As a volunteer at Cabrillo National Monument, you will often need to check out a radio in order to be able to communicate with staff and other volunteers during your shifts. It is especially important to have a radio when your shift takes you away from the administrative offices (e.g., to the tidepool table, the tidepools, any of the trails, to the old lighthouse, etc.). … Continue reading Did You Know – Radio Protocol: How to Operate Park Radios

Engineers in the UK have found that limpets’ teeth consist of the strongest biological material ever tested. Limpets use a tongue bristling with tiny teeth to scrape food off rocks and into their mouths, often swallowing particles of rock in the process. The teeth are made of a mineral-protein composite, which the researchers tested in tiny fragments in the laboratory. They found it was stronger … Continue reading Did You Know – Limpet Teeth Stronger Than Spider Silk

It has now been over 100 years since the California gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica) has made Cabrillo National Monument its home, with the last record of nesting occurring in 1915. It is not clear why they have been absent for so long, but this year, they are back and here to stay. In the spring of 2015, calls from a family of California gnatcatchers were heard … Continue reading Did You Know…California Gnatcatcher is Back!

The two basic building blocks of visitor contacts are: WHAT you say to the visitor; and HOW you say it. You should always look for opportunities to enhance the experience of the visitor. The primary tools in accomplishing this are KNOWLEDGE of your local area and the State of California, and your ATTITUDE when delivering that knowledge.   Read more … Continue reading Did You Know – Visitor Contact Tips

The following summaries provide you with a quick reference guide to important topics at Cabrillo. You can learn about the Kumeyaay, Cabrillo, the Lighthouses, Military History, Geology, and more. Refer to the Cabrillo Reference Manual (e-binder) for more in-depth information. The Kumeyaay Prehistory When the Native Americans’ aboriginal ancestors crossed the Bering land bridge (now known as the melted Bering Strait) that connected Russia and … Continue reading Did You Know…CNM Quick Reference Guide