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Harpers Center Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan 2010 Long-Range Interpretive Plan November 2010

Prepared by:

Department of the Interior

Olympic National Park

Pacifi c West Region

Harpers Ferry Center Interpretive Planning

All Photo Credits: National Park Service Plan Highlights

During the next seven to ten years Olympic National Park interpretive services will provide visitors with opportunities to increase their understanding and appreciation for the park and its resources; to engage in educational opportunities; and to protect the park resources.

To provide an active, engaging interpretive program, park staff and partners will work together focused on the following goals:

 Interpret Restoration

 Improve Parkwide Wayfi nding, Arrival Experiences, and Orientation

 Evaluate and Develop a Unifi ed System of Wayside Exhibits

 Participate in Kestner Homestead Planning

 Replace Visitor Center Exhibits

 Investigate the Feasibility of an Ocean-themed Multi-agency Visitor Center

 Use Digital Media to Increase Interpretive Opportunities

 Create a More Useful and Interpretive Website

 Develop a Parkwide Strategy for Increased Social Media Use

 Increase Interpretation and Visitor Information Presence Throughout the Park

 Engage Partners to Provide High-Quality Interpretive Services

 Determine Eff ective Ways to Reach and Engage Youth

 Employ, Engage, and Educate Diverse and Underserved Populations in Their Home Communities and in the Park

 Strengthen and Expand Interpretation

 Strengthen and Expand Climate Change, Ocean Stewardship, and Fire Interpretation and Education

 Support a Citizen Science Program

Message from the Superintendent of Olympic National Park

Olympic National Park protects three diff erent — rugged -capped , wild Pacifi c coast, and old-growth and temperate rain forest. Encompassing one of the largest wilderness areas in the contiguous , more than three million visitors annually experience this amazing landscape.

The Long-Range Interpretive Plan is a document that sharpens our focus and draws together all of the education and interpretation services related to Olympic National Park visitor experiences. The Foundation for Planning section of this document defi nes the park themes, identifi es the desired visitor experience, lists issues and challenges, and describes the existing condition of the interpretive services within the park. The Recommendations section identifi es the specifi c actions that we and our partners will take to meet our vision for the future of interpretation over the next seven to ten years.

Olympic National Park is supported through partnerships with many tribal, local, regional, and national organizations. The park staff engaged partners, local community members, ARAMARK, tribal representatives, and many others throughout the planning process. This collaborative eff ort produced a more comprehensive and inclusive look at how we will interpret the park to visitors in the future. By providing a broad spectrum of services, including a variety of media using the most current technologies, more visitors will be encouraged to experience the park in person as well as virtually.

On behalf of the park staff and our partners, I hope you will take time to review this important plan and join us as we continue to move forward in our eff orts to preserve and protect the values and resources of Olympic National Park.

Sincerely,

Superintendent Olympic National Park The Planning Process

This Long-Range Interpretive Plan outlines recommendations for future interpretive services, facilities, and media. Park staff , partners, and stakeholders worked together to develop a comprehensive tool that will outline educational and recreational opportunities for visitors to develop intellectual and emotional connections to the natural and cultural resources found within Olympic National Park. Our goal is to promote Olympic National Park’s resource values through specially planned visitor experiences and excellence in interpretation.

This Long-Range Interpretive Plan (LRIP) recommends actions that should occur over the next seven to ten years. It identifi es park themes, describes visitor experience goals, and recommends a wide variety of personal and non-personal interpretive services and outreach activities that will best communicate the park purpose, signifi cance, and themes. Developed in concert with the park Annual Implementation Plan and Interpretive Database, it completes the Comprehensive Interpretive Plan for the park, as established in Director’s Orders 6. In addition, this planning process has been customized to meet the needs for Olympic National Park, as well as the conditions and special circumstances that exist there. The ultimate product is a cost-eff ective, tightly focused, high quality park interpretive program that achieves management goals, provides appropriate visitor opportunities, and facilitates desired visitor experiences.

A scoping trip was conducted on August 10-14, 2009. The Project Agreement was signed in October 2009. A Foundation workshop was held October 21-22, 2009 with over 40 participants representing park staff , partners, concessions, local community agencies, tribal representatives, and the cooperating association. A Recommendations workshop was held March 2-4, 2010 with 36 participants representing park staff , partners, NPS media experts, concessions, local community agencies, tribal representatives, and the cooperating association. On May 10, 2010 an implementation strategy session was held with park staff .

Barring legislative changes or major new revelations, the foundational elements expressed in this LRIP – purpose, signifi cance, themes, and visitor experience goals – will remain constant over the life of the plan. Specifi c recommendations about media and programs may need to be updated as staffi ng, funding, technology, or resource conditions change. Additional planning and design documents must be produced to implement some of the goals and recommendations in this plan.

Participants engage in a Foundation Workshop small group exercise.

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v 1302m INDIAN Hoh Lake R Lake m i x H a Baldy To Seattle l o i e C v C R I i r h Grand Lake 6797ft h e via ferry A RESERVATION c e Carrie Glacier Dodger U a e r L n g Olympus k f 2072m o B Point SECOND d B Lake l BOGACHIEL ie Ro S D ad H A 5753ft Elkhorn o L BEACH iver i i

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re e T a E r ek R H y C Hoh Rain Forest Elk Lake Ludden Peak E o A McCartney Peak R Q ls 101 N S l 6728ft Fa Visitor Center N E U Strawberry Point E S r L 2051m e G o D I v s L odm k i Mt Ferry t L Go a e Toleak Point n E E e Upper H R C r oh M R S Buckhorn Mtn

C R i 2750 Quilcene USFS oad Big Sitka spruce tree o v E u e Minnie Peterson Royal Lake 6988ft n r N t OLYMPIC WILDERNESS Cameron Pass 2130m P A x OLYMPIC C e Quilcene L E OLYMPIC oh T Blue Big r n o Gray Pass U H m Mt Deception Q e n u e Creek Glacier il k y S WILDERNESS 7788ft c R

Mt e R N quito Hoh Oxbow n d I s r BUCKHORN A o Willoughby e Claywood 2374m C N M re iv e e Creek R Lost E 6836ft N k R P Pass WILDERNESS i 2084m White G South Fork Middle v

NATIONAL e e West Peak i Tu Alexander Island nn N d H e r E 7980ft l

East Peak a Mt Mystery l O o C y Cottonwood 2432m e re T Humes G Mt Dana s ek L Hoh 27 O Glacier S 6209ft B North Glacier o E Hayden Pass PARK u l 1893m Q Hubert w R Mt Walker Viewpoint th Mt Wilder i Sentinel Peak Fallsview Riv Glacier Jeffers h v Constance 2750ft d F h e Mt Queets 5928ft e U a or Ho r Glacier a r 6592ft Pass Mt Constance o k D 832m Y R 6480ft x y R 1807m 2009m o Home 7743ft I it 1975m A Hoh Head C iv s Lake Rainbow e 2360m B L l e i w r Group L O a Lake Oil City l B A lip Camp s Constance L A (no services) R O i U 0 15 10 Kilometers No river ford possible ve B Y r r S e OLYMPIC NATIONAL A v i Mt Seattle N R Eel I U HOH INDIAN H 6246ft Low D 0 15 10 Miles o 2610 N

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RUBY BEACH e k Glacier w Seal Rock a w C Kimta Peak A r a E re a with assistance h l e 5399ft C l k le ip O a r Mt Jupiter C e D 1646m PARK Chimney Peak Anderson s T Campground Boat launch n e 5701ft S Pass k R Mt Christie 6911ft i Brinnon L 6177ft 2016m 1738m ve r Campground (summer only) Picnic r E Destruction E 1883m e La Crosse Pass DOSEWALLIPS G S Island v D i 2510 r I Enchanted Valley STATE PARK Big cedar tree e R THE D

Primitive campground R Lodge v White Collins u i ck R lt odu Mtn D a Upper c N u Ge k b s ina C BROTHERS u u PLEASANT Clearwater Yahoo et u re 6400ft ck sh Primitive campground Food service e E e r A Q k e a SCENIC BEACH d Lake u 1951m bush Riv b R HARBOR r Roa Q N cka u o (summer only) ate I k Du WILDERNESS sh a STATE PARK arw L r T k le o d STATE PARK e C F e Y R r Tsh iv I le K h The Brothers C ts t Lake e BEACH 4 hy S r r Cr r Mt Lena 6866ft Not a Drive-through Park O Copper Mine ee Big k o e h iv 5995ft 2093m c Bottom Douglas-fir N R N o 1827m No roads pass through the heart Paved road l ver t la i tree l Seabeck a R u Mt Steel Upper A BEACH 3 ek K re Muncaster Mtn a of the Olympics. US 101 provides C n O’Neil First Divide ip i r Lena El 5910ft u e L Pass the main access, with numerous r 1801m Q iv Lake Unpaved road e R t spur roads leading into the park. Kalaloch a Ford Cr O’Neil Peak h e s W w s i r o 5758ft Mt Bretherton Lena a R m e 1755m o 5960ft Lake l Queets ld d S i k k I C a a 1817m o (no potable water) m W o e TRITON COVE R k Hamma Hamma Hiking the Wilderness L ey s Big yellow cedar tree O k e Kalaloch Rocks ll ’ e S r a Ne Cre STATE PARK s V il C et Mt Skokomish D Kalaloch Ranger ue River k Kalaloch Lodge r Q Big Sitka spruce tree Three r 6434ft h Do not use this map for hiking. Get detailed pe o 25 e L F 1961m Lena k Station p Lakes c BEACH 2 U 2100 i h t topographic maps. I t Creek er e 2180-010 Graves Creek r MOUNT v k F Gas Station i 2480 BEACH 1 OLYMPIC o R a Permits required for all overnight Trail N a H a W E am 101 2180 North Fork mm m Black and a wilderness stays. Obtain permits at y Creek (no potable water) ccess C H then Su re White Lakes R Road a aves Cr e Elk y k the Wilderness Information Center alle M Gr eek SKOKOMISH

Primitive trail ts V Irely Lake IDGE South Beach e k d R Lake E ue NATIONAL FOREST a SIX Mt Cruiser (WIC). Call 360-565-3100 or visit the r Q e r o (no potable water) e e e R Flapjack 6104ft F r v k Jefferson ow Ri e Six Ridge WIC to get Wilderness Trip Planner C re Lakes L C 1860m Lake lt s U e Pass Pass Road frequently North Shore Road: u v and more information. Wilderness a a m n r a WILDERNESS washes out. Check Trailers and motor homes i G re Eldon L t G u S Q users should inquire about river and Queets r for status. not recommended east of ve Shore Road ix Mt Ri orth S ranger station. N Wynoochee Pass Wagonwheel E Lake creek ford locations and difficulty in r 6255ft A s C Sundown Lake t 1907m e e t crossing. er Quinault Rain Forest Sundown Pass la e y S A S iv e Road N u a R e hor Road may be closed Q lm Ranger Station l S Bunch on n h i t in winter. Mt Ellinor N u Visiting the Coast 21 F o Falls A S Staircase Ranger Station D WONDER Caution: Don’t get trapped by Impassable headland; 24 x Higley Peak C high tides; get current tide chart ALWAYS use overland trail Capitol Peak MOUNTAIN W July Creek 5054ft 119 Big Creek at a ranger station. When hiking, Wait for low tide or use Quinault 1540m WILDERNESS 24 I watch for targets marking big cedar tree T Merriman COLONEL BOB Lightning Peak LAK overland trail if available L E UL C A y Falls Colonel Bob 4654ft U overland . D IN b 1419m SH U ed an Big Sitka spruce tree 4492ft M Q er di Sudden high waves can pick up E E ist In 1369m A Olympic Coast National Marine 101 K in lt ) N D LA m u n Gatton Creek R ad na tio WILDERNESS r beach logs and turn them into ( ui a e Sanctuary covers 3,310 square Q N v N i Lilliwaup O weapons; they kill. Tunnel Island Falls Creek R So miles of marine waters. The sanc- u E e t R QUINAULT Amanda Park e h Most reefs, rocks, islets, and tuary provides habitat for one of aft USFS/NPS Recreation Information h For O S c k Ri o Skok islands (except the James Island the most diverse populations of ver o Road open 2361 om S Lodge n i Hogsback y summer only. sh H group) are designated wilderness marine mammals in . Willaby W R 2270 iv

and national wildlife refuges, It is a link in the Pacific flyway and e Le Bar r E OLYMPIC CLOSED to visitors to protect provides critical habitat for nesting Horse E Camp Brown Creek H Road open wildlife. Boats must remain 200 and migrating birds. To learn more, C O summer only. 119 E O yards from the islands. visit www.olympiccoast.noaa.gov. K 23 N Y A NATIONAL FOREST Hoodsport To Olympia, Tacoma, To Aberdeen L W and Seattle Table of Contents

Plan Highlights Message from the Superintendent of Olympic National Park The Planning Process Table of Contents

Part One: Foundation for Planning 1 Site Background 2 Enabling Legislation 2 National Park Service Mission 2 Park Purpose 2 Park Signifi cance 3 Interpretive Themes 4 Management Goals 5 Desired Visitor Experiences 7 Park Visitors 8 Issues and Challenges Affecting Interpretation 10

Part Two: Existing Conditions 11 Information and Orientation 12 Facilities 13 Interpretive Media 19 Interpretive Media Assets 23 Personal Services 24 Partnerships 29

Part Three: Recommendations 33 Goals for Interpretive Programming 34 Research and Evaluation Needs 52 Staffi ng and Training Needs 52 Implementation Plan 54

Appendices 59 Appendix A: The Planning Team 60 Appendix B: Accessibility Guidelines 62 Appendix C: Interpretive Themes 63 Part One: Foundation for Planning

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 1 Part One: Foundation for Planning

Site Background Enabling Legislation National Park Service Mission Olympic National Park protects Each unit of the National Park three diff erent ecosystems System is created by Congress and A statement is a vision — rugged glacier-capped the President of the United States. for the future and articulates, in mountains, wild Pacifi c All park planning fl ows from broad terms, the ideas that the coast, and old-growth and the mission articulated in the NPS strives to achieve. temperate rain forest. The park’s enabling legislation. The park encompasses one of the enabling legislation is the specifi c The National Park Service largest wilderness areas in the piece of legislation through mission is to preserve unimpaired off ering which Congress created the park natural and cultural resources visitors a chance to experience and declared its intent for the and values of the national park the park’s amazing diversity park. Olympic National Park’s system for the enjoyment, in a natural and pristine state. interpretive services and program education, and inspiration of Over 600 archeological sites must support this mission and this and future generations. The document 10,000 years of human help the public understand the National Park Service cooperates occupation, while historic sites signifi cance of the park. with partners to extend the reveal clues about the 200- benefi ts of natural and cultural year history of Euro-American The enabling legislation of resource conservation and exploration, homesteading, Olympic National Park (Act of outdoor recreation throughout and community development June 29, 1938, 35 Stat. 2247) states this country and the world. in the Pacifi c Northwest. In that Olympic National Park is 1976, Olympic National Park “set apart as a public park for Park Purpose was designated an International the benefi t and enjoyment of the Biosphere Reserve, and in 1981, people.” According to House The enabling legislation text the park was declared a World Report 2247, April 28, 1938, the above is repeated in the 2008 Heritage Site, both honorary purpose of Olympic National General Management Plan as UNESCO designations. Olympic Park is to preserve for the benefi t, the Park Purpose statement National Park is a popular tourist use, and enjoyment of the people, describing why the area was set destination with more than fi ve the fi nest sample of primeval aside and what specifi c purposes million people living within a forests of Sitka spruce, western exist for the park. three- to fi ve-hour drive of the hemlock, Douglas-fi r, and western park in the region stretching from red cedar in the entire United Vancouver, States; to provide suitable winter south to Portland, . The range and permanent protection park is also surrounded by a for the herds of native Roosevelt network of lands and marine elk and other wildlife indigenous areas managed by state and to the area; to conserve and federal management agencies, render available to the people, for American Indian tribes, and recreational use, this outstanding private interests. mountainous country, containing numerous and perpetual fi elds, and a portion of the surrounding verdant forests together with a narrow strip along the beautiful Washington coast. The House Report included language identifying the narrow strip along the Washington Coast even though that portion of the park was not included in the 1938 enabling legislation and was Mount Olympus is the park’s highest added at a later date. peak at 7,980 feet.

2 I National Park Service Part One: Foundation for Planning

Park Signifi cance  Olympic National Park National Wildlife Refuge, a protects the primeval total of 3,600 square miles of Statements of signifi cance character of one of the intertidal, island, and ocean describe a National Park System largest wilderness areas in the habitats is protected. unit’s distinctive natural, cultural, contiguous United States. and recreational resources  Olympic National Park and values that are the factual  Olympic National Park protects the largest rationale for national recognition protects some of the fi nest population of of the site. According to the remaining stands of old- in its natural environment 2008 General Management growth temperate rain in the world. Decades of Plan, Olympic National Park forest in the United States. protection from human is signifi cant for the following These forests of ancient and habitat reasons: and immense trees provide manipulation have sustained habitat for dozens of not only high densities of elk,  Olympic National Park smaller plants and animals, but also preserved the natural protects several distinctly including important habitat composition, social structure, diff erent and relatively pristine for a number of threatened and dynamics of this unique ecosystems, ranging from species. coastal form of elk as found approximately 70 miles of nowhere else. wild Pacifi c coast and islands  The Olympic rocky intertidal through densely forested community is considered to  Olympic National Park lowlands to the glacier- be one of the most complex protects important cultural crowned . and diverse shoreline resources, with regional communities in the United and national signifi cance,  The ecosystems protected States. Olympic National including more than 650 within Olympic National Park protects about 1,400 archeological sites, hundreds Park contain a unique array square miles of the intertidal, of ethnographic sites, 31 of habitats and life forms, island, and shoreline habitat, cultural landscapes, and 16 resulting from thousands of and, combined with the historic districts. There are years of geographic isolation, neighboring Olympic Coast 128 historic structures in along with extreme gradients National Marine Sanctuary the park boundaries that of elevation, temperature, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife are on the List of Classifi ed and . At least 16 Service Washington Islands Structures. kinds of animals and 8 kinds of plants on the exist nowhere else in the world. Olympic National Park contains some of the last remaining undisturbed, contiguous aquatic habitat throughout the range of several fi sh species. The park protects 12 major river basins, more than 3,500 miles of rivers and streams within 11 watersheds, more than 300 high mountain lakes, and two large lowland lakes. The park also supports more than 70 unique stocks of Pacifi c salmonids, 29 native freshwater fi sh species, and one endemic fi sh species. The park protects nearly 5,000 native Roosevelt elk.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 3 Part One: Foundation for Planning

Interpretive Themes The three primary interpretive Theme B themes listed in the 2008 General The integrity, diversity, and Interpretive themes capture the Management Plan were used magnitude of Olympic National essence of Olympic National by park staff and workshop Park’s wilderness ecosystems Park’s signifi cance. They include participants to develop more powerfully aff ect the human the most important stories and specifi c themes, sub-themes, and spirit, providing outstanding represent core messages that stories. Appendix C lists the sub- opportunities for discovery, every visitor should have the themes and stories associated research, introspection, opportunity to experience. While with each theme identifi ed by challenge, and inspiration. interpretation of any site could workshop participants. touch upon many stories, focused Theme C themes increase eff ectiveness. Theme A The Olympic Peninsula’s rich Well conceived themes explore Olympic National Park is a rare, cultural history reveals a dynamic the meanings behind the facts. diverse sanctuary, preserving interaction between people, They open minds to new thousands of species of life from place, and values, illustrating the ideas and perhaps to multiple the intertidal communities to old ongoing challenge to balance points of view. When linked to growth forests to glacier-capped the use and preservation of commonly held emotions or mountains. resources. universal human experiences, themes encourage visitors to see themselves in Olympic National Park’s stories and discover personal relevance.

