Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition

10/07/2026

We’re excited to share a few photos from last week's Fall Celebration, beautifully captured by Patrik Bangle Photography, who generously donated his time and talent. Thank you, Patrik, for documenting such a memorable evening! ✨

Thank you to everyone who bid, donated, and raised their paddle in support of WWRC. Your generosity helps us continue advocating for the parks, trails, wildlife habitat, and working lands that make Washington such an extraordinary place. If you were not able to attend the event, but would like to give, you can make a donation here! https://web.charityengine.net/WWRC%20Donate/

A special thank you to our speakers, Lynda Mapes and Roger Fernandes, for sharing their stories and wisdom. We’re so grateful for the perspectives they brought to the evening. We were also honored to celebrate Representative Steve Tharinger, recipient of the Joan Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award, and Austin Picinich, recipient of the Forward Award, and to recognize their incredible contributions to Washington’s communities and outdoors.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our event sponsors; we’re so grateful for your support in making the evening so special, and for continuing to show up for Washington’s outdoors- as we look toward another year of protecting and investing in this beautiful state.

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsors:
Washington Realtors ✨ Davis Wright Tremaine LLP ✨ REI Co-op ✨ Alaska Airlines ✨ Amazon.com

Thank you to our Event Sponsors:
Cairncross & Hempelmann ✨
Facet NW ✨
Great Western Recreation ✨
Mithun ✨
Mountains to Sound Greenway Trust ✨
Northwest Playground Equipment ✨
PlayCreation ✨
RWD Landscape Architects ✨
Seattle Parks Foundation ✨
Van Ness Feldman ✨
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife ✨
Waypoint Consulting ✨
Weyerhaeuser ✨
Herrera Environmental Consultants ✨
Rayonier ✨
Wright Runstad & Company ✨
LBC Action ✨

Thank you to our In-Kind Sponsors:
FRS Clipper Tours ✨
Patrik Bangle Photography ✨
Younique Garden Flower Farm in Kirkland ✨
Chateau Ste. Michelle Winery ✨
Pop-Up Oyster Bar Co. ✨
Rooftop Brewing Company ✨
Eighth Generation ✨
Human Nature Hunting School ✨

View even more photos here! https://clients.patrikbanglephotography.com/wwrcfallcelebration2026/

10/02/2026

What a night! ✨ Thank you to everyone who joined us for our 2026 Fall Celebration and helped make the evening so special.

We are incredibly grateful to our sponsors, members, donors, volunteers, partners, speakers, awardees, and everyone who came together to celebrate the artistry of Washington’s landscapes.

A special congratulations to Representative Steve Tharinger, recipient of the Joan Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award, and Austin Picinich, recipient of the Forward Award. And thank you to Lynda Mapes and Roger Fernandes for sharing their stories and perspectives and helping us reflect on the landscapes and communities at the heart of this work.

Thank you for celebrating with us and for being part of this community. If you attended the celebration or would love to support from afar, there's still time to give here! https://web.charityengine.net/WWRC%20Donate/

We greatly appreciate all your support and are excited for what we can accomplish together in the year ahead!

09/30/2026

Our silent auction is open! Bid now for a chance to:
✨ Own a unique piece of locally made Washington ART!
🦪 Experience an oyster and razor clam foraging trip and gourmet meal with Human Nature Hunting School
🎨 Find your inner artist with a class from Pratt Fine Arts Center
🧶 Wrap yourself in a beautiful wool Eighth Generation blanket
Happy bidding! Bid here:
https://event.auctria.com/75093335-9906-41fe-9a42-a0af972808e8/a780d600ec2e11e9ae081db830846aa5
Please note: Glass and art items must be picked up in person.

09/25/2026

Our biggest celebration of the year is less than a week away - don't miss it! Registration closes this Monday, September 28 at 5pm!

Our annual Fall Celebration is on Thursday, October 1 from 5-8:30pm at Washington Hall!

This year, we’ll welcome award-winning environmental journalist and author Lynda Mapes as our featured speaker, honor Representative Steve Tharinger with the Joan Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award, and recognize artist Austin Picinich with the Forward Award for his work bringing art, community, and salmon recovery together through the Save Our Salmon Mural Initiative.

The evening will also feature live art, dinner, an auction and raffle, and an opportunity to support our work advocating for a historic $150 million investment in the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program.

Register below for an evening of stories, art, food, and celebration of Washington's lands and waters and the people working to protect them!

WWRC Annual Fall Celebration – 2026 An Evening Celebrating the Artistry of Washington’s Landscapes ...

09/24/2026

We are so grateful to the incredible sponsors making our 2026 Fall Celebration possible! 🌟

Your support helps bring our community together and strengthens our work advocating for Washington’s parks, trails, wildlife habitat, working lands, and outdoor recreation opportunities across the state. 🏕

Thank you for investing in the Coalition and in Washington’s outdoors. We can’t wait to celebrate with you next week at Washington Hall!

