Washington’s National Park Fund has set a goal of raising almost $350,000 in 2010 to support programs and research at the three national parks in the state.

If the goal is reached, the money would go to efforts such as an analysis of the changes in the Nisqually Glacier at Mount Rainier National Park, create a Junior Stream Stewards program at North Cascade National Park and help explain the impacts about the future removal of the Elwhat River dams.

“These grants make it possible for the parks to achieve their goals of protecting the natural resources, encouraging youth and families to experience our parks, enhancing the overall visitor experience and leaving a legacy for future generations,” Jon Evans, president of the fund’s board of directors, said in a release about the grant program.

“Thanks to the Washington’s National Park Fund, we are able to achieve a margin of excellence that would otherwise not be possible,” Chip Jenkins, superintendent at North Cascades, said in the release.

This year, the fund awarded more than $200,000 in grants to the three parks. Mount Rainier received more than $72,600 for two programs to connect kids and families with the park, meadow restoration at Paradise and for the volunteer program.

North Cascades National Park received $55,000 for several studies and a volunteer shelter at Marblemount.

Olympic National Park received more than $72,600 for an elk study, the fisher restoration project and population assessments of Olympic marmots.

Here are the goals for the coming year:

MOUNT RAINIER

Connecting Students to Parks $10,000

Paradise meadow restoration $13,000

Camping Adventure with My Parents $20,000

Volunteers in Parks internships $25,000

Nisqually Glacier status and change analysis $55,000

Total: $123,000

NORTH CASCADES NATIONAL PARK

Wilderness Information Center entryway remodel $7,550

Teacher-Ranger-Teacher internship $10,000

Junior Stream Stewards education program $12,500

Impacts of climate change on pika populations $25,000

Citizen Science butterfly monitoring program $30,000

Total: $85,050

OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK

Olympic marmot wayside exhibit $9,500

Lake Crescent freshwater mussels study $20,495

Climate Friendly Parks education programs $26,500

Elwha restoration project community outreach $31,500

Adopt-a-River study of fish populations $50,000

Total: $137,995

Get involved

Learn more about the fund at www.wnpf.org or call 253-566-4644.