By Kristen Oliphant, Events and Partnerships Manager
At Washington’s National Park Fund, we are committed to deepening our partnership with Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks.
This past summer, I had the privilege of spending a day with Greg Dudgeon, the Superintendent of Mount Rainier National Park. It was eye-opening to experience firsthand the many responsibilities he has and his thoughtful engagement with the park and the communities around it.
Before serving at Mount Rainier, Greg was the acting deputy regional director overseeing the management of 15 national parks, preserves, monuments and national historical parks in Alaska. But his history with the National Park Service extends much further: he first began working with the NPS in 1983 as a volunteer with a whale biologist at Glacier Bay National Park, helping photograph the flukes of humpback whales from an 18-foot skiff.
Greg took the helm at Mount Rainier in 2021, excited to go to work overseeing a park whose rich history and natural beauty draw millions of visitors every year.
“Mount Rainier National Park was the fifth national park established, and it’s a part of the nation’s history book,” explained Greg. “It’s a chapter about the people and the place that make up the Pacific Northwest. And the original inhabitants who, for this was and still is, home and a sacred place. And for those of us who are more recent arrivals, a place for recreation and inspiration.”
Our day began at park headquarters, just west of Ashford. Greg started the morning by checking in with leadership and managers, reviewing the past weekend’s activities in the park, and setting the tone for the week ahead. His routine also includes catching up on emails and addressing pressing concerns from staff.
As we talked, Greg shared insights into the many roles he juggles — not just as superintendent but also as a husband, father, and friend — emphasizing the importance of balance in both his professional and personal life. After wrapping up at headquarters, we hit the road and made our way into the park, where Greg’s role extends beyond office work to on-the-ground decision-making and staff and visitor engagement.
We stopped at Longmire, a National Historic District which serves as a hub for staff and visitors. There, Greg personally delivered commemorative coins celebrating Mount Rainier National Park’s 125th birthday to staff as a token of appreciation for their hard work and dedication. The park staff’s passion for what they do is truly remarkable and inspiring, and Greg makes it a priority to recognize their contributions. It’s clear to see how that recognition helps foster a strong and positive culture among the park team.
Next, we headed south of the park to Packwood to meet with a dedicated advocate for the local community and member of the Packwood Business Owners Association. Their conversation highlighted the deep connections between the park and surrounding communities.
Generating more than $70 million annually in visitor spending and supporting 718 jobs in gateway communities around its borders, the park’s influence extends far beyond its boundaries, impacting nearby towns and their economic and cultural development*.
In addition to partners in the park’s gateway communities, Greg also oversees partnerships with nonprofit organizations ranging from interpretive associations to student conservation organizations and youth corps. These include Washington’s National Park Fund, Mount Rainier’s philanthropic fundraising partner since 1993.
“Washington’s National Park Fund is a valued partner and even more importantly, a valued friend, and donors are our partners in helping to protect and share this place with the American public,” said Greg. “We can’t do it alone. Special places don’t stay special by accident. It takes all of us together to make and to keep a place like Mount Rainer special.”
After we left Packwood, we headed east of the park, arriving at Ohanapecosh Visitor Center where Greg connected with Interpretation, Education, and Volunteers (IEV) staff. The day’s events coincided with a Founders Day employee appreciation gathering — a touching reminder of the commitment and camaraderie among park employees.
The team honored one another for their years of service, and Greg took the opportunity to discuss the importance of gratitude in developing a strong park culture and acknowledge staff contributions.
From the maintenance crew to scientists to park rangers to geologists to the deputy superintendent, the many roles these individuals take on reflect their dedication and service to being a part of the National Park Service and dedicating their careers to preserving the natural and cultural resources of Mount Rainier National Park.
“It’s important that we all come together for the parks because, truly, parks are about people,” Greg explained. “While national parks belong to all of us, the special places you find within them will always be your own. To be able to provide those experiences for people who want to come and visit and experience a park and to walk away feeling that ownership – it takes all of us together, doing the best work that we can. It matters for this generation, and it matters for those to come.”
Throughout the day, it became clear that Greg’s leadership extends far beyond administrative duties — he is deeply engaged with the people and landscapes that define Mount Rainier National Park. By spending time in the field, listening to staff, and strengthening gateway community relationships, he ensures that both the park and its people continue to thrive.
His ability to balance administrative responsibilities with hands-on engagement is a testament to the dedication required to manage a national park of this size whose visitation numbers have increased nearly 40% over the last 10 years.
I asked Greg what he hoped a visitor might leave the mountain feeling after their first visit. He shared:
I would like a first-time visitor to Paradise to take away from their experience a landscape-scale memory. As they look at that mountain from across a meadow and feel as though that this place is a place that they belong in, and a sense of home that they can come back and know that they’re connected here, that they have a place here and are part of its history and story too. If we can provide those kinds of experiences, we’ve done our job for this and future generations to come.
While no two days are the same when it comes to managing a park as diverse and beloved as Mount Rainier, experiencing a day in Greg’s shoes gave me invaluable insight into the many hats he wears, as well as the rewards of park management.
At Washington’s National Park Fund, we are proud to support this iconic national park and are honored to work with Greg, his passionate team, and our dedicated community of park supporters to preserve and enhance Mount Rainier for future generations.
Washington’s National Park Fund is the official philanthropic partner of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks. We raise private support to preserve and protect Washington’s national parks, funding scientific research, youth and family experiences, and projects that will keep these parks strong and vital now and forever, for everyone.
*You can find these stats and more in the National Park Service Visitor Spending Effects Report (https://www.nps.gov/subjects/socialscience/vse.htm).
Cover photo and blog photos by Kristen Oliphant.