Don't let the clock run out on Washington's National Park Fund's 2021 Auction for the Parks. You can place your bids through 7 pm. local time Friday. 

The fund needs your help so it can reach its goal. This year, the organization is focusing on projects that embody the fund's core pillar of “volunteerism & stewardship.” After all, a donation that supports a volunteer program has even more impact, since it not only provides vital funding for park services that park staff may not be able to complete on their own but also results in volunteers putting in hours of their own time to make our parks better, stronger, and even more vibrant.

This year, the fund's three Fund-A-Need projects are:

• Safeguarding and Sharing the Magic of the Meadows in Mount Rainier National Park: Since the Meadow Rover program began 20 years ago, fewer people are venturing off trails, reducing both damage for these pristine subalpine meadows and Search and Rescue incidents. Support for this program will ensure this positive trend continues.

• Monitoring the Effects of Warming Climates on Subalpine Ecosystems in North Cascades National Park: Your support benefits the Cascade Butterfly Project, in which community science volunteers monitor butterflies in the region’s high mountain meadows. These dedicated volunteers help to track butterfly trends, conduct survey work and talk to visitors about butterfly stewardship and climate change.

• Restoring Trampled Trails and Flooded Lands with Native Plants in Olympic National Park: Your support will allow the Matt Albright Native Plant Nursery to accommodate drop-in volunteers and incorporate a new team of 150 urban youth from the park’s YMCA partnership into service learning and nature stewardship.

You can learn more about these programs and place your bids at wnpf.org/auction-for-the-parks.