Washington’s National Park Fund works to fund priority projects in Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks, and we couldn’t do it without our dedicated supporters. Our Trailblazers series celebrates these passionate park lovers and all of the different ways they give back, whether by donating their time or talent, volunteering, fundraising, or something else entirely.
This week, meet the newest member of the WNPF team, Brianna Vance! A new arrival to the Pacific Northwest, Brianna grew up in Northern Florida where she spent most of her time on a kayak with her mom or at the beach with her dog. She credits her parents with instilling in her a deep love for nature and the outdoors.
As Administrative Coordinator for Washington’s National Park Fund, Brianna is looking forward to making an impact on her local communities and supporting all aspects of our work, helping further our mission of raising private support to deepen everyone’s love for, understanding of, and experiences in Washington’s three national parks.
What are some of your most memorable experiences in our parks?
This technically wasn’t in the park, but the first time I saw Mount Rainier was on my flight into Washington. I’ve seen mountains, but nothing quite as beautiful and breathtaking. I felt like I was looking at a screensaver instead of the real deal!
What is your favorite thing to do in the parks?
One of my favorite things is to hike with my family because I love taking the silliest photos with them. I have a lot of treasured memories because of the goofy photos I’ve made them take over the years.
What brought you to Washington’s National Park Fund?
The first time I was researching WNPF, I was blown away by how many kinds of projects this organization funds. WNPF has a big impact on such a wide scope of areas, I knew it would be easy to find passion in my job if I had the opportunity to join the team.
Can you tell us about your role and what you do?
As the Administrative Coordinator, I provide campaign support, help with basic accounting and gift tracking, and also help set up and coordinate various meetings.
What’s your favorite part about your role?
I think my favorite part of my role is getting to enter all the gifts into our accounting software. I like being able to see how projects are getting funded, and of course, getting to see some of my favorite projects receiving gifts is pretty awesome!
Are there any projects that we raise funds for that you’re especially passionate about?
My favorite projects are any of the Embracing Inclusion projects. The parks are for everyone, and I love how WNPF has made it a priority to make sure that we are working to give access and opportunities to underrepresented communities in the national parks.
One of the first projects that first caught my eye was the Makah Youth Cultural Resource Monitoring Project. Not only is the project aiming to protect historic petroglyphs that are extremely important to the Makah Tribe, but it does this by empowering three youth members of the Makah Tribe to monitor the sites and provide education to deter vandalism.
Can you share a fun fact about yourself that people might not know about you?
My go-to fun fact since middle school is that I can’t smell! I was born without the ability to smell, also called anosmia. I can still taste but I tend to put more spices on my food, and texture plays a big part in what I eat.
All photos courtesy of Brianna Vance.
We are so grateful for the many Trailblazers who help us achieve our mission. Interested in supporting the parks? There are lots of ways to give. Together, we’ll ensure our parks remain vibrant and everlasting for years to come.