By Lisa Drake, Donor Engagement Manager
Interested in joining us? Click here for all of the events, with dates and locations!
While there are so many places to explore in Washington’s national parks this summer, joining a group of like-minded park enthusiasts for a chance to learn 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 in-park activities, many of which showcase park projects that donors support through their contributions. With 30+ 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 learning about history on a hike in the North Cascades or getting tips and tricks on celestial photography, there is something for everyone to choose from. How fortunate are we to have such amazing resources right in our backyard?
Get a jump start on your weekend plans to explore Olympic National Park by joining us for a Friday morning opportunity to give back and see your gifts in action! Our group will roll up our sleeves at the Matt Albright Native Plant Center and assist in their work to restore plant communities around the park.
Read this blog about WNPF’s crucial role in native plant revegetation at the park – especially after the Elwha Dam removal project!
Join six-time Emmy Award-winning television producer, Mark Erskine, an instructor at the Photographic Center NW and WNPF volunteer, as he guides us in capturing breathtaking, star-filled images. Whether you’re using a DSLR, an adjustable camera, or even an iPhone, no prior experience is needed—just bring your enthusiasm for the night sky!
This year, we’ll set our sights on a spectacular composition: the Milky Way framed against the majestic peak of Mount Rainier. Last year, every participant walked away with a celestial masterpiece, and this year promises to be just as extraordinary.
Get to know the night sky internship at Mount Rainier, made possible by WNPF donors!
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.
“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’ve seen how donor funding enables 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.“
– Meadow Rover and park volunteer, Margot Tsakonas
Get outside with us on a lakeside hike and enjoy beautiful viewpoints while learning more about the fascinating history of North Cascades National Park!
We’ll learn about the native routes through the area that have evolved into some of our current pathways across the region, like Rainy Pass and Cascade Pass.
We’ll also hear about the history of the big obvious chunks of concrete in the landscape- the dams of the Skagit hydro project- and explore some of the ways the park is intertwined with the hydro project and reservoirs.
We hope you will join us on one or more of these adventures in Washington’s national parks! RSVP by contacting Donor Engagement Manager Lisa Drake.
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 supporters visit the Mount Rainier Search & Rescue cabin, funded in the past by supporters like you! Photo by Teresa Hagerty, Board Member.