They have answers at park

MOUNT VERNON, Wash. — You have seen them at state and national parks. They are usually dressed in olive green, with a gold tag giving their name, title and employer. They often wear wide-brimmed Smokey Bear hats.

They are quick with a smile and even quicker with answers to questions – any questions. And they certainly get peppered with some beauties.

Theirs is a world that is constantly evolving, though much of it has been in place for eons.

Welcome to the realm of the park interpreter.

“The job of an interpreter is to facilitate opportunities for connections to meanings,” said Charles Beall, chief of interpretation and education for the North Cascades National Park. “The idea is that as interpreters, the job is to help audiences explore what makes things special, what they mean. It’s all part of the fun of visiting a national park.”

Beall believes interpretation leads to conservation. Once people understand how delicate nature’s balance is, they are more likely to respect nature.

“Interpretation is how we establish stewardship,” Beall added, “how we allow people to develop their own personal connections to the park. Once that connection is made, then they tend to care about (the park).”

Park interpreters, while seemingly plentiful at the national level, are much less so at the state level. In fact, of the 120 state parks in Washington, there are about 11 full-time interpreters. And of those, 5 1/2 are employed at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Cape Disappointment.

The state parks department has a plan to increase the number of interpretive programs it offers. By the time its centennial rolls around in 2013, it hopes to have programs at all state parks.