mount rainier national park volunteer-in-parks program welcome to the national park service!
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Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Welcome to the National Park Service!
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
The National Park Service manages almost 400 National Parks, Monuments, and Historic Sites from Alaska to the Virgin Islands.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
The National Park Service was established in 1916 to manage and protect the very best of America’s natural and cultural areas.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Our mission is to “preserve and protect” for the enjoyment of present and future generations.
“…to conserve the scenery and the natural and historic objects and the wild life therein and to provide for the enjoyment of the same in such manner and by such means as will leave them unimpaired for the enjoyment of future generations.”
National Park Service Organic Act, 16 USC 1
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Welcome to Mount Rainier National Park!
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Mount Rainier was established in 1899 to protect the tallest and most heavily glaciated mountain in the Cascade Range.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Its designation was also meant to protect the magnificent forests and subalpine meadows that surround it.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Welcome to the Volunteer-in-Parks program!
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Last year, more than 140,000 volunteers contributed more than 5 million hours of service to the National Parks.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
They work alongside park rangers to protect the Service’s natural and cultural treasures and to serve the parks’ visitors.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Welcome to the volunteer program at Mount Rainier National Park!
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Last year, 1,724 people participated in our volunteer program, contributing 84,038 hours of time worth $1.6 million.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
They served as hosts in our campgrounds…
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Naturalists in our visitor centers…
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
And patrol rangers in our wilderness and frontcountry areas.
© John Chao
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
They built and repaired our trails…
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
And assisted with maintenance projects all over the park.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Hundreds of people pitched in to help repair the damage from the devastating floods of November 2006.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
This spring, Mount Rainier’s volunteer program received two national awards for outstanding service.
George B. Hartzog Jr. Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service
Cooperative Conservation Award
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
A key part of our program is our dedicated corps of Meadow Rovers. Welcome to the Meadow Rover team at Mount Rainier!
© John Chao
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Meadow Rovers perfectly embody the dual mission of the National Park Service.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
While hiking the trails, they assist visitors, providing directions, answering questions, and interpreting the natural scenery.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
They also protect the park’s resources through education.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
The subalpine meadows of Mount Rainier are magnificent and beautiful.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
But they are also fragile. Many subalpine plants are killed by the trampling footsteps of careless hikers.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
The vast majority of hikers are unaware that they can cause so much damage simply by wandering off the established trail.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
But in fact, meadow restoration is a major and ongoing effort at Mount Rainier—and one that is assisted by many volunteers.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Volunteers help collect seeds for replanting in damaged areas.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Volunteers help nurture seedlings in the park’s greenhouse.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
And volunteers help with replanting projects in areas that have been damaged.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
It’s a huge effort that could be avoided simply by preventing the damage in the first place.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
That’s where Meadow Rovers come in! Research has shown that the best way to keep people on trails is a human presence.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Even better, in the long run, is to educate people about the proper ways to enjoy the meadows without damaging them.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Education breaks the costly cycle of damage and repair… and encourages stewardship from the start.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Our team of Meadow Rovers grows larger every year.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Our goal is to make every visitor a Meadow Rover!
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
When every visitor cares about park resources and knows how to protect them, our mission will be complete…
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
And we will have successful preserved and protected the park in a way that it can be enjoyed for generations.
Mount Rainier National ParkVolunteer-in-Parks Program
Thank you for playing your part in realizing that goal!