This is BIG news! Our donation of $2 million to the National Park Foundation over the next 10 years will fund crews that will camp out at the parks for 8 weeks each summer, repairing trails, clearing debris and creating drainage. We spent some time over two days getting to know the crews that will be working the Wonderland Trail at Mt. Rainier National Park and the Enchanted Valley Trail at Olympic National Park. The crews will help chug through a maintenance backlog that has plagued both parks for years, allowing them to spread their thin resources more effectively. The crews are a diverse group of youth from Boys and Girls Clubs, college students, tribal members and military veterans. Spending time in the outdoors is intended to bring them together, teach them skills, and let them earn a little money at the same time. The local newspaper did an excellent writeup http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article90924487.html
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- A warm welcome from Mt. Rainier National Park Superintendent Randy King, who has served in six national parks in 40 years of service in the National Parks.
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- Crew member David hails from Brooklyn and has career aspirations to be a defense attorney. He wants to try the outdoor life first, though.
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- Crew member Jack from Cleveland is passionate about caring for Mother Earth and wants to start an eco-farm someday.
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- We had a spectacularly sunny warm day. Scientist are studying the connection between increased glacier melt and volcanic activity.
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- Near Longmire campground, we saw this shelter being constructed out of some 63 trees that fell in a 30 minute storm there last year.
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- Our fearless crew at Mt. Rainier National Park. This is a summer they’ll never forget.
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- Excited? Yup, we’re both talking at the same time.
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- We flew our National Park Foundation guests (Curt Buchholtz, Lise Aangeenbrug and Rhoda Altom) in style from Boeing Field to Rainier one day, and to Olympic the next.
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- The clouds lifted just in time for some spectacular flightseeing around Mt. Rainier.
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- Chatting with Lisa Turecek, director of Maintenance at Olympic National Park. She said the duration of our donation has allowed them to apply for matching grants.
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- And another fearless crew at Olympic National Park. You’re looking at the next generation of national park lovers.
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- A small fraction of the beauty of Olympic National Park.
Mike and Sue
It was a pleasure meeting you at Mount Rainier National Park – and again, thank you so much for supporting youth and the NPS! Your donation will allow us to place a diverse mix of young adults in both MORA and Olympic Nation Parks. This will be a life changing experience for them.
Kevin Farrell
Regional Coordinator
Washington Conservation Corps