Washington State Parks News Releases

News Release 12-072

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission
1111 Israel Road S.W., P.O. Box 42650, Olympia, WA 98504-2650, (360) 902-8500
Don Hoch, Director

Pacific Northwest cultural heritage programs at Mount St. Helens Visitor Center

OLYMPIA – Aug. 1, 2012 – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program invites the public to two evening Pacific Northwest cultural heritage programs at Mount St. Helens Visitor Center in Seaquest State Park on Silver Lake.

The programs are 7 p.m. Aug. 11 and 18 at Mount St. Helens Visitor Center in Seaquest State Park, 3029 Spirit Lake Highway (State Route 504) in Castlerock. Celebrating the rich heritage of the Pacific Northwest, the programs provide glimpses into regional cultural history and an evening of storytelling fun for the whole family. Admission is $5 per adult, $2.50 per child and $15 per family. Those who hold tickets from the visitor center from earlier in the day may re-enter with those tickets at no additional cost. The Discover Pass is not required for vehicle access to the event.

Programs are scheduled as follows:

Aug. 11 – Legends and tales from southwest Washington Native American cultures – Chehalis Confederated Tribes elder, Curtis DuPuis, shares stories and legends from the native peoples of southwestern Washington. DuPuis grew up in the Pete family, known throughout the area as a leading repository for Native American heritage. DuPuis is a featured storyteller in the Native American stories of Washington project by Northwest Heritage Resources. More information is available about his compilation of stories, “American Indian Stories of the Pete family,” at www.northwestheritageresources.org.

Aug. 18 – Stories and songs from Northwest timber communities – Retired logger from Wasilla, Alaska, Hank Nelson sings original songs and logger poetry, telling stories of his days as one of the Northwest's last old-time tramp loggers. Nelson has performed at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington D.C. and at the Cooper Union in New York City. Joining Nelson for the evening are Bob and Parker Antone of North Bend, playing instrumental music and telling stories from their Snoqualmie Valley pioneer family roots.

Both programs are accessible to persons with disabilities. If special accommodations are required in order to attend the event, please call (360) 274-0962 or the Washington Telecommunications Relay Service (800) 833-6388. Requests must be made in advance.

These evening programs are part of a broader series of events celebrating Washington’s diverse cultures and presented by the Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program. The program is a partnership between the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission, the Washington State Arts Commission and Northwest Heritage Resources. Funding provided by grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Washington State Arts Commission and the Washington State Parks Foundation and with support from the Seaquest State Park donation fund. For a full schedule of Folk and Traditional Arts in the Parks Program events, visit www.parks.wa.gov/events.

Mount St. Helens Visitor Center is open year round. The center opened in 1987 and plays host to more than 300,000 annual visitors. Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has operated the center as a result of a partnership agreement with the United State Forest Service since October 2000 and accepted ownership of the center in 2007. Visitors may enjoy a variety of comprehensive interpretive displays that chronicle the series of events leading to Mount St. Helens' historic eruption in 1980, local geology and area recovery. The center is part of Seaquest State Park, a forested year-round camping park with more than a mile of shoreline along Silver Lake and a wetland wildlife viewing destination. More information about the center is available at www.parks.wa.gov/stewardship/mountsthelens.

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The Commission manages a diverse system of more than 100 state parks and recreation programs, including long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation. The 99-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.

Support state parks by purchasing your annual Discover Pass today, and enjoy a whole year of outdoor fun on Washington’s beautiful state-managed recreation lands. For more information, visit www.discoverpass.wa.gov.

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