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Your Voice for Washington State Parks
Soliciting support for parks, building partnerships and maintaining access to parklands
May 18, 2013
and a great turn-out of friends group volunteers and park hosts,
was a HUGE SUCCESS!
May 12, 2013
Join us for our second annual Friends Group Conference:
"Our Partnerships, Our Future"
May 13 - May 15, 2013
at Cama Beach State Park
addressing issues essential to supporting state parks friends groups.
Discussion topics include:
State Parks Policies and Procedures
Legal Issues
Fundraising and Grants
Parks Advocacy
Events
Online/Social Media
Merchandising
Volunteer Recruitment and Management
Camp Hosting
This is a wonderful opportunity to meet with WSPF Executive Director, John Floberg, and parks agency staff and consultants, as well as network with members of friends groups from throughout the state.
For more information, please contact us at info:wspf.org
March 24, 2013
Washington State Parks turn 100 this month.
But not since the Great Depression has the park system been so imperiled.
Read the article here:
http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020628849_stateparksxml.html
Photos and captions from the article:
Pam Wilkins, a state parks manager, locks up at the John R. Jackson House in Chehalis. Standing on the porch is former Secretary of State and Washington State Parks Foundation Vice Chairman Ralph Munro, who says that by failing to maintain historic properties, the state is violating the trust of families who donated them.
A massive December storm took down hundreds of trees at Lake Wenatchee State Park. With staff cuts, cleanup won’t be finished for summer.
Maurya Broadsword, a worker at Kittitas County’s Olmstead Place State Park, walks through a water-damaged, moth-infested bedroom of the site’s historic home.
March 19, 2013
Join us in celebrating our Centennial!
Enjoy a festival, join a fun run, tour an interpretive site – or just make your own celebration with a family picnic or camping trip. Choose from dozens of activities and events throughout the year.
Find the calendar of events: http://www.parks.wa.gov/events/
The Washington State Parks Foundation invites you to a special event at the Governor’s Mansion
celebrating the 100-year anniversary of Washington's state parks.
Featured guest Governor Christine Gregoire will share her love of Washington's natural
treasures,
along with special guests, former governors Mike Lowry and John
Spellman.
Please join us for this opportunity to support the Washington State Parks Foundation
and the unique beauty and history of Washington's parks.
Thursday, November 8th, 2012
5:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Program begins at 6:30 p.m.
Governor’s Mansion
Olympia, WA
Generous hors
d’oeuvres, beer and wine will be provided.
Contributions to the Washington State Parks Foundation will be requested during the program.
Suggested donation.
Space is limited. Please respond by November 1st if you plan to
attend.
RSVP to http://www.waparks.eventbrite.com or call (800) 324-9605.
Business Attire
See http://www.wagovmansion.org for directions.
Sponsored by:
We've awarded the Photo of the Week to Carolyn Burt's "Left High and Dry"
(Fort Worden State Park)
How lovely!
September 21, 2012
to Matthew Williams's "Summit at Mt. Pilchuck"
Gorgeous!!
(And check out the hiker enjoying the view!)
September 20, 2012
PHOTO CONTEST UPDATE:
*** We are actively seeking photos of PEOPLE enjoying our state parks ***
Winning photos of families and friends may be used in Governor Christine Gregoire's upcoming Public Service Announcement supporting WA State Parks!
Photos featuring families and children are most welcome!
Join our Photo Contest here.
September 14, 2012
Congratulations, Chris Teren,
and thank you for the stunning "Patos Island with Mt. Baker"
August 31st, 2012 - New WSPF Photo Contest! Do you have photos of State Parks that you would love to share? Enter them in our new photo contest for all to see! Click here to learn more.
August 16th, 2012 - Shellfest 2012 at Saltwater State Park in Des Moines WA -- this Saturday August 18th from 10am to 3pm.
Free lunch provided by Taylor Shellfish, with donations to benefit Washington State Parks Foundation!
Join us for a wonderful day in the sun! And don't forget your Discover Pass!
July 10, 2012 - The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and the Washington State Parks Foundation invite you to Shellfest 2012! Shellfest celebrates shellfish and Puget Sound, and what better place to do this than at our state parks? These first-time events will run from 9:30-3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 4 at Potlatch State Park and Saturday August 18 at Saltwater State Park.
The Shellfish events will feature fun for the whole family, including low tide beach walks guided by local experts, maritime music, and shellfish touch tanks, ice tables, videos and food donated by local shellfish growers. Food will be free, with a suggested donation to the Washington State Parks Foundation.
Hope you can make it!!
June 7, 2012 - Don't miss out! There are only a few opportunities left to attend "Beyond 2013" public meetings where you can give voice to the future direction of Washington State Parks. The remaining meetings will wrap-up by mid-June and are all in northwest Washington.
May 25, 2012 - Remember, given state funding cuts we wouldn’t have a Washington State Parks system without your purchase of the Discover Pass. Have a great holiday weekend!
