El Yunque National Forest

Michigan State University Team

Caitlin Dobson, Ratasha Wardlaw, Jennifer Koslovsky, Katherine Hill, Jamie Morrison, Elizabeth Vogl, Nicole Hedquist, Gabriel Lampe, Raquel Moreno, Dale Weden, Tiffany Dickerson, Jacquelyn Baczynski, Sahar Eftehar, Blake Taylor-Martinez, Tiffany Shorter, Michael Marter, Jessica Garcia, Kelli Harper, Katie Logby, Laura Kelch, Summer Mariucci, Christopher Kingsley, Lindsay Shaw, Leah Winiesdorfer.

The Michigan State University Team performed a number of tasks vital to the Forest Service mission during their stay with us. They cleaned-up Nature Trails, re-painted the lines in the parking lots and no-parking areas, painted the bridge at Palo Colorado Visitor Center, collected garbage on roads and trails, and re-furbished the El Portal Nature Trail to make it more safe for our visitors. Their efforts saved the Forest Service an estimated $4, 500 in labor costs alone!

Sierra Club Team

Doug Hindman, Frank Lorberbaum, Alina Badus, Joy Bubitz, Lisa Kolb, Carol Gist, Ali Lee, Rachel Makeleff, Gail Meeks, Kate Merlin, Tita Owre, Miriam Patton, Joanna Poncavage, Helene Vedier.

The Sierra Club team expended a large amount of labor over many man-hours helping to re-build the Caimitillo Nature Trail in the forest’s recreation area. The Caimitillo Trail had been damaged by a series of tropical storms and landslides. The trail is now safe and it is fully re-furbished thanks in no small part to the efforts of the Sierra Club team! Their work saved the El Yunque NF an estimated $2, 500 in labor costs.

Iris J. Torres; Archaeological Aide, Salinas

Iris does archaeological laboratory work; which involves washing, sorting, classifying, marking, and storing artifacts. She also works with data-entry and general laboratory maintenance. She is a valued member of the Salinas archaeology project for the El Yunque NF.

Ruth B. Fuentes; clerical support, Forest Supervisor’s office

Ruth Fuentes aids Lucy Cruz in the Forest Supervisor’s office attending to the myriad of everyday tasks that this busy area demands. She is a valued asset, helping to keep the office running smoothly.

Alan Mowbray; Writer/editor, Interpretive & E-government Media

Starting in 1997 as an Information Specialist/Nature trail guide, Mr. Mowbray has since written three interpretive field guides that were published by the USDA Forest Service. They are sold in the El Yunque National Forest’s bookstores.
He has written and edited the majority of the text for the El Yunque NF website. He conceived, wrote and manages its “Kid’s Page.”
He researched and wrote “Roads, Radar and Research” a historical essay about the Luquillo Forest that is published in the Proceedings of the Tropical Forest Congress (2005, International Institute of Tropical Forestry). Mr. Mowbray is a “full-time” volunteer, devoting more than thirty hours/week to the Forest Service.
Mr. Mowbray is blind. His guide dog Ricky has been made an “honorary” member of the El Yunque NF team.