Our “Core Four” Guide All We Do

The Process of Picking Projects

At the beginning of each fiscal year, Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks’ staff and leadership identify critical projects that cannot be funded through current budgets alone. We then raise funds – with the support of our community – to make these projects a reality.

These projects fall into four priority areas: advancing science and research, improving visitors’ experiences, expanding volunteerism and stewardship, and embracing inclusion within the parks. Right now, we are raising funds for park projects that will take place in Fiscal Year 2025 (October 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025).

Current Projects

Projects We’ve Funded

Advancing
Science and Research

Scientific study is and has always been a crucial element in the management of Washington’s national parks. Research projects have been wide-ranging and include wildlife and plant studies, monitoring glaciers and river systems, restoring endangered species and habitats, and examining visitor use patterns. All of these projects have helped advance understanding vital for protecting the parks now and forever. If not for your support, these important research projects would not have happened.

Fiscal Year 2024

  • Tracking Disappearing Glaciers in Olympic NP – $16,300
  • Elwha River Restoration Project: Access to the Upper Elwha in Olympic NP – $12,600
  • Wilderness Characteristics Mapping Tool in North Cascades NP – $12,500
  • Elk Monitoring in Olympic NP – $10,000
  • Studying Rare Carnivores in North Cascades NP – $10,000
  • Archives Backlog Assessment and Processing in Olympic NP – $8,300
  • Wilderness Forensics in North Cascades NP – $3,500
  • Wilderness Photography in North Cascades NP – $300

Fiscal Year 2023

  • Restoring Aquatic Ecosystems in Mount Rainier NP – $26,500
  • Visitor Use and Impact Monitoring to Inform Meadow Restoration & Wilderness Stewardship in Mount Rainier NP – $26,000
  • Documenting and Relocating Native Vegetation in Mount Rainier NP – $25,500
  • Restoring the Big Beaver Valley Wetlands in North Cascades NP – $16,400
  • Elk Monitoring in Olympic NP – $12,400
  • Studying Rare Carnivores in North Cascades NP – $10,000
  • Adopt a Whitebark Pine in North Cascades NP – $10,000
  • Providing Public Access to Historical Photographs in North Cascades NP – $9,300
  • Wilderness Forensics in North Cascades NP – $3,500
  • Aquatic Invasive Species Training for North Cascades NP Staff – $1,000
  • Olympic Marmot Project in Olympic NP – $700
  • Restoring Fishers in North Cascades NP – $500

Fiscal Year 2022

  • Restoring Aquatic Ecosystems in Mount Rainier NP – $26,500
  • Studying Visitor Use Patterns to Guide Park Management in Mount Rainier NP – $26,000
  • Adopt a Whitebark Pine in North Cascades NP – $14,000
  • Alpine Mammal Monitoring in Mount Rainier NP – $13,500
  • Studying Rare Carnivores in North Cascades NP – $5,000
  • Olympic Marmot Citizen Science Project in Olympic NP – $2,000
  • Restoring Fishers in North Cascades NP – $700
  • Fisher Genetic Rescue in Olympic NP – $500
  • Glacier Research in Olympic NP – $300

Improving
Visitors’ Experiences

Creating a positive, safe, and memorable experience for visitors of all backgrounds is the foundation of the parks’ mission. With your help, we have created opportunities for young people and their families within the parks, supported trail maintenance, improved wayfinding signage, increased visitor engagement with park rangers, and enhanced critical search and rescue efforts. These projects allow rangers to be of better service to those who come to the parks – something that, most will tell you, is in a park ranger’s DNA.

