CREATING EDUCATIONAL AND RESEARCH WORTHY INTERPRETIVE CONTENT FOR THE PARKS SERVICE: GEOCORPS INVOLVEMENT AT THE JOHN DAY FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT

The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument (JODA) contains a nearly 50 million year old sequence of volcanic and volcanoclastic sedimentary rock. These rocks contain one of the most complete and diverse records of Cenozoic terrestrial life and gradual changes in climate for the Pacific Northwest. In the summer of 2014, JODA employed two GeoCorps interns (GCI) to create educational content, interpretive paleoecology and climate change materials, and web pages about the importance of the Monument’s paleontological research. JODA staff noted that the existing web pages were out of date and did not effectively communicate the geologic and paleontological importance of the Monument. For this project the GCIs have updated the web page, highlighting the ongoing active science, research, and aggressive prospecting routines within the fossil beds.

Not only is JODA a good place to study terrestrial ecosystems, but it is one of the best places to observe evolutionary changes in faunas and floras as climates changed during the Eocene to the Miocene. The GCIs implemented a plan to develop the existing 8 geology and paleontology pages to an expanded 18 web pages. Each of these was designed to use a multi-tiered educational approach, from general interpretive material to specific research worthy content that could be used by the staff, educators, or researchers. The web pages include content on gradual climate change events, fossil images and reconstructive murals from the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center’s gallery, stratigraphic columns, and a multitude of other resources available to the public. The newly updated JODA website (www.nps.gov/joda) now contains digitized museum pieces made to engage the public, educators, and staff about life’s adaptation to climate change events and regional geologic history.