A round of cheers for our 2024 volunteers

April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, but here at Washington State Parks, we appreciate our volunteers all year long!

In 2024, volunteers came out 5,000 strong, from around the country, to help in our parks. They contributed over 176,000 hours of service. They did trail work, habitat restoration, park hosting, interpretive program assistance, fundraising and donating money, educating staff and much more.

Thank you to all our volunteers for their dedication and support in the past year. Volunteers are valuable members of our Parks community, and they help make Washington's state parks the treasured places they are.

Each year we take nominations from park staff for outstanding volunteer efforts and commitment to the parks. Here is what park staff wrote about the 2024 volunteers they nominated for our annual awards: 

VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Mary Welch (Sacajawea)

Mary helped run the Sacajawea State Park Interpretive Center. She is personable and has a great deal of subject matter knowledge to engage guests. Mary was often called in regarding emergencies at the Interpretive Center and was always willing to help where appropriate. Mary has a positive, cheerful, friendly manner and is a delight to work with! Mary has been volunteering since 2018 and has contributed over 1,600 hours.

HOST OF THE YEAR: Mike and Minnie Dixon (Rasar)

Mike Dixon proves to be an exceptional volunteer whenever he hosts at Rasar. From the moment he arrives, he is ready to help in any way he can. His mechanical prowess is extremely helpful in helping maintain our equipment and facilities. Every visit, he immediately looks for projects where he can help, from cleaning up the shop while also creating new organization fixtures, to helping diagnose what's wrong with a tractor. And that's just his technical help! Mike is a man who loves a good joke and is usually laughing along with staff and guests. Truly a huge help and a bright light wherever he finds himself!

Minnie Dixon is a joy to be around. She is always in a great mood, and just talking with her will most likely improve yours as well! She makes herself available in the park, and guests always have something nice to say about her. When she's not in the campground she's most likely making delicious treats for Mike and park staff. Needless to say, our staff is always excited to see Minnie and Mike at Rasar. Mike and Minnie have been volunteering since 2014 and have accumulated an amazing 17,974 hours together.

ROOKIE HOST OF THE YEAR: Richard and Joanne Bain (Riverside)

As first year hosts, Rich and Joanne have done an outstanding job not only performing the duties of a campground host, but also in going above and beyond to beautify our campground/day-use areas. This winter season, the park focused on forest health work, clearing dead trees, limbing dead branches, and the big one - cleaning pine needles off our grounds. Rich has been a force of nature in helping us accomplish these goals. Rain or shine you will see him out there raking leaves, interacting with visitors, picking up garbage or assisting park staff with large projects. 

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION - GROUP: Dwyane Lane’s Skagit Subaru (Deception Pass)

Dwayne Lane’s has been contributing to Deception Pass State Park since 2020 and was one of the major sponsors for the 2020 Swing the Gates 5k/10k Fun Run. This race was cancelled due to the COVID pandemic, but they did not request the funds back. The following year, 2021, they sponsored a beautification project at Deception Pass State Park’s main entrance, providing $1,500 toward new low-maintenance plants.

In 2022, during the 100-year celebration of the park's inception, they became major sponsors for numerous events. Their donations continue as they sponsor events throughout the park that could not be completed without their time and financial support.

In 2024, Dwayne Lane's Skagit Subaru provided $3,200 for the Arts in the Park events, which was a sponsorship that paid for two additional concerts in the park. They gave an additional $3,500 for the 2024 Swing the Gates 5k Fun Run and 10K Scavenger Hunt, which paid for all the barricades, snacks and chip timing for the race. The race is far too expensive for the park to coordinate without financial support. They gave an additional $2,500 for the 2024 Earth Day event, which goes towards native plants, materials and snacks for dozens of volunteers.

The main contact person for this group is Sheila Countryman-Bean. However, the Earth Day event is the main event, when their staff provides volunteer hours in the park. That said, they also provided additional staff volunteers for the Fun Run.

 Since 2020, Subaru has donated $29,000 to the park and has already committed another $12,500 for 2025.

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION - INDIVIDUAL: Barbara Pope (Deception Pass)

Barbara Pope has been a major donor to the park over the last few years. She has periodically volunteered at events like campground cleanups.

In 2022, Barbara donated $30,000 for placement of two large picnic tables in and roof replacement for the Cranberry Lake Shelter. She has been very patient as parts were acquired for a building built in 1933.

In 2024, Barbara donated an additional $25,000 for general park beautification. The money that Barbara has provided will go towards repairing the roof, lighting and fireboxes on other Civilian Conservation Corps kitchen shelters in the park.

GOOD SAMARITAN OF THE YEAR: Richard Martin and Ruahann Benn (Nolte)

Hosts Richard Martin and Ruahann Benn heard a young woman crying in the darkness at Nolte State Park. They found the woman, who was suicidal and intended to kill herself.

Richard and Ruahann stayed with the young woman, listening with empathy and compassion. They convinced her to step away from the ledge and seek help from medical professionals.

Ruahann and Richard created an environment in which the individual felt heard, supported and understood. Richard and Ruahann’s communication skills, combined with their ability to de-escalate a potentially tragic situation, are a testament to their professionalism and caring nature.

They also assisted in storm cleanup after a historic storm in our area. They were instrumental in getting Nolte back open and operational.

Richard and Ruahann were spectacular hosts. This was their first time ever hosting with Washington State Parks, and we look forward to seeing how much they can achieve in their time with our agency.