Fiscal Year 2024

  • Wonderland Trail Work in Mount Rainier NP – $200,000
  • Bear Essentials Safety Program in North Cascades NP – $50,600
  • Restoring Paradise in Mount Rainier NP (Together for the Parks Project) – $35,600
  • Alpine Gardens Protection Team in Mount Rainier NP – $30,400
  • Visitor Benches at Paradise in Mount Rainier NP – $25,000
  • Terminus Glacier Memorial Project in Olympic NP – $25,000
  • Night Sky Interpretation in Olympic NP – $23,300
  • Supporting the Kalaloch Ranger Station in Olympic NP – $22,200
  • “Skiing History of Mount Rainier” Exhibit – $10,000
  • Aviation Training for Rangers at Olympic NP – $9,200
  • Search and Rescue Trainings for North Cascades NP – $4,500
  • Restoring Hurricane Ridge Webcams through the Fire Relief Fund at Olympic NP – $3,200
  • Support Incident Responders in North Cascades NP – $2,500
  • Meadow Restoration and Stewardship in Paradise at Mount Rainier NP – $800

Fiscal Year 2023

  • Wonderland Trail Work in Mount Rainier NP – $100,000
  • Rain Forest / Carbon River Project – $100,000
  • Trail Work in Olympic NP – $100,000
  • Re-Planting Subalpine Meadows in Paradise in Mount Rainier NP – $36,000
  • Preventive Search & Rescue in Mount Rainier NP – $34,500
  • Rebuild Technical Rope Rescue Program in Olympic NP – $32,000
  • Red Bus Repairs in Stehekin in North Cascades NP – $30,000
  • Visitor Orientation & Trails Safety Info at Paradise in Mount Rainier NP – $28,000
  • Alpine Gardens Protection Team in Mount Rainier NP – $27,000
  • The Terminus-A Glacier Memorial Project in Olympic NP – $25,000
  • Supporting the Kalaloch Ranger Station in Olympic NP – $21,800
  • Provide Access to Revegetation and Wilderness Monitoring Photographs in North Cascades NP – $21,600
  • Night Sky Interpretation in Olympic NP – $18,000
  • Night Skies Internship in Mount Rainier NP – $5,700
  • ParkMedic Training in North Cascades NP – $1,000
  • Search and Rescue (SAR) in Olympic NP – $500
  • Flood Damage in Mount Rainier NP – $500

Fiscal Year 2022

  • Trail Work in Olympic NP – $100,000
  • Bear Essentials Safety Program in North Cascades NP – $53,000
  • Re-Planting Subalpine Meadows in Paradise, Mount Rainier NP – $35,000
  • Wild Bears and Backcountry People in North Cascades NP – $25,000
  • Avalanche Education and Training in Olympic NP – $21,000
  • Supporting the Kalaloch Ranger Station in Olympic NP – $20,000
  • Night Sky Interpretation in Olympic NP – $18,000
  • Roadside Assistant Volunteer Network (RAVENs) in Mount Rainier NP – $16,600
  • Prairie Restoration in Olympic NP – $11,600
  • Volunteer Historic Preservation Masonry in Mount Rainier NP – $10,000
  • Solar Panels & Installation in Mount Rainier NP – $9,700
  • Paramedic Training in North Cascades NP – $3,500
  • Conservation From Here Elk Art Installation in Olympic NP – $3,500
  • COVID-19 Signage in Mount Rainier NP – $3,000
  • Kayaks at Lake Margin in Olympic NP – $3,000
  • Dark Skies Project in Mount Rainier NP – $2,200
  • Search and Rescue (SAR) in Mount Rainier NP – $1,400

Expanding
Volunteerism & Stewardship

National park volunteers are a powerful force for providing vital project support and creating passionate advocates for the parks’ mission. With your support, volunteers have contributed thousands of hours over the years, conducting backcountry patrols, wildlife surveys, restoration projects, guest programs, geologic research, and archaeological work. Our partnerships have funded supplies, housing, uniforms, vehicles, and coordination to keep these key programs flourishing.

