Environmental Center at Moran Park closing means less revenue

On December 19, 2008, Linda Sheridan of the Environmental Learning Center at Moran State Park, wrote the following:

“I wanted to give you an update about Moran Outdoor School, Moran State Park, and the Washington State Parks budget plan …. On December 18th the Governor sent out her budget proposal for the 2009-2011 biennium. As you may have read in the news, virtually every state agency takes cuts in this proposal, and Washington State Parks is no exception. To view the proposal please go to https://www.governor.wa.gov/priorities/budget(go to Budget Highlights: Natural Resources then to Culture and Recreation to find State Parks specifics).
In the budget Governor Gregoire proposes Permanent Park Closures stating:

“The Commission will select 13 state parks and one environmental learning center for closure that do not meet its long-range plan for high quality parks with statewide significance.”
On Dec. 19 there was a letter that went out to all Parks stating where the closures will be. The good news is Moran State Park as a whole is NOT on that list, however, we ARE the Environmental Learning Center they have listed.
So what does this mean?
If/when they cut they Environmental Learning Center they will also cut Moran Outdoor School and two full time positions, the ELC Manager Ranger 2 Position (Kinnan “Wolf” Murray) and the Interpretive Specialist Position (Linda “Scat” Sheridan). I was informed that this will take effect September 15th 2009. This means School groups coming in the spring of 2009 will participate in our Program as planned, and ELC users that have reservations up until September 15, 2009 will be able to use the facility.
After September 15, the ELC (and possibly the Vacation House) will be boarded up and closed down. NO user groups after this time and NO Fall Program will be held at the Outdoor School. Linda Sheridan will be laid off and Kinnan Murraywill be moved to another Ranger position at Moran.

This is very scary for us but you need to know THINGS ARE NOT FINAL YET! This is why I am writing to you and why we need your help.

The Legislators from San Juan County are meeting Jan. 12 and will be deciding on this and many other issues. I have written a letter to them explaining what the Outdoor School Program is and what the Moran ELC is and why both are significant.

I have explained in the letter that although it does cost the State money to run and operate the ELC and the Outdoor School, these programs MAKE revenue every year and therefore should not be cut from our Park. The only reason that Rex Derr (WA State Parks Director) and Judy Johnson (Deputy Director) gave as to why our ELC got picked was that we have a “special program” and that all special programs need to be cut at this time.

It was obvious from my conversation with them and Moran Manager Jim Schuh that they do not have the full story and that they are not looking at revenue brought in from our programs and comparing them to other ELC revenues. I should be as clear on this as possible. While the state will save some money by cutting the ELC and Outdoor School, it will also give up significant revenue. Therefore, cutting the ELC and Outdoor School is an inefficient cost savings strategy for the state.

Of course, while the cost savings to the state will be minimal, the loss of services to you will be immediate and dramatic.

In our conversation with Derr and Johnson I also mentioned that because of the Centennial 2013 plan proposed by Rex Derr, that we have recently renovated many of our buildings at the ELC. You may have noticed these changes to upper camp – a new gender specific bathroom for upper camp, and four cabins with new roofs, windows, heaters, porches, and siding inside and out. In addition, we’ve completely redone the interior of Kestrel Cabin (the cabin closest to the lodge).

So here is what I am asking of you. Take the time … to write a letter or email to the 40th District Legislators, (as well as your own State Legislators if you’re from outside the 40th District), and tell them about Camp Moran ELC and the Outdoor School Program. Explain who you are and how you are connected to this part of our Park. Explain to them how the Outdoor School program and this beautiful State Park has affected your life … and/or how it has been an asset to your [community]. Tell them why you think the ELC should not be boarded up and closed down. Demand that they keep this ELC open and that they keep the Outdoor School up and running despite these hard times. The information for the 40th District legislators can be found on this website: https://apps.leg.wa.gov/DistrictFinder/results.aspx?District=40
Next what I ask is that you take that same letter or email and send it to Rex Derr, the Director of Washington State Parks.
The Washington State Park Headquarters address is PO Box 42650 Olympia, WA 98504-2650. The main office phone number is 360-902-8500.
If you are really fired up you can send the letter to our region office as well. Our Region Manager is Eric Watilo and the Northwest Region Office address is 220 N Walnut St. Burlington WA 98223. Their office phone number is 360-755-9231.
The legislators are the people to contact right now so if you only want to send it to one place send it to them. They make the final decision.
Please help give Camp Moran Environmental Learning Center a voice so we can keep the long time tradition of this beautiful facility going in Moran State Park.
Thank you so much for your time and support! If you have questions please call me in the office 360-376-6173 Tuesday through Friday 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. I will be in and out of the office for the next several weeks so email is best – moranee@hotmail.com.”

Michel Vekved, of the Friends of Moran State Park, added the following information:
“Friends of Moran has not yet pulled together a fundraising plan. We are waiting for details so that we can target the specific funding and support needed by the park. In the meantime, any donations for the ELC program can be sent to Friends of Moran and earmarked for ELC. Our address is P.O. Box 1961 Eastsound, Wa 98245
As soon as we have current information we’ll try to update our supporters on our web site (friendsofmoran.com).