Year-round, national park staff go above and beyond to care for Washington’s incredible public lands – from marking trail hazards and improving trails to swearing in Junior Rangers and welcoming visitors with a smile. Now, thanks to our Thank a Ranger page, supporters have a chance to say thank you to the dedicated park staff in return. 

Through this ongoing effort, Washington’s National Park Fund is collecting heartfelt messages that we’ll share directly with the rangers, volunteers, maintenance workers, and other staff who help protect Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks. 

We have received so many heartwarming comments similar to the one below. It’s no secret that park staff and volunteers are beloved by visitors from all over.

“Rangers and park staff make it possible for me, and tens of millions of other Americans, to enjoy our parks. Thank you.” – Lisa 

Here are just a few more moving notes we’ve received: 

• “We love our Washington National Parks! Thank you for all you do. And you do it with patience, integrity, dedication, and with a smile on your face!” – Cathy  
• “Rangers and park staff make it possible for me, and tens of millions of other Americans, to enjoy our parks. Thank you.” – Lisa 
• “Thanks for all you do to keep the parks welcoming, safe, and awe-inspiring!” – Kurt 
• “We love our Washington National Parks! I have prioritized raising my children visiting and loving these public lands. We have had meaningful interactions with park staff at each one. My boys have become Junior Rangers at each and take their responsibilities to care for the parks very seriously.” – Elissa 
• “Thank you for making it possible for everyone to experience inspiration and renewal in Washington’s parks.” – Elaine 
• “The national parks, and nature in general, are my happy place. Some of my earliest memories are of hiking in the smokies with my family while enjoying a bagged lunch along a river. We joined with friends on sunrise hikes and overnight stays and found peace at established campsites. I got engaged along Paradise River in Mount Rainier National Park and did wedding photos in Glacier National Park. I never feel happier or more at peace when I am on a trail. I also have had the honor of meeting some of you while at the parks. I remember running into Scott and talking about the struggle of removing some construction equipment by Eight Mile Lake in the Enchantments. I remember chatting with Annamarie who is in her 80s and telling us about all the record holding climbers of Mount Rainier. There have been countless others whose names I’ve forgotten over the years but their stories about bears, animal sightings, park geology, and history have stuck with me after all this time. While your office is the most beautiful in the nation, I know your job is among the hardest. Dealing with guests who don’t know about Leave No Trace, cleaning abused restrooms, backcountry patrolling, project support, and so much more probably wears on you a bit. Please know that so many of us respect and appreciate you and we are cheering you on. You have our support always. Stay strong for our parks and we will stay strong for you!” – Elizabeth 
• “I just wanted to thank Ranger Kathryn at Olympic National Park for helping my kid in his class project. Ranger Kathryn shared photos of the park and general park information for my kid to learn about the park and teach others in his class. Thanks for your help!” – Patrick
• “In these tough, challenging times, we appreciate all the tireless efforts that Park Rangers put into protecting our beloved National Parks. We’re with you & Smoky, too!” – John and Kate
• “Guys, thanks so so much for your wonderful and hard work on keeping these magnificent places and allowing all of us to enjoy their beauty. I’ve travelled all the way from Mexico City with my daughters to hike on all of the three of Washington’s national parks and you guys are the ones that make this experience possible. Love you guys 😍” – Juan
• “Thank you so much for all you do! I am so fortunate to have access to Washington’s beautiful parks. I appreciate all you do to maintain them and make them safe, and all of the patience you have with handling incompetent visitors. People always think about how cool your jobs are and all the great parts, but I appreciate you even more for the less glamorous parts, the difficult decisions you have to make, the careful balancing of very limited resources, and the unrecognized down season work. Y’all are absolute rockstars and heroes.” – Mackenzie
• “Ever since my first ranger presentation one night in Yosemite National Park, I’ve dreamed of one day donning a ranger uniform. My dream has come true (well, except for the cool hat) and now I am a Mt Rainier Meadow Rover hiking in uniform. I just love it! Thank you for your lifelong inspiration.” – Karen
• “Thank you for all the work that you do! It is because of you and your predecessors that my young boys get to enjoy all the beauty of nature that the PNW has to offer, just like I did when I was young. We will continue to support your work so that the tradition of stewarding our environment can be guaranteed for future generations!”
• “Since I was a toddler camping with my parents through today visiting National Parks several times a year with my husband, I have looked up to Rangers. Attending Ranger talks my whole life, I have come away with a deep respect for your passion, knowledge, dedication and attention to detail. From maintaining clean restrooms to rescuing hikers, the breadth of your service is appreciated and seen! As I follow the Bear Gulch Fire, which is consuming Staircase, what my husband and I refer to as our “happy place”, we send thoughts and prayers for the safety of all the parks staff, USFS staff and other agency staff who are working tirelessly and risking their lives to extinguish the fire. If it’s my family’s happy place, I can’t imagine the grief for ONP staff to witness the destruction of the lands and wildlife you work so incredibly hard day in and day out to steward (even if we all recognize fire’s ecological role). THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart for being an inspiration for all Parks visitors!” – Colleen
• “Thank you to all the amazing park rangers and volunteer park rangers who helped us on our recent family backpacking trip! Volunteer Shelly checked on us several times, then waited for us to make sure we made it safely over a tricky bridge crossing. We called her our ‘trail angel’ and appreciated her so much! Thanks for making such a positive impact and looking out for us!” – Faith
• To all National Park Rangers and support staff: thank YOU for all the work you do. Thank YOU for your devotion to our public lands, including your commitment to the flora and fauna that inhabit these shared spaces. These are lands we all own, and we are grateful for your dedication to them. You ARE making a difference in our national and cultural ethos, though it may not feel like it. We’re out here. We see you. We appreciate you. – Max

We will continue to update this page as we receive more comments of support from our community.  

Whether it’s a meaningful conversation at a visitor center or a well-maintained trail that made a dream hike possible, these memories remind us that people are the heart of our national parks. 

Add your voice 

Have a memory or message you’d like to share? It’s easy to send a thank-you note to park staff. You’re invited to reflect on a favorite visit, share how park staff helped you, or describe how the parks have made a lasting impact on your life. At our recent events, we’ve also set up a station where supporters can write handwritten notes to the parks. Check out some of these from our Pints for the Parks events! 

We’ll be sharing these notes with our park partners throughout the year, spreading the appreciation far and wide.  

Looking to do more? 

Sending a kind thank you note to park staff is one of three simple ways you can support the parks today. From volunteering to donating to the Resilience Fund, every action helps protect these beloved landscapes and the people who care for them.  

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Washington’s National Park Fund is the official philanthropic partner of Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks. With your help, we raise funds to preserve and protect Washington’s national parks, funding volunteer programs, youth and family experiences, science and research, and projects that will keep these parks strong and vital now and forever. 

Cover photo of a Mount Rainier interpretive ranger, by WNPF staff.