Visitors discover aquatic life in tide pools along the Olympic coast.

4 I National Park Service Part One: Foundation for Planning

Management Goals  Develop or improve  Provide a variety of existing frontcountry trails educational opportunities General Management Plan – to universally accessible in the park with continued Preferred Alternative: standards at Hurricane Ridge, facility-based contacts and Lake Crescent, Sol Duc, guided activities. Web- Alternative D was identifi ed as Ozette, Hoh, and Kalaloch. based education would be the NPS preferred alternative and  Retain the existing provided. Some activities the environmentally preferred frontcountry trail system at could be for a fee. alternative in the 2008 General Quinault, and establish an  Coordinate education Management Plan (GMP). Four accessible trail at the Kestner programs with partners, diff erent aspects of visitation Homestead. and focus on improving the and enjoyment are refl ected  Develop partnerships general understanding of in the GMP including the with area agencies, tribes, park natural and cultural spectrum of park environments local communities, resources, biodiversity, the (the diff erences in the ability of and others to expand protection of resources and visitors to experience all types of educational opportunities, natural processes, research, park environments); recreational visitor services, and to stewardship, wilderness, park opportunities; recreational improve coordination and values, and recreational and services; and visitor facilities. cooperation. visitor opportunities.  Adaptively reuse historic Visitor opportunities or factors districts at Kestner, North 2008-2012 Strategic Plans: aff ecting visitor experiences and Fork, and Graves Creek for interpretive planning that are visitor education and park In accordance with the outlined in the GMP include: operations. Government Performance  Provide opportunities for and Results Act (GPRA) of  Improve and expand the present and future visitors 1993, Olympic National Park visitor contact area at the to enjoy the unique qualities developed a strategic plan and Olympic National Park off ered in wilderness. These management goals through 2012. Visitor Center. include the experiences of The following goals address  Redesign and improve solitude, remoteness, risk, recreation, interpretation, and existing visitor facilities at challenge, self-suffi ciency, visitor experiences. Hurricane Ridge. discovery, and observation of  Encourage cross-country an untrammeled . The outcomes (how well the park skiing and snowshoeing at  Provide educational is achieving its visitor-related Hurricane Ridge. opportunities in wilderness goals) for Mission Goals IIa1,  Conduct a feasibility study ethics and use so that IIb1, and IIb2 are measured to determine if the Hoh Rain the public and park staff annually at every unit of the Forest Visitor Center should understand the values of the National Park System through be retained and improved in Olympic wilderness. survey forms that are distributed place, or relocated.  Use management skills and to visitors at each NPS unit.  Improve the visitor techniques such as “Leave Visitors send their completed information at Kalaloch and No Trace” to promote and survey forms to the University on the coastal portion of the preserve wilderness values. of where the data is park. Conduct a feasibility  Ensure that the park visitor collected and compiled for each study to determine the is able to obtain visitor NPS unit. The survey results options for the replacement orientation and trip-planning refl ect visitor opinion about and relocation of the visitor information through a each park’s facilities, services information station at variety of media. Educational and recreational opportunities, Kalaloch. programs are available. as well as measures visitor  Retain existing visitor  Develop outreach programs understanding and appreciation facilities at Quinault. for and with schools, of each NPS unit’s signifi cance. tribes, and community organizations.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 5 Part One: Foundation for Planning

Mission Goal IIa1: Mission Goal IIb2: Mission Goal IVb2: By September 30, 2012, 90% of By September 30, 2012, 80% of By September 30, 2012, Olympic visitors to Olympic National Park Olympic National Park visitors National Park attendance at are satisfi ed with appropriate are satisfi ed with park facilitated facilitated programs will increase park facilities, services, and programs. from the FY07 baseline of recreational opportunities. 400,000 and be maintained at Actuals: 2007 – 93%, 2008 – 90%, 500,000 visitors. Actuals: 2007 – 93%, 2008 – 95%, 2009 – 91% 2009 – 94% Actuals: 2007 – 391,900, 2008 – 532,000, 2009 – 587,600 Mission Goal IIb1: By September 30, 2012, 65% of Olympic National Park visitors understand the signifi cance of the park.

Actuals: 2007 – 75%, 2008 – 67%, 2009 – 49%

At Hurricane Ridge, visitors share views of the Olympic Wilderness.

The mountains can be reached in all seasons. They off er a fi ghting challenge to heart, soul and mind, both in summer and winter.

Justice William O. Douglas

There are no words that can tell of the hidden spirit of the wilderness.

Theodore Roosevelt

6 I National Park Service Part One: Foundation for Planning

Desired Visitor Visitors to Olympic National  Witness the salmon run from Experiences Park will have opportunities to: beginning to end.  Stay in clean, fairly, and lower  Spend time learning about priced accommodations that Desired visitor experiences the traditional native life and sell tasteful souvenirs, which describe what physical, activities in the park and on include locally-made and intellectual, and emotional the peninsula. USA-made items. experiences should be available  Have a memorable  Experience what makes for visitors to Olympic National experience with friends and Olympic National Park Park. These experiences will family members. “famous” which will be be available to the degree  Go to well-organized visitor explained to me by polite, possible to visitors of all abilities, centers and ranger stations to friendly, welcoming, and including those with visual, get oriented. well-informed park staff and auditory, mobility, or cognitive  Explore the mountains, rain exhibits. impairments. forest, and the coast either  Be amazed at the diversity of backpacking or day hiking. Olympic National Park. During the October 2009  Put on a backpack, hike to a  Eat seafood prepared on the workshop, participants remote lake, and spend time beach at Kalaloch. brainstormed this list of desired away with family and friends  Begin my experience with a visitor experiences which refl ect on the trails. nicely stocked bookstore. the diversity of expectations from  Discover what it was like here  View active dismantling of stakeholders and partners as well 500 years ago. Elwha . as various divisions in the park.  Interact with a ranger to learn  Go backpacking for at least a Many of the opportunities fall more about the natural and week and see fewer than 5-10 under the traditional purview cultural resources. people. of the NPS, while others do  Help their children love  Recreate – hike, ski, swim, not and may be better met by national parks and grow up fi sh, and soak in the hot our partners including the valuing them. spring water. American Indian tribes and park  Go to a wilderness place and  Walk along a remote beach concessions. see few people. on the pristine ocean coast  Walk among a forest of very hearing the waves, feeling large and very old trees. the salt air, and looking for  Use kiosks that are staff ed by interesting creatures, rocks, knowledgeable speakers. and driftwood.  Tell a story (or a few) of  Sleep in a “5-star ” with Olympic National Park. soft bedding at the beach.  Make the best use of limited  Watch fi sh and wildlife time and miles. without someone disturbing  Travel on well-marked roads them. and trails that have excellent  Eat wild salmon prepared directional signs for a safe traditionally and share stories and effi cient trip. with original communities of  Retreat from day to day this area. stresses and seek solace.  Sit quietly by a stream and experience solitude, natural quiet, and darkness.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 7 Part One: Foundation for Planning

Park Visitors 2009 monthly public use data A comprehensive visitor survey indicates that Lake Crescent was conducted at Olympic This is a broad description of is the most visited area of the National Park from July 7-16, park visitors and their needs – park (1,895,748) and Staircase 2000 by the Park Studies Unit of including current and potential (49,436) is the least visited area. the . Survey visitors. “Visitor” describes The locations by total number of questions helped determine the anyone who uses a park’s visits from most to least visited demographic make-up of park interpretation and education are: visitors, as well as what they services whether in person did or did not like about their or “virtually” through digital Lake Crescent – 1,895,748 experience. The survey also technologies. Kalaloch – 908,610 addressed economic impacts to Mora – 360,389 the region from park visitation. Various visitor surveys— Hurricane Ridge – 285,726 Of the 1,189 questionnaires including annual surveys and Quinault – 222,159 distributed to visitors, 928 were one in-depth survey—have been Hoh – 155,251 returned for a 78% response completed for Olympic National Elwha – 124,475 rate. Some results noted in the Park. These surveys help the park Ozette – 64,166 survey’s summary concluded judge the eff ectiveness of their Hoodsport/Staircase – 49,436 that: interpretive programs as well as track visitor statistics. Two types 2009 visitor center statistics  64% of visitor groups were of visitor profi les are presented indicate that only about 4% of family groups. here: annual visitation fi gures and the visitors go to the Olympic  2% of the visitor groups results from a 2000 Visitor Survey National Park Visitor Center participated in a guided tour. Project. located in Port Angeles.  The majority of United Ironically, few visitors go to the States visitors were from Over 3.2 million visitors come to Storm King Information Center Washington (47%) and Olympic National Park annually. even though Lake Crescent (8%). This fi gure is based on a fi ve- is the most visited area in the  International visitors were year average of monthly public park. Due to its location on the 8% of the total visitation. use data taken during calendar coast between the Hoh Rain  Canada and Germany years 2005-2009. There was Forest and Quinault Rain Forest, were the most represented a 32% increase in visitation the Kalaloch Ranger Station countries. from 2008 (3,081,451) to 2009 attracts many more visitors than  Repeat visitation is high. (4,065,956). Possible reasons for the building was designed to 77% of visitors indicated that the increase may be that higher hold. Occasionally, busloads of they had made one visit to gas prices caused visitors from visitors stop in and overwhelm the park during the last 12 the greater and the facilities and single park staff months. Portland/Vancouver areas to member on duty. Visitor center  69% spent one day or more at recreate closer to home, fans statistics by total number of visits the park. of the book and movie from most to least visited are:  77% of those who spent less series venturing to where the than one day spent one to six stories are based, and there may Hoh – 169,795 hours in the park. have been increased visibility of Olympic National Park Visitor  Most commonly visited sites the Olympic Mountains causing Center (Port Angeles) – 139,786 were Hurricane Ridge Visitor more visitors from Seattle to Hurricane Ridge – 72,000 Center (47%), Hoh Rain come to the park. Kalaloch – 18,722 Forest (44%), Lake Crescent Storm King – 16,471 (33%), and the Olympic NPS/USFS Recreation National Park Visitor Center Information Center in Forks – (31%). 14,515 Staircase – 4,780 Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station – 3,047

8 I National Park Service Part One: Foundation for Planning

 Most common activities During the October 2009,  Non-English speakers and were sightseeing/scenic Foundation workshop the readers drive (88%), walking on following groups were identifi ed  Youth and organized youth nature trails (77%), enjoying as currently visiting Olympic groups wilderness, solitude, quiet National Park based on  First time visitors (73%), viewing wildlife particular interests and needs:  Repeat, experienced visitors (72%), and hiking (71%).  Retirees and empty-nesters  Most used interpretive  Education groups of all ages  Consumptive users services were park brochure  Technology users and virtual  Accidental/Unintentional (91%), entrance station visitors  Park staff and partners information (65%), and  General/Family – multi-  Service groups trailhead bulletin boards generational groups (52%).  Local residents – including During the lifetime of this Long-  Most important interpretive Hispanic and American Range Interpretive Plan, park services were park brochure Indian communities staff will provide increased (80% of 710 respondents),  Recreational users and guides interpretive opportunities information desk service o Backcountry and front for youth, education groups, (78% of 332 respondents), country and diverse and underserved and ranger-led walks/talks o Self-guided and guided communities. (89% of 77 respondents).

Kalaloch Ranger Station, a small facility, has engaging exhibits produced in-house.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 9 Part One: Foundation for Planning

Issues and Challenges  Resource and ecological  Changing visitor motivations Affecting Interpretation changes – Natural processes – In this increasingly including washouts and rock media-rich environment, slides; sea level change and visitor tastes, motivations, Olympic National Park has coastal ; the listing and desires are constantly many assets upon which to and de-listing of endangered changing. It will be build an eff ective interpretive species; and invasive exotics incumbent upon park staff program, including evocative and non-native species will and partners to identify those and compelling stories, produce changes to the changes and be fl exible in outstanding natural and cultural resource that may aff ect addressing them. resources, ongoing research, and visitor experience. It will be  Current budget and reduced dedicated staff and supporters. incumbent upon park staff permanent staffi ng – Like It also faces a number of and partners to identify those most NPS sites, the park issues and challenges. Well- changes and be fl exible in is doing more with less. designed programs can build addressing them. Over the past 10 years, on interpretive strengths to  Anniversary Events – The the interpretive help overcome these issues and 75th anniversary of Olympic permanent staff has challenges. National Park in 2013 and continued to shrink, reducing the National Park Service capacity while demands for  Park planning eff orts – Centennial in 2016 will services have increased. Olympic National Park require adequate staffi ng,  Embracing changing is currently working on a funding, and programming technology – Park staff have number of planning eff orts to showcase the best that the varied expertise and capacity and anticipates both updating NPS can off er. to develop and make use of and initiating a number of  Elwha River Restoration – available technologies now new plans, including Olympic Ecosystem restoration commonly used in other Discovery Trail, Kestner activities including the park sites (video/audiocasts, Homestead, wilderness, removal of the Glines Twitter, Facebook). transportation, fi re plan, and Elwha Dams will have  Changing demographics – site planning for the Glines an impact on the visitor Changes in local population Canyon area, and concession experience until about 2015. levels with increasing prospectus for both Kalaloch Keeping visitors apprised of numbers of retirees and Lodge and Log Cabin Resort. the diff erent aspects of this Hispanics could result in the Representatives from the multi-year project will help park making changes to the Interpretation and Education them better understand why interpretive and educational Division will assist in the they cannot access certain programming to meet the development of these and areas that they have been able needs of these groups. other park planning eff orts. to go into in the past.  Land use outside of the  Economics – The 2009 park – Olympic National economic downturn did Park’s location makes it prompt and compel more highly susceptible to many stay at home vacation external threats that will experiences. Since many require adequate planning park visitors come from and cooperation with local the Seattle-Tacoma area, entities, tribes, and agencies it provides the park an to ensure quality viewshed, opportunity to further inform air, soundscape, and visitor and promote itself as a local experience. “staycation” destination.

10 I National Park Service Part Two: Existing Conditions The following is a brief and generalized description of visitor experiences and interpretive services that existed in FY2008-FY2009. The purpose of this section is to provide a baseline description of current activities, interpretive media, and visitor programs that can be expected to continue. Unexpected impacts to the existing condition due to situations like major storm events, road washouts, new initiatives, or signifi cant park budget or staff reductions could signifi cantly aff ect the plan’s proposed actions.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 11 Part Two: Existing Conditions

Information and forwarded to the Wilderness Website Orientation Information Center (WIC), but sometimes the interpretation The park website is a very staff assists with these requests. Marketing popular way to gain information In addition, some requests about the park. The park Public that require more specifi c Aff airs Offi cer is the webmaster, The park informs the public of information about various park and representatives from various upcoming events and special programs and management park divisions contribute web programs through press releases initiatives are forwarded to the content and updates. Most of the that are sent to a mailing list park superintendent’s offi ce park one-page site bulletins are that includes: regional media for routing or response. It has available on the website. contacts such as newspapers, been observed that brochure radio, and television stations; requests are decreasing, as park Travelers Information interested agencies and non- web visitors are fi nding the government organizations, and System (TIS) information they seek on the interested individuals. These park website. releases are also posted on the The park has three TIS systems. park website. The park also has The Lake Crescent and Quinault Signs a newsletter that is published systems are managed and approximately six times per maintained by the protection Except for visitors arriving by year and is sent electronically to division, and one at Olympic ferry from , park stakeholders and interested National Park Visitor Center most visitors use Highway 101 individuals. All of these (ONPVC) is managed and and spur roads to access the park. marketing pieces are created by maintained by the interpretation Highway 101 generally encircles the Public Aff airs Offi ce, an offi ce division. The ONPVC message the park and connects the access under the supervision of the refl ects general park information roads that lead to the three park superintendent. In addition including relevant safety primary peninsula ecosystems: posters are developed by the park messages, information on coast, forest (including rain education staff and distributed campgrounds and pets, ONPVC/ forest), and mountains. Visitors in the local area for events such WIC hours, and where to go for can be confused about where the as National Junior Ranger Day, more information, for example park is, because the highway also National Public Lands Day, and the ONPVC front porch and goes through Olympic National the Perspectives Series. park website. These are outdated Forest, tribal and state lands, systems that do not reach a private timberlands, gateway Information Services suffi cient broadcast area. These communities, and private lands. systems should be replaced with The park receives information updated systems and the park There are NPS brown metal requests on a daily basis via should explore the feasibility of directional signs as well as letters, phone calls, and e-mail installing systems in new areas wooden signs indicating that messages. While many of the to better meet the needs of park visitors are entering or leaving requests are for basic information visitors. the park. The signs are dated about the park and/or directions in appearance and the NPS to the park, there are also many arrowhead logos include requests for a wide range of “Department of the Interior” information including content for which is no longer used. school projects. A large number of inquiries are for backcountry The park has a master sign plan information, and tend to be more that should be revisited to ensure detailed in nature. Depending it refl ects current management on the time of year, backcountry goals. information requests are

12 I National Park Service Part Two: Existing Conditions

Facilities Information Center in Quinault The following areas have staff ed by both NPS and USFS entrance stations: Hurricane The front-country of the park, personnel; and the Hoodsport Ridge (Heart O’ the Hills), which encompasses only 5% Information Center staff ed Elwha, Sol Duc, Hoh, and of the total acreage, is where by Shelton-Mason Chamber Staircase. These stations are all the visitor facilities are located of Commerce employees and staff ed in the summer season and and the majority of interpretive volunteers. These facilities most have some shoulder season services are off ered. enhance visitor experience of the staffi ng. At most locations, fees park by providing information are collected year-round either The park manages three visitor and orientation services, by staff or self-serve payment centers: Olympic National Park stamps, interpretive stations. Fees are collected at Visitor Center, Hurricane Ridge media, cooperating associations Ozette only through the self- Visitor Center and Hoh Visitor sales, and in most areas, federal serve payment station. Center; four ranger stations, fee permit sales. primarily staff ed by interpreters Olympic National Park or volunteers: Staircase, Storm The park General Management Visitor Center (ONPVC) King, Kalaloch, and Quinault Plan (GMP) envisions a visitor Rain Forest; and six other ranger center for each of the signifi cant Port Angeles, the largest stations staff ed intermittently ecosystems Olympic protects: community on the Peninsula, is by visitor protection rangers mountain, forest, and coast, as the location of park headquarters or volunteers: Elwha, Eagle, well as a visitor center which and the only year-round park Ozette, Mora, Dosewallips, and provides an overall orientation visitor information facility, Deer Park. In addition, there to the signifi cant resources of Olympic National Park Visitor are partner-staff ed facilities the park. To fulfi ll this vision the Center. The grounds and local including the NPS/USFS GMP recommends a partner trails are frequently used by Recreation Information Center in visitor center for the coastal local community members and Forks staff ed by NPS employees, resources. adjacent neighbors. ONPVC is the USFS/NPS Recreation open daily, year-round except December 25 and Thanksgiving Day; from 8:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. in the summer and 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. during the winter. Hours vary during the spring and fall months depending on current staffi ng levels.