Have you RSVPed? https://wildliferecreation.org/events/2026-fall-celebration/ 🎉

And it’s not too late to join this incredible group of sponsors! The deadline to sponsor this year’s Fall Celebration is tomorrow, September 25. Reach out to us to learn more.

09/22/2026

We’re a little over ONE WEEK away from our Annual Fall Celebration! Our Featured Speakers:

Hear two-time AAAS Gold Award Winner for science journalism and winner of the National Outdoor Book Award Lynda Mapes share decades of insight into the Pacific Northwest’s natural world and history, and the importance of conservation. After 27 years at The Seattle Times, Lynda retired from journalism in 2025 to focus on books and long-form narratives.

Alongside Lynda, Roger Fernandes, Lower Elwha S’Klallam Tribe artist, storyteller, and educator will guide us through the culture and arts of the Coast Salish peoples of western Washington. He teaches storytelling and art at the University of Washington, Northwest Indian College, and other institutions, and has been recognized by the Washington State Arts Commission for his work teaching about Coast Salish artworks.

RSVP here: https://wildliferecreation.org/events/2026-fall-celebration/

We hope to see you there!

October 1 | 5–8:30 PM | Washington Hall, Seattle, WA

RSVP here: https://wildliferecreation.org/events/2026-fall-celebration/

09/22/2026

Got 60 seconds? Support $150 million for Washington’s outdoors!

We’re calling for a $150 million investment in the Washington Wildlife & Recreation Program (WWRP) in the 2027–29 Capital Budget. The first step to getting there? Showing our state legislators how much support is behind our ask.

The demand is clear - 210 applications are seeking more than $210 million in WWRP funds this grant cycle. The impact is clear, too - the WWRP has invested over $2.2 billion in 1,800+ projects across the state, protecting wildlife habitat and working lands while creating parks, trails, and recreation opportunities in communities statewide.

We’ll send our letter to the Governor in October, and the state legislature in January once session starts. It takes less than 60 seconds to sign on. Hit that link in bio, add your name, and help show our state leaders how much support there is for $150 million!

We’ve tagged a bunch of wonderful organizations that have already signed on. Did we miss your org, or are you an individual signee? Comment below and let us know!

09/17/2026

We’re SO excited for our Annual Fall Celebration coming up on October 1! This year’s theme, “Artistry of Washington’s Landscapes,” celebrates the many ways Washington’s incredible landscapes inspire art, connection, and community.

RSVP Here: https://wildliferecreation.org/events/2026-fall-celebration/

Join us for an evening bringing together outdoor leaders, community partners, elected officials, artists, and supporters from across the state as we celebrate the people and places that make Washington so special.

🎨 Live art and creativity
🏆 Celebrating this year’s award honorees
🌲 Stories from Washington’s landscapes
🥂 Happy Hour + Dinner Program

📅 October 1 from 5–8:30 PM
📍 Washington Hall, Seattle, WA

RSVP Here: https://wildliferecreation.org/events/2026-fall-celebration/

09/14/2026

Meet this year’s Fall Celebration speakers and honorees!
Join us on October 1st for our Annual Fall Celebration, an evening celebrating the Artistry of Washington’s Landscapes. RSVP here: https://wildliferecreation.org/events/2026-fall-celebration/

We’re excited to welcome and recognize:
🌳 Featured Speaker:
Lynda Mapes, author and environmental journalist
🌳 Joan Thomas Lifetime Achievement Award:
Representative Steve Tharinger
🌳 Forward Award:
Austin Picinich, muralist and founder of the Save Our Salmon Mural Initiative

The evening will bring together community members from across Washington to celebrate leadership, creativity, and our shared connection to Washington’s landscapes.

October 1 | 5-8:30 PM
Happy Hour: 5-6 PM | Dinner Program: 6:30–8:30 PM
Washington Hall | 153 14th Ave, Seattle

We hope you’ll join us! Learn more and RSVP here: https://wildliferecreation.org/events/2026-fall-celebration/

09/12/2026

We joined Representative Walsh, Representative McEntire, and Vader Mayor Schey for a tour of two local park projects: Werden Park and McMurphy Park in Vader, Washington.

We started at Werden Park, where improvements are now complete, before heading to McMurphy Park- a beautiful spot already used for camping, swimming, and a summer concert series.

McMurphy currently has few amenities, but that’s about to change. With funding secured, the upcoming project will add bathrooms, campsites, RV hookups, and other improvements to make the park more welcoming and accessible for the community. Construction is expected to begin next year.

It was great to see what recreation funding has already made possible in Vader and what’s coming next. Thank you to Representative Walsh, Representative McEntire, and Mayor Schey for joining us!