May 20, 2012 - Washington State Parks needs to hear from you! Next year the State Parks system will be 100 years old. As Parks enters its second hundred years it will need a new strategic plan. Park’s Centennial birthday also brings with it a dramatic reduction in state general fund support and a need for the Parks system to develop new ways to support itself. Please help guide the upcoming transformation in Parks by attending a “Beyond 2013” public meeting where you can make a difference. - See you there!.
March 17, 2012 - On Monday, State Parks celebrates its 99th birthday! Check out the latest project by WSPF to enhance the fantastic natural resources - The Virtual Ranger.
PS. Have you liked us on Facebook yet?
December 13, 2011 - The latest edition of the WSPF quarterly newsletter is hot off the presses! Featured in this issue: WSPF's response to rising budget woes for state parks, our featured "friends of state parks" group, and two new board members! Take a look.
October 25, 2011 - Interested in forming a volunteer group to support a particular State Park? Give a call to an expert to get you started. They'd love to hear from you.
September 21, 2011 - Washington State Parks Foundation is now on Facebook! Check out our new page and be sure to "Like" us to get state park news, updates, special events, and photos.
June 30, 2011 - Get the Discover Pass for access to Washington State Parks and other state recreational lands -- your passport to adventure!
Senator Kevin Ranker accepts Legislator of the Year Award at 2011 Awards Gala
Left to Right: Dir. of Parks Don Hoch, Sen Kevin Ranker, former Sec. of State Ralph Munro, Sen Phil Rockefeller, Sam Garst
2011 Awards Included:
Lifetime Achievement
Joan Thomas - in addition to helping found the Washington Environmental Council, Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition, and the Puget Sound Water Quality Defense Fund, Joan Thomas was a driving force on the Washington Parks and Recreation Commission from 1997 to 2007, including serving as Chair. Washington State Parks are a great beneficiary of her passion and dedication.
Legislators of the year
Kevin Ranker - worked unceasingly this legislative session with State Parks and the Departments of Natural Resources and Fish and Wildlife to develop the Discover Pass, in order to prevent massive closure of Parks and loss of tourism jobs. It was a Herculean task.
Kevin Van De Wege - championed the Discover Pass legislation in the House, and served to lead others on the House floor when the final vote was taken. His legacy also includes developing the agency’s vehicle tab donation program to help keep Parks open during the last biennium.
Friends Group of the Year
Friends of Moran State Park – a dynamic group who formed their own non-profit that supports a wide range of programs and facilities. They even opened a gift shop that has funded hiring a biologist, installing emergency phones, milling timbers, and supporting junior rangers.
Outstanding Volunteers
Don and Alice Prince – an exemplary volunteer couple who helped create the Bridle Trails State Park Foundation which has kept the park open. Don became President and acquired major sponsors and helped build a 4,500 constituent database. Alice became secretary, donor correspondent newsletter editor, speaker and media specialist. They built a legacy beyond themselves.
Event Program
Former Secretary of State and current Vice-President of the Foundation, Ralph Munro, acted as Master of Ceremonies. Sam Garst, President of the Foundation, introduced the new Executive Director of the Foundation, John Floberg, stating, “We welcome John and look forward to his help in our efforts to support State Parks as we enter an era of uncertainty. Since State Parks will now rely on the Discover Pass rather than general State funds all of us face a tremendous challenge, but we at the Foundation are committed to developing the funding and support necessary to ensure Washington State Parks remain the premier system of parks in the country.” Floberg said, “I accept the challenge and look forward to working with all those who are dedicated to the survival and improvement of our parks.”
Background on Washington State Parks and Parks Foundation
From hiking to biking, skiing to sailing, camping to picnicking, Washington’s 100-plus state parks offer superb outdoor experiences for all seasons. Whether you want to explore rocky shorelines or climb snow-capped peaks, our state parks offer endless ways to enjoy Washington’s spectacular geographic diversity.
Washington’s state parks system was created in 1913 through land donations from a few visionary individuals. Ours is the 4th oldest State Park system, predating even the Natrional Park Service. Over the following decades, private donations continued to build one of the largest and most beautiful state parks systems in America.
The Washington State Parks Foundation was established as a private, nonprofit organization to build financial support for our state parks, including enhanced programming and state parks improvement projects. The Foundation is qualified as a 501 c-3 non-profit, and contributions are tax deductible. Through the Foundation's work, we continue the legacy of giving started almost a century ago.
The current economic and state budgetary climate presents challenges that the Foundation is stepping up to tackle. At a time when more and more people are choosing our state parks as a nearby refuge from the stress and hassles of life, the need to help maintain state park facilities and programs is of greater importance than ever.
From our Small & Simple Grants to help with smaller projects in our state parks, to improvements in specific areas of recreation activity or in individual parks, to helping keep programs alive in our state parks, the Washington State Parks Foundation, with the assistance of our donors large and small, has stepped up in these challenging times.
Our State Parks are a gift from individuals from the past. In 2013, Washington State Parks will be 100 years old. Join us and help leave a legacy to future generations.
Camping Information/Reservations: If you would like information on specific
State Parks or wish to reserve a campsite in a Washington State Park