Grant Evaluators Sought to Prioritize Investments in Washington's Outdoors

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) is actively seeking individuals to play a pivotal role in determining the allocation of millions of dollars for enhancing Washington's parks, trails, and various outdoor recreation amenities.

RCO is embarking on a recruitment drive, aiming to enlist nearly 50 dedicated volunteers who will assume positions on 19 advisory committees. These committees will undertake the task of evaluating grant applications and assigning scores to proposals related to parks, trails, boating facilities, firearm and archery ranges, and other outdoor recreational facilities. Additionally, they will assess proposals focused on preserving wildlife habitats and working farms and forests.

Megan Duffy, Director of RCO, emphasized the significance of these grants, stating, "These grants help ensure that Washington has vibrant outdoor places for people to recreate, relax and get some exercise. The first step to making sure we have those great places is to find people with a variety of outdoor interests who can help assess projects.”

Approximately 200 advisory committee members will collaborate with the agency to evaluate approximately 500 grant proposals over a two-year cycle. Members will participate in periodic virtual meetings and offer valuable feedback to applicants, assess grant applications, and occasionally provide input on policy matters.

The RCO is particularly interested in advisors who have a passion for outdoor recreation on public lands, possess experience in land acquisition and development, and, most notably, have expertise in preserving forests, farms, and wildlife habitats.

To Apply

Eligible advisors may receive stipends for their service. For more information on the various advisory committees and to submit applications, please visit RCO's website at www.rco.wa.gov/get-involved/volunteer-advisory-committee. The deadline for applications is October 13.