Fiscal Year 2024

  • Meadow Rover Volunteer Program in Mount Rainier NP – $64,000
  • Volunteer Program in Mount Rainier NP – $60,000
  • WTA Trail Partnership and Crew Lead in Mount Rainier NP – $50,000
  • Native Plant Nursery Volunteer Program in Olympic NP – $25,000
  • Wilderness Volunteer Program in Olympic NP – $18,500
  • Emergency Roadside Assistance Volunteers in Mount Rainier NP – $16,000
  • Volunteer Project Trailer in North Cascades NP – $12,500
  • Cascades Butterfly Project in North Cascades NP – $10,000

Fiscal Year 2023

  • WTA Trail Partnership and Crew Lead in Mount Rainier NP – $51,000
  • Volunteer Program in Mount Rainier NP – $50,000
  • Meadow Rover Volunteer Program in Mount Rainier NP – $40,000
  • Native Plant Nursery Volunteer Program in Olympic NP – $30,000
  • Emergency Roadside Assistance Volunteers in Mount Rainier NP – $22,900

Fiscal Year 2022

  • Volunteer Program in Mount Rainier NP – $78,000
  • WTA Crew Lead, Youth and Volunteer Programs in Mount Rainier NP – $47,000
  • Meadow Rover Volunteer Program in Mount Rainier NP – $40,000
  • Native Plant Nursery Volunteer Program in Olympic NP – $10,500
  • Cascades Butterfly Project in North Cascades NP – $10,000

Embracing
Inclusion

The future of our parks depends upon creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds to experience, connect with, and ultimately treasure Washington’s wildest places. With your support, we have funded a number of programs that foster an environment in the parks where people who experience more life barriers based on their identities can feel welcome and that they belong.

Fiscal Year 2024

  • Wilderness Internships in North Cascades NP – $39,600
  • Access for All: Evaluating Trail Accessibility and Creating Digital Trails Guide in Mount Rainier NP – $37,000
  • Engaging Tribal Youth in Co-Development of Native Conservation Corps Program in Olympic NP – $27,200
  • Adventures in Your Big Backyard Youth Program in Olympic NP – $22,200
  • Serving Diverse Communities through Bilingual Rangers in Mount Rainier NP – $20,000
  • Makah Youth Cultural Resource Monitoring in Olympic NP – $20,000
  • Scientists in the Park Internship Program in Olympic NP – $19,300
  • Produce Carts for the Sauk-Suiattle Community in North Cascades NP – $13,600
  • Middle School Science Program in Olympic NP – $11,200
  • Honorarium for Tribal Representatives to Conduct Training for Park Staff in Mount Rainier NP – $3,400
  • Community Resilience through Food Sustainability and Native Plant Education in North Cascades NP – $2,000
  • Honorarium for Nlaka’pamux First Nation Leader to Advise Park Leadership in North Cascades NP – $400

Fiscal Year 2023

  • Access for All: Evaluating Trail Accessibility and Creating Digital Trails Guide in Mount Rainier NP – $55,400
  • Engaging Tribal Youth in Co-Development of Native Conservation Corps Program in Olympic NP – $30,200
  • Scientists in the Park Internship Program in Olympic NP – $26,500
  • Adventures in Your Big Backyard in Olympic NP – $23,200
  • Makah Youth Cultural Resource Monitoring in Olympic NP – $20,000
  • Middle School Science Program in Olympic NP – $17,700
  • Community Resilience through Food Sustainability and Native Plant Education in North Cascades NP – $9,600
  • Indigenous Park Film Speaker Honorarium in North Cascades NP – $500

Fiscal Year 2022

  • Scientists in the Park Internship Program in Olympic NP – $27,000
  • Adventures in Your Big Backyard in Olympic NP – $26,700
  • Community Resilience through Food Sustainability and Native Plant Education in North Cascades NP – $23,000
  • Tribal Pathways Internship Program in Olympic NP – $21,500
  • Middle School Science Program in Olympic NP – $17,000
  • Bus Subsidies in Mount Rainier NP – $15,000
  • Mountain Bikes for Stehekin Youth Conservation Team in North Cascades NP – $2,000

Antonio, along with WNPF staff, poses with rangers and Casa Latina participants on their visit to Mount Rainier, made possible by a joint effort between Casa Latina, WNPF, and Mount Rainier National Park

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

We are proud to fund projects that advance diversity, equity, and inclusion in Washington’s national parks every year as part of our commitment to make the parks more accessible for all.

Learn about our commitment, and see how your donations help.

Inspire the Next Generation of Park Stewards

Support the Parks