Our parks are special places, unlike any other. We imagine that even when you’re not in the parks, you’re probably longing to get out and enjoy your next park adventure — just like us. And here at Washington’s National Park Fund, our goal is to help you experience the parks, even when you’re unable to be there in person.
That’s why we’re inviting you to our new, free series of virtual field trips to Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic National Parks.
Join us online to hear from park staff and experts on the goings-on at each park. Learn all about the people, places and projects that make our parks so unique — from the comfort of your own home. All of our field trips start at 12:00 p.m. PT and last for approximately 45 minutes. Stick around for the end, and you’ll get the opportunity to participate in a Q&A with our park experts. We also offer programming for children! Find kid-friendly field trips by looking for “Junior Ranger” in the title.
We post the recordings of each trip on our Youtube channel. To date, our field trips have covered Fisher restoration in Olympic, a reading of “If I Were a Park Ranger” by Mount Rainier Education Ranger Annie Runde, a virtual field trip on summiting all 50 peaks in the North Cascades, and more. Have a favorite park? Check out our playlists of field trips to Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic. No matter what you’re interested in, there’s sure to be a virtual field trip that will take you to new heights.
Our Virtual Field Trips to the parks are on summer break. We’ll be back in the fall!
Want to get notified about our next Virtual Field Trip and more? Join our community email list to stay in the loop about upcoming events and ways to get involved.
April 6, 2022 • North Cascades National Park
Ever wonder who maintains and manages the 400+ miles of trails at North Cascades National Park Complex? If you have ever hit the trails in the park, you’ll want to get to know the Trails & Preservation program! Join Bill Zimmer, the Trails & Preservation Supervisor, to learn about who they are, why they do it, and how they do it all.
February 9, 2022 • Olympic National Park
Educator, naturalist, and sea kayak guide Chelsea Behymer explores the geologic forces that formed some of the youngest mountains on Earth. Discover the ecological connections among its unique temperate rainforest and coastal communities from the perspective of the network of waters that transect and unite this dynamic terrain.
January 28, 2022 • Mount Rainier National Park
Join Rebecca Lofgren, Aquatic Ecologist, for a virtual tour of the park’s water landscape, fish, and amphibians. Learn how Environmental DNA (eDNA), thermal infrared monitoring, and direct field observations, done with the support of Washington’s National Park Fund, assists park staff in restoring these aquatic ecosystems.
Missed out on a Virtual Field Trip? Find recordings of all of our trips in our park playlists:
See the full collection on Youtube.
Cover photo: Mount Rainier National Park by Nate Brown; footer photo (below): North Cascades National Park by Mitch Pittman 📷