Getting Involved

This post isn't about photography or related to my photography guide to Mt. Rainier National Park. I was noticing that there are a lot of ways people get involved in the National Park (NP). These organizations do many things in the NP and for the National Park Service (NPS) in and for Mt. Rainier NP.

The reason for these groups and organizations to ask for volunteers, help and money is simple. Under the last succession of President, the National Park Service has been seriously underfunded to just keep up with the routine maintenance in the National Parks in addition to new work and repairs from major events, such as the floods of November 2006 in Mt. Rainier NP.

And some of these are as follows.

NPS Volunteer Program

This Web page list all the programs you can consider if you want or plan to volunteer to work in the NP. You have lots of opportunities to help.

Washington Trail Association

The WTA focuses on the trails in the National Parks and Forest Service Forest in Washington State, from lobbying for additional funds through Congress to schedule trail development and maintenance.

Mountaineers

The Mountaineers, the oldest outdoor recreation organization in Washington, works on the public access and improvement of National Parks, Forest Service and Bureau Land Management lands in Washington State. They have branches in several cities, but most of the work done in Mt. Rainier NP is done through the Tacoma branch.

Mount Rainier Volunteers

The volunteers works on a range of work and projects about Mt. Rainier NP.

Students Conservation Association

This SCA sponsors work parties for high school students for the National Park.

Some of these organizations have member program or will take donations if you can't volunteer your time. You can get a longer list of organizations on the Mt. Rainier Volunteers Web blog (see partners in right column).