Welcome to Cabrillo National Monument’s Reference Manual, oftentimes referred to as “the e-binder”. So what is it and why should you care?

• It is a quick reference guide to all parts of the park you can use on your own time.
• It is a compendium of useful facts and pictures about all topics a visitor may ask about.
• It is a single source where you can find high-level and accurate information you should know to be the best interpreter you can be.
• It is a place where you can quickly go to find an answer, or spend hours learning about a specific topic.
• It provides highlights of all park attributes, themes, services, and opportunities.
• It is a work in progress as each year it is improved based on your evaluations and inputs, rigorous committee review, and new information about the park.

It is not a training manual. But rather a companion document to formal, informal, and on-the-job training you have gotten, and will continue to get.

Where did the contents come from?

Multiple sources! The articles are from many respected people and websites. For instance: The National Park Service, Cabrillo National Monument, CNM Journal, continuing education lectures, TPERP conferences, staff members, VIPs, and community sources such as NOAA, Monterey Bay Aquarium, and the Maritime Museum.

How to use it

Simply scroll through the Table of Contents at the beginning of the document and click on a subject. Depending on your reading device, such as iPad, Apple Computer, etc., you can also access the table of contents from a side window. If you have any problems using the e-binder, contact Dan Wieder at dwieder@mac.com.

The entire e-binder, as well as other information related to the use of the e-binder, is also available for downloading from the Volgistics home page and from the VIP Voice blog (links given below):

https://www.volgistics.com/ex/portal.dll/?FROM=42650

https://vipvoice.wordpress.com/reference/

Please help

Each year the entire contents are reviewed to ensure the information is current, accurate, interesting, and fun. If you see any needed corrections or have any suggestions for improvements, please send your ideas and inputs to Bonnie Phillips at Bonnie_Phillips@nps.gov. We would love to hear from you!

What are others saying about it?

“I just had a look today, and man! What a wonderful, exhaustive resource it is! It’s wonderful that the park has this! Bryce Canyon never had anything like this, to my knowledge…..This makes me even more excited to learn about the park!…..Thanks to all those that put the effort into this!”
Kasaundra Packer

“I really love the e-binder. It is a wealth of information in one place, easy to use, and you can spend as little or as much time as you want with it. I am continually going back to it to refresh my memory, or look for answers to new questions….I can’t imagine not having it as my main resource. ….The longer I’m at Cabrillo, the more I go back to deepen and expand my knowledge….I truly appreciate the efforts taken to make it happen.
Charlie Lawrence

“Thank you very very much for your efforts on behalf of our beloved park and its volunteers. Especially on the e-binder and in your presentations during the seminars! I really appreciate it. The e-binder is easy to move around in and has lots of good information”
Don Vaughn

Love it and find it very useful…..Like the comprehensive info and easy to use organization with “bookmarks.” Especially helpful are the parts used directly in TPERP work (from natural history to checklist and radio protocol).
Mark Stephens

First, I must say WOW and CONGRATULATIONS and EXPERTLY DONE …! I am very impressed with the (e-) binder and with the work that has obviously gone into it.

Andrea K. N. Compton, Chief, Natural Resource Science, July 24, 2007

It occurs to me that the ebinder is becoming such a useful collection of information that pieces of it may be used for other purposes. Other VIPs and interns, new employees that need to learn more about Cabrillo, perhaps?
Dr. Benjamin Pister, Ph.D., Marine Biologist, March 13, 2009

What wonderful effort!
Dr. Benjamin Pister, Ph.D., Chief of Natural & Cultural Resources Management and Science, April 4, 2012

You are doing great things!!!!
Kaye London, Biological Technician, May 14, 2012

Thanks for your effort here. I think this is a real valuable asset to the park. It’ll remain a priority for our division to continue to develop…this document.
Dr. Keith Lombardo Ph.D., Biologist, August 7, 2012