By Andrea Christensen, Director of Donor Engagement
Interested in joining us for a hike? Click here for details.
While there are so many places in Washington’s national parks to visit and hike this summer, joining a group of people with a like-minded interest in Washington’s national parks, while learning more about the parks, is a rare opportunity that shouldn’t be missed.
Washington’s National Park Fund has pulled together a variety of interesting opportunities, many of which showcase interesting park projects that donors support through their contributions. With 40 to 50 projects funded by WNPF donors each year and so many programs and sites to visit, it was difficult to narrow them down to just a few!
Whether you enjoy a thematic hike to search for marmots or artistic presentations in a theater setting, there is something for everyone to choose from. How fortunate are we to have such amazing resources right in our backyard?
Ever wonder what it’s like to be a Meadow Rover volunteer in Mount Rainier National Park? This summer you will have the opportunity to shadow a Rover and see first-hand how donor funds are used to power this program.
Each year hundreds of thousands of donors’ dollars are directed toward volunteer programs that support visitor services and resource protection in Mount Rainier.
Meadow Rovers have the challenging but rewarding role of informing visitors about the fragile ecosystems they are walking through while providing a safe and memorable experience. Learn more about how meadows are restored in this blog.
Long-time Meadow Rover and park volunteer Margot Tsakonas shares, “Our goals as Meadow Rovers are to help visitors have safe, memorable park experiences—while minimizing our impact on the landscape. Over the years, I have seen first-hand how donor funding has enabled this program to be increasingly effective. From providing radios to funding the volunteer coordinator position, donors have made a difference in our ability to be a ‘park presence’ on the most heavily used trails, providing on-the-spot assistance and education. There are literally hundreds of Meadow Rover volunteers who together donate over 11,000 hours of their time each year because we love ‘the Mountain’ and we enjoy interacting with visitors. I would be pleased to host some of you on one of my volunteer days so you can see the benefits for yourself.“
Another opportunity to learn about the parks in new and meaningful ways this summer is through Olympic National Park’s Terminus Glacier Memorial Project.
This donor-supported project has brought together volunteer artists, poets, musicians, and writers to memorialize shrinking glaciers in the park.
This summer’s activities include “Terminus Camp,” taking place from August 21-25, where artists will offer public programs throughout the park. And you won’t want to miss the closing reception, which will close out the week with performances and speakers at Peninsula College.
We will convene a small group to join on several day hikes in each of Washington’s three national parks. And for women who love to backpack, we plan to offer a small group, two-night overnight camping trip in Mount Rainier!
In October, we are offering a special opportunity to visit Stehekin, the remote village on the shores of Lake Chelan and located in North Cascades National Park. We will gather for Harvest Fest weekend, when the famous Stehekin apples are harvested, and participants will get the chance to hike and learn more about the park at an evening Fireside Circle.
We hope you will join us on one or more of these Washington National Park adventures! Take a look at the various opportunities, and contact Director of Donor Engagement Andrea Christensen if any of these strike your fancy and you would like to join us.
Washington’s National Park Fund is the official philanthropic partner of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks. We raise money to preserve and protect these three national parks, funding scientific research, youth and family experiences, and projects that will keep them strong and vital now and forever.
Cover photo: WNPF donor hike on Sahale Arm in North Cascades National Park, by Amber Nelson