STEWARDSHIP HERO: Rhonda Jennings (Bay View)

Rhonda has proven to be an invaluable asset when it comes to horticulture. Throughout her volunteering tenure in the Central Whidbey area, she has demonstrated exceptional dedication with her profound knowledge of plants and invasive species. Her contributions have enhanced the beauty of the lighthouse garden, and her insights have been instrumental in selecting the best plants for our restroom rooftop garden.

Rhonda has been an amazing host for Bay View State Park. The dedication she shows to the park and to Washington State Parks goes above and beyond expectations as a camp host.

She takes time to understand the rules to be able to educate people and help them in a meaningful way. She has valuable experience in the plant world and is helping to educate staff and visitors about the native plants and invasive species.

While in the park, she gave the staff a fun plant ID course so they could take care of the plants when she left. She also assisted with a volunteer group that came in to do a stewardship project. Rhonda not only does all the amazing plant work but works hard in the campground as well. Rhonda has received many compliments about how helpful, friendly and outgoing she is.

INTERPRETATION VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR: Carla Berryhill (Fort Worden, Fort Flagler)

Carla is a brand-new volunteer to State Parks. She volunteered as both a camp host and interpretive host at Fort Worden and Fort Flagler. She started as a museum host at Fort Flagler and was so passionate and flexible that she offered to fill the tour host role for April 2024. In addition to opening the museum several days a week, she offered a couple tours each week, since the park couldn't find a separate tour host. Carla went above and beyond to learn both roles and provide these opportunities to the public.

When she came to Fort Worden to host the Commanding Officer's Quarters Museum, she asked if she could dress in period style clothes. With approval from staff, Carla took it upon herself to source her own outfit, which she was able to borrow from someone who lived in town. She dressed up every day and provided visitors with an authentic welcome to this turn of the 20th century, staged house museum.

Carla will be returning in 2025 and plans to continue dressing in period outfits. She may even source outfits from different decades to demonstrate how fashion evolved over the course of the fort's operation.

LIFETIME ACHIEVMENT AWARDS

Margaret Wilde (Sacajawea)

Margaret has been a dedicated volunteer at Sacajawea since 2004, when she began volunteering for the annual Heritage Days living history event. Since 2007, she has served as a volunteer docent in the Interpretive Center and was especially dedicated to greeting commercial tour buses for the last six plus years.

Margaret is an avid birder, a local history buff, and a member of the Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington's Pasco Chapter. (This organization purchased and donated the first parcels of land, thus founding Sacajawea State Park.) Margaret's knowledge of local history and flora and fauna, along with her friendly, welcoming demeanor and gift of gab have enriched the visitor experience for all those fortunate to meet her. 

Margaret has shared her knowledge and experience with other volunteers, new hosts and staff, helping us all learn and grow in our understanding of the park's history. She maintained scrapbooks of news and photos related to the park, including memorabilia from special events. These remain valuable resources and are a treasure trove of information related to park history.

Margaret was also an active member of the Friends of Sacajawea State Park (FOSSP). During some of the most challenging times in our agency's recent history, FOSSP filled a weekly shift in the Sacajawea Interpretive Center. Following the 2011 budget cuts, FOSSP kept the Interpretive Center open and marquis park events like Salmon Celebration and Heritage Days alive when funds and staff were cut.

Sacajawea State Park and Interpretive Center are open today because of the dedicated service of volunteers, and Margaret has been a key contributor.

Margaret is retiring from volunteering with Washington State Parks after 20 years of devoted service. She has contributed over 2,800 hours. Words cannot adequately express our gratitude for her contributions to Sacajawea State Park.

Linda Herde (Mount Spokane, Riverside)

Linda has a can-do attitude and was always busy in the park. She was friendly, welcoming, and always had hummingbirds floating around her many bird feeders. Her tremendous knowledge of the park benefited visitors over the years, and her huckleberry recommendations were always spot-on.

In 2021, Linda helped with a project, sanding and staining the CCC Cabin. Linda's host duties were finished, but she came up two weekends in a row to help restore the cabin, and she did it with infectious energy. Sanding and wire brushing logs is not the most exciting job in the world, but Linda was a trooper and inspired many of the younger folks that came to the mountain. Linda Herde has proven herself to be one of the best.

Bill and Ann Eichorn (Rasar)

Bill and Ann Eichhorn started camp hosting at Rasar State Park back in 2011 after retiring as co-ministers in Tiburon, CA in 2006.  

Both Bill and Ann grew up in Galion, Ohio. In 1957 Bill studied Forestry at Penn State University, then later studied seminary in St. Louis for a Masters of Divinity degree. He later became an ordained minister and worked as a minister for 27 years. Ann studied nursing at Mansfield General Hospital, became a nurse and later became a co-pastor with Bill at the Community Congregational Church of Tiburon, CA. 

After retiring, Bill and Ann started driving up every summer in their RV to host at Rasar State Park. Bill and Ann have shared their love and knowledge of nature, which has opened eyes, ears and hearts.

As hosts they loved being part of the summer evening programs and the Saturday arts and crafts. Ann created a scavenger hunt that both children and adults enjoyed. They did this every summer for 13 years and racked up 6,302 volunteer hours!

Bill once described what he gets out of volunteering:

“I treasure our days of campground hosting (because) I spend most of my days and evenings outdoors where the birds, the river and trees, the stars and elk, and yes, even the campers, often redeem me, liberate me from my excessive self-attending” he said.

Congratulations to all our volunteers on a successful, spectacular year at Washington State Parks!