By Heather Danforth, Donor Engagement Manager

With my Keen sandals stashed in the garage for the winter and base layers shifting forward in my closet, I begin to inventory my gear and create a list of what needs mending or replacing before the next season. I’m also creating my shopping list for the gear junkies, home chefs, and national park adventurers in my life.

When giving gifts to friends and family, I like to give back to my parks by supporting small businesses and partners of Washington’s National Park Fund. From lodging in the parks to adventure van rentals, hand-crafted glassware to essential oils, cozy park-inspired candles, apparel, and more, Washington’s National Park Fund partners with companies who donate a percentage of sales to support Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks.

For The Adventurer

Park experiences are among the best gifts you can give. Whether they’re a backcountry adventurer or lodge explorer, our national parks offer something for everyone to enjoy.  

• Did you know that you can donate to Washington’s National Park Fund while staying at in-park lodges? Rainier Guest Services and Guest Services, Inc. at Mount Rainier, and Aramark and Delaware North at Olympic National Park provide opportunities to support your parks when booking your stay! 
• PacWesty, based in Bainbridge Island, specializes in Volkswagen Vanagons outfitted for adventure. Rentals include everything from stoves to beach chairs, sleeping bags to French press. $10 is donated to Washington’s National Park Fund for every night of a rental of PackWesty’s Washington’s National Park Fund van, Lulu. 
• For $80, the America the Beautiful National Park Pass covers entrance, standard amenity fees and day use fees for more than 2,000 federal recreation sites across the country – including Mount Rainier, North Cascades and Olympic National Park. Passes are available to purchase at park entrance stations, online and at some outdoor retailers such as REI.

Learn more about Lulu

For Those in Need of a Little R&R

Show some extra love and give a much-needed opportunity to rest and relax with these items that bring the parks to the comfort of their home. 

• Good & Well Supply Company makes small batch candles from 100% soy wax with clean-burning, USA-grown balsa wood wicks and pure essential oils. Not only are these candles eco-friendly, recyclable, vegan, ethically-sources and produced – they also smell incredible! The North Cascades, Olympic, and Rainier scents bring your national parks right into your home. 
• Forester John: Forest Essential Oil Blends are crafted using knowledge and experience gained as a real life forester. The Olympic National Park: Hoh Rain Forest Essential Oil Blend is mixed to match the trees that grow naturally in the Hoh Rain Forest – Sitka Spruce, Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, and Douglas Fir.

Good & Well Supply Co.’s candles are inspired by our parks

That “Something Special” You’ve Been Looking For

We all know a person who is impossible to shop for. They have impeccable taste and always give the most thoughtful gifts. Here’s a little something they don’t have at home: 

• North Drinkware produces hand-blown glasses, blankets, and coasters that celebrate some of the most iconic mountains in our country. The Washington Pint and the Washington Tumbler are decorative and practical, perfect for a festive glass of apple cider or your favorite holiday-inspired cocktail.  
• Panda, based in Washington state, delivers ecologically sustainable eye-wear and watches with a contemporary aesthetic to a new generation of globally-conscious consumers. And they believe not only their product, but their actions, must make an impact. The Naturalist watch is a showstopper. The face is made from eco-friendly bamboo while the band features beautiful Portuguese cork and vegan leather. 

North Drinkware produces beautiful hand-blown glassware

For The Park Enthusiast

From t-shirts to tumblers, there are endless ways to rep your favorite national parks. For someone on your list who is homesick for the PNW or in need of a wardrobe refresh, support these partners, support your parks.

• Look for Washington’s National Park Fund merchandise in the gift shops at National Park Inn, Paradise Inn, and the Jackson Visitor Center in Mount Rainier National Park, as well as the North Cascades Visitor Center in Newhalem. Items featuring WNPF on the tag supporting park priority projects.  
• The Parks Project has contributed over $1.5 million to help fund projects in national parks around the U.S., including donating a percentage of sales of their Olympic National Park apparel to Washington’s National Park Fund in support of Adventures In Your Big Backyard. 
• Rainier Watch is a community of Rainier watchers and lovers and apparel brand making tees, stickers, hats and more. The Rainier Watch mission is to keep the great people of the PNW informed when “The Mountain is out” and make Rainier-inspired products while supporting our national parks.
• A band born around a campfire, Garrett and the Sheriffs donates a portion of their merchandise sales to Washington’s National Park Fund, including a co-branded coffee mug, in order to give back to the wild places that have given them so much.
• Nature Backs’ mission is to inspire all to go outside and adventure, to wander into the unknown, to take chances, to live. They donate 10% of profits from their Olympic National Park bracelet to support projects in this treasured national park.

Rainier Watch’s collection of cozy apparel offers something for everyone

Treat Yourself to a New Plate

Your adventure vehicle will thank you and so will your parks!

• Own a vehicle? Motorcycle? Trailer? Motorhome? Treat yourself to Washington National Park license plates and join the nearly 10,000 registered national park license plates are on Washington roads. Every time you renew a National Park License Plate, $28 goes back to the parks and stays in Washington State.

Show off your park love every time you take a ride

Give Back While You Shop

• Whether you are shopping at home or on the bus during your daily commute, AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way to support Washington’s National Park Fund every time you shop, at no cost to you. Select “Washington’s National Park Fund” as your charity while signed into smile.amazon.com and 0.5% of all eligible purchases will be donated to WNPF.

Shopping through Amazon Smile is an easy way to give back

Thanks for thinking of your parks this holiday season!