**Welcome to Denali National Park & Preserve!**

This letter should help you plan for your summer in Denali.

**[Getting here:]{.underline}**

[Driving]{.underline}

If you decide to drive to the park from the lower 48 states, feel free
to call for route information, driving tips, or any other suggestions.
Remember that you must have your passport to travel through Canada.

[Flying]{.underline}

Fairbanks, the closest airport, is 120 miles north of the park entrance.
Anchorage is 250 miles south.

Travel from either city to the park is possible either by train
([www.akrr.com](http://www.akrr.com/)) or shuttle service. Depending on
when you arrive, both train and shuttle service may still be in reduced
"winter" mode. Please be aware that any kind of transportation will
leave early in the morning. If you fly in to either city in the late
morning or afternoon/evening, you will need to spend the night and catch
your transportation the next morning. For help getting to the park,
where to stay, where to shop, etc., feel free to give us a call.

[Buying groceries]{.underline}

Plan to shop in either Fairbanks or Anchorage before arriving in the
park. It's common to spend \$250 or more on your first town trip, and to
forget things and go back shortly after arriving. You will not need to
purchase toilet paper, but you will need just about every other
toiletry. You will also need to purchase dish-washing liquid, garbage
bags and other cabin cleaning items.

There are several small stores in the area where you can get groceries
and other items. Prices for food are fairly expensive, however.

[Banking]{.underline}

ATMs are in the area, though most charge a service fee. For the very
first time, Healy, a small town 11 miles north of the park has a bank.
Paychecks sent through direct deposit to your current bank. It may take
4 weeks for your first check to hit your bank so plan accordingly.

[Mail]{.underline}

Before you leave home go to a local post office and pick up a box rental
form. Fill it out and return it to the postal clerk. Bring with you two
forms of ID-driver's license, social security card, passport, etc. The
postal clerk will confirm your ID's, note them on the rental form, sign
it, take a check from you for \$34.00 for 6 month rental or \$68.00 for
a full year and forward the rental form to the Denali Park post office.
Make sure you have a current phone number on the form so that the Denali
post office can call you if they have questions.

When you arrive in the park you can make arrangements to pick up your
key. You can ship packages to Denali prior to your arrival, but please
do NOT send anything to the park address or Headquarters! Instead, send
to:

Your Name

General Delivery or your new P.O. Box \#

Denali Park, AK 99755

[If you are stationed at Toklat or Wonder Lake:]{.underline}

**\*\**You do not need to make arrangements with the Denali Post
Office.\*\****

Toklat mailing address is:

Your Name

P.O. Box 1194

Denali Park, Alaska 99755

The mail is forwarded to Headquarters and shuttled out west to Toklat
once the season starts.

[Administrative packets]{.underline}

Please fill out any attached paperwork and return it to the park ASAP --
especially any background check materials. Without a current background
check, you won't be able to log on to any government computers.

[Housing]{.underline}

The housing opportunities in the east/west districts were discussed at
the time of interview and upon acceptance of the job. If you have any
further questions, please contact your supervisor.

For additional, temporary changes in C-Camp, please see the attached
letter.

[What to bring:]{.underline}

[Essential items]{.underline}

-   Clothing for the great outdoors: Weather in Denali is often rainy,
    so you'll want decent waterproof rain pants & jacket. Also, 1 or 2
    outerwear tops (wool sweaters, fleeces, etc); a warm jacket
    (fleece-lined shell or down puffy coat); a hat (wool or fleece);
    gloves or mittens; long underwear bottoms and tops (wool or
    synthetic materials -- NOT cotton!); and lots of socks (wool or
    synthetics) are all essential.

-   Some "summer" clothing -- t-shirts, comfortable pants, a pair of
    shorts if you intend to work out, running shoes, etc. Temperatures
    never climb much above the mid-70s, and usually are between 40 and
    65.

-   Miscellaneous stuff -- towel, pillow, sheets & blankets (or a
    sleeping bag), toiletries, mosquito repellent or head net
    (especially if you are assigned to the West District)

-   Your original social security card or birth certificate and photo ID
    (driver's license or passport). You'll need these to verify
    citizenship. Please note that if you're driving through Canada,
    you'll need to have a passport.

-   A valid driver's license! This job requires you to drive a
    government vehicle.

[Suggested items]{.underline}

-   Proper footwear -- a solid, water-resistant hiking boot is essential
    for hiking in Denali since the ground is often wet. They'll need to
    be brown & able to be polished (i.e., mostly leather) if you want to
    use them for work. If you buy new boots just before arriving, try
    and break them in early on, so that you won't get sore feet while
    leading visitors on a hike!

