Debbie Croft: Not all news about Yosemite is bad

When it comes to Yosemite, there’s good news and bad. With a rock slide closing the west entrance, storms canceling traditional holiday visits, and iconic name changes, Yosemite National Park has been in the news a lot lately.

Thankfully, in this latest rock slide the boulders came down on the main road after work hours. Crowds and traffic this time of year are thin. And it wasn’t too long before one lane was cleared.

California welcomes El Niño’s rainfall this season after severe drought conditions of the past four years. Springtime should present a glorious wildflower display for photographers and hikers to enjoy.

The current 60-inch snow base at Badger Pass makes for great skiing and snow sports. And all the Sierra-based ski resorts are reporting exceptional snowpack conditions.

But speaking of Badger Pass, we won’t be able to call it that much longer. Worse than any weather system or rock slide is the public storm over Yosemite name changes about to take place. As one concessionaire leaves and another takes over, the trademark battle involves legalities, money, big business – and now outrage.

Never mind the 4 million visitors a year and over a century’s worth of history and family memories. Every major news source and social media outlet picked up the story earlier this month when the National Park Service released the announcement.

Changing Curry Village’s name is the same as changing your great-grandpa’s name. Some people are starting petitions.

But enough of the bad news. There’s a lot of good going on in Yosemite, too. And it’s still one of the most beautiful places on earth.

Close to 1,000 free park passes have been distributed to fourth-graders across the country. The passes provide access to all our 2,000 national parks and federal recreation areas, for the students and their families.

If you haven’t gotten yours, there’s still time. The passes are good through August of this year. Visit www.everykidinapark.gov for details.

By the end of December 2015, Yosemite had sworn in 22,600 Junior Park Rangers.

According to Ashley Mayer, “This sets a record for the most number of Junior Rangers in a year. Each of these young people completed their duties, either by attending a Junior Ranger program or completing a booklet, and took an oath to continue to ‘Explore, Learn, and Protect’ Yosemite National Park.”

The purpose of the Junior Ranger Program is to involve children in becoming stewards of one of America’s beloved national parks. The program was established in 1930 with the Junior Ranger Nature School. By 1936 enrollment numbered over 400 kids.

Yosemite Conservancy provides funding for this program and others. For more information visit www.yosemiteconservancy.org/youth-yosemite.

Shelton Johnson is one of Yosemite’s interpretive park rangers, and is well known for his portrayal of a buffalo soldier. The soldiers were the African American regiment of the U.S. cavalry who served by protecting Yosemite in the late 1800s and early 1900s.

Recently Johnson was given the Superior Service Award of the Department of the Interior.

Scott Gediman with the park service media office says, “Shelton receives this award in recognition of his passion for connecting minorities to parks, his meticulous research that forms the basis of his innovative interpretive programs, and his superlative ability to articulate powerful messages for the National Park Service.”

He’s been an employee of the National Park Service since 1987, and appeared in Ken Burns’ film series “The National Parks.”

Cara Goger, executive director of the Mariposa County Arts Council, was thrilled last month when she received this news:

The National Endowment for the Arts and the National Park Service will provide $797,500 in the form of 33 grants given to 16 states – including an award of $25,000 to the MCAC.

Goger says, “This grant will support ‘Landmark: Yosemite through the Lens of Contemporary Photography,’ a traveling exhibition of landscape photography created in Yosemite National Park.

The exhibit will feature the work of artists especially recognized for their originality and creativity in this genre of photography.

Goger adds, “This exhibition recognizes the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary and is an ‘Imagine Your Parks’ project.”

For details see www.mariposaartscouncil.org.

Chains are required at times and should be carried in your vehicle if you’re heading to the Sierra. Winter brings out the quiet beauty of Yosemite. It’s a perfect time to visit.

This story was originally published January 29, 2016 at 1:56 PM with the headline "Debbie Croft: Not all news about Yosemite is bad."