The premier Washington state park, school children from south of Seattle up to the border, and visitors from an even wider area need our help.
Deception Pass Park is losing its only interpretive position, while many parks retain theirs (two parks, each with half the visitors of our Deception Pass Park, retained five each). Deception Pass’s one interpreter (Adam Lorio) has been exceptionally active in supporting the community making use of the park. He has been particularly active in supporting student education and appreciation for the natural resources we have.
Last year he had face-to-face interaction with 16,600 visitors. His efforts also provide evening programs, bridge walks and Junior Ranger programs. He is responsible for K-12 environmental education, coordinating thousands of hours of park volunteers, running a High School Naturalists program, advising the board of a foundation supporting this specific park, and providing interpretative training to volunteers, interns and rangers from the Northwest Region staff. All of this will go away if we lose the position. The park rangers simply do not have the time to continue these activities.
Ask your kids about the value of these programs. Adam also helps other visitors develop a personal appreciation for the beauty and intricate ecosystems of the park.
At this stage of the governmental process, the most effective thing we can do is make known our reasons for, and desire to, retain our interpreter by contacting the chairperson of the Parks and Recreation Commission. Write to Fred Olson at 1111 Israel Road SW, Olympia, WA 98504-2650 or by e-mail at Fred.Olson@gov.wa.gov.
Please take the time to preserve an outstanding resource in our superb state park.
Harold Harrington
Anacortes
Talk to us
> Give us your news tips.
> Send us a letter to the editor.
> More Herald contact information.