ONPVC exhibits introduce the park’s three ecosystems, highlight many of the park’s signifi cant resources, and provide orientation services and maps. The children’s Discovery Room contains numerous activities including activity drawers, various puzzles, discovery boxes, large-scale murals of each ecosystem, a diminutive ranger station, a that can be redesigned using felt shapes, a salmon spawning activity, a poem writing activity, and a computer for both the Olympic Odyssey A wide variety of wayfi nding signs directs visitors to key park features. program and the microscope.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 13 Part Two: Existing Conditions

The auditorium is used for many winter recreation. The Hurricane on weekends. Since the building special events and programs and Ridge Winter Sports Club is opened and closed by facility upon request, shows the park provides two mechanized rope and protection ranger staff , there fi lm, Mosaic of Diversity. The fi lm tows and a Poma lift, and off ers are many morning and evening is open captioned and assistive downhill skiing, downhill ski hours throughout the year when listening devices are available school, and a terrain park within the building is open to visitors, upon request. Park information, their assigned area during the and the information desk is orientation, and maps are also winter season of mid-December not staff ed. The maps, exhibits, available. One of the information to the end of March. and fi lm are available and desk components is accessible. designed for use even when the The bookshop and sales area Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center information desk is unstaff ed. is operated by Discover Your is staff ed daily in the summer Northwest with primary focus on from 10:00 a.m. – 5:15 p.m. and Concessions food and sales educational materials and safety in the winter on weekends and area are open daily 10:00 a.m. items. holiday Mondays from 10:00 – 6:00 p.m. in summer (usually a.m. – 4:00 p.m. A new accessible early May to early October) and The park is located at information desk was installed 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. weekends ONPVC and is open to all park in May 2010. Maps, exhibits, and holidays in winter (mid- employees and the public upon and a fi lm on the subalpine December to end of March). request. environment, Life on the Edge, are also available. The fi lm is The area also has a number of Wilderness Information open captioned and assistive trails and a picnic area. Center (WIC) listening devices are available upon request. Elwha Backcountry information, orientation, and wilderness It is likely that short-term funding Although the park has not had a permits are provided at the WIC, will become available to extend signifi cant interpretive presence which is located in the ONPVC. Hurricane Ridge Road winter in the Elwha valley in , In summer, WIC-funded staff plowing and increase winter the river restoration project has are located at several fi eld staffi ng beginning in FY2011. drawn a great deal of attention areas, including the Recreation The visitor center is staff ed to this area. Once a prime habitat Information Center (RIC) in occasionally with volunteers in for all fi ve salmon species found Forks, Ozette, Hoh, and Quinault the fall and spring months. In in the park, as well as ancestral (USFS offi ce). During the early May, the building is staff ed American Indian lands, the winter, ONPVC, RIC and Hoh VC staff assists with providing backcountry orientation and issuing permits primarily on weekends. The WIC information desk is accessible.

Hurricane Ridge

Providing unique visitor access and spectacular views, Hurricane Ridge is the only paved road to higher elevations in the park, thus it serves as the primary interpretive and access point for the sub-alpine and alpine ecosystems. It is also the only location with winter plowing to The Elwha River Restoration project is interpreted with a variety of exhibits, provide access to snow-based publications, and interpretive programs.

14 I National Park Service Part Two: Existing Conditions

Elwha River valley has been natural resources as well as a Log Cabin Resort is a concession more notably marked by human rich cultural heritage of over a facility on the north shore of intrusions since the early 20th century of recreational activity. Lake Crescent operated by Log century. Two hydro-electric dams Trails are accessed year-round Cabin Resort, Inc., with lodging, drastically altered the valley, with the most popular being dining, gifts, groceries, RV forming two lakes, and cutting off the short hike to the stunning campground, and non-motorized salmon spawning routes up-river Marymere Falls. boat rentals. Ranger programs for nearly a century. are off ered in the summer at the The Storm King Ranger Station, campfi re circle near the lake once For the past two summers, open daily in the summer only a week and approximately 25 interpreters have been roving from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., guests attend each program. the Glines Canyon area provides visitors with a glimpse providing detailed informal of a former ranger station with Sol Duc interpretation about the Elwha a stone fi replace, chairs, tables, River Restoration project, and information, a large-sized relief Old-growth forest, subalpine presenting campfi re programs map, trail maps, and a Discover lakes, and snowy peaks populate at Altair Campground. In the Your Northwest sales area. the Sol Duc landscape, while summer of 2010, interpretive Ranger conducted walks to the serves rangers assisted with providing Marymere Falls are off ered in as a key highway for coho information, orientation, and summer. salmon, fl owing through the interpretation services at the valley and ascending to the ranger station and the station No programs are currently lakes and headwaters in the was upgraded with temporary off ered at Fairholme surrounding mountains. The exhibits and a small Discover Campground amphitheater interpretive kiosk near the Your Northwest sales area. The due to storm damage to the Sol Duc entrance station, information desk is accessible. projection booth. Fairholme fi ve wayside exhibits, and the Staffi ng levels are expected to Store is a concession facility provide increase as is poised operated by ARAMARK off ering visitors with park information, to begin. groceries, grab and go foods, wilderness permit information, gifts, and camping supplies and a small Discover Your Olympic Raft & Kayak is a during the summer only. Northwest sales area. The ranger concession operation off ering station does not have interpretive guided raft fl oat trips on the is a exhibits. Elwha River. The put in spot is at concession facility operated by Altair Campground and the take ARAMARK with lodging, dining, A major recreational attraction out is at . gifts, and non-motorized boat is the Sol Duc Hot Springs rentals. It is open during the Resort. This concession facility Lake Crescent summer, though cabins with is operated by ARAMARK and no food service are sometimes provides lodging, dining, hot Lake Crescent off ers a wonderful available in the shoulder seasons. mineral pools, swimming pool, perspective of the diversity and Ranger programs are off ered at gifts, convenience store, and an beauty represented in Olympic a campfi re circle near the lake RV campground with electric, National Park. Visitors drive in the summer with up to 25 water, and sewer hook-ups. or walk along the shores of a guests attending. The current Ranger programs are off ered at glacially-carved lake, or recreate concessioner has proposed the Sol Duc Campground nightly in the same waters populated providing interpretive programs in the summer. by types of fi sh found nowhere at times that complement the else. They are surrounded by NPS schedule including guided lowland old-growth forests, a kayak tours, guided Mount Storm record Grand fi r, Barnes Creek, King hikes, evening programs, and the high country of the and conducted walks. Olympic Wilderness. Trails provide access to these amazing

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 15 Part Two: Existing Conditions

Ozette May 1 and September 30, over 70 miles of wild coast, much most overnight users arrive of it designated as wilderness. This With the tall seastacks that dot at Ozette with permits they is one of the longest, undeveloped the coast, the crystal waters obtained through the Wilderness stretches of coast in the lower 48 of Lake Ozette, the grandeur Information Center. states. of the old growth forests, wilderness access, and rich Interpretation services at Ozette As staffi ng allows, the Mora history, the Ozette area is full consist of an outdoor kiosk Ranger Station is open in the of opportunities to explore a of exhibits and the Coastal summer for park information. diverse landscape. Discoveries Clock trail guide. The park has Wheelchair access to view Rialto in the past century have not off ered ranger presented Beach is possible in the summer unearthed the presence of a programs in over 20 years. months with the placement of a culture dating back at least 2,000 wooden trail structure and ramp. years, as well as a well-preserved Mora 300-year-old village that had NPS/USFS Recreation been covered by a mudslide. Rocky beaches, giant drift logs, Information Center (RIC) at Over 50,000 artifacts were pounding waves, and views Forks recovered, many of which now of off shore islands known as reside at the Makah Cultural and seastacks are features that defi ne The RIC is a primary visitor Research Center in Neah Bay. Rialto Beach. The one-mile contact station for visitors wanting one-way coastal hike to Hole- information and orientation The Ozette Ranger Station, in-the-Wall is very popular with services for NPS, USFS, staff ed by wilderness rangers visitors. Just inland is the Mora State Department of Natural and volunteers, is open in the area, characterized by towering Resources, and other public lands summer for park information. trees, lush undergrowth, and the on the west side of the Olympic This is a major coastal wilderness omnipresent roar of the Pacifi c Peninsula. It serves as a Discover access point and since advance Ocean in the background. This is Your Northwest sales area and is reservations for backcountry also the center of the coastal strip second only to the WIC for issuing stays are required between of the park, an area that protects wilderness permits. Staff provides wilderness permit information, issues wilderness permits and bear cans, and sells federal fee passes and USFS Christmas tree permits in November and December. A great deal of time is spent assisting visitors with backcountry trip planning, and ensuring visitors understand potential safety concerns and resource protection regulations.

The RIC shares occupancy with the Forks Transit Center which acts as a hub for buses along the north and west side of the peninsula. The location provides a rest stop for through-travelers and is a “park and ride” location for commuters. The various uses of this facility have resulted in confusion and confl icts between transit station and park users and The outdoor kiosk at Ozette displays wilderness safety and interpretive exhibits. uses.

16 I National Park Service Part Two: Existing Conditions

The Olympic Peninsula is the Campground is open year-round Quinault Rain Forest setting for the popular Twilight and is the only campground series of books and movies. As in the park that takes campsite With its stunning scenery, old- a result, the Olympic Peninsula, reservations for the summer growth temperate rain forest, rich particularly the Forks area, months. American Indian and homesteader is experiencing a substantial history, and easy access to increase in tourism. Hoh Rain Forest community and visitor services, the Quinault Rain Forest has Staff ed by Interpretation The Hoh Rain Forest Visitor outstanding potential to become Division visitor use assistants Center is currently the most an unrivaled visitor experience. in the summer and the Coastal visited contact destination for This area provides a diversity of Interpreter in the shoulder visitors wishing to experience the visitor experiences from Olympic seasons, the information center is old growth temperate rain forest. National Park, Olympic National open daily 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. in Visitors driving into and walking Forest, and Quinault Nation lands the summer and 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 around the Hoh Rain Forest fi nd and waters. p.m. Friday through Sunday in themselves immersed in a lush the fall and spring. rain forest of very large and old The Quinault Rain Forest Ranger trees. Staff interpretive programs Station is open during the summer Kalaloch describe the rain forest’s unique Thursday – Monday from 9:00 attributes, as well as, the role this a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Because this With its intertidal pools, excellent forest played in the creation of station has only one seasonal bird watching opportunities, Olympic National Park. interpreter, it is closed from about beautiful sunsets, and multiple 12:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. so the coastal access trails, Kalaloch is The visitor center is open daily interpreter can take a lunch break one of the most visited areas of from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. during and conduct a guided walk. An Olympic National Park. Known the summer and 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 accessible information desk and for its variety of shoreline p.m. Friday – Sunday the rest new ranger station exhibits were communities, visitors explore of the year. A new accessible designed and installed between tide pools at Beach 4, view information desk was installed in 1999 and 2002. seastacks and rocky shoreline September 2010. In addition to at Ruby Beach, or walk on the exhibits, there is a WIC-staff ed In , broad sandy beach at Kalaloch. backcountry desk and a Discover the , an All of these opportunities are Your Northwest sales area. ARAMARK concession, provides available directly off of Highway 101.

The small, one-room Kalaloch Ranger Station is open daily 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. from mid-May through September featuring an accessible information desk, new exhibits, and a Discover Your Northwest sales area. The Kalaloch Lodge is a concession facility operated by ARAMARK and provides lodging, dining, gift shop, groceries, vehicle fuel, and group campsite year-round. There are two park campgrounds in this area, Kalaloch and South Beach, both providing great views of the Pacifi c Ocean from Quinault Rain Forest Ranger Station features high quality, informative park- a number of sites. Kalaloch produced exhibits.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 17 Part Two: Existing Conditions lodging, dining, gift shop, and Committee to build upon the Trails interpretive services, including recommendations from the evening programs, cultural Expedia project. A variety of short (0.1 to 2-mile) demonstrations, and guided bus one-way and loop trails are and boat tours. On occasion, Staircase available from most of the main NPS interpreters have presented access points encircling the evening programs at the lodge. Located in a stunning lowland park. The trails lead visitors forest dominated by enormous to natural features such as The USFS/NPS Recreation Douglas-fi rs and the babbling waterfalls and historic resources Information Center at the USFS North Fork , including Kestner Homestead. Quinault District Offi ce is open the Staircase Ranger Station is Trail brochures are off ered for daily Memorial Day through open in summer and provides a $1.00 donation at many of Labor Day; weekdays only the information, exhibits, wilderness these trails. The Madison Falls rest of the year. permits, and a Discover Your trail in the Elwha Valley meets Northwest sales area. The ranger accessibility standards, and there Expedia, based in Bellevue, station is primarily staff ed by are also trails that are wheelchair Washington, is committed Protection and Interpretation accessible with assistance. to supporting the long-term Division rangers and volunteers sustainability of communities during the late spring, summer, Over 600 miles of trails in and around World Heritage and early fall months. provide access to the Olympic Sites, and in 2009, the company Wilderness. Wilderness access sponsored a team of tourism Dosewallips is found throughout the park, experts to the Lake Quinault notably Staircase, Whiskey community for a two-week Due to a road washout outside Bend and Olympic Hot Springs tourism consultancy project. As park boundaries, the area has not Roads in the Elwha Valley, Sol a result agencies and tourism been staff ed for about eight years. Duc, Ozette, Mora, Hoh, and organizations, including Olympic Even prior to the washout, there Graves Creek and North Fork National Park, have formed were no interpretive programs Roads in the Lake Quinault the Lake Quinault Tourism presented at Dosewallips. area. Ozette Loop, a nine-mile loop connecting and Sandpoint trails, is one of the most heavily visited areas in the park and the most heavily visited backcountry area in the NPS.

Olympic Discovery Trail may eventually connect Port Townsend and Forks. Currently sections are completed from Sequim Bay to Fairholme. In the park, the trail follows the Spruce Railroad trail through the Lake Crescent area of the park with a new section of trail continuing west towards Fairholme. Clallam County has the lead for sections in Clallam County and is working with the park for sections within park boundaries.

Backpackers can access the Olympic Wilderness on 600 miles of trails.

18 I National Park Service Part Two: Existing Conditions

Interpretive Media Site bulletins are available to along Fairholme Campground provide specifi c information Trail, Heart O’ the Forest Audiovisual Presentations about the park. Color Trail, Marymere Falls Trail, banners categorize the type of Spruce Railroad Trail, and Sol Films are available at ONPVC and information found in the one- Duc Falls Trail. A large-print Hurricane Ridge. Both fi lms have page site bulletins: version was developed and subtitles which are always on,  Brown banner – WIC series printed in 2010. The other trail and there are audio-description on wilderness/backcountry brochures highlight nature trails and assistive listening tracks and destinations, stock use, and located throughout the park. receivers available for visitors with food storage regulations. They include Madison Falls, vision or hearing disabilities.  Green banner – Natural Cascading Terraces and Kestner and cultural history series Homestead Trail at Quinault, ONPVC – Mosaic of Diversity is includes park formation The Coastal Clock at several a 27-minute fi lm highlighting the and history, threatened coastal locations, Ancient Groves ecosystems and species diversity and endangered species, at Sol Duc, Staircase Rapids at of Olympic National Park, its , , butterfl ies, Staircase, Moments in Time at wilderness character, and the and other topics. Lake Crescent, Rainshadow Trail millennia of human habitation  Blue banner – Park on Blue Mountain and Salmon and use of the bountiful orientation and planning Swimmers in the Forest at various resources. The fi lm is shown upon series highlights each park lowland locations. The park request. The children’s Discovery area, with a map and list of requests a $1.00 donation for the Room has a computer where trails and facilities as well as booklets. visitors can play Olympic Odyssey, interpretive information. an interactive game, to learn  Black banner – General Two Discover Your Northwest about some of the park’s natural information, including sales items featuring Hurricane and cultural resources. The concession rates and pet Ridge and the Hoh Rain Forest room also contains a microscope regulations. are out of print. with a camera that projects These site bulletins are reviewed the magnifi ed object onto the and updated as information computer monitor. changes. Many are available on the park website. Other Hurricane Ridge – Life on the free publications are one-time Edge highlights mountain ecology projects, such as Fish of Olympic and is approximately 20 minutes. National Park. If the information When the visitor center is staff ed, is accurate, these publications are the fi lm is shown upon request. distributed while supply lasts. When the building is unstaff ed a self-service system is used to The park newspaper “Bugler” activate the fi lm. is published twice a year, summer and winter. Interpretive Publications programs, facility locations and hours, resource management According to the FY2009 issues, and safety information are Servicewide Interpretive Report publicized in the paper. the park distributes 69 diff erent publications. In 2009, the Offi cial Ten diff erent trail brochures Park Map and Guide and the are available for use on shorter, Olympic Wilderness Trip Planner resource specifi c trails. Ever were updated and reprinted. changing, ever green: the low- These publications are updated elevation forests Olympic and reprinted annually. Freeing the National Park is a lowland forest plant identifi cation guide and Elwha was designed and printed Site bulletins provide trip planning in 2009. interpretive brochure for use and park resource information.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 19 Part Two: Existing Conditions

Bulletin Boards Wayside Exhibits Wayside exhibit text, photos, and asset details are input The Protection Division is In July 1980, a wayside exhibit into the NPS Media Inventory responsible for maintaining park plan was created by Harpers Database System (MIDS) and bulletin boards. Information Ferry Center for 155 new wayside the NPS Facility Management posted by area rangers includes exhibits located throughout the Software System (FMSS). An safety regulations and other park. Most of these exhibits are in-park database for tracking important, timely items. Several still in place and several have repairs, replacements, and years ago a design plan was been updated. In addition, the future corrections was recently created to bring consistency to park has added a number of expanded and updated. The park bulletin boards. In areas wayside exhibits. These include database identifi es exhibits with where interpretive programs trailhead wilderness exhibits that inaccurate or out of date text and are conducted, interpretation feature maps, safety, and other notes ideas for subjects that are has space on the bulletin board backcountry information at eight not interpreted including climate to post program information park trailhead areas; porcelain change, glacial retreat, sea-level, under a Ranger Program heading enamel exhibits on the Moments spills, ocean acidifi cation, debris, that matches the system design. in Time Trail; interpretive and new fossil sea star fi nd at Beach Initially, components had a rigid panoramic peak identifi er 4, and endemic marmots and lamination, consistent fonts, exhibit at Hurricane Ridge; their decline. Interpretive staff colors, and more, but as the interpretive exhibits at Sol Duc needs to prioritize the inventory original laminated components along the road, at the resort, and and seek funding for improving faded, were vandalized, or in the kiosk; exhibits outside the wayside exhibits, while being needed to be replaced due Kalaloch Ranger Station; lobelia mindful that the park is already to changing information, the exhibit at Lake Crescent; and maintaining a very large number standards at many of the bulletin salmon and trout exhibits at Sol of wayside exhibits. boards relaxed resulting in a Duc and Lake Crescent. All of less uniform look to the bulletin these exhibits are inventoried on boards throughout the park. a park database.

Wilderness trailhead exhibits, located at several park areas, offer hikers backcountry maps and safety information.

