Washington’s National Park Fund Supports Science and Research

The former chief executive officer of Two Beers Brewing and Seattle Cider Company in Washington State, Joel Vandenbrink is an outdoorsperson who enjoys hiking and mountaineering. Joel Vandenbrink supports Washington’s National Park Fund (WNPF), a philanthropic partner dedicated to the preservation of Mount Rainier National Park, North Cascades National Park, and Olympic National Park.

One of the WNPF’s core funding focuses comprises initiatives that advance scienctific and research efforts. Mount Rainier, North Cascades, and Olympic National Parks’ leadership teams and superintendents convene each year to identify important projects that cannot receive federal funding. A WNPF committee reviews their proposals and facilitates financial support through fundraising and outside donations. Past scientific and research projects have included measuring glacial depths, tracking elk to study their migration patterns, and researching which plants best grow in areas previously covered by Elwha Dam’s waters.

Fundraising for the WNPF’s 2020–2021 park projects is underway and will continue through September 21. Thus far, the organization has partially or fully funded several endeavors across all three national parks. Regarding science- and research-related ones, it met the funding goal for glacier-decline investigations in Olympic National Park and garnered partial funding for diet-data collection to further understanding of the Cascade red fox and other rare carnivores’ status in North Cascades National Park.