DAYTON - Clara Dickinson-McQuary graduated from Dayton High School in 2004. She left the Touchet Valley at age 18 and traveled the world. A year ago, she returned to Dayton.

"I thought I was just passing through," she said. But that wasn't the case at all. For the first time in her life, she fell in love with her birth place. "It's taken me a long time to appreciate this area," she said.

Now she is employed full time by Washington State Parks to share that love with the world and bring visitors to the state parks in the Blue Mountains. She is one of only a handful of parks program specialists in the state.

The way the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission runs its parks today is very different from how it has in the past. Dickinson-McQuary has a central part in that change.

She spent a few hours with The Times earlier this summer explaining these changes and how she hopes people, both visitors and residents, are as excited about them as she is.

The Push to Change

Several years ago, the state legislature pulled funding for state parks. Now the commission is trying to operate and maintain thousands of acres of land, often remote, on user fees and donations alone.

This is why your vehicle registration form has an optional, suggested parks donation listed. It is also why parks operations are changing and fees for park usage have increased.

"We have to run the parks like a business now," Dickinson-McQuary said. "More than ever, we have to understand what users want out of their experience."

Dickinson-McQuary's new position, a job she began in April, is responsible for just this – drawing more people to state parks and ensuring those visitors have a quality experience. It's an exciting challenge, she said.

She and office assistant Kara Johnson work out of the ranger station at Lewis & Clark Trail State Park – headquarters now for all the state parks in the Blue Mountain Area. The practice of grouping parks into "areas" is just one way the parks commission is adapting to survive.

Adaptation: New Management Practices

One big way for the state to save money on its parks was to reduce staff. Fewer park rangers are managing more parks. To help with this, the parks commission has started grouping parks into "areas."

Here in the southeastern corner of the state, our parks form the Blue Mountain Area, overseen by Area Manager Gary Vierra.

Parks in this area are: Camp Wooten Environmental Learning & Retreat Center, Fields Spring State Park, Palouse Falls State Park, Lyons Ferry State Park, Steptoe Butte State Park Heritage Site, Steptoe Battlefield State Park, Lewis & Clark Trail State Park, Sacajawea Historical State Park, Columbia Plateau State Park Trail, John Wayne Pioneer Trail (see sidebar for details on parks).

Parks around Spokane were successfully grouped into an area many years ago, Dickinson-McQuary said. Parks in the Blue Mountain area were grouped just a few years ago. The commission hopes to start using this management practice statewide.

"It's a great way to share resources and staff," Dickinson-McQuary said. But managing this area has been challenging. Three park rangers share responsibility for 10 parks that span hundreds of miles by car.

Vierra is responsible for overall management of the Blue Mountain Area, but the area needed someone with a gift for customer service, dedicated entirely to improving the user experience in these parks. This is where the program specialist – Dickinson-McQuary – comes in.

"It's important for me to help every visitor get the most out of their visit," she said. "You don't come to Lyons Ferry for a Cape Disappointment experience. You come here for a Lyons Ferry experience. What can we do to enhance that and keep people coming to visit us?"

Dickinson-McQuary wants every visitor to love the Blue Mountain Area. She is passionate about the variety of parks, the potential for events and activities, and the importance of access to public lands. She and Johnson, the area office assistant, work diligently to reach out and help visitors who don't understand the park fee system.

"We are here to help," Dickinson-McQuary said. "If you want to know which pass is best for your particular uses, call us. We understand people's frustration with the fees, but we can help you get the most for your money."

Planning for the Future: Advisory Board, Camp Hosts

One major plan for community outreach is the formation of an advisory board. Dickinson-McQuary and Vierra hope to gather interested residents from all parts of the Blue Mountain Area this fall and form a large "friends of state parks" organization that can help steer the future of this parks system.

Because Dickinson-McQuary works for a state agency, she cannot solicit donations or organize fundraisers. She also cannot directly advertise events in the parks put on by private citizens, businesses or groups. The plan is to encourage an outside group – this advisory board – to make these things happen.

Summer is the busiest season for park staff, so they plan to wait until the fall to start the process of developing this advisory board. Dickinson-McQuary said interested parties should watch local newspapers and parks website postings for more information on this as the fall approaches.

Another way for people to get involved in local state parks and help with management is by becoming a park host. Dickinson-McQuary said the Blue Mountain Area parks are hurting for hosts.

"Hosts help rangers immensely," she said. They can see to the day-to-day operations of the park and address problems that come up. They provide customer service to park guests and help Dickinson-McQuary with promotion of the parks. (See sidebar on park hosts.)

Becoming a State Park Host:

As a host, you will represent state parks by greeting the public and helping set the tone for a pleasant stay. Hosts assist park staff and perform a variety of tasks depending on the park and the type of host assignment. Hosts receive free camping and hookups in exchange for performing these duties. A typical host assignment is 30 days. This may be extended up to 90 days at the park manager's discretion. Hosts must provide their own RV and camping equipment. Hosts should enjoy working with the public, have the desire to accept new challenges, and possess the willingness to learn about Washington state parks. Most parks in the Blue Mountain Area are open from late spring through early fall; Fields Spring State Park is a year-round park.

For a more detailed explanation of host duties and expectations, visit http://www.parks.wa.gov or call (509) 337-6457 to reach someone in the Blue Mountain Area office at Lewis & Clark Trail State Park.

