Volunteer Program

---

Old Town San Diego - September 29, 2007

Local staff and volunteers from the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Old Town San Diego State Historic Park staged a living history reenactment of the exploration and surveys of public lands at the Historic Park on September 29, 2007, in recognition of the 14th annual National Public Lands Day (NPLD).

Nine BLM staff and volunteers were joined by State Park staff and Chuck the Desert Tortoise for the event.  The General Land Office and survey camp was used to demonstrate how the exploration and surveys of the public lands in the west led to the BLM public lands, national parks, monuments, forests, and wildlife refuges the public enjoys today.  The State Historic Park offers living history programs every month.  The BLM NPLD program was the living history event for the month of September.

Old Town San Diego State Historic Park is the most visited unit of the California State Park system.  The living history survey camp was open on the historic Old Town plaza from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM on Saturday.  The BLM talked with several hundred visitors about the General Land Office, the Homestead Act, and other important milestones in the history of the public lands.  Visitors viewed 19th century survey instruments, public land maps, scientific specimens from public lands (animal skins, fossils, etc.), and demonstrations of surveying techniques and map making.  Visitors could obtain “deeds” to their 650 million acres of public lands.  Aspiring surveyors were also given the chance to practice using the compass and chain and received certificates as “Apprentice GLO Surveyors.”  A modern display of today’s public lands and BLM literature brought the story up to the present.

BLM staff and volunteers that participated were Justin Seastrand, Joyce Schlachter, Janaye Byergo, Greg Hill, Dan Westermeyer, Jennifer Taylor, Chris Dalu, Blaine Hopper, and Chris Smith.