Equity & Inclusion

Honoring Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Heritage Month with WNPF

The stories of all Asian Americans and people of Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander ancestry in the U.S. are stories of enormous challenges, including bigotry and discrimination, but also of exceptional resilience, community, and of their rich contributions to this country and its identity. Join Washington’s National Park Fund, the...

Your Gifts in Action: Growing the Seeds of Community Resilience

The Food Sustainability and Native Plant Education pilot program at North Cascades National Park reaches populations the park doesn’t serve as much as it would like – including local gateway communities, underserved youth, and tribes. Learn about what this innovative, hands-on project is bringing to the community around the park.

Celebrating Women’s History Month in Washington’s National Parks

During Women's History Month, we join our park partners in exploring the stories of women of all cultural backgrounds and traditions who have engaged in civic life throughout American history, as well as the many women who serve or have served as leaders, trailblazers, and pioneers in stewardship of public...

Celebrating Black History Month with Washington's National Park Fund

Black History Month is a special time set aside to acknowledge, to reflect on, and to be inspired by the history, the culture, and the contributions of Black Americans to our country and to the world. National parks play a fundamental role in preserving and documenting the achievements, contributions, resilience,...

Climbing for a Cause with Type 1 Diabetes

If I take too much insulin or get too much exercise, my blood sugar can drop quickly to dangerous levels, which can make activities like hiking, biking, and running challenging. But I embrace that challenge because those activities - and being outdoors in our parks - are some of my...

An Ode to Hiking Solo

Much has been written about the restorative powers of being in nature. When I think about the moments that I have felt the most alive in the outdoors, I think about being in remote spaces far away from crowds. Many experiences are with a friend or a small group, but...

Taking on National Parks with a Fourth Grade Pass

Did you know that fourth grade students are eligible for a park pass granting free entrance to public lands for them and their families? Learn about the pass (and how fourth graders you know can get one!) when you read our latest blog. In it, Eli, a ten-year-old student from...

Heading Back to School: Middle School Snow Science in Olympic National Park

It's back-to-school season! Did you know that science field trips for seventh graders is one of the projects WNPF has provided support for over the years? This article, originally published in National Parks Traveler's March 2020 issue, sheds light on how this impactful program makes a difference in young peoples'...

Trailblazers: The Gonzalez Family – Elizabeth, Erik and Emilio

Our Trailblazers series celebrates these passionate park lovers and all of their reasons for giving. This week, meet Elizabeth Gonzalez, Administrative Manager here at WNPF. Elizabeth manages accounting, human resources, our ‘Big Betty’ of park projects, and is a liaison for the parks for their grants and payments. We had a conversation...