Dear Cabrillo National Monument Volunteers, 

Happy anniversary!

On this day, fifty years ago, Congress passed the Volunteers In Parks (VIP) Act, enabling parks all around the country to accept the services of individuals as “volunteers for or in aid of interpretive functions.” Since then, the program has flourished into a rich body of National Park Service mission seekers. All around the country and across borders, talented volunteers like you have offered their unique skills, efforts, and time to cultivate their community, advocate for conservancy, and bring history to life. Although there are more than 400 of these sites peppered throughout the country, we can think of one particular place where we’ve seen volunteers in action: Cabrillo National Monument. 

Down in the southern tip of the Point Loma peninsula, we know of a certain two-lane winding road. Take it to the end, and you’ll certainly find yourself in open classrooms of history and beauty. Here are tides to teach us the lessons of shifting circumstances, countless plants and animals that invite us to observe their day-to-day, books and bunkers that offer stories of those who have lived before us, buildings that house virtual and physical resources, and a lighthouse that points to lasting hope. 

It is hard to picture any of these places without also picturing familiar faces donning familiar blue shirts. While we celebrate the 50^th anniversary of the VIP program, we also celebrate the forces that have brought you all to us. Most importantly, we celebrate you and your individual stories. 

Whether you are down the road in 1800 Cabrillo Memorial Dr. restoring the native habitat, across state borders creating accessible resources, or at home dialing in our phone calls, we appreciate all that you have done and continue to do for this park. Thank you for protecting these precious classrooms and thank you for being our dedicated teachers. 

Sincerely yours, 

Your CNM Staff