Each year, local teens are selected for our Teen Ambassador Program. They learn about non-profit board functioning by participating in Deception Pass Park Foundation events, develop professional writing and presenting skills, and gain valuable connections by working closely with park staff. Then conclude your term by developing a capstone project guided by park staff and your mentor to advance the vision of improving conservation and restoration efforts at Deception Pass State Park.
Current Teen Ambassadors
Marley, 2025-2026
Marley is an Anacortes High School student who loves exploring Deception Pass State Park. She wants to give back to the park she loves by creating a wildlife catalog and capturing weekly photos to showcase the park’s seasonal changes and inspire others to connect with its natural beauty.
Paiden, 2025-2026
Paiden is a Mount Vernon High School student who loves exploring nature and helping the environment. She is passionate about environmental science and hopes to hike all the park’s trails, educate visitors, and focus her capstone project on protecting local ecosystems.
Tashi, 2025-2026
Tashi is an Anacortes High School student who loves exploring Deception Pass State Park and helping others enjoy it too. He is passionate about birdwatching, photography, and hiking. He hopes to educate visitors on the importance of observing and protecting the park’s birdlife.
Previous Teen Ambassadors
Ellamina Ehrheart, 2024-2025
Ellamina applied for this opportunity to help out in the community and to learn more about the environment and ecosystems close to her. She has done research on how light and sound pollution may affect the environment, while also writing several articles on local wildlife for our newsletter, The Current. She has been an asset to us and is dedicated to making sure the environment around is safe, clean, and sustainable.
Samantha Zenger, 2021 – 2022
For her capstone, Samantha chose to explore microplastics found on our beaches. The Foundation purchased a special microplastics filtration system, which she used to create her own hands-on educational opportunity. Visitors at West Beach could try their hand at sifting for microplastics and learning about the impact of these plastics on our ecosystems. She conducted 8 programs which reached over 276 visitors.
Frances Lay
The park has always made Frances Lay feel at home, so she was excited to learn as much as she could about the ecosystems in the park and interact with new people.
Interested in becoming a Teen Ambassador? Visit our application page to learn more.
