Science & Research

Science on the Slopes: Volunteers Help Study Pikas at Mount Rainier

Go behind the scenes of a donor-funded community science effort to survey Mount Rainier’s pika populations, led by Washington State University PhD student Allie Stift in partnership with National Park Service staff.

A Partnership Rooted in Resilience: Restoring the Ozette Prairies in Olympic National Park

Tucked along the coast, the Ozette Prairies are home to species found nowhere else — and to a cultural legacy that stretches back thousands of years. Today, thanks to donor support through Washington’s National Park Fund, a new project is helping preserve this unique landscape.

Behind the Binoculars: What It’s Like to Train as a Marmoteer in Olympic

Ever wonder what it's like to volunteer as a marmoteer at Olympic National Park? Read about the training day here! From the gear, community building, to the wildlife research, WNPF donors make this citizen science project possible.

Returning a Meadow: Research in Action at Mount Rainier National Park

Your support is driving new science to restore Mount Rainier’s fragile subalpine meadows, long strained by human impact and shifting weather, as researchers pursue lasting solutions for healthier, resilient landscapes.

Pika Power: Volunteers Power Alpine Wildlife Research at Mount Rainier

Thanks to donor support, Mount Rainier has launched its first-ever pika community science program, connecting trained volunteers with cutting-edge research opportunities and empowering them to collect data that will help determine how these animals are faring in our changing world.

Follow the Flush: Protecting Olympic National Park’s Coast by Solving a Growing Wastewater Problem

If you've ever hiked, camped, or backpacked along Olympic National Park’s Pacific Coast, you’ve likely benefited from a backcountry toilet. Get an inside look at how these are made and how you can support this project!

Monitoring Marmots, Managing Meadows: Meet Olympic’s ‘Marmoteers’

Get to know Olympic National Park's marmot monitoring volunteers called the "Marmoteers"! From the gear, community building, to the wildlife research, WNPF donors make this citizen science project possible.

Mapping the Wilderness Character of the Stephen Mather Wilderness

In a recent virtual field trip, we explored a project that WNPF supported in the North Cascades – specifically the Stephen Mather Wilderness – and the mapping tool created to observe and monitor the wilderness character of the park.

From Research to Reality: Restoring Paradise & Returning a Meadow

With heavy visitor traffic & climate challenges threatening Paradise's sensitive ecosystem, researchers and park staff are pioneering ways to restore and safeguard this beloved landscape – and through our multi-year Together for the Parks campaign, donors are playing an important role in protecting these fragile flowers.