20 I National Park Service Part Two: Existing Conditions

Exhibits interconnecting water systems feature some natural and cultural and watersheds, or the world history artifacts refl ective of the ONPVC heritage designation. The exhibit area; and the Forks Recreation Exhibits are current and relevant. room becomes very crowded Information Center has some The Discovery Room provides because of its design and the exhibits. The Elwha Ranger interactive learning. Other resulting bottleneck can create a Station has a new four-panel exhibits in the building provide frustrating experience for visitors fabric exhibit on a metal frame, accessible learning opportunities, trying to get in and get out. a small relief model of the park, notably the animal tracks exhibit and a life-sized paper mache fi sh which was updated in 2010 Kalaloch, Staircase, and Quinault exhibit. with tactile improvements. A have new exhibits designed by temporary exhibit on the Elwha park staff and installed within All visitor center and ranger River Restoration project is on the past fi fteen years. They station exhibit assets are display. In 2009 the visitor center feature text panels and hands-on described in a very detailed was remodeled to integrate exhibits about Olympic National manner in the NPS Facility the WIC into the building. As Park’s history, natural history, Management Software System a result, there was a decrease and American Indian themes. (FMSS). in area available for visitor Outdoor exhibit panels in Ozette information and orientation services and for Discover Your Northwest sales and storage.

Hurricane Ridge Temporary exhibits, installed in 1984, provide information about early exploration, trees and other plants, and general park wildlife. The herbarium and changing climate exhibits were installed in the late . These exhibits occupy the upper fl oor of the visitor center. Although the exhibit hall is beautiful, the exhibits are of poor quality and amateurish design. There has never been a thematic approach and the exhibits refl ect diff erent styles and designs from several decades.

Hoh Rain Forest The existing exhibits were designed, fabricated, and installed over forty years ago when park visitation was much lower. The exhibits and exhibit space have become outdated and worn, with some of the contents damaged, inaccurate, and misleading. They are not interactive or engaging to today’s diverse audiences. There is no information about fi sh or fi shing, ONPVC exhibits introduce visitors to a variety of park resources.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 21 Part Two: Existing Conditions

When not displayed at special restoration to the economic and Discovery Backpack events, the traveling outreach ecologic future of the Olympic exhibit for Elwha River Peninsula and the marine Park visitors can borrow a Restoration is on display in the environments of the Strait of backpack fi lled with binoculars, ONPVC. The exhibit includes and the . guidebooks, and more for a $5.00 panels describing aspects of donation. The backpacks are the Elwha River Restoration Junior Ranger available year-round at ONPVC project, including the history of and at staff ed facilities during the dams, ecological signifi cance During FY2009 9,066 family the summer (Hoh, Quinault, of salmon, habitat restoration members participated in the Kalaloch, Storm King, and eff orts, cultural signifi cance Discovering Olympic’s Web of Hurricane Ridge). The backpacks of the watershed to the Lower Life program designed for ages are intended to provide a Elwha Klallam people, education 5 and up. A $1.00 per copy structured way to explore and programs, and research eff orts. donation supports the junior experience the park. An interactive, educational ranger program and covers computer visualization display printing and badge costs. The using fl y-over animation of the park has submitted a funding watershed before, during, and request from the NPS National after restoration, as well as a 3-D Junior Ranger funding source manipulative table model of the and if these funds are received watershed showing pre- and Discover Your Northwest will post-dam removal landscape are no longer accept donations from used at community events and participants. In 2010, Discover schools. In addition, the exhibit Your Northwest reprinted the displays National Park Service booklet. ARAMARK purchased and partner-printed material junior ranger books to sell at including the Freeing the Elwha Sol Duc. During the past three brochure, a fact sheet, and years, hundreds of participants timeline. Partners and volunteers have celebrated National Junior have been trained to set-up the Ranger day at ONPVC. display and interpret the Elwha Restoration Project.

The Feiro Marine Life Center (FMLC), City of Port Angeles, and Center of Excellence are partnering with Olympic National Park to interpret the ecological benefi ts of dam removal and Elwha River restoration to the marine resources, and the role of the dams in local community history. A 10-foot hands-on interactive model of and complete with running water representing the Elwha River at various fl ows, has been installed in the FMLC. Exhibit panels will tell the stories of the dam’s role in building the City of Port Angeles and the importance of watershed In FY2009, over 9,000 family members participated in the Junior Ranger program.

22 I National Park Service Part Two: Existing Conditions

Interpretive Media Scientifi c Publications North Coast and Cascades Assets Science Learning Network The park has an online (NCCSLN) Media assets include other searchable database, Nature Bib, park resources available to of Olympic-related scientifi c A NCCSLN website is being interpretation that support publications. The database is developed by staff from parks the design of personal services available to park staff and the throughout the network to programs or interpretive media. park curator is available to assist communicate information about with searches. Original articles the natural resource inventory Interpretive Prop Collection are usually housed in the cultural and monitoring program and archives. research being conducted in the Natural items, such as skins, network parks. This information skulls, rocks, laminated historic Art Work will be useful to visitors and photos, and models are housed interpreters as they prepare in visitor centers throughout the The park has a restricted digital programs on various topics. park and are available for use fi le of original art for media in programs and exhibits. This projects. It is available for use on interpretive prop collection is a request basis. An exhibit storage catalogued in an Excel database. cabinet is located in the ONPVC. It houses original art and exhibit Interpretive Digital Photo models that need protection. Library Park Library The park has a collection of both not-for-publication and The park library, located in the public domain images for use ONPVC, is available to all park in programs, exhibits, and employees and volunteers to publications. The collection use as a resource. It is open to needs more attention and an the public upon request. There ongoing upkeep strategy. Other is a networked online catalog divisions also have images, but for searching the collection. In there is no parkwide central addition, most of the other park library. visitor centers, ranger stations, and contact stations have small Artifact Collection and collections of books relevant Archives to those areas. The library also contains a collection of VHS The Cultural Resource tapes and a small set of DVDs. Management Division is Additionally, there is a collection responsible for the park of science fi les that feature collection and archives. Park scientifi c papers addressing park staff can access and utilize, as topics. This hard-copy collection appropriate, archival documents is scheduled to be digitized in the by contacting the collections next few years. specialist.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 23 Part Two: Existing Conditions

Personal Services  Ecosystem Olympics, a Freeing the Elwha is an integrated curriculum-based program, curriculum for middle-school Education delivered off -site for the students. Lessons address fourth grade classes on Washington State standards According to the FY2009 the Olympic Peninsula. in Science, Social Studies, and Servicewide Interpretive Report, The program serves as an Language Arts. The curriculum 138 education programs were introduction to the three is web-based and designed to presented to 7,624 visitors by major ecosystems in the be updated as teachers share both Olympic National Park student’s “backyard” – best practices. The curriculum education rangers and Olympic Olympic National Park. project was developed to allow Park Institute educators.  Specifi c programs requested lesson plans to be modifi ed as the by teachers (from preschool restoration eff ort progressed and The Outreach and Education to college) when staffi ng and needs of the project, students, Specialist and a seasonal provide time allow. and educators changed. The the following:  In cooperation with Feiro curriculum is also available on Marine Life Center and the Elwha River and Salmon  On-site curriculum-based Olympic Coast National Restoration compact disc. programs on insects and Marine Sanctuary, North This CD-ROM also includes plants support the Science/ Olympic Watershed (NOW) a PowerPoint program on FOSS (Full Option Science Science programs are off ered the background of the Elwha System) Kit curriculum used to fi fth grade classes in the Restoration Project, a collection of in the fi rst and second grades Crescent, Port Angeles, and public domain images for partner in the Crescent, Port Angeles, Sequim School districts. The and public use, and inquiry-based and Sequim school districts. program has received funding student activities that explore There is no transportation through a NOAA B-Wet grant salmon and habitat restoration, funding, so not all schools that provided transportation Elwha tribal history, changing can participate. funding that facilitated school cultural values towards the dams, participation. and the physical processes related to dam removal.

Four elementary grade traveling trunks are available. They are primarily used by homeschoolers. The topics include adaptation, living forest, ecosystem, and salmon.

Olympic Park Institute (OPI) provides three- to fi ve-day residential fi eld science education annually for about 4,000-6,000 students in grades 4-12. Teacher workshops are off ered that demonstrate inquiry-based teaching methods. In addition, OPI works with Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe and Western Carolina University to deliver weeklong summer programs for middle and high school students. These programs are supported through the Diversity in the Ecosystem Olympic is a 4th grade curriculum-based program presented in Geosciences grant from the Olympic Peninsula classrooms. National Science Foundation.

24 I National Park Service Part Two: Existing Conditions

North Olympic Skills Center Community Outreach Elwha restoration and fi sher is an alternative high school reintroduction programs engaged in resource management According to the FY2009 are presented to local civic and service learning projects Servicewide Interpretive Report, and special interest groups. with the park. The Outreach 72 community programs were Between late July and the end of and Education Specialist serves off ered. September 2008, a park ranger on their Advisory Board, and contacted nearly 2,000 park together with the natural A lecture series, “Perspectives,” visitors by presenting Elwha resources teacher developed is off ered annually November interpretive programs in the park, an Elwha Field course for high through May. The program topics informal roving interpretation, school students. focus on current park research and community outreach events. and attract a local audience of Special Events 50-60 people per lecture. Park staff participates in two- to three-hour community According to the FY2009 Children’s activities and park events such as literary events at Servicewide Interpretive Report, information are provided at local the library, transition fair, the two special events, National festivals held on the peninsula Kiwanis Kidsfest, and YMCA Junior Ranger Day and the and other locations in the Healthy Kids program. screening of America’s Best Idea region including the Juan de PBS documentary at the Port Fuca Festival, Clallam County Angeles High School, were held Fair, StreamFest, Dungeness and 900 visitors attended. River Festival, National Park Family Day events in Seattle,WA and Vancouver, WA, the Crab Festival, the Lavender Festival, and Festival.

Park rangers engage youth in interpretive experiences in the park and in many neighboring communities.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 25 Part Two: Existing Conditions

Personal Services Programs Elwha Hall of Mosses Trail Walk – 1.5- Altair Campfi re Program – hour guided walk off ered daily According to the FY2009 Saturday Evening Program – Monday, Servicewide Interpretive Report, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and 1,462 formal programs were Lake Crescent Saturday presented for 32,915 visitors Marymere Falls Walk – 1-hour primarily in the summer season. guided walk off ered daily Kalaloch Lake Crescent Lodge Campfi re Tide Pool or Beach Walk – 1.5- ONPVC Program – Sunday, Tuesday, hour program in the morning Discover Olympic! Talk 20- to Thursday, and Saturday Coastal Forest Walk – 2-hour 30-minute talk off ered daily Log Cabin Resort Campfi re guided walk daily Family Nature Program – 1-hour Program – Monday and Friday Coastal Highlights Talk – short program off ered on Sunday talk off ered daily Sol Duc Evening Program – Monday, Heart O’ the Hills Evening Program – nightly Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday Family Forest Activities – 1.5- hour program on Saturday Mora Quinault Rain Forest Evening Program – Monday, Tide Pool Program or Beach Life in the Rain Forest Walk – Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday Walk – daily, meets at tide pool 1.5-hour guided walk off ered area 1.5 miles from Rialto Beach Thursday through Monday Hurricane Ridge or 2-hour guided walk Walk – 1.5-hour Family Forest Walk – 1.5-hour Staircase program off ered mid-December program off ered intermittently Forest Walk – 1.5-hour guided through March weekends and on Saturday and Sunday walk off ered Friday through holiday Mondays Evening Program – Monday, Sunday Terrace Talk – 20-minute talk Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday Family Forest Activities – 1.5- off ered 3 times daily hour program off ered on Sunday Meadow Walk – 1-hour guided Hoh Rain Forest Campfi re Program – Friday walk off ered 2 times daily Spruce Nature Trail Walk – 1.5- Evening Program – Saturday Roving – daily in summer and hour guided walk off ered daily weekends in winter

Visitors attend guided walks in the Hoh Rain Forest and many other park areas.

26 I National Park Service Part Two: Existing Conditions

Staffi ng  The GS-025-11 West District  The GS-025-11 Outreach Interpreter oversees the and Education Specialist The Interpretation and interpretive operations at oversees all of the Education Division staff includes: Ozette, Mora, NPS/USFS curriculum-based education Recreation Information initiatives, community  The GS-025-13 Chief of Center, Hoh, Kalaloch, and outreach programs, and the Interpretation and Education Quinault. Since the West North Coast and Cascades serves as a member of the District Interpreter position communication activities. park management team and is vacant, the East District The Outreach and Education oversees all of the division’s Interpreter also supervises: Specialist is the liaison areas of responsibilities. o GS-025-9 subject-to- between science, resource The Chief serves as the park furlough Rain Forest management, interpretation, partner liaison for Discover Interpreter (24 pay and the public, and Your Northwest, Feiro periods) supervises seasonal staff Marine Life Center, Forks o GS-025-9 subject- involved with environmental Chamber of Commerce, to-furlough Coast education and outreach Olympic National Forest, Interpreter (24 pay activities. Olympic Park Institute, and periods) Shelton-Mason Chamber of Commerce. The chief supervises: o GS-025-11 East District Interpreter o GS-025-11 West District Interpreter (vacant) o GS-025-11 Outreach and Education Specialist o GS-025-11 Interpretive Media Specialist o GS-303-07 Administrative Support Assistant (vacant)  The GS-025-11 East District Interpreter oversees the interpretive operations at Staircase, ONPVC, Hurricane Ridge, Elwha, Lake Crescent, and Sol Duc. The East District Interpreter supervises: o GS-025-9 ONPVC Interpreter o GS-025-9 subject-to- furlough Hurricane Ridge Interpreter (13 pay periods) o Staircase, Elwha, Lake Crescent, and Sol Duc seasonal staff

Guided snowshoe walks at Hurricane Ridge offer winter visitors a glimpse of the Olympics.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 27 Part Two: Existing Conditions

 The GS-303-11 Interpretive staff seasons are shorter due Media Specialist oversees to college schedules or other all of the park’s interpretive circumstances. Seasonal staff media assets, maintains and may be assigned to the following updates existing media, locations: evaluates media needs, develops new media,  ONPVC/Hurricane Ridge: conducts formative and 7 GS-025-5 full-time park summative media evaluations, rangers, 4 GS-025-5 part-time maintains media databases park rangers (park and FMSS), and serves  Elwha: 1 GS-025-5 full-time as the contracting offi cer’s park ranger representative on media  Staircase: 1 GS-025-5 part- projects. time park ranger  Four GS-025-9 Interpreters  Lake Crescent/Sol Duc: 4 GS- oversee the daily operati on 025-5 full-time park rangers and scheduling of their  Mora: 2 GS-025-5 full-time respective locations and park rangers supervise seasonal staff and  RIC: 3 GS-303-5 full-time volunteers. visitor use assistants (WIC  Since the 0.5 FTE GS- funded staff ) 303-07 Administrative  Kalaloch: 3 GS-025-5 full- Support Assistant is vacant, time park rangers and 1 GS-4 the Visitor Services and full-time visitor use assistant Resource Protection Division  Hoh: 4 GS-025-5 full-time Administrative Support park rangers Assistant provides budget,  Quinault: 1 GS-025-5 full- travel, and timekeeping time park ranger assistance.  Environmental Education and Outreach: 2 GS-025-5 Since only thirteen pay periods part-time park rangers of salary are funded by the park base account, the Hurricane For the past two winters, a Ridge Interpreter assists with seasonal interpreter has worked project funded initiatives such at ONPVC/Hurricane Ridge as developing new interpretive from mid-December through media and supporting special March. If the park receives projects. FY2011 short-term funding for winter operations, the park will Summer seasonal interpreters hire an additional GS-025-5 work from June 1 through full-time seasonal park ranger to September 30, although some work at Hurricane Ridge.

28 I National Park Service Part Two: Existing Conditions

Partnerships ARAMARK is committed to model of the Glines Canyon presenting interpretive programs area surrounded by murals and Park Project Support at some of these locations and interpretive text. The park, Feiro providing thematic displays at Marine Life Center, and Olympic The Interpretation Division is their gift shops. ARAMARK staff Park Institute are also working frequently requested to lend has attended park interpretive together on NOW Science expertise by assisting other training sessions. (North Olympic Watershed park program areas with the Science), a curriculum-based accomplishment of projects or Discover Your Northwest education program focused on initiatives. For some Natural The Pacifi c Northwest Regional Olympic Peninsula Watershed Resource Management Division Offi ce maintains a cooperative protection. funding sources an interpretive agreement with Discover component is either required or Your Northwest as the park’s Forks Chamber of Commerce recommended. Funding sources cooperating association. and West Jeff erson County that require an interpretive Discover Your Northwest sales Tourism Committee component include all Natural outlets are located at Hoh These two organizations Resource Protection proposals and Olympic National Park contribute funding for 1.4 and any Natural Resources visitor centers, the NPS/USFS summer seasonal positions Preservation Program (NRPP) Recreation Information Center at Kalaloch Ranger Station Disturbed Land Restoration, in Forks, and at Staircase, Elwha, to provide park visitors with Natural Resources Management, Storm King, Eagle, Kalaloch, information about the park and and Threatened and Endangered and Quinault Rain Forest ranger western Olympic Peninsula Species proposals that are greater stations. Hurricane Ridge is the visitor services. than $100,000. An interpretive only visitor center without a sales component is recommended for outlet. The park does not have a Friends of Olympic National Air Quality-Natural Eff ects and scope of sales. Park Natural Sound Program funding The mission of this organization proposals. Prior to submitting FY2009 annual sales totaled is to support Olympic National the proposal, the program lead $310,911. The park receives a Park in preserving the park’s should connect with both the percentage donation based on natural, cultural, and recreational Chief of Interpretation and annual sales. This donation is resources for the benefi t of the North Coast and Cascades used to support administration present and future generations. Science Learning Network aid, free publications, interpretive The Friends of Olympic National to determine the appropriate programs, library activities, offi ce Park promote understanding combination of interpretive expenses, branch improvements, of the park’s ecological, services and/or interpretive marketing and promotions, and educational, economic, and media for the proposal. park volunteer expenses. recreational importance, and work with Olympic National Partners Feiro Marine Life Center Park on special projects, The Feiro Marine Life Center, including co-sponsoring and providing refreshments for the ARAMARK Parks and an educational and scientifi c park’s annual “Perspectives” Destinations organization promoting marine lecture series. A park concessioner, education and conservation, ARAMARK, operates three of shares a common goal with the Hurricane Ridge Winter Sports the four lodges in the park: Lake park to foster the understanding Club Crescent Lodge, Sol Duc Hot of marine environments and A park permittee off ering ski Springs Resort, and Kalaloch related watersheds of the services at Hurricane Ridge Lodge, as well as Lake Quinault Olympic Peninsula. The Feiro during the winter season. Lodge in Olympic National Marine Life Center and the park Forest. In addition, they operate are working together to interpret the snack bar and gift shop at the Elwha River Restoration Hurricane Ridge and the visitor project with an exhibit at the convenience store at Fairholme. Center that includes a working

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 29 Part Two: Existing Conditions

