New Bookstore Products Focus On The Park

Date: July 9, 2014
Contact: Tawnya Schoewe, 218-283-6670

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, MN:In 2005, Voyageurs National Park staff wrote a Long Range Interpretive Plan. The plan identifies educational materials completed to-date and a wish list of projects to develop over the next five to fifteen years. The plan also includes the park's six official interpretive themes. These themes are extremely important to park officials as they direct park staff when working on visitor service projects for the public. In short, they are: geology, voyageurs and the fur trade, people, scenery, water, and plants and animals.

In 2009, Jefferson National Parks Association (JNPA) partnered with Voyageurs to begin operating the bookstores at all three visitor centers within the park. JNPA is a non-profit organization that brings money back to parks for interpretive and educational purposes. For example, when a visitor buys a book, a percentage of that purchase goes back to the park.

Since the partnership began, big changes have occurred in the stores. JNPA is working with park officials to bring the six park interpretive themes to life.

Over the past few years, park officials have chosen to apply returning funds towards the development of publications that will facilitate visitor understanding and knowledge of the park and its resources.

Whether visitors have all day, half a day, a few hours, or 15 minutes to visit the park, they can enter any one of the three visitor center bookstores and leave with a sense of knowing why the park was established. The bookstores reflect Voyageurs National Park and its significance.

What's New?

The Geology of Voyageurs National Park; A Story Written in the Rocks.

Have you ever wondered how this area now known as Voyageurs National Park was formed? Or why the rocks in the northern part of the park are so drastically different than the rocks in the southern end of the park?

Explosive volcanoes with hot ask and lava once flowed, mountains were built and then eroded, faulting and shifting occurred, and glaciers more than a mile high scoured this area. Voyageurs geology provides a history of the past 2.7 billion years.

The book tells a story about change on a scale different from that of human life. It is a story that emerges from the depths of time, enabling you to make connections between what was and what it.

In an easy to read guide book, the park's geological features are brought forth for the young and old who want to discover this nation's natural treasures.

This book was 25 years in the making. Over the years, several geologists and park staff assisted with the creation of the book. However, the credit for writing, editing, and persevering through this book goes out to: Chris B. Hemstad - ISD #361 teacher and geologist, Leland Grim - retired professor from Rainy River Community College and Biologist at Voyageurs National Park, and Tawnya Schoewe -the park's Chief of Interpretation.

Life at Kettle Falls by Mike Williams.

This book tells the story of the Williams' family growing up at Kettle Falls through the eyes and ears of Mike Williams. From the notorious years, to life with family and friends at the hotel, to the fishing and hunting adventures along the way, this book is a fun read.

Both books can be purchased at any of the park's three visitor centers or through Jefferson National Parks Association's online store at www.shopjnpa.com.

www.nps.gov

About the National Park Service. More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 395 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.