How Two Fireside Circle Members are Making a Difference with WTA

WTA depends on a committed community of volunteers and members to make our work possible. Part of this community is WTA’s Fireside Circle — a dedicated group of donors who give $500 or more to WTA each year. Their support helps WTA expand our programs, online resources and trail work to help more hikers get outside. In addition to knowing that they are investing trails, many Fireside Circle members enjoy behind the scenes looks at WTA’s work and opportunities to connect with other members at Fireside Circle exclusive work parties, happy hours and more. We recently met with two of our dedicated Fireside Circle members to learn how and why they are making a difference in the hiking community through WTA.

Jenn Seva

Jenn volunteering as a WTA ambassador at Refuge Outdoor Fest — a camping festival geared towards BIPOC in the outdoors. Photo by Tiffany Chou.

Like so many hikers in Washington, Jenn first engaged with WTA by using the online Hiking Guide as a resource for her own adventures. Her involvement with WTA quickly deepened from there. Curious to learn more about Washington's trails, Jenn began asking questions like, “how did this trail get here, how was it built, and how can I help maintain it?”

To answer these questions, Jenn joined a WTA trail work party. She was encouraged by the ease of getting involved and appreciated that no prior experience was required. She now has 14 days on trail with WTA, including one of her favorite days — a Fireside Circle exclusive work party in Mount Rainier National Park to rebuild sections of trail. Jenn enjoyed learning technical aspects of trail work that involved a double-line of rope and pulleys to efficiently deliver soil and rocks uphill while connecting with other Fireside Circle members.

Whether she’s working on trail, volunteering as an ambassador to share WTA’s resources and educate hikers or writing trip reports, Jenn’s impact can be felt throughout the WTA community. Her investment as a Fireside Circle donor is part of that. Jenn said that she and her husband, Mike Wotring, contribute to WTA financially because they value Washington’s natural resources and because they both believe in supporting WTA's work to increase equitable access to the joys of hiking.

Gerry Chambers

Gerry helping build a new stair set in Lake People Park (Xacua’bs) in March 2023. Photo by Doug Murray.

Gerry is a Fireside Circle member and dedicated WTA volunteer. She first got involved with WTA as a donor after hearing about the organization from friends. Later, she began joining WTA trail work parties. She remembers being in awe at her first work party because someone was receiving their green hard hat — awarded to volunteers who have spent at least 5 days on trail with WTA. Now, Gerry has 345 days on trail with WTA and is an assistant crew leader! Not only is her volunteer work inspiring, but the community she has built through WTA is, too. She said that she often coordinates with two of her friends so they can volunteer together, using the drive as a time to catch up, and how she regularly meets for lunch with a group of friends she met through trail work.

In addition to her time spent on trail with WTA, Gerry regularly volunteers as a participant of Hiker Rally Day. She recognizes the importance of speaking to our representatives about issues that are important to hikers and emphasized how being involved helps her understand how our government works. And like her time on trail, she’s made it about community, traveling down to Olympia with a group of girlfriends several times for Hiker Rally Day before the event moved online following the pandemic.

Gerry said this sense of community plays a large role in her decision to support WTA as a Fireside Circle member.

“When I had to start taking the minimum required distribution from my IRA, I started thinking about what are the organizations that really make a difference in my life and WTA is one of my communities,” she said.

In addition to the value she finds in WTA’s community, Gerry appreciates knowing where her money is going, WTA’s commitment to diversity, the Emerging Leaders Program and the opportunity to volunteer alongside others that are not in her immediate age cohort.

“It has just enhanced my life so much that I thought this is a place I could give money to on a regular basis,” she said.

WTA can’t support hikers and trails without the support of our members. Consider joining the Fireside Circle today to make your voice heard and invest in the future of trails for everyone, forever.