Parks in the Blue Mountain Area:

Camp Wooten ELC & Retreat Center

Nestled in the valley along the Tucannon River sits the largest retreat and environmental learning center in the state park system, Camp Wooten. Built in the 1930s by Civilian Conservation Corps crews, this camp plays host to many large groups looking for a beautiful place to get away from it all.

Camp Wooten offers a dining hall with large commercial kitchen, a recreation hall, sleeping cabins, restrooms with showers, and even an indoor swimming pool. There are sleeping accommodations for up to 200 people, and, with park manager approval, tents and RVs may be allowed.

Fields Spring State Park

Fields Spring is a 792-acre, forested park open year round. Located just south of Anatone off Highway 129, Spring has several miles of hiking, biking and running trails. An annual Puffer Butte Huff and Puff Fun Run takes place at the park each September. Winter activities include groomed cross-country ski trails, a tubing hill and snowshoeing. Fields Spring has a diversity of wildflowers, native trees and plants, wildlife, and birds, and is located near popular hunting and fishing areas in Washington, Oregon, and Idaho.

Palouse Falls State Park

Palouse is a 105-acre camping park located off Highway 261 north of Starbuck with a unique geology and history. The park offers a dramatic view of one of the state's most beautiful waterfalls – recently declared the state waterfall. Palouse Falls drops from a height of 198-feet with high volumes of water flow in spring and early summer.

Lyons Ferry State Park

Lyons Ferry is a 1,000-acre park situated at the confluence of the Palouse and Snake rivers. It once was home to early groups of the Palouse Indians. The park has more than 52,000 feet of shoreline and offers a variety of activities, including boating, fishing, hiking and swimming. Lyons Ferry was named for the ferry crossing that operated across the Snake River from the mid-1860s until the late-1960s, when it was replaced by the Lyons Ferry Bridge, also known as the Snake River Bridge. This park is located on Highway 261 between Starbuck and Palouse Falls State Park.

Steptoe Butte State Park Heritage Site

Steptoe Butte is a 150-acre, 3,612-foot-tall National Natural Landmark near the town of Steptoe on Highway 195. The thimble-shaped, quartzite butte looms high over the surrounding flat lands. The park offers panoramic views of nearby farmlands, the Blue Mountains, and other neighboring ranges and peaks.

Steptoe Battlefield State Park

Steptoe Battlefield is a four-acre, day-use park in Rosalia. This is the site where, on May 17, 1858, Lt. Col. E.J. Steptoe led 159 American soldiers in a running fight with a large band of Spokane, Palouse, and Coeur D'Alene Native Americans. The American soldiers beat off a series of attacks until night halted the battle. With ammunition almost gone and facing disaster, Lt. Col. Steptoe and his men retreated with their wounded and under the cover of darkness to Fort Walla Walla.

Lewis & Clark Trail State Park

Lewis and Clark is a 37-acre camping park on Highway 12 between Dayton and Waitsburg with 1,333-feet of freshwater shoreline on the Touchet River. The park is a rare treasure of old-growth forest and river in the midst of the surrounding arid grassland. Like an oasis in the middle of the desert, this lovely wooded park on the Touchet River refreshes visitors with its unusual vegetation and geology. The park is rich in history as well.

Sacajawea Historical State Park

Sacajawea Park is a 284-acre, inland waters, day-use park at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers accessible via Highway 12 east of Pasco. It features 9,100 feet of freshwater shoreline. The area is spread out with a big sky and excellent views of the two rivers as they flow together. The park features the Sacajawea Interpretive Center, where visitors can learn about the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition through the experiences of Sacajawea, the young Shoshone Indian woman who accompanied the expedition.

Columbia Plateau State Park Trail

Columbia Plateau Trail is a 4,109-acre, 130-mile-long rail-bed trail that traces the 1908 original path of the Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railroad. The route is most accessible at Cheney, with other, less-accessible points along the way. The route is steeped in history, with scenic vistas along the way. Currently 23 miles of the trail between Lincoln County and Cheney are developed and open for public use. Another 15 miles of trail from Ice Harbor Dam to Snake River Junction are open to hikers and bicyclers. Activities include hiking, bicycling, horseback riding, in-line skating, nature viewing, bird watching, cross-country skiing, and snowshoeing. Wildlife viewing is a very popular attraction along the Columbia Plateau Trail as it passes 4.75 miles through the Turnbull National Wildlife Refuge.

John Wayne Pioneer Trail

The John Wayne Pioneer Trail spans an estimated 253 miles and is the longest rail-trail conversion in the United States. Much of it is remote. It is part of the Iron Horse State Park Trail that was once a section of the path of the Chicago-Milwaukee-St. Paul-Pacific Railroad. Trails extends from Cedar Falls to the Columbia River. High trestles provide spectacular views of the valley below. Kiosks and panels are installed at Hyak, Easton, South Cle Elum, Thorp, and Kittitas with a map of the trail and interpretive information. The John Wayne Pioneer Trail meanders through a variety of ecosystems and geological zones.

For more information on these parks, maps, fees and permits, visit http://www.parks.wa.gov or call (509) 337-6457 to reach someone in the Blue Mountain Area office at Lewis & Clark Trail State Park.

Dian Ver Valen

Clara Dickinson-McQuary