the return of his remains with speeches, sharing of food, and traditional dancing. The event was managed by the park's Type III incident management team. There were no incidents.

The Culture Continues into the New Age - 39th Anniversary and Cultural Festival 2000
Puíuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park on the island of Hawaii about 22 miles south of Kailua-Kona. Puíuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park preserves the site where, up until the early 19th century, Hawaiians who broke a kapu or one of the ancient laws against the gods could avoid an otherwise certain death by fleeing to this place of refuge or puíuhonua. They could then be absolved by a priest and free to go. Defeated warriors and non-combatants could also find refuge here during times of battle. The grounds just outside the great wall that encloses the puíuhonua was home to several generations of powerful chiefs.

The 182 acre park was established in 1961 and includes not only the puíuhonua, but a complex of archeological sites including temple platforms, royal fishponds, sledding tracks, and some coastal village sites. The Hale o Keawe temple and several thatched structures have been reconstructed.

The park celebrates its annual Hawaiian Cultural Festival on the weekend that falls closest to July 1st Events include a royal court procession, hula, crafts, Hawaiian games, canoe rides, food tasting, and a hukilau (group fishing activity).

Badlands National Park Special Events:

Focus Weeks
Focus Weeks are special events coordinated by the Badlands National Park internship program and feature a critical resource management topic each week:

Badlands National Park Fee Free Day - August 25
On August 25, Badlands National Park will waive its $10 fee for all visitors. In addition special programs and events will be conducted at the Ben Reifel Visitor Center, located at park headquarters. National Parks Day will commemorate the birth of the National Park Service, or NPS, founded on August 25, 1916. It was established through the "Organic Act" by President Woodrow Wilson in an effort to conserve the scenery, natural and historic objects, and the wild life of national parks, monuments, and reservations, and to provide for the enjoyment of the same. The NPS is now an integral part of the Department of the Interior. It protects over 375 units in the United States, and is the oldest national park service and system in the world.

Big Bend National Park Guided Ranger Activities May 25, 2000 - June 3, 2000
A wide variety of programs and talks are available at Big Bend's excellent web site.

Bryce Canyon National Park New Visitor Center, Road Re-alignment and new Shuttle System
This is going to be a very busy year for Bryce Canyon National Park. Several major construction projects the park has been needing to accomplish for many years will begin this summer.

Grand Canyon Music Festival 17th Annual Season July 4, 2000; September 8 - 23, 2000
On July 4, 2000, the Grand Canyon Music Festival will participate in a nation-wide celebration of the history, culture and hopes for the future of our country. Chosen as the Arizona host-site by the American Composers Forum Continental Harmony Project, the Festival selected composer Brent Michael Davids from a pool of applicants from across the country.

Everglades National Park Ranger Led Activities
There are four visitor centers at Everglades NP offering Ranger led activities: Royal Palm Area Activities, Flamingo Area Activities, Shark Valley Area Activitie, Gulf Coast Area Activities.

Golden Gate National Recreation Area Spring Events Calendar http://www.nps.gov/fopo/parknews/spring00/index.htm This Spring Calendar of events for all the sites in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area has an incredible array of special events at one of the most diverse units in the National Park system.

Shenandoah National Park North American Butterfly Association Annual Count - July 9, 2000
Volunteers count butterflies in the same 15-mile-diameter circle as the bird count, Page County. The count helps identify population trends, habitat preferences, and movement of different butterfly species. $3 fee per person. Contact Mara Meisel, park ranger & count compiler, at (540) 999-3282.

Sequoia National Park
The second Sunday of December is the annual Christmas Tree Ceremony, held at the General Grant Tree in Kings Canyon National Park.

Voyageurs National Park Special Events:

Voyageurs Anniversary 1975 - 2000
Come Celebrate 25 years of Voyageurs National Park. An extraordinary landscape with an exciting history calls for a unique anniversary.

Birders Spring Rendezvous May 26,27,28 2000

Lady Slipper Festival June 23, 24, 25, 2000

Autumn Equinox Celebration September 15 - 17, 2000

Yellowstone National Park Fishing Season Opens
Yellowstone National Park Superintendent Michael Finley announced today that portions of Yellowstone National Park will open to fishing on Saturday, May 27. To protect spawning fish, some streams and lakes will open later in the season. Anglers need to obtain the park's fishing regulations in order to determine specifically what streams and lakes are open. Find out when the other fishing areas open here.