Washington’s National Park Fund supports priority projects in Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks, and we couldn’t do it without our dedicated supporters. Our Trailblazers series celebrates these passionate park lovers and all of the different ways they give back, from donating their time or talent to volunteering, fundraising, and more.
Meet Jess Merchant, our newest staff member at Washington’s National Park Fund! Jess brings a background in nonprofit administrative operations and a keen eye for detail to her role as Campaign Coordinator. Her position is made possible thanks to a grant from our friends at the National Park Foundation.
We are excited to have her as part of the WNPF team and look forward to her contributions towards our mission of raising funds for Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks!
What are some of your most memorable experiences in Washington’s national parks?
I’ve had so many memorable experiences in each of the parks! Some standouts are seeing a mountain lion on the Seven Lakes Basin trail in Olympic National Park (which was my second backpacking trip ever!), getting to backpack to Tapto Lakes in North Cascadse National Park before the fire closure and seeing as many people as we did bears over four days, and my first visit to Mount Rainier National Park in 2018 during which I fell in love with the spectacular beauty and promptly moved across the country to have it in my backyard!
What is your favorite thing to do in the parks, and do you have a favorite?
It’s a tie between backpacking and scrambling! Both allow me to explore deeper into the parks and get a bit more off the beaten path.
It feels impossible to choose a favorite park, but if I had to, I’d probably say North Cascades National Park. It’s where I’ve had many of my ‘firsts’ since moving here, like seeing golden larches in the fall, and the place that piqued my interest in mountaineering. The rugged beauty of the mountains there is something I’ll never get enough of!
What brought you to Washington’s National Park Fund?
My love for nature is something I’ve always wanted to incorporate into my professional life. WNPF is an organization I’ve admired for a long time, so when I saw a role that aligned with my administrative operations background, I knew it would be the perfect way to blend my love of the parks with my love for detailed data-driven work!
Can you tell us about your role and what you do?
As the Campaign Coordinator, I work behind-the-scenes on our Together for the Parks campaign by handling gift processing, donor research, and database management. My role is all about creating clean, effective data that helps us better connect with our supporters and share the impact of their generosity.
What’s your favorite part of your role?
I love that my work directly benefits the parks I care for so deeply and that I get to see the huge impact they’ve had on others, too! Processing donations in honor of people whose lives were changed by the parks is so special.
Are there any projects that we raise funds for that you’re especially passionate about?
So many! The Meadow Rover program stands out, though, because I met two Rovers on the first day I set foot in Mount Rainier National Park, and both interactions were so special. We chatted for a long time about how incredible the park is, and they shared fun facts about the areas they were stationed in that I never would’ve otherwise known.
Can you share a fun fact about yourself that people might not know about you?
I initially fell in love with the outdoors through bird watching! My parents are avid birders, and I helped at a bird-banding station in rural Pennsylvania during a lot of my childhood. Going slowly on hikes around the area while looking for birds helped me to develop a sense of presence and awe for nature that I’ve carried with me forever.
We are so grateful for the many Trailblazers who help us achieve our mission. Interested in supporting the parks? There are lots of ways to give. Together, we’ll ensure our parks remain vibrant and everlasting for years to come.