-   Backpacking gear -- a backpack; tent with rain fly; stove; cook kit;
    sleeping bag (rated 20° F or better); sleeping pad; water bottles &
    filter; daypack; and first aid kit

-   Miscellaneous -- binoculars; a camera; shower shoes; and a shower
    bag.

[Wildlife]{.underline}

You'll be living and working in bear, wolf, and moose country. Moose,
wolves, and bears can wander through housing and work areas, and it is
imperative that you are always watchful and keep all food and scented
items stored properly. Never leave coolers, cans or any food unattended
outside your cabin. Grills must be extremely well cleaned if they are to
remain outside. More thorough wildlife safety information will be
covered during training.

**[Once You are Here:]{.underline}**

[Park organization]{.underline}

Headquarters for Denali National Park & Preserve is 120 miles south of
Fairbanks and 250 miles north of Anchorage. Denali's staff is made up of
around 100 permanent employees and 200 or so seasonal employees. The
park is organized into 6 divisions: Administration; Concessions; Visitor
and Resource Protection; Center for Resources, Science and Learning
(Resource Management and Interpretation/Visitor Services); and
Maintenance.

The interpretation division's permanent and term staff includes:

Ingrid Nixon- Chief of Interpretation

Mike Giannechini- Media Specialist

Carol Harding- Interpretive Planner

Cass Ray- Division Administrative Support Assistant

Marisa James- Interpretive Trainer and Coach

Dan Irelan- Assistant Interpretive Trainer and Coach

Clare Curtis- East District Interpretation Supervisor

Mark Motsko- West District Interpretation Supervisor

Christie Anastasia- Murie Science and Learning Center (MSLC) Education
Coordinator

Kristen Friesen- MSLC Education Specialist

Jenni Burr- MSLC Education Specialist and South District Interpretation
Supervisor

[Uniforms]{.underline}

Once your hiring paperwork is submitted, you will get your uniform
allowance. New employees will receive \$400 for a uniform. While you
wait for your order to be filled, you will be able to borrow a uniform
from the "uniform cache".

If you are a Volunteer (VIP) or SCA, the park will provide your uniform
hat, shirt and some raingear. You will need to purchase two pairs of
dark brown pants (such as Dockers) to complete your uniform. VIP or SCA
accounts should reimburse you for the cost of these.

[Training]{.underline}

Training is two 40-hour work weeks. Training will focus on interpretive
skills and learning about the park's natural & cultural history. The
third week will concentrate on district training and program
preparation. Staff from other divisions may also join us for parts of
the training. Returnees will do the first few programs, to give
new-comers more time to prepare.

[Park facilities & services]{.underline}

The first three miles of the park road are referred to as the "entrance
area." This is the source of information and services for visitors. The
park entrance area map should orient you to where various buildings are
located. Part of training will involve an orientation/tour of the
entrance area.

Buildings which the National Park Service staffs in the entrance area
are the Backcountry Information Center, the Denali Visitor Center, Park
Headquarters and the Park Kennels. The Alaska Geographic operates the
bookstore/retail sales adjacent to the Denali Visitor Center. The Alaska
Railroad Company runs the railroad depot, also near the Denali Visitor
Center. The primary park concessionaire, Doyon/Aramark Joint Ventures,
operates most tour and shuttle buses in the park, and their staff
manages the Wilderness Access Center, the Morino Grill and the Baggage
Claim (the latter two are also near the Denali Visitor Center).
Doyon/Aramark JV also manages two park campgrounds, and the Riley Creek
Mercantile.

A small outpatient clinic is located just 3 miles north of the park
entrance along with hotels, gift shops and other businesses. Another
clinic is in Healy (11 miles north). Just like in your hometown, 911 is
an active emergency response number.

[Employee activities]{.underline}

Activities available in the summer include hiking, backpacking, biking,
camping, mountaineering, rafting, kayaking and photography. Fishing is
very poor in the park itself, but can be excellent in other parts of the
state. There are very few established trails, and hiking can be
difficult (and very rewarding) in the wilderness environment. Other
recreational opportunities include volleyball, potluck suppers, dances,
music festivals throughout the state, and more.

Denali has roughly 30 Alaska huskies that have been historically used
for winter patrols and are used for summer sled dog demonstrations. Park
employees on the east side of the park can sign up to walk a particular
dog of their choice in the evenings.

Consider all the possibilities of fun and adventure that Alaska and
Denali have to offer. Plan to make this the best summer you have ever
experienced! If you have any questions about your job, the park, or
anything else, feel free to contact your supervisor.