By Kacee Saturay, WNPF Donor Stewardship and Social Media Manager
Deep in the wild wonder of Olympic National Park, a new generation of Scientists in Parks interns is blending passion and discovery to unlock the secrets of this breathtaking landscape – and share it with visitors young and old.
At Olympic National Park, interns through the Scientists in Parks Program (SIP) contribute to interpretation programs and scientific research efforts. With funding from Washington’s National Park Fund (WNPF), these interns completed a variety of activities during the busiest season for the park: they provided field research, visitor center support, guided walks, night sky programs, and more.
Their work is critical to preserving the park’s unique ecosystems and educating the public on protecting this place that we all love. And, importantly, it gives these bright young people a chance to see themselves in the shoes of a park ranger.
WNPF-supported SIP interns Eliana Hernandez and Jessi Fox joined Olympic’s team for the summer. Before their season ended, we had the opportunity to experience first-hand what a typical day at Hurricane Ridge looked like.
Eliana led out-of-state visitors on a guided walk through Cirque Rim, Jessi set up telescopes to view marmots and glaciers for curious visitors, and both of them took turns answering questions for over a hundred visitors – just in the first half of the day!
Simply watching them interact with visitors felt like we were seeing Olympic National Park for the very first time – a memory that I personally wish I could go back to often.
A crowd gathered when Jessi took out the telescope and pointed it toward the burrowing marmots and never-ending valleys. We observed as visitors inquired with excitement: “What’s a marmot?” “Oh my gosh, they are so cute!” “Are there any glaciers around here?” “Can you tell me more about those mountains?”
One group of inspired hikers even told Eliana, “You’re perfect for this role” after they ended their guided walk.
Both Eliana and Jessi told stories about the excitement they felt when visitors, young and old, were clearly absorbing the information they were taught about the unique geology of the peninsula.
It warmed our hearts knowing that this internship has made an impact not only on Jessi and Eliana’s professional careers, but also for the park’s operations and the thousands of visitors that came this summer and experienced its magic for the first time.
The SIP internship program equips early-career scientists with opportunities to experience a career within the National Park Service.
From monitoring species like the Roosevelt elk to studying the formation of this unique landscape, these interns get real-world scientific experience and an opportunity to educate the public about these topics in a digestible way.
Michael Glore, the Interpretive Operations Manager at Olympic, highlights in the video above that the support from Washington’s National Park Fund is what makes it possible for the park to provide these rewarding internship opportunities for young people. This past year, funds supported critical housing for the interns and enabled recruitment efforts and training for the 20-week internship.
Through opportunities like this one, donors have helped not only meet the park’s scientific and operational needs but have also continued to inspire the next generation of environmental leaders. With your support, we’re proud to play a role in ensuring these young trailblazers get their boots on the ground — and open the door for future generations to explore, protect, and love Washington’s national parks.
Washington’s National Park Fund is the official philanthropic partner to Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks. Donations fund scientific research, youth and family experiences, and projects that will keep these parks strong and vital now and forever, for everyone. Your gifts make a difference; consider supporting these invaluable programs today.
We are grateful to generous supporters who have provided gifts to support Olympic National Park’s Scientists in Parks interns, with special thanks to the James M. Lea Foundation.
Cover photo and project video courtesy of Mitch Pittman, WNPF Creative Partner