Lake Quinault Tourism citizen science for seabird Olympic Park Institute’s largest Committee monitoring, and until recently, program area is fi eld science A committee of the Lake provide NOAA funds to enhance education for school groups, Quinault Community Action the seasonal interpretive staff at which constitutes about 17,000 Forum, the Lake Quinault Kalaloch and Mora. student program days each year Tourism Committee’s mission is for a diverse group of young to formulate, collate, evaluate, The Olympic Coast National people and their teachers. and execute initiatives that Marine Sanctuary staff is Over half of the participants promote and bring visitors to frequently called upon to receive scholarship funding the Lake Quinault area and join or lead science and from Olympic Park Institute to to generate awareness of the education peers in regional attend the fi eld science program. Lake Quinault brand. The environmental and ocean Through this inquiry-based committee funds the operation literacy initiatives. The Sanctuary program, each student has a of two area visitor information is just completing a general unique experience based on centers, develops and prints management plan and will their personal connections area brochures, and participates soon be developing a strategic formed with mountain, forest, in tourism promotion events. approach to their education, and ocean ecosystems. In 2009, Olympic National Park staff interpretation, capital facilities, Olympic National Park began a attends monthly committee and stewardship activities. It is pilot project to provide a ranger- meetings and recently received a mutually envisioned that the presented program about the grant from Expedia to improve implementation actions in this mission of the National Park wayfi nding and interpretive signs Long-Range Interpretive Plan Service and the signifi cant in the Lake Quinault area. and the Sanctuary’s 10-year resources of Olympic National interpretive plan are aligned. Park. It is a park management Log Cabin Resort, Inc. goal to provide this park A park concessioner operates Olympic National Forest stewardship program to all Log Cabin Resort. The park and Olympic National students participating in the fi eld Forest share many common science program. Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe boundaries around the The park is partnering with the peninsula. The two agencies Currently about 25% of Olympic Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe on have formal agreements covering Park Institute’s programs either Elwha River Restoration project several areas including operating focus or include a component outreach and education eff orts. and staffi ng two joint park/forest in the Elwha watershed. This recreation information centers, includes student fi eld science Olympic Coast National one in Forks and the other on the groups, teacher professional Marine Sanctuary south shore of Lake Quinault. development opportunities, The park and the Olympic Coast NOW Science programs for National Marine Sanctuary Olympic Park Institute north Olympic Peninsula school work together on protection, Located within an Olympic districts, and in-depth work with interpretation, and management National Park National Historic youth from the Lower Elwha of coastal resources. Park Register District, Olympic Klallam Tribe. interpreters and Sanctuary Park Institute, a campus educators have collaborated of NatureBridge, provides Olympic Peninsula Tourism for many years to partner on residential, standards-based Commission interpretive training for seasonal education programs to students The commission is a partnership park employees, furnish exhibit in grades 4-12. In addition, of eleven Chambers of material for the Recreation they off er teacher workshops, Commerce and tourism Information Center in Forks, family camps, adult ecotourism marketing entities in Clallam co-coordinate the annual coastal programs, conference services, and Jeff erson Counties. The cleanup, develop exhibit plans and a wedding venue. In 2008, commission develops a tourism for the Kalaloch Ranger Station, the park signed a 25-year marketing program, hosts an conduct student fi eld trips and cooperative agreement with annual tourism conference, teacher trainings, coordinate NatureBridge. develops a detailed travel

30 I National Park Service Part Two: Existing Conditions

planner, and coordinates a park based on traditional land partner website with partner use, origin beliefs, mythology, generated content. Olympic and spiritual beliefs and National Park provides a practices. These tribes are Hoh, focal point for many of the Jamestown S’Klallam, Lower commission’s promotional Elwha Klallam, Makah, Port materials and initiatives. Gamble S’Klallam, Quileute, Quinault, and Skokomish. David King dba Olympic Raft & Kayak Representatives of these eight A park concessioner off ering tribes and Olympic National guided raft fl oat trips on the Park signed a Memorandum Elwha River. of Understanding on July 11, 2008 that recognizes the shared Port Angeles Regional interests over the lands and Chamber of Commerce waters, activities, or resources The Port Angeles Regional within the boundaries of Chamber of Commerce is Olympic National Park and a membership organization intends to facilitate government- representing the community to-government relations, eff ective of Port Angeles and the coordination, open and timely surrounding area. The Chamber communication, and meaningful concentrates their marketing consideration of the interests and eff orts with the natural boundary priorities between the parties on of Sequim Bay to Lake Crescent. issues of concern. The Chamber is dedicated to raising the awareness of the Port Washington’s National Park Angeles area through tourism Fund and markets the area as a tourism Washington’s National Park destination. The Chamber fund is the only philanthropic provides visitor information and organization dedicated orientation services at the visitor exclusively to supporting Mount center which is located in Port Rainer, , and Angeles near the ferry dock. Olympic National Parks through charitable contributions. In Shelton/Mason Chamber of 2008, the fund provided a grant Commerce of $55,000, matched by $55,000 After the USFS/NPS Recreation in federal funds through the Information Center in NPS Centennial Challenge, to Hoodsport closed in 2004, the support Elwha River Restoration park developed a partnership interpretive and education with this chamber of commerce materials and programs. This to support their interest in grant funded the Freeing the providing visitor information Elwha color brochure, the and promoting tourism for the Freeing the Elwha education eastern part of the Olympic curriculum, ranger programs in Peninsula along . the Elwha Valley, and assisted with the completion of the Elwha Tribal Memorandum of traveling exhibit and the Elwha Understanding River Restoration Interpretation There are eight Olympic and Education Plan. Peninsula tribes that continue to recognize a relationship to the

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 31 Part Two: Existing Conditions

Volunteer Program handouts, responding to visitor meeting park visitors’ needs for information letters, and helping information and interpretation. According to the FY2009 with exhibit maintenance. Each Interns work full-time and do Volunteer Report 5,449.50 hours season a 40-hour a week intern interpretive programs, staff desks, of service was provided for is also a key team member and and rove. Community volunteers interpretation. not only helps in visitor center help about three- to fi ve-days a operations, but also researches week at Hurricane Ridge in the At the ONPVC, a core group and presents programs at summer and one- to two-days of volunteers from the local Hurricane Ridge and the a week in winter. They staff the community provide valuable ONPVC. information desk, rove trails, and visitor information and assist visitor management and orientation services throughout Interns and volunteers, working resource protection. the year. They also assist with at Hurricane Ridge Visitor library projects, producing Center, play an important role in

At ONPVC, volunteers provide valuable year-round visitor information and orientation services.

32 I National Park Service Part Three: Recommendations The following recommendations are based on the Foundation for Interpretation Workshop, on existing conditions detailed in the fi rst two sections of this document, and on the ideas generated by the March 2010 workshop participants. Together, they provide a broad range of possibilities for Olympic National Park’s future interpretive services. While many of these recommendations are included in the implementation portion of this Long-Range Interpretive Plan, others will likely be considered in future long-range planning eff orts.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 33 Part Three: Recommendations

Interpretive planning supports The following principles will Goals for Interpretive the park’s 2008 General apply to all interpretation at Programming Management Plan (GMP). It Olympic National Park: assesses current conditions and Workshop participants identifi ed formulates recommendations  All interpretation will provide goals to enhance the eff ectiveness that will provide direction and physical and programmatic of the interpretive services within focus to achieve the desired accessibility. Olympic National Park. These future interpretive program as goals and associated actions are prescribed in the GMP. A long-  Where possible, representative of many ideas range interpretive plan analyzes interpretation will use generated during the workshop. all needs and recommends reproduction objects and Action items are listed below a wide array of interpretive documented personal stories each goal, and were used to services, facilities, programs, and to bring the story alive for create the Implementation Plan opportunities for partnerships visitors. located in the next section of this to communicate in the most document. Over the next seven effi cient and eff ective way the  Where possible, the park will to ten years Olympic National park’s purpose, signifi cance, and partner with neighboring Park and its partners will focus values. institutions to develop on achieving the following goals: programs and media and At Olympic National Park share research. interpretation, curriculum-based Interpret Elwha River education, and outreach are the  The park will follow the Restoration three primary functions of the standards of the National Interpretation and Education Park Service Graphic Identity The park has developed a draft Division. In earlier planning Program as signs, brochures, Interpretation and Education documents including and interpretive media are plan specifi cally for the Elwha Management Plan there was an developed and upgraded. River Restoration project. inconsistency in the use of these The plan will describe the terms.  Interpretation will include comprehensive interpretation examples and perspectives and education program that The Recommendation section from diverse points of view. focuses on both the ecological is a description of programs and It will respond to diverse restoration and the cultural media proposals designed to audiences, varying levels of aspects of this project. A realize these visions, objectives, interest, and diff erent lengths variety of personal services, themes, and visitor experiences of time for a visit. publications, exhibits, digital for Olympic National Park. These media, and wayside exhibit suggestions should not limit  Where possible, “virtual panels will be developed. creativity in the development visitors” will have of personal services or media opportunities to view key Interpretation staff will be design. park vistas and access to assigned to support this new research, studies, project in addition to their management plans, and regularly assigned duties. These historical information. assignments may aff ect the park’s ability to carry out the recommendations outlined in this long-range interpretive plan.

34 I National Park Service Part Three: Recommendations

Improve Parkwide Due to multiple departure and  Use consistent maps Wayfi nding, Arrival arrival points, Olympic National throughout the park: on Experiences, and Park has very diff erent challenges the park brochure, at the Orientation than many other parks. It can sign kiosks in the parking be a challenge to ensure that lots and in the visitor center Visitor centers and other the information on how to relief maps. Although detail locations where visitors gain safely enjoy the park and park should vary according to use, information in parks are more resources is easily accessible to all a consistent map design style often viewed as out-of-date visitors. Because of the multiple and presentation will make and old fashioned. They are not entry points visitors using park it easier for people to friendly to the ways in which resources may not ever make themselves and fi nd their way. more and more tech-savvy contact with park staff . It can  Survey the visitor experience visitors gain information once in also be challenging for visitors throughout the park. Enlist a park, or to increasing amounts to understand when they are new employees to participate of information that is available in the park or at a location that in a survey at the beginning to visitors before they come to a can provide park information and end of the summer park. or services. Designing an arrival season. experience will intuitively guide  Work with partners to Second Century Commission’s visitors to park resources and develop a multimedia Connecting People and Park services. interactive that could be Committee Report posted on the web and on Specifi c recommendations stand-alone computer kiosks An important goal for providing include: at key points for visitor interpretive services over contact. The multimedia the next 7 to 10 years is to  Monitor front-country interactive would allow improve parkwide wayfi nding nature trails and ensure visitors to plan their trip and orientation. To ensure that directional signs are based on ability, type consistency between planning located at trail intersections. of experience, season, eff orts, Interpretation staff will This is a safety as well as destination, and length of work with the Maintenance and an orientation and visitor time. Protection divisions to revise and experience issue. update the comprehensive sign plan and bulletin board plan, as well as implement the NPS identity standards to increase the visibility of the NPS brand throughout the park and along the Highway 101 corridor. Before visitors can have a meaningful and enjoyable park experience, they need to fi nd their way to the park, make informed choices about where to go and what to do, and take care of their basic needs. Visitor experience issues such as agency identity and orientation must be addressed before interpretation can begin. Eff ective signs as well as pedestrian orientation and information are the fi rst steps toward satisfying these basic Park visitors receive wayfi nding information from a variety of sources including visitor needs. the park brochure, park newspaper, and area exhibits.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 35 Part Three: Recommendations

Evaluate and Develop a of waysides. The proposal will  Temperate rain forest is a Unifi ed System of Wayside provide an in-depth assessment unique/rare ecosystem on Exhibits of all potential wayside planet earth providing a living exhibit sites. It includes both laboratory of diversity at Hoh Wayside exhibits tell Olympic informational and interpretive and Quinault. National Park stories on location. exhibits. The plan should  Fragile plant communities at They “caption the landscape” determine the between ONPVC. and help visitors make direct wayfi nding and digital media.  Historic messages at Lake connections with resources The document also can set Crescent: Lady of the Lake, and their meanings. Wayside priorities to guide wayside Ambulance Corner, Singer exhibits provide round-the-clock development in phases as Tavern, Qui Si Sawha, information and interpretation, funding allows. The proposal Ovingtons, Ferrier, Spruce and with appealing high quality will describe the purpose of each Railroad, the Lodge, and design, writing, and graphics, wayside exhibit, identify graphics historical buildings. they can serve to instill and available for use, show thumbnail  Geology and glacial history reinforce respect for important design concept drawings, and on 101 and at Storm King resources. In association with determine exact exhibit sizes, Ranger Station. good graphics, waysides can base styles, and locations. A  Humans at Barnes Point, at show what a site looked like detailed budget estimate would the Lake Crescent Lodge, at diff erent points in time. In also be part of the document. Storm King Ranger Station, addition, temporary waysides and OPI. can be developed inexpensively Workshop participants suggested  Summit to Sea: story of a to interpret construction and the following wayside exhibit watershed at Hurricane restoration/preservation projects. panel topics, themes, and Ridge. locations:  Isolation has led to the A wayside exhibit proposal is evolution of species found recommended to ensure the  Ozette village. nowhere else on earth: development of a complete,  Signifi cance, importance, and Olympic marmots at high-quality, and unifi ed system uniqueness of the Hoh Rain Hurricane Ridge. Forest.

Hundreds of wayside exhibits offer visitors the opportunity to learn about the park.

36 I National Park Service Part Three: Recommendations

 Mile-high is the only place  Climate change and coastal  Restoration and revegetation to see Mt. Olympus, sub- impacts at Mora. of impacted sites in Olympic alpine vegetation, animals,  Beach safety along the coast. National Park – on the whistle with a marmot –  Diversity of the intertidal at wayside exhibit with audio habitats at Olympic National the Matt Albright Native component at Hurricane Park: types of habitats and Plant Center near Sequim. Ridge. types of species along the  Tell why the  Climate change – on coast. at Wedding Rocks are Hurricane Ridge terrace with  Bogachiel is PART of the rain important and the proper photo comparisons of glacial forest – Bogachiel trail head. ways to enjoy and appreciate retreat.  Restoration along Elwha. them at the Ozette Ranger  and its impact on  Salmon: role in nutrient cycle; Station. the forests, economy, views, tying ocean to forest – along  At Sol Duc show salmon on and more near edges of restored Elwha River. the move: exploring species park along the 101 Scenic  Fire history and micro- of salmon where they live and Corridor. climates within Elwha that our eff ect on their watersheds  Queets: fi sheries, salmon, are more fi re prone, natural from river to ocean. wilderness values, silence, occurrence of fi re.  Sea star fossils at Beach 4. and self-reliance.  Restoration takes time on the  Powerful Pacifi c storms, spillway of the Glines with Participate in Kestner impact of erosion, geology before and after photos. Homestead Planning and harshness, ruggedness,  Forest ecosystems and the and uniqueness of the coastal natural process of fi re on The Kestner Homestead was experience near Kalaloch the landscape; show visible established by Anton and Josepha Lodge. evidence of past fi res and Kestner, Austrian immigrants  Welcome to park and list facts of fi re maybe who came to the valley in the overview info on Washington include pictures of the fi re if 1890s with their two sons Joseph State . available. and Otto. The Kestners cleared  Those beautiful mountains  Orientation - park land in the rain forest to build you are seeing are in Olympic information kiosk at Port their homestead consisting of a National Park near Seattle. Angeles Gateway center. house, barns, fi elds, and .  Rain forest ecology at Hoh and Quinault.  First Nations cooperatively created at Quinault.  Press and O’Neal expeditions on Quinault loop drive.  Quinault: Lake formation, homesteaders at Kestner and Bunch, loop information, multi-agency info, and tribal partnership – create an “offi cial pullout” partnered with Quinault tribe on 101.  Value of wilderness including natural soundscape and night skies at Sol Duc trailhead.  Fire ecology and natural role of fi re, how fi res were managed, changes in wildlife and vegetation after the fi res at Dosewallips and Duckabush trailheads. The Kestner Homestead Historic District is located in the Quinault Rain Forest.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 37 Part Three: Recommendations

The Kestner Homestead Historic Replace Visitor Center Two major projects District is a landscape of many Exhibits recommended during the life facets and retains a distinct sense time of this plan are to design, of place within a unique rain Exhibits provide both two- and fabricate, and install new forest environment. three-dimensional displays of exhibits at the Hoh Rain Forest informational and/or interpretive and Hurricane Ridge Visitor The 2008 GMP states that the material that may include Centers. At the Hoh Rain Forest park may adaptively reuse the text, maps, images, models, Visitor Center exhibits must be historic district at Kestner for replicas, artifacts, or interactive portable rather than permanent visitor education and park components. Olympic National because the visitor center may operations. In 2010, the park Park has a spectrum of exhibits be relocated. Because Hurricane began a planning process that from professionally produced Ridge Visitor Center is open to will focus on the historic Kestner to in-house handmade exhibits. visitors year-round, the exhibits Homestead Historic District A thematic analysis of exhibits must be able to function in an located in the Quinault Rain should be conducted throughout unstaff ed environment. Both Forest area. The site plan will the park to identify which stories locations need to have poor address how best to protect and are being told at which location quality exhibits replaced with interpret the historic homestead, to ensure that visitors are not professional ADA-compliant, and will evaluate the kinds of only learning about the primary thematically relevant exhibits. visitor services and facilities themes, but also the site-specifi c that might be developed or stories. Exhibit space is limited March 2010 Recommendations maintained in the area. at most locations, however, it is Workshop participants suggested extremely important for visitors to that the Hoh Rain Forest exhibits hear and read about these stories. emphasize the connection of land and sea; cycle of water; carbon cycle; nutrient density and size of life; power of the river to sustain life; signifi cance, importance, and uniqueness of the Hoh rain forest; the value of the old growth forest; importance of elk; natural soundscape; and temperate rain forest is a unique, rare ecosystem on planet earth providing a living laboratory of diversity; develop, fabricate, and install a push button exhibit to watch the watershed from to Pacifi c Ocean.

The workshop participants also suggested that the Hurricane Ridge exhibits emphasize the wilderness of Olympic National Park and ecological integrity found here; subalpine ecology: adaptations to harsh/extreme/ climate change; wilderness; Hurricane Ridge through the seasons and through multiple perspectives (voices); geology of New exhibits at the Hoh and Hurricane Ridge visitor centers will enhance the Olympic Mountains including visitor experience. biogeography; development of

38 I National Park Service Part Three: Recommendations winter sports and move from to help visitors understand Before actually conducting the Deer Park Road and lodge the scope of resource-based study, park staff will need to history; use of the mountains projects going on within the park investigate funding opportunities by Native peoples: extensive including the Elwha Restoration, and identify potential partners use over a long period of the natural process of fi re, and including Olympic Coast time and sophistication of the eff ects of insect infestation National Marine Sanctuary, knowledge and complexity of and throw. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, social organization; Summit Washington State Parks, Discover to Sea: story of a watershed; Investigate the Feasibility Your Northwest, ARAMARK, develop, fabricate, and install a of an Ocean-themed Multi- tribes, communities, and civic functioning weather station and agency Visitor Center organizations. exhibit about all of the amazing weather that can be seen from The 2008 GMP states that March 2010 Recommendations Hurricane Ridge. the park will improve visitor Workshop participants suggested information at Kalaloch and that possible future interpretive The Storm King, Eagle, and the interpretation of the coastal exhibits and audiovisual Mora Ranger Stations do not portion of the park. The GMP components emphasize have exhibits. They are located also suggests conducting a Washington’s wilderness coast in areas with high visitation feasibility study to determine and tell stories of biodiversity, that have minimal seasonal the options for the replacement cultural and natural resources, interpretive staffi ng. Exhibits and relocation of the ranger history, human interconnectivity, would allow visitors to discover station at Kalaloch. While many the Olympic Peninsula tribes, more about local park resources visitors go to the Kalaloch Ranger Olympic Coast National Marine and stories when interpretive Station, many more could be Sanctuary; the coast is special staff is unavailable. accommodated and more stories because it is protected and of the signifi cant ocean and relatively undeveloped; and Portable, changeable, and coastal ecosystems could be shared agency messages. digitally-enhanced exhibits revealed in a multi-agency visitor are needed and recommended center.

