Conor Marshall
For many of us who live in the PNW, outdoor experiences on public lands have provided us with opportunities to connect to nature, experience joy and belonging in the outdoors, and adventure with purpose. As a kid in Seattle, accessible parks and trails shaped some of my best memories. Hiking under old growth cedars at Discovery Park and along the coastal dunes of Grayland Beach State Park ignited my joy and connection to nature.
After more than a decade living on the East Coast, I moved back to the Pacific Northwest in 2020 and noticed that much had changed. Population growth and booming recreational use of our region’s public lands were presenting growing challenges for the future of our lands and waters. As we strive to create a more inclusive and accessible outdoors, we must also do more to care for the places we love.
The popularity of outdoor recreation continues to grow, and it’s essential that everyone is empowered to care for the lands and waters we enjoy. Your generosity helps conserve our favorite places - one trail, one idea, and one member at a time. Will you join me with a special year-end donation?
Your gift educates outdoor enthusiasts
Our programs educate new and seasoned recreationists to better care for our natural world. This year, we engaged our summer camp and youth clubs in lessons about public lands, Native peoples, and stewardship. And we came together as a community to dream of new conservation initiatives through town halls and other virtual events.
Your gift conserves our parks and recreation lands through advocacy
Earlier this year, our advocacy efforts helped secure $15 million in new, annual funding to restore and improve Washington’s state parks and recreation areas in the face of booming visitation. The generosity of members like you also fueled the creation of Outdoor Alliance Washington, a new coalition of human-powered recreation organizations. Heading into our second year, we’re continuing to amplify the voices of 75,000+ recreationists across the state in support of conservation and recreation priorities like the Wild Olympics bill and outdoor recreational permitting reform.
Will you invest in the future of sustainable outdoor recreation?
I’m grateful to be at The Mountaineers where I know I can make a lasting impact. Our members share a deep, personal connection to the outdoors that transforms us into passionate stewards, advocates, and champions. Going into 2023, we’re exploring new ways to train members as advocates, raise awareness in our community about the most important policies and issues, and educate recreationists at all levels. Your partnership helps ensure our public lands and the experiences they provide are available to future generations, just as they have been to you and me.
Thank you for caring for our public lands, and for considering a donation this season.
Donors like you fund some of the best parts of our outdoor community, including 75% of our Conservation & Advocacy work. When you donate to The Mountaineers, you resource our community to make a meaningful and enduring impact on protecting our planet and the outdoor experience. Make your unrestricted year-end gift online today.
The Mountaineers® is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located at 7700 Sand Point Way NE, Seattle, WA 98115. Our staff work to support our seven branches (Bellingham, Everett, Foothills, Kitsap, Olympia, Seattle, and Tacoma), three lodges (Baker, Meany, and Stevens), and our Kitsap Forest Theater. Tax ID: 27-3009280.