In the future, a multi-agency coastal visitor center would further the protection of ocean resources.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 39 Part Three: Recommendations

Use Digital Media to tours associated with the Elwha update all web-based content to Increase Interpretive River Restoration, and other meet the current standards and Opportunities locations in the park, and a video accessibility requirements, and to be shown on the Washington remain vigilant about what is Digital media is well-suited to the State and Victoria ferries would posted via social media sites. presentation of chronological be appropriate ways to engage and sequential material. It visitors using digital media. An ever-increasing percentage can capture realism, provide of park visitors are web users emotional impact, and create a Create a More Useful and who visit Olympic National Park mood or atmosphere. Also it can Interpretive Website (www.nps.gov/olym) seeking reach many visitors at one time information. Many of these and may be included in exhibits Since Olympic National Park “virtual visitors” never actually or posted onto the park website, was established in 1938, the way come to the park, but have their in addition to being shown in park information is accessed by needs met solely though the dedicated auditorium spaces. visitors has changed dramatically. website. The website should During the life of this plan, park highlight the opportunities and Digital media can reach the staff will need to continually experiences that are available to many visitors who are now using increase and improve their skills both on-site visitors and virtual computers, cell phones, Global with the technology, monitor and visitors. Positioning System (GPS) units, MP3 players, and a variety of other technological systems for entertainment, information, orientation, and interpretation. In response to the growing demand for these services, Olympic National Park needs to off er portable “individualized” audio and/or audiovisual opportunities. Using new technology will possibly create opportunities for a more diverse audience to experience park resources than ever before. These services will allow visitors to access more park resources and meanings at their convenience.

Before digital media is developed, park staff shall attend copyright and section 508 compliance training. The current interpretation digital library needs to be populated with additional images and graphics, and a staff member assigned the responsibility to maintain the collection. An accessible photo gallery could then easily be created for interpreters, media developers, web users, and educators. Cell phone or GPS- activated tour stops or driving Many wonders and challenges await coastal hikers.

40 I National Park Service Part Three: Recommendations

Park staff will develop a  Develop virtual geo-caching  Explore Olympic National workplan prioritizing actions sites. Park: the virtual fi eld trip to provide more interpretive  Create something like www. – each month feature a content on the park website. fi eldscope.us/fs2 for Elwha. diff erent feature (geologic, Approaches could include video-  Establish a “Twilight Advisory natural, cultural) or career casts, storytelling, and links to Group” (TAG) that bridges fi eld found at the park and NPS focus sites, such as North fact and fi ction for the park. host a fi eld trip for visitors to Coast and Cascades Science  Develop and post a webpage fi nd out what is happening in Learning Network, Climate with photos of rare plants the park similar to a hall Change, Ocean Stewardship, and exotic plants (and why meeting. Wilderness, National Junior this is important).  Develop a virtual Ranger, and Fire.  Ensure that all web-based backpacking trip that can interpretive services meet also serve as a backpacking Workshop participants suggested NPS accessibility standards. trip preparation guide; the following actions to improve  Develop comprehensive “wilderness” information the park website: recreational use website/plan values and benefi ts, leave no in partnership with Olympic trace information, info on  Link to Econet “StoryCorps- Peninsula Tourism and other fragile plant communities, style” website that collect interested partners. human waste issues and individual stories about  Develop, fabricate, and install other impacts and mitigation wilderness. exhibits on the geological techniques.  Link to 3-minute Science formation of Lake Crescent.  Add an “ask a ranger” feature Learning Network video that  Develop, fabricate, and to the website; perhaps off er shows the diversity of the install an exhibit with live chats. intertidal habitats at Olympic map of world’s temperate  Develop a fi re management National Park. sites and what little webpage that describes fi re  Develop and post a webpage remains that could be used at history and fi re’s natural role that articulates how the Quinault or the Hoh. in forest ecosystems. Olympic National Park rain  Develop an interactive  Explore the historic and forest is a rare, disappearing web page on fragile plant modern use our trail system habitat to provide more in communities and potential evolved from Native use, depth information about the human impacts. historic use to the current world’s  Develop a web-based map system today. sites and what little remains. that provides scientifi c and  Develop and post a webpage restoration information about that explore stories of the Elwha. culture, plants, and animals  Post digital stories linked to of the Olympic Peninsula. a map based interface (e.g.  Develop a multi-media web- Earth) about how based virtual tour of Queets the Elwha restoration is the that demonstrates wilderness story of cultural and natural values, silence, and isolation. resource renewal.  Develop and post a webpage  Create a webpage based on salmon and their role in on the theme that Olympic nutrient cycle; tying ocean National Park is our home to forest; connect to Elwha and shapes our high quality restoration. of life.  Bring “for kids” section of  Off er better pre-trip planning website to life or appropriate for visitors who are stock alternate digital media users, fi shermen, boaters, format. bikers, as well as people with  Create a web ranger unit for disabilities. Olympic National Park.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 41 Part Three: Recommendations

Develop a Parkwide Social media has the potential Increase Interpretation and Strategy for Increased Social to become one of the most Visitor Information Presence Media Use used components of the Throughout the Park Olympic National Park Implement a variety of current interpretive program. Specifi c Olympic National Park does and leading edge technologies recommendations include: not have a parkwide year-round and media to facilitate National interpretive operation. During Park-based learning anytime,  Provide staff training in the summer season, a limited anywhere. technology awareness, number of programs are off ered accessibility, copyright, and at Mora and Quinault. No Second Century Commission’s development of potential programs have been off ered at Education and Learning applications. Ozette for at least 25 years. Daily Committee Report  Assemble a parkwide social off -season activities are focused media team to develop and at the Olympic National Park The Second Century implement the strategy. Visitor Center with a much more Commission’s Connecting People  Develop a parkwide strategy limited schedule at Hoh and and Parks Committee report for social media. The strategy Hurricane Ridge Visitor Centers recommended “…technologies will include how partners are and the Recreation Information and the expectations and habits using social media, and how Center in Forks. Many visitors go of those who use them (especially to collaborate with them on to the coast, Lake Quinault, and younger populations), can social media. The strategy Lake Crescent year-round and increase connectivity with parks will include how to best have little or no opportunity to and the values they contain, utilize social media, as well contact an interpretive ranger. and create conditions for more as manage user-generated meaningful park experiences.” feedback. Specifi c recommendations to Since the report was written,  Potential ideas to consider address these concerns include: restrictions on using social once strategy is developed networking technologies on include:  Increase the number of government-supported websites o Develop and off er a summer seasonal employees have been relaxed, providing portable fi eld application working at Mora and some opportunities to use a “Surviving the changing Quinault to provide daily limited number of sites. While tides” that identifi es coverage. security concerns limit access places to explore the tide  Increase the number of staff to some websites, opportunities pools and learn more available during the off - now exist for the National Park about intertidal zones season on the westside of the Service to benefi t from the new along the coast. park by fi lling the vacant West communication processes that o Develop and off er an District Interpreter position. visitors may access to make application that provides  Increase the number of staff decisions about what to do, updates on Olympic available at Lake Crescent in where to go, or what services are National Park weather the early fall and late spring. worthwhile for their social group. conditions, provides  Increase the number of An associated recommendation orientation, tracks fi shers, summer seasonal employees suggests that parks, “Embrace and interprets glaciers. working at Ozette to provide available and emerging o Provide social media coverage 5 days per week. technologies to reach and interact opportunities for visitors with the American people, to record a digital story Interpreters are the best connecting NPS employees of their park visit and interactive tool in enabling with their communities, and also access other visitor’s visitors to experience, facilitating interactions with videoclips; rent fl ipcams understand, appreciate, and parks and programs that are at kiosks, visitor centers, make personal connections engaging to visitors. Leverage and trailheads. with the resource. The diversity technologies to receive and of Olympic National Park’s respond to broad public input.” resources and themes presents

42 I National Park Service Part Three: Recommendations almost limitless opportunities Engage Partners to Provide Interpretive partnerships play for both standard and innovative High-Quality Interpretive a key role in the delivery of interpretive activities. As staffi ng Services essential programs and can levels permit, and in keeping also provide opportunities for within the parameters of the The Second Century enhanced interpretive products interpretive themes and visitor Commission’s Connecting and services. Partnerships are experience goals, interpreters People and Parks Committee most eff ective when partners throughout the park should report recommended that all share a common goal and be given a high degree of parks leverage partnership at all can leverage their eff orts to creative freedom to explore and levels to position and operate accomplish the goal. Workshop experiment with new programs. the NPS as an integral and participants recognized that the This will help to maintain a respected partner in achieving NPS staff cannot and should creative edge and attract new and larger natural, historical, cultural, not be the sole provider of returning audiences. and social goals. Two actions to interpretive services. Working achieve these goals are: more closely with ARAMARK There is great potential managers, tribal leaders, and to experiment with the  Foster and create mutual designated park partners as well development of programs linking respect, common working as other local, state, and federal the spectrum of park resources. relationships, operational agencies is imperative. Visitors are then provided with goals and programs with many opportunities to travel communities, agencies, One example of how the park around the park and discover and organizations adjacent is leveraging resources is seen the unique features and stories at to parks in recognition in the contract for ARAMARK, each location including tidepool that “we are all in this an Olympic National Park walks, sunset tours, and post together” socially, concession. The contract dam removal walks. Increasing economically, culturally, and specifi cally states that interpretive the number of interpreters who environmentally. Strategies themes and message will be are roving out in the fi eld and to create mutual respect integrated into the interior décor at the lodges will provide more and positive relationships of facilities. The concession opportunities to actively engage would include engaging will also explore methods to visitors in the resource. Since in collaborative work convey the themes and messages personal services and interpretive processes when undertaking through a variety of items. Park programs are relatively easy park planning eff orts or publications and the newspaper to change, activities should be coordinating eff orts to attract are available at all concession- evaluated on a regular basis to visitors. managed locations. discontinue those that are not  Engage with non-profi t, eff ective, modify or improve academic, governmental, Specifi c recommendations those that require it, and validate community, and other include: those that are successful. partners to cultivate programmatic connections  Host an annual partner to parks that make use meeting to share information of park resources for the and review collaborative mutual benefi t of parks and objectives. partners. For example, such  Host a Cooperative programmatic connections Agreement Technical may include place-based Representative training. environmental, cultural  Increase tribal involvement and historical education, in interpretive programs and research, healthy activities, media. clean air and water, social o Collaborate with the tribes to develop Interpretive programs provide justice programs, and the like. memorable moments for visitors of all appropriate way to ages. communicate tribal

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 43 Part Three: Recommendations

history and stories Sanctuary, West Jeff erson the history of creation through interpretation, County Tourism Committee/ of Olympic National art, storytelling, and Forks Chamber of Park: that it began as interactive media. Commerce, Shelton-Mason Forest reserve and Chris o Meet with tribal leaders Chamber of Commerce). Morganroth’s role. and representatives and Coordinate programs and  Develop scope of sales for explore ways to combine goals so organizations cooperating association. eff orts for the NPS to tell support and supplement each  Participate in the Lake a more complete story other. Quinault Tourism Committee and for the tribes to help  Identify potential partners to develop new interpretive maintain their culture and appropriate to initiative/ opportunities in the Lake increase their tourism activity (shared objectives – Quinault areas. businesses. diverse audiences). o Incorporate tribal  Identify gaps and where Determine Effective Ways to perspectives when partners are needed. Reach and Engage Youth demonstrating multiple  Identify where duplication points of view within may exist within “Youth in the Great Outdoors” interpretive services. partnerships. is Secretary of Interior Salazar’s o Collaborate with tribes  Commit to honest, initiative to employ, educate, to create an interpretive transparent relationships and and engage young people from paddle journey along the interactions. all backgrounds in exploring, coast.  Identify funding sources connecting with and preserving o Partner with Quileute that build on the power of America’s natural and cultural tribe to tell the Quileute partnership to garner funds. heritage. Through employment wolf story and tie the  Build capacity by sharing and educational opportunities, story to the potential re- staffi ng expertise/resources. youth will have a key role in introduction of at  Identify champions to keep creating a new energy frontier, Olympic National Park. initiatives alive. tackling climate change o Create a videocast of  Collaborate with current and issues, empowering Native a tribal demonstration new park partners, including communities, building trails, showing cultural tribes, to share information enhancing wildlife habitat, and connections to the cedar. about interpretive, education, restoring our cultural and historic o Use a handheld portable and youth opportunities on landmarks. The initiative includes audio media player (made the Olympic Peninsula. reaching out to underserved available at the ranger o Develop exhibits in station) to hear the Ozette cooperation with the village story produced by Clallam County Historical The NPS should “affi rm the the Makah tribe. Society. important role of the National  Establish partnerships with o Develop, fabricate, Park System in life-long, place- federal, state, and local and install an exhibit based learning and authorize agencies, non-government highlighting the diff erent the supporting structure and organizations, concessions, park ecosystems resources to provide for the tribes, and surrounding and opportunities in same” and to strengthen and communities to begin to have downtown Port Angeles. expand service learning and a common vision and voice o Produce an audiocast citizen science opportunities at for telling our stories in and and compact disk to sell national park sites and their around the park. of historic messages of surrounding communities  Strengthen existing Lake Crescent: Lady of to refl ect a changing global partnerships (Olympic Park the Lake, Ambulance landscape.” Institute, Olympic National Corner, Singer Tavern, Forest, ARAMARK, Feiro Qui Si Sawha, Ovingtons, Second Century Commission’s Marine Life Center, Olympic Ferrier, Spruce Railroad. Education and Learning Coast National Marine o Produce a video that tells Committee Report

44 I National Park Service Part Three: Recommendations populations to ensure that these  Identify the education park natural and cultural resources are enjoyed by all interest of park groups. resources. Americans and transforming the  Develop a virtual fi eld trip  Evaluate pilot initiative of lives of young Americans while experience incorporating providing an NPS program growing the next generation of the lessons learned from the for all OPI residential fi eld conservation and community Elwha Electronic Field Trip. science programs and if leaders. Director Jarvis has  Establish an eff ective, continue program. also stated that education and education exchange with engaging youth are top priorities Student Conservation In this planning document youth for his administration. Association. programs are designed for pre-  Develop web-based pre- kindergarten to age 25. An eff ective park curriculum- trip educational resources based education and youth for teachers and other Specifi c youth engagement program requires adequate staff educational groups. recommendations include: for planning, development,  Engage students in the implementation, and assessment. classroom and in the  Develop a youth engagement The resources and themes park in ongoing resource plan. of Olympic National Park management monitoring. o Education off er great potential for the  Reach out to local youth o Park Stewards development of dynamic and using both in-school and o Citizen Science popular education programs on-site day and residential o Youth Employment Plan in collaboration with Olympic programs through  Establish a Youth Advisory Peninsula area schools, partner partnership with Olympic Committee and defi ne its agencies, and tribes. Park Institute, Fiero Marine function. Life Center, and the Olympic  Employ, engage, and educate Specifi c curriculum-based Coast National Marine high school students. education recommendations Sanctuary.  Support Olympic National include:  Involve local students in Park’s existing youth program national research projects and help it grow.  Work with partners and other related to snowpack  Conduct research on the divisions to provide fi eld monitoring and dam removal. interests and demographics learning and educational  Identify partners interested of peninsula youth. opportunities with service in off ering teacher training  Work with park partners to learning projects. on subjects relevant to acquire funding to target youth programs.  Liaison with all park divisions Create a continuum of service and work programs and partners in youth from high school through college that includes outreach programs. volunteerism, national service, paid internships, and  Establish a nature club in Port conservation service by partnering with existing youth Angeles. service programs such as the Student Conservation  Increase Junior Ranger Association and other, similar local programs. These opportunities: develop tiered programs should be undertaken with the goal of age appropriate programs, building a life-long connection between young people develop a coastal junior and the parks, preparing them for employment in the ranger program, and develop parks while supporting needed improvement to park a wilderness junior ranger facilities, assets, and resources. These programs will be program. particularly impactful to young people with limited  Develop and off er preschool employment opportunities that may provide an programs. introduction to the parks.  Promote the existing National Scout Junior Ranger Second Century Commission’s Connecting People and Program with area councils. Parks Committee Report  Work in cooperation with

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 45 Part Three: Recommendations

partners to expand National Employ, Engage, and …actively develop enduring Junior Ranger Day locations Educate Diverse and relationships with all of the and activities. Underserved Populations in diversity of the American  Develop and off er family Their Home Communities people, both as visitors and as oriented programs, and in the Park employees…make our national opportunities, trails, and parks welcoming and relevant more. Olympic National Park is to all Americans. A sustained  Develop and implement actively engaged with Klondike commitment to training, a rewards program for Gold Rush National Historical community outreach, and youth participation in eco- Park – Seattle Unit to develop programs that authentically tell programs. an outreach program that will the stories of our country and  Develop and install an connect the park to underserved connections to our resources interactive game at ONPVC populations in the Seattle- must become part of the about threatened and Tacoma metropolitan area. This Service’s ongoing practices and endangered species (e.g. program will begin to address the values for this to be achieved. questions on spinning wheel charge of the Second Century with prizes!). Commission and NPS Director Second Century Commission’s  Present a parkwide same Jarvis to make relevance a Connecting People and Parks day every year “kid’s stuff ” priority. Committee Report program in cooperation with partners. The park also needs to establish Specifi c recommendations an outreach plan that identifi es include: the local, Olympic Peninsula diverse and underserved  Establish an engagement plan populations to be served as well for underserved populations as a specifi c focus or context to in promote a strong connection with the goals of increasing between the park and those understanding of communities. for and the value of protected areas such as national parks and wilderness areas. Do this in coordination with other government agencies and community groups.  Create accessible, not necessarily camping-based, opportunities for non- traditional park users to bring their families to the park.  Find common ground with community interests to build sustainable relationships.  Identify preconceived ideas of NPS staff and community and create community outreach events to address those preconceived ideas.  Provide engaging activities appropriate to the audience.  Provide translations of Expanding the National Junior Ranger Program will engage a future generation interpretive materials on the of park stewards. park website.

46 I National Park Service Part Three: Recommendations

 Hire bilingual interpreters designation is important, and opportunities such as guided and information desk how visitors can best explore the hikes or trips. employees. wilderness could be told. Visitors  Continue to off er guided  Create share-site where could discover what wilderness backpacking trips into the non-English speakers can means to tribal members whose park wilderness. record experiences they had ancestors extensively used the  Use cultural demonstrations in nature in their country area we now call wilderness. to tell the story of wilderness of origin and what they felt Expanded discussions on – connections of people to about their experience at pollution from local and non- land. Olympic National Park. local sources, as well as impacts  Develop and create a from natural process such as Outreach program using historic wildland fi re, and how these  Continue and expand and current photos that impacts aff ect the park’s class community outreach at demonstrate cultural changes. one airshed. While these topics local festivals focused on  Promote volunteer vacations are currently part of interpretive wilderness. to educate and participate in programming content, using  Develop booklet for bettering the National Park in diff erent approaches such as the recreational guides on history your backyard. park website and other digital of Wilderness Act, wilderness media or citizen science eff orts designation, and what Strengthen and Expand will strengthen opportunities for that means for managing Wilderness Interpretation the visitor to learn about these recreational use. stories.  Require wilderness Ninety-fi ve percent of Olympic Commercial Use National Park is designated A variety of interpretive Authorization groups to wilderness. The 2008 GMP programs and services need provide certain level of states that present and future to be developed to connect to Olympic National Park visitors will enjoy the unique diverse visitor groups. Specifi c specifi c natural and cultural qualities off ered in wilderness. wilderness interpretation and history education. These include the experiences education recommendations of solitude, remoteness, risk, include: Yo u th challenge, self-suffi ciency,  Develop a wilderness junior discovery, and observation of Programs ranger program. an untrammeled ecosystem. The  Develop and present evening  Off er overnight camping values of the Olympic wilderness programs that focus on experiences for youth. will be understood by the public the value of the Olympic  Off er experiential 3-day and park staff through education wilderness; the integrity of wilderness education in wilderness ethics, use, and its ecosystems; and the value programs for youth and using management skills and of its natural soundscape, families. techniques to promote and natural darkness, and preserve these values. wilderness character. Curriculum-based Education  Develop and present  Off er school programs that While recognizing that current programs (or items) to help take children on wilderness interpretive services provide coastal cleanup participants backpacking trips (minimum some connections to wilderness learn the basic principles of 3 days) where they receive values and concepts, workshop wilderness. instruction in the value participants felt that more could  Develop and present Leave of wilderness, protecting be done. For example, a greater No Trace and similar wilderness for the future, and emphasis could be placed on two programs. Leave No Trace. rare aspects of wilderness found  Continue and expand  Off er guided wilderness at Olympic National Park: dark, opportunities to present programs for high school night skies and quiet. The story conducted walks of varying students from the city. of why is wilderness is protected, lengths.  Explore and embrace new how and why the wilderness  Off er experiential learning methods and technologies

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 47 Part Three: Recommendations

for wilderness education and Strengthen and Expand visitors to reduce emissions. inspiration. Climate Change, Ocean  Provide incentives for those Stewardship, and Fire visitors ready to take action. Website Interpretation and  Explain impacts and also  Create a virtual tour of Education “what you can do” messages. wilderness areas (aerial  Adapt the protect park resource message to include photos; backcountry hiking Climate Friendly Parks journals). climate change.  Encourage and provide  Develop and post educational Olympic National Park provides incentives for bus-friendly program online to help youth a model for climate friendly visits. understand wilderness values behavior within the NPS. As  Develop a “leave no trace” or and resources and aids for a participant in the Climate “leave no carbon” challenge teachers to use in class. Friendly Parks (CFP) program, that encourages visitors to  Set up earth caching Olympic National Park belongs plan zero impact or low locations in partnership with to a network of parks nationwide footprint visits. U.S. Geological Survey. that are putting climate friendly  Update park handouts for  Provide online trip planner behavior at the forefront of mailings. information for non- sustainability planning. In  Incorporate climate friendly hiker users in wilderness/ 2009, the park developed an messaging in and around the backcountry areas (what Action Plan to educate park park. facilities are in place for staff , visitors, and community  Expand interpretation of boat, kayak, stock, bike, members about climate change. climate change through fi shermen). As part of the National Park media and programs to  Create wilderness in action Service’s Pacifi c West Region, include the NPS strategy page for website that provides Olympic National Park is of science, mitigation, current updates to wilderness involved in the fi rst regional adaptation, and how each of monitoring activities; and eff ort within the NPS to become us can make a diff erence. wilderness education ethics carbon neutral by 2016. for visitors.  Strive to meet zero waste goal for division events such  Use social media to One of the strategies identifi ed as National Junior Ranger encourage visitors to share in the action plan is to “Increase Day, Perspectives Series, and digital stories about what Climate Change Education outreach events. Olympic wilderness means and Outreach because a better  Take the lead to circulate and why it is signifi cant and understanding of the challenges periodic green ideas bullets. relevant to them. and benefi ts of reducing  Write and distribute a greenhouse gas emissions wellness newsletter. Sales Items can staff , visitors,  Off er info/programs on  Sell wilderness education and community members to climate change projected materials in the bookstore incorporate climate friendly impacts of trees/tree line at and through concessions. actions into their own lives.” The Hurricane Ridge.  Develop and sell a park plan describes many actions that  Develop a park webpage that publication that ties all can be used to engage the visitors helps visitors plan a climate- ecosystems through the before, during, and after their friendly visit. wilderness concept. visit including: Outside of LRIP scope to take  Complete the new NPS specifi c action on the following climate change training recommendations unless module by all park interpretation investigates interpreters. opportunities, works appropriate  Develop focused messages division staff /concessions, highlighting what the park is and/or provides incentives for currently doing about climate interpreters: change, and encouraging

48 I National Park Service Part Three: Recommendations

 Work with Discover Your  Identify incentives and award series of strategies and strategic Northwest to sell carbon to staff who reduce carbon objectives to engage visitors in off sets. footprint (including partners) ocean stewardship activities.  Conduct monthly status or distribute “CFP” bucks for Strategy #3 is to “Engage visitors, check on progress of CFP bringing up ideas, ride share, partners, and communities to Actions at Leadership bike to work. become active ocean stewards.” meeting.  Distribute annual Associated Strategic Objective  Develop and implement Environmental Management #3 is to “Explore approaches parkwide recycling including Team (EMT) action to engage visitors, teachers, and fi eld areas and offi ces. plan for feedback and students in the practice of ocean  Install renewable energy commitments by park staff stewardship through interpretive/ systems where possible and management. education programs, experiential (Headquarters Maintenance  Encourage concession learning, and recreational yard, PV panels, solar hot to not sell bottled water. opportunities,” and “Expand water on demand, hot water Provide water fountains interpretive programs – Broaden in housing and lodging). and education about water the reach and increase capacity  Assist with the planning quality. by increasing park interpretive for a park alternative staff focused on ocean transportation system; Ocean Stewardship stewardship and related climate also explore opportunities change. Seek new program funds, to use alternative fuels or The 2009 Alaska and Pacifi c positions, and partnerships to use vehicles that run on West Region Pacifi c Ocean focus ocean stewardship eff orts alternative fuels. Stewardship Plan identifi ed a at the national, regional, and park level.”

Ocean stewardship encourages visitors to protect exposed coastal archaeological sites.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 49 Part Three: Recommendations

The Pacifi c Ocean Education instill understanding of fi re’s information to backpackers Team Action Plan identifi es role on the park’s ecosystem to about fi re operations in their specifi c actions to implement the various publics of Olympic area. the Pacifi c Ocean Stewardship National Park. The plan also  The park could include Plan Strategy #3. Many of intends to facilitate public fi re information in regular these actions are similar to awareness of safety regarding park publications (like the those identifi ed during the all fi re incidents. Goals of the park newspaper). When Recommendations Workshop. plan include providing year- appropriate current fi re round education on fi re ecology issues will be included in Specifi c recommendations and fi re history of Olympic the “Topics of Interest” include: National Park; and promoting publication. The park will interdisciplinary collaboration provide and make the  Identify and work with between fi re management, “Wildland Fire in National partners to communicate interpretation, public aff airs, Parks” brochures available to a clear ocean message and research, and resource the public. ocean literate community. management.  The park will maintain and  Use local expertise (tribal, update when necessary the Olympic Coast National The park’s Fire Management interpretive wayside exhibit Marine Sanctuary, NPS, US Offi cer and Fuels Management about fi re at Hurricane Ridge. Fish and Wildlife Service, and Specialist serve as the primary The Incident Information Washington State Fish and contact for fi re communication Plan could identify who will Wildlife Service) to collect and education, and work closely maintain permanent and data for public outreach and with the Chief of Interpretation, non-permanent bulletin education. the Public Aff airs Offi cer, the boards both inside and  Work with Pacifi c Ocean interpretive media specialist, and outside the parks. Education Team to plan, other interpretive staff to develop  Update park website and provide content, and review educational materials and interpretive staff on an annual the NPS Pacifi c Ocean fi lm. disseminate fi re information. basis national and park fi re  Create citizen science messages. opportunities. A variety of interpretive and  Develop web content that  Provide cross-training with education methods will be used shows the natural process of partners such as the NOAA to contact targeted audiences fi re on the landscape. boat trip. including:  Investigate the feasibility of creating a large multi-  Integration of fi re messages agency visitor center at into hikes, walks, campfi re Kalaloch focused on ocean programs, and special off -site stewardship. presentations. Fire ecology  Provide training to concepts will be integrated interpretive staff to increase into curriculum-based resource knowledge. education programs, student  Encourage multi-agency fi eld research experiences, commitment to fi ll data gaps. after-school programs, and  Protect exposed teacher workshops. archeological sites.  During fi re operations, park employees will be stationed Fire Education in high-use visitor areas, including trails, to answer The Olympic National Park Fire questions about the current Communication and Education activity and/or explain the Plan (draft 2010) provides fi re and fuels management guidance for the fi re management program. Backcountry program to communicate and rangers will also provide

50 I National Park Service Part Three: Recommendations

Support a Citizen Science Specifi c recommendations Program include:

National Park Service Research  Interpret climate change Learning Centers have been impacts through citizen developed to facilitate park science monitoring. research eff orts and provide  Set up a “Globe”-type education opportunities. They website. have been designed as public-  Opportunities to monitor for private partnerships that local residents/students and involve a wide range of people park/peninsula visitors and organizations including o Quillayute watershed/ researchers, universities, Elwha educators, and community o Sediment distribution groups. The citizen science o Pool creation initiative, a technique to o Water chemistry accomplish Research Learning o Center goals, involves trained  ATBI- – discover of volunteers observing and life in America understanding recording scientifi c information of restoration impacts such as the occurrence, to transfer to home distribution, and behavior of communities. species.  Educate public about ongoing science research Interpretation staff will partner and ways to get involved, with resource managers and newspapers, and posters (e.g. interpreters from Olympic fi sher sighting fl yers/signs). National Park and the North  Explain more on current Coast and Cascades Science research in the park including Learning Network on initiatives short term impacts created that engage visitors of all ages (e.g. aircraft monitoring that to increase science literacy is good for the long term). and promote stewardship and  Explain/expand information environmental leadership. on natural processes The Elwha River Restoration including fi re, windstorm, project and the ongoing and landslides. marmot research may provide  Off er visitors opportunities opportunities to engage the to go out with park fi sheries public in scientifi c monitoring biologists for surveying at activities. Queets.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 51 Part Three: Recommendations

Research and Evaluation get feedback on project content Staffi ng and Training Needs midstream—before it is fi nalized Needs and fabricated. Knowing how potential visitors react to the All interpretive programs content and presentation Staffi ng and services must be solidly of a media product and the grounded in research. The overall visitor experience can In the past 10 years the park has started to develop an be applied to the completion Interpretation Division interpretive database and should of the media development. permanent staff has been ensure that the database includes Summative evaluations are reduced by about 30%. The park the most important resources valuable in helping to determine has submitted OFS (#25724 and as well as identifying secondary the eff ectiveness of fi nal media, #24958) requests for additional and tertiary resources to provide facilities, and programs – i.e. funding. Increased base and additional knowledge. There is whether the intended themes project funds will enable the park currently a tremendous amount are being communicated, if to hire additional interpretive of natural and cultural research people are actually using the staff . Positions that should be conducted by the park, but the information, or if visitor behavior considered during the next fi ve interpretation staff needs time is aff ected. Summative evaluation years include: to gain an understanding of may even be a necessary follow- research fi ndings and ways to up for certain sources of funding  Elwha Outreach and integrate that into programs such as foundation grants. Education Park Ranger and media. In order to fully Summative evaluation is most subject-to-furlough term accomplish the actions included eff ective when a percentage of GS-025-7 in this plan and support the the budget is retained to improve  West District Interpreter interpretive themes, the park the project in areas identifi ed by GS-025-11 needs research on eff ective ways the summative evaluation report.  Interpretive Media Specialist to meet the needs of current and GS-025-7 emerging audiences.  Hurricane Ridge Park Ranger Evaluate Elwha Education GS-025-9 subject-to-furlough Curriculum (PMIS#157814) – Evaluation is also important - increase base funded pay In this proposed project, peer in the development of specifi c periods educators will evaluate and media and programs and will be  Administrative Support pilot test the Freeing the Elwha planned and budgeted for as part Assistant part-time curriculum to meet educator of all substantial media projects GS-0303-7 demand at the national and and special programming. Front-  Olympic National Park international levels. This project end evaluation is conducted at Visitor Center Park Guide proposes the development that start of a media project, and GS-0090-5/7 of an evaluation protocol, a informs the project team about  Seasonal Park Rangers workshop for middle school what visitors already know about GS-025-5 the site before they come, what teachers, stipends for teachers they are interested in, and what that pilot and evaluate the they anticipate, or are looking eff ectiveness of the curriculum for in their park experience. in their classrooms, curriculum This type of evaluative study is refi nement from evaluation targeted so that practical use can feedback, and curriculum be made of the results. Formative promotion to a national audience evaluations allow the team to of educators.

52 I National Park Service Part Three: Recommendations

Training Annual supervisory training is required for the division chief A trained and motivated and the two district interpreters, workforce is necessary for and is highly recommended any successful park operation. for all division staff who lead Emphasis should be placed on seasonal or term employees. accountability for interpretive Volunteers are an important standards to be applied or part of the workforce; therefore adhered to when any park interpretive staff members employees or volunteers provide require an appropriate level of informal interpretation, present volunteer supervisory training. interpretive programs, design publications, media, and exhibits, The division is involved with or present curriculum-based many interpretive projects, educational programs. Ensure therefore the division program that all staff members who leads and the district interpreters provide interpretive services are encouraged to be certifi ed are held to the appropriate COTRs – Contracting Offi cer’s NPS standards as defi ned in Technical Representatives. the Interpretive Development And because of the number of Program and be trained park partners, the chief and accordingly. the outreach and education specialist should also be The recently established on- Certifi ed Agreements Technical line Eppley Institute provides Representatives (CATR). To training opportunities covering provide the highest level of topics including NPS history and accessibility with the many management, the Wilderness Act, interpretive media projects and interpretation. Seasonal staff recommended in this Long- and interns are encouraged to Range Interpretive Plan, staff take advantage of these courses members shall attend copyright and are provided annually one and section 508 compliance ‘fee’ course free of charge to training. promote their professional development. Volunteers are also encouraged to take these courses.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 53 Part Three: Recommendations

Implementation Plan

The measure of success of any During the 2010 The park is proposing many plan is the extent to which Recommendations workshop, actions be taken during the it is implemented. Initial the participants agreed to fi rst three years of this plan. implementation of strategies divide the actions necessary to To accomplish some of these needs to be both realistic and implement the recommendations actions, especially those fl exible. Because funding into short-term (1-3 years), connected to the Elwha, existing opportunities and priorities mid-term (4-6 years), and long- services and programs may often change, park management term (7-10 years) goals. Most of have to be reduced or cut. It is may need to adjust the the recommended actions for the park leadership’s goal to implementation strategies to curriculum-based education enhance education opportunities adapt to changing conditions. programs and personal services for the Elwha River Restoration The park interpretive staff and are dependent on the hiring of project through the utilization key park partners shall meet new staff . Other action items can of project funds and expanded each year to draft an Annual be implemented immediately, partnerships to ensure that the Implementation Plan for each within existing funding and existing base-funded programs new fi scal year based on funding staffi ng levels. remain intact. opportunities and coordination with other projects. Flexibility is extremely important to allow park staff and partners the opportunity to try new and diff erent interpretive ideas and make adjustments as necessary.

54 I National Park Service Part Three: Recommendations

OlympicNationalPark: 1Ͳ3years 4Ͳ6years 7Ͳ10years OnͲgoing PrioritiesbyInterpretiveService FY11Ͳ13 FY14Ͳ16 FY17Ͳ20 InterpretElwhaRiverRestoration EngageinandsupportcitizenscienceinitiativesintheElwhaRiverwatershed. x Workwithpartners(Feiro,OPI,OCNMS)tocontinuetoprovidetheNOWscience program. x Design,fabricate,andinstallinterimwayfindingexhibitsatvariouslocationswithinand outsidethepark. x Developinterpretivecontentforparkwebsitetoincludeinterpretivetextforwebcam pagesandvideocaststoshowProjectprogress. xx WorkwithpartnerstodeliveranElectronicFieldTriponElwhaRiverRestoration. x WorkwithNorthOlympicPeninsulaSkillsCenter'sNaturalResourcestoofferElwha FieldCoursebasedon2010pilotprogram. x PartnerwithOlympicParkInstituteandNorthOlympicPeninsulaSkillsCenterto identifyLowerElwhaKlallamstudentstoparticipateinpathwaysforyouthinternships x potentiallyleadingtootherparkemploymentopportunities. Createaseriesofvideosfortheparkwebsite,ONPVC,andotherremotelocationssuch asWashingtonStateFerriesandtheCohoshowingbackgroundandprogressonElwha xx RiverRestoration. Establishcellphone/GPSactivatedtourstopsordrivingtoursthatprovideorientation andinterpretationonElwhaRiverRestorationforbothduringdamremovalandpost xx damremoval. Develop,fabricate,andinstalladigitaldisplayatONPVCaboutElwhaRiverRestoration thatsharesrealtimedataandincludesachangingvideothatshowschangeovertime. x Design,fabricate,andinstallinterimwaysideexhibitsatElwhaDamandGlinesCanyon Damoverlooksforduringdamremoval. x Design,fabricate,andinstallaseriesofwaysideexhibitsintheElwhaValleyinterpreting ElwhaRiverRestorationpostdamremoval. x WorkwithpartnerstoplanandimplementKickͲOffandCountdownevents. x WorkwithDYNWtodevelopthematicsalesitemsandageneralinterestbook. x WorkwithFeiroMarineLifeCenterandtheCityofPortAngelestocompleteaninterior exhibitonrestoringtheElwhaRivernearshoreenvironmentandanexteriorexhibitfor thePortAngelesCityPierontheroleoftheElwhaRiverdamsintheindustrializationof x thecityofPortAngeles. Develop,fabricate,andinstallanexhibitatONPVCcelebratingsalmonthroughoutthe park,particularlyElwhaRiver. x Design,fabricate,andinstallnewexhibitsatElwhaRangerStationfocusingon restorationandresearch. x

ImproveParkwideWayfinding,ArrivalExperiences,andOrientation Continuetoparticipateinparkwidesignplanandbulletinboardplanefforttoinclude NPSgraphicidentitydesignconcepts. x Developaparkwayfindingplantodeterminedesignfeatures,signlocations,andarrival experiences. x Workwithpartnerstodevelopamultimediainteractivetoassistvisitorswithtrip planning. x

EvaluateandDevelopaUnifiedSystemofWaysideExhibits Design,fabricate,andinstallanewwaysideexhibitontheOlympicmarmotforthe HurricaneHillTrailandanotherontheshrinkingOlympicMountainglaciersforthe x HurricaneRidgeVisitorCenterterrace. Conductacomprehensiveevaluationofwaysideexhibitcontent.Evaluationshould includeagapanalysistodeterminewhatnewcontentisneeded. x Createacomprehensivewaysideexhibitplantocreateacohesivevisitorexperience. Theplanshoulddeterminethenexusbetweenwayfindinganddigitalmedia. x

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 55 Part Three: Recommendations

OlympicNationalPark: 1Ͳ3years 4Ͳ6years 7Ͳ10years OnͲgoing PrioritiesbyInterpretiveService FY11Ͳ13 FY14Ͳ16 FY17Ͳ20 ParticipateinKestnerHomesteadPlanning ParticipateintheKestnerHomesteadsiteplanningeffortwhichcouldresultinnew x

ReplaceVisitorCenterExhibits DesignnewexhibitsfortheHohandHurricaneRidgeVisitorCenters. x Conductaninventory,assessment,andgapanalysisofexhibitthemesandconditions throughoutthepark. x FabricateandinstallnewexhibitsattheHohandHurricaneRidgeVisitorCenters. x

InvestigatetheFeasibilityofanOceanͲthemedMultiͲAgencyVisitorCenter DeterminepotentialpartnersincludingOCNMS,USF&WS,tribes,WashingtonState Parks,ARAMARK,DYNW,communities. x WorkwiththeOCNMStoinvestigatefundingopportunities. x

UseDigitalMediatoIncreaseInterpretiveOpportunities Organizeandmaintaintheinterpretationdigitallibraryincorporatingexistingvideo, illustrations,anddrawingstothecurrentdigitalphotolibrary. x Planandimplementcellphone/GPSactivatedtourstopsordrivingtourthatprovide orientationandinterpretationonoverallparkthemesthroughoutthepark,suchasthe x Hoh,Quinault,andHurricaneRidge. ProduceavideotoshowontheWashingtonStateferriesandVictoriaferriesthattell thestoryofOlympicNationalPark'ssignificantresourcesandrecreational x opportunities.

CreateaMoreUsefulandInterpretiveWebsite Developaworkplanprioritizingactionstoprovidemoreinterpretivecontentonthe parkwebsite.ApproachescouldincludevideoͲcasts,storytelling,andlinkstoNPS focussites,suchasNorthCoastandCascadesScienceLearningNetwork,Climate x Change,OceanStewardship,Wilderness,NationalJuniorRanger,andFire. CreateawebͲbasedphotogalleryfeaturingthe“BestofOlympicNationalPark.” x

DevelopaParkwideStrategyforIncreasedSocialMediaUse Providestafftrainingintechnologyawareness,accessibility,copyright,and developmentofpotentialapplications. x Assembleaparkwidesocialmediateamtodevelopandimplementthestrategy x Developaparkwidestrategyforsocialmedia.Thestrategywillincludehowpartners areusingsocialmediaandhowtocollaboratewiththem. x

ImproveAccessibility Completeexistingaccessibilitysurveyofinterpretivefacilities,programs,andservices, andcompleteFMSSentriesrelatedtoaccessibility. x

IncreaseInterpretationandVisitorInformationPresenceThroughoutthePark IncreasethenumberofstaffavailableduringtheoffͲseasononthewestͲsideofthe parkbyfillingthevacantWestDistrictInterpreterposition. x IncreasethenumberofsummerseasonalemployeesworkingatMoraandQuinaultto providecoverage7daysperweek x IncreasethenumberofstaffavailableatLakeCrescentintheearlyfallandlatespring. x IncreasethenumberofsummerseasonalinterpretersworkingatOzettetoprovide coverage5daysperweek. x

56 I National Park Service Part Three: Recommendations

OlympicNationalPark: 1Ͳ3years 4Ͳ6years 7Ͳ10years OnͲgoing PrioritiesbyInterpretiveService FY11Ͳ13 FY14Ͳ16 FY17Ͳ20 EngagePartnerstoProvideHighͲQualityInterpretiveServices Collaboratewithcurrentandnewparkpartners,includingtribes,toshareinformation aboutinterpretive,education,andyouthopportunitiesontheOlympicPeninsula. x ParticipateintheLakeQuinaultTourismCommitteetodevelopnewinterpretive opportunitiesintheLakeQuinaultareas. x Hostanannualpartnermeetingtoshareinformation,coordinateprograms,identify gapsandduplicativeefforts,buildcapacitybysharingresourcesandstaffingexpertise, x andplanfuturecollaborativeprogramsandservices. MeetwithtriballeaderstoexplorewaystheNPSandtribescanfurtherincorporate tribalhistoryandstoriesintoparkinterpretiveprogramsandmedia. x Developscopeofsalesforcooperatingassociation. x

DetermineEffectiveWaystoReachandEngageYouth CurriculumͲBasedEducation EvaluatepilotinitativeofprovidinganNPSprogramforallOPIresidentialfieldscience programs,andifeffective,continueprogram. x DevelopwebͲbasedpreͲtripeducationalresourcesforteachersandothereducational groups. x Identifypartnersinterestedinofferingteachertrainingonsubjectsrelevanttopark naturalandculturalresources. x Workwithpartnersandotherdivisionstoprovidefieldlearningandeducational opportunitieswithservicelearningprojects x Developavirtualfieldtripexperienceincorporatingthelessonslearnedfromthe ElwhaElectronicFieldTrip. x YouthEngagement Liaisonwithotherparkdivisionsandpartnersinyouthoutreachprograms. x Workwiththeparkyouthcoordinatorandpartnerstodevelopayouthengagement plan. x EstablishaYouthAdvisoryCommitteeanddefineitsfunction. x WorkincooperationwithpartnerstoexpandNationalJuniorRangerDaylocationsand activities. x IncreaseJuniorRangeropportunitiesdevelopingageappropriateactivitiesonavariety ofthemes,suchasaoceanstewardship,wilderness,orclimatechange. x PromotetheexistingNationalScoutJuniorRangerProgramwithareacouncils. x

Employ,Engage,andEducateDiverseandUnderservedPopulationsinTheirHomeCommunitiesandinthePark AssistKlondikeGoldRushNationalHistoricalParkͲSeattleUnitindevelopingan outreachprogramthatwillconnecttheparktounderservedpopulationsintheSeattle x area. Providetranslationsofinterpretivematerialsontheparkwebsite. x Workwithpartnerstodevelopanengagementplanforunderservedpopulations. x BuildonthesuccessofMountRainier'sCAMPprogramtocreateaccessible,not necessarilycampingͲbased,opportunitiesfornonͲtraditionalparkuserstobringtheir x familiestothepark.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 57 Part Three: Recommendations

OlympicNationalPark: 1Ͳ3years 4Ͳ6years 7Ͳ10years OnͲgoing PrioritiesbyInterpretiveService FY11Ͳ13 FY14Ͳ16 FY17Ͳ20 StrengthenandExpandWildernessInterpretation EnsurethatexistingandnewinterpretivemediaandeveningprogramsaboutOlympic wildernessincludenaturalsoundscape,naturaldarkness,andwildernesscharacter. x Developmediaand/orpresentprogramstohelpcoastalhikers,includingcoastal cleanupparticipants,learnthemeaningandvalueofwilderness. x Developawildernessjuniorrangerprogram. x Workwithpartnerstoofferovernightcampingexperiencesforyouthandfamilies. x Expandopportunitiestopresentexperientiallearningopportunitiessuchasguided hikesorkayaktripstofocusonwildernessvaluesandincreasingparticipant's x recreationalskills. Developawildernessoutreachstrategythatincludesinterpretivemediaandactivities focusedonwilderness. x DevelopabookletorwebͲbasedcontentforCommercialUseAuthorizationgroupson thehistoryandapplicationoftheWildernessAct,themeaningandvalueofOlympic's naturalandculturalresources,andtechniquesthattheirgroupscanutilizetobe x successfulwildernessstewards.

StrengthenandExpandClimateChange,OceanStewardship,andFireInterpretationandEducation ClimateFriendlyParks StrivetomeetzerowastegoalfordivisioneventssuchasNationalJuniorRangerDay, PerspectivesSeries,andoutreachevents. x CompletethenewNPSclimatechangetrainingmodulebyallparkinterpreters. x Assistwiththeplanningandimplementationforaparkalternatetransportation system. x WorkwithDiscoverYourNorthwesttosellcarbonoffsetsatparksalesareas. x Expandinterpretationofclimatechangethroughmediaandprogramstoincludethe NPSstrategyofscience,mitigation,adaptationandhoweachofuscanmakea x difference. DevelopaparkwebpagethathelpsvisitorsplanaclimateͲfriendlyvisit. x OceanStewardship WorkwithOlympicCoastNationalMarineSancturarytoensurealignmentbetween eachagency'sinterpretiveplansandoceanmessagesandtodevelopdesignstandards x forjointinterpretivemediaprojects. WorkwithPacificOceanEducationTeamtodevelopoceanmessagesandincorporate thesemessagesininterpretivemediaandprograms. x WorkwithPacificOceanEducationTeamtoplan,providecontent,andreviewtheNPS PacificOceanfilm. x Expandpartnershipstoprovidemoreoceaneducationopportunitiesforparkvisitors, teachers,andstudents. x Fire Updateparkwebsiteandinterpretivestaffonanannualbasisnationalandparkfire messages. x Developwebcontentthatshowsthenaturalprocessoffireonthelandscape. x

SupportaCitizenScienceProgram Asopportunitiesarise,supportcitizenscienceiniativesbyprovidingeducational content,publicprograms,interpretivewebsiteservices,andoutreachactivities. x

58 I National Park Service Appendices

Appendices

Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth fi nd reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts.

Rachel Carson

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 59 Appendices

Appendix A: The Planning Team

National Park Service

Olympic National Park Karen Gustin, Superintendent Todd Suess, Deputy Superintendent Sue McGill, Deputy Superintendent (retired) Kathy Steichen, Chief of Interpretation and Education Bryan Bell, Wilderness Information Center Supervisor Janis Burger, Hurricane Ridge Interpreter Dean Butterworth, Outreach and Education Specialist Dave Conca, Archeologist Chris Eckard, East District Interpreter Jerry Freilich, Research Coordinator and NCCN Science Learning Coordinator Paul Gleason, Chief, Cultural Resource Management Cat Hawkins Hoff man, Chief, Natural Resource Management Lisa Hilt, Concession Management Specialist Judy Joy Lively, Coast Interpreter Greg Marsh, Olympic National Park Visitor Center Interpreter Barb Maynes, Public Aff airs Offi cer Larry Nickey, Fire Management Offi cer Jon Preston, Rain Forest Interpreter Todd Rankin, Fuels Management Specialist Janet Scharf, Interpretive Media Specialist Ruth Scott, Wilderness Specialist Maggie Tyler, Volunteer/Youth Programs Coordinator Jacilee Wray, Anthropologist

Harpers Ferry Center Toni Duffi cy, Interpretive Planner (Team Captain) Krista Kovach-Hindsley, Exhibit Planner

Park Partners Jim Adams, Executive Director, Discover Your Northwest Margaret Baker, Branch Manager, Olympic National Park, Discover Your Northwest Rebecca Benjamin, Executive Director, North Olympic Salmon Coalition Roger Blain, Director of Activities and Interpretation, Quinault, ARAMARK Parks and Destinations Pam Dahl, General Manager, Sol Duc Resort, ARAMARK Parks and Destinations Pete Erben, Recreation Planner, Olympic National Forest Pacifi c Ranger District Molly Erickson, Public Services, Olympic National Forest Pacifi c Ranger District Frank Geyer, TFW Biologist, Quileute Tribe Greg Halberg, Friends of Olympic National Park Kim Hanson, Education Director, Olympic Park Instititute “Howeeshata” David Hudson, Hoh Tribe Julie Jackson, Board Member, Audubon Center Ryan Karlson, Interpretive Planner, Washington State Parks Roberta Korcz, Assistant Planner, City of Port Angeles Jacqueline Laverdure, Education and Outreach Specialist, Olympic Coast NMS Amanda Lovelady, District Manager, Olympic Peninsula, ARAMARK Parks and Destinations Micah McCarty, Makah Tribal Council Chris Morganroth, III, Quileute Tribe Deborah Moriarty, Education Coordinator, Feiro Marine Life Center

60 I National Park Service Appendices

Lyn Muench, Board Member, Dungeness River Audubon Center Donna Nemeth, Public Aff airs Offi cer and Administrative Staff Offi cer, Olympic NF Nicholas Pankow, General Manager, Kalaloch Lodge, ARAMARK Parks and Destinations Garrett Rasmassen, Quileute Tribe Becky Rice, Manager, Log Cabin Resort Riebe, Cultural Resources, Tribe Diane Schostak, Executive Director, Olympic Peninsula Visitor Bureau Tom Sanford, Director, Olympic Park Institute Bob Steelquist, Education and Outreach Coordinator, NOAA, Olympic Coast NMS Nathan West, Director of Community Development, City of Port Angeles Kai Wallin, Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator, North Olympic Salmon CoalitionNancy Williams, General Manager Lake Crescent Lodge, ARAMARK Parks and Destinations Sarah Zablocki-Axling, Student Conservation Association

I may not see the abundance of fi sh come back in my lifetime, but I would like to see it come back for my grandchildren, my great-grandchildren, and the rest of my people, the following generations to come. It was a gift from our creator, it was our culture and heritage.

Beatrice Charles, Klallam tribal elder

In closing I would state that while the country on the outer slope of these mountains is valuable, the interior is useless for all practicable purposes. It would, however, serve admirably for a national park.

Lt. Joseph P. O’Neil, 1890 report

In the end we will conserve only what we know. We will love only what we understand. We will understand only what we are taught.

Baba Dioum

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 61 Appendices

Appendix B: Accessibility Guidelines

Every attempt will be made to provide full access to interpretive media and programs to ensure people with physical and mental disabilities have access to the same information necessary for safe and meaningful visits to national parks. This is in compliance with the National Park Service policy:

“ …To provide the highest level of accessibility possible and feasible for persons with visual, hearing, mobility, and mental impairments, consistent with the obligation to conserve park resources and preserve the qualities of the park experience for everyone.” NPS Special Directive 83-3, Accessibility for Disabled Persons

All interpretation will follow general standards for accessibility as described in the Harpers Ferry Center Programmatic Accessibility Guidelines for Interpretive Media http://www.nps.gov/hfc/pdf/accessibility/ access-guide-aug2009.pdf.

A geological relief map at Hurricane Ridge Visitor Center visitors to the park’s physical features.

62 I National Park Service Appendices

Appendix C: Interpretive Themes

The themes and sub-themes were developed during the August 2000 LRIP workshops and revised during the current planning eff ort. The stories were identifi ed during the October 2009 and March 2010 LRIP workshops.

THEME A Olympic National Park is a rare, diverse sanctuary, preserving thousands of species of life from intertidal communities to old-growth forests to glacier-capped mountains. 1. The unique assemblage of plants, animals, and habitats in Olympic National Park exists as a result of geographic isolation of the Peninsula through the millennia. 2. The geography of Olympic National Park, including topography, slope, aspect, and elevation, creates climate zones and precipitation gradients that give rise to diverse habitats. 3. Olympic National Park preserves one of the largest remnants of rare old-growth forest habitat in the United States, including record trees of many species.  The park is a last stronghold for many old-growth dependent wildlife species, including the northern , marbled murrelet, fi sher, and several species of bats.  Forest species demonstrate myriad strategies and adaptations to survive in their habitats. 4. Olympic National Park protects some of the fi nest old-growth temperate rain forest left in the world. This ecosystem, with its characteristic Sitka spruce, nurse logs, colonnades, and abundant epiphytes, receives nearly 12 feet of rain annually.  Dominated by Sitka spruce and western hemlock trees, this forest ecosystem produces more biomass per year than is documented for even the tropical rain forest.  Only a tiny remnant of old-growth rain forest remains on the Olympic Peninsula. Most of this original rain forest is protected in Olympic National Park, with only small disconnected fragments outside the park. 5. The young, steep, glaciated Olympic Mountains, with weather extremes including dry summers, hurricane force , and over 30 feet of annual snowfall, are prime examples of subalpine and alpine environments.  Olympic marmots and other endemic mountain taxa illustrate the isolation of the Olympic Peninsula.  Mountain species demonstrate myriad strategies and adaptations to survive in their habitats. 6. Olympic National Park, with its many partners, protects over 70 miles of dynamic wild coast with interconnected terrestrial and marine life.  Numerous seastacks, rocky outcrops, and varied beach types along the Pacifi c Coast, as well as extensive tide and wave splash zones, support one of the most complex and diverse convergences of southern and northern intertidal species in the United States.  Coastal and marine species demonstrate myriad strategies and adaptations to survive in their habitats. 7. Plant species and resident and migratory animal species, including endangered, threatened, and reintroduced marine and terrestrial species, benefi t from the diverse habitats of Olympic National Park. 8. The establishment of Olympic National Park created a sanctuary for Roosevelt elk, a species almost hunted to extinction in the early . This herd of nearly 5,000 is now the largest free-roaming population of Roosevelt elk in the world. 9. Olympic National Park protects one of the largest intact freshwater aquatic ecosystems in the lower 48 states, from glacier-fed creeks to rivers, lakes, and coastal .  Aquatic ecosystems provide one of the largest and most pristine sanctuaries for salmonids in the lower 48 states.  Rich and protected freshwater resources, including 12 major river drainages, over 3,500 miles of rivers and streams, more than 300 mountain lakes and two large lowland lakes, form an integral connection between land and sea.

Olympic National Park Long-Range Interpretive Plan I 63 Appendices

10. Olympic National Park, with nearly one million acres of protected land, is a place where natural forces and biotic and abiotic processes function and interact.  The park protects and sustains resources, cycles and processes that enrich life far beyond its boundaries, yet conversely the park is impacted by events that occur outside its boundaries.  Wildfi res that occur during dry summer periods are one of the largest natural modifi ers of Olympic Peninsula forests and subalpine habitats. 11. Olympic National Park’s size, ecological integrity and rich natural and cultural resources have been recognized as signifi cant to all humankind through the park’s designation as an International Biosphere Reserve and a World Heritage Site.

THEME B The integrity, diversity, and magnitude of Olympic National Park’s wilderness ecosystems powerfully aff ect the human spirit, providing outstanding opportunities for discovery, research, introspection, challenge, and inspiration. 1. The impressive scenery and powerful places of Olympic National Park off er rare opportunities to experience solitude, quiet, darkness, mystery, refl ection, and inspiration. 2. Olympic National Park’s rugged landscapes, from mountains to sea, and extensive trail system off er diverse recreational experiences. Personal challenges, including physical, intellectual, and emotional, enhance the visitor’s connections to wilderness. 3. Despite its remoteness, the Olympic Wilderness is impacted by forces including climate change, pollution, non-native species, ocean acidifi cation, and visitor use, both inside and outside park boundaries. Maintaining the integrity of the wilderness requires ongoing stewardship and vigilance. 4. Olympic National Park off ers scientists a rare, large-scale, and nearly intact living laboratory for research.  Research fi ndings provide essential tools for managers to make informed decisions and for the public to learn more about park resources. 5. Federally designated as a Class 1 Airshed, Olympic National Park provides visitors with some of the cleanest air in the world.

THEME C The Olympic Peninsula’s rich cultural history reveals a dynamic interaction between people, place, and values, illustrating the ongoing challenge to balance the use and preservation of resources. 1. Olympic National Park is the ancestral homeland of eight tribes that since time immemorial have continued to maintain a strong connection between their communities and the land. 2. Precontact archeological sites, ranging from the park’s intertidal to alpine zones, demonstrate extensive use of the Olympic Peninsula and off er insights into the lifeways of early residents. 3. The Olympic Peninsula, an isolated island-like landform with impenetrable forests and rugged mountain ranges, was one of the last frontiers in the lower 48 states to be systematically explored and later homesteaded by Euro-Americans. 4. The stories of places that are now within Olympic National Park refl ect changing values over time, from a perspective of inexhaustible resources to conservation, preservation and restoration. 5. Olympic National Park’s signifi cant cultural resources, including petroglyphs, ancient village sites, homesteads, and shipwrecks, reveal compelling human stories. 6. The long and complex history of land use by numerous distinct cultures demonstrates the saga of human adaptability in Olympic National Park.

64 I National Park Service

Harpers Ferry Center National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior

Olympic National Park 600 East Park Avenue Port Angeles, WA 98362

360-565-3000 www.nps.gov/olym

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