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Mount St. Helens Institute eNews
As summer rumbles along, our programs on the mountain are going strong, with volunteers and staff alike showing their amazing ability to pivot when faced with the unexpected—from minor scrapes to missing belongings, trail closures, and wildfire smoke, they've been making sure there are no 'bad' days at the volcano.
Last month was a particularly exciting one here at MSHI: We asked you to show your support for the new Mount St. Helens license plate and, wow, did you deliver! Huge thanks to everyone who took part in the low-number plate auction; we raised over $35,000, helping to fund not only the state plate implementation fee but also our youth education, trail maintenance, and volunteer programs, amongst others.
If you weren't able to snag one in the auction, no fear! The Mount St. Helens license plate will beavailable for public purchase on August 19. You can get your new plate online at dol.wa.gov or by visiting your local Department of Licensing office.
Other news you'll find in the August issue of Rumblings:
Five Days of Discovery at GeoGirls 2026
Your Next Adventure Awaits: Base Camp
We're Celebrating a Special Birthday
Want to Trade Carabiners for Cocktails? Boots & Bow Ties Returns!
Where The Mountain Still Speaks: A Volunteer's Blog
More Art on the Mountain
A Prescription for Nature
2026 Events at a Glance
Five Days of Discovery at GeoGirls 2026
There's no better way to kick off August than with the GeoGirls! These middle school students spent five days conducting hands-on research at Mount St. Helens alongside female scientists and educators, learning about volcanoes, natural hazards, and the latest scientific monitoring techniques. Whether they were investigating ecological succession, examining landslides, collecting GPS data, or undertaking a Volcano Crisis Mission, the GeoGirls packed in the science while enjoying art and outdoor activities.
Local teacher mentor Stephanie Langner commented that having programs like GeoGirls available to students, especially girls, is important because it can show them opportunities they may have never considered: "Half of our students see Mount St. Helens on their way to school on an everyday basis, and some of them have never been here. To have an experience like this could be pivotalfor them... There are opportunities that go beyond this—in forestry, in volcanology, in geology—they are going to be able to open so many different doors.”
While Emma La Ron, one of the four high school mentors, reflected on the broader impact, “I’ve definitely learned a lot of new science, a lot of new information, but just the community and surrounding myself with super intelligent and empowering women has been the biggest eye-opener for me,” she said. “Realizing that I am who I am and finding that sense of self, which is really amazing.”
The GeoGirls program is free to cis- and transgender girls graduating 7th and 8th grade in Oregon and Washington thanks to private donors and grant funding from the Association for Women Geoscientists Foundation; Clackamette Mineral and Gem Club; Goodfellow Bros.; Heidelberg Materials; Brunton; the GHD Foundation; Katydid Rocks!; Maul Foster & Alongi; and Heritage Bank.
Thank you to everyone who made this week so special, from our staff and volunteers to our partners at the USGS Cascades Volcano Observatory with additional support from the US Forest Service, Washington State Geological Survey, Washington State Parks, Trout Unlimited, Agate Adventures, The Treehouse Art Studio, ArinRaeArt, and students from Central Washington University, Idaho State University, University of Oregon, and University of Washington. It really does take a village to empower a GeoGirl!
Your Next Adventure Awaits: Base Camp
When you join us for Base Camp at Mount St. Helens, you get more than just a campsite in the blast zone; it's a welcoming hub for adventure and relaxation. Base Camp isn't just for peak baggers; it's for the readers, the artists, and the sunset watchers. Explore the mountain on your own, join a guided hike, go for a paddle, or spend the whole day in your camp chair—there’s no right way to enjoy the volcano.
Photo courtesy of Patty Wood
Chef (and former MSHI Executive Director) Ray will be serving up a special Oktoberfest-themed feast — plus plenty of beer to taste! — so you can focus on soaking up the scenery. Our upcoming event (September 11-13) is just for the grown-ups, but we'll still bring those OG summer camp vibes!
"We just spent an amazing weekend at MSHI Base Camp. Excellent programming and spectacular views at our campsite and new friends."
Trivia hats on! What's significant about August 26, 1982? Hint: It has nothing to do with Eye of the Tiger topping the charts for a sixth successive week; the clue is in the title...
This year marks the 44th anniversary of the founding of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument, a 110,000-acre area set aside for research, education, and recreation where the environment has been left to respond naturally to the disturbance following the May 18, 1980, eruption of Mount St. Helens. The monument is now globally recognized as a site of scientific (and environmental) importance, but it wasn't an easy road to get here.
In a new MSHI blog post, conservationist Susan Saul shares her reflections on the decade-long grassroots effort to protect Mount St. Helens before and after its historic May 18, 1980 eruption. From local organizing to navigating high-stakes politics in D.C., Saul highlights how persistent community advocacy led to the establishment of the Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument. The Mount St. Helens Protective Association's tireless pursuit of official recognition for Mount St. Helens offers a lesson for environmental activism today: endless pressure, endlessly applied.
Photo courtesy of Susan Saul
Want to Trade Carabiners for Cocktails?
MSHI’s unforgettable Boots and Bow Ties gala is less than two months away, and we want to see you there, so dust off your suit, fluff up your frock, and get ready for a night where the trail meets the town. This isn't your average black-tie affair. We do things differently, starting with the dress code... Gaiters with your gown? Trail runners with your tux? Let your outfit tell the story of your adventures!
Join fellow public land advocates, scientists, and supporters to celebrate education and stewardship at Mount St. Helens. Guests will kick off the evening with handcrafted cocktails or a glass of pinot while browsing a silent auction offering one-of-a-kind local goods and experiences. The night continues with a gourmet dinner, an energetic live auction, and an inspiring paddle raise directly supporting MSHI's mission.
Date: October 10, 2026
Time: 5:30-9:30 p.m.
Location: Heathman Lodge, Vancouver, WA
Attire: Formal + Outdoorsy (Boots and Bow Ties!)
Spaces fill up fast for this beloved annual gathering. Head over to the event page to purchase tickets, or learn how you can become a sponsor or donate an auction item to support science and exploration on our favorite volcano.
Shannon Jarvis is a sound artist and facilitator whose work explores the relationship between frequency, nervous system regulation, land, and presence. She creates immersive experiences that invite people into deeper coherence with themselves and the environments around them. Having lived in the Cispus Valley during early childhood and experienced the eruption of Mount St. Helens as a formative imprint, returning to the mountain through this residency feels both personal and devotional.
Gloria Fan Duan considers how landscapes are preserved, replicated, and reimagined through synthetic material systems. Working across sculpture, animation, and installation, she constructs botanical and geological replicas that blur distinctions between the organic and the artificial. At Mount St. Helens, she hopes to archive part of the volcano’s process of succession and transformation by documenting plants and geological specimens through watercolor, mold-making, and sound recording drawn from the surrounding ecosystem.
"There are places that ask nothing of us except that we slow down and listen. Mount St. Helens is one of those places ... MSHI Photography Hikes are much more than guided walks. They are immersive learning experiences that combine photography, natural history, and environmental stewardship. Rather than rushing from viewpoint to viewpoint, participants are encouraged to slow down, observe, ask questions, and develop both their photographic eye and their appreciation for one of the most remarkable volcanic landscapes on Earth."
—Ralf Wiegand, Photographer & MSHI Volunteer
Photo courtesy of Ralf Wiegand
Last month Ralf and other nature lovers headed down the Harmony Trail to Spirit Lake with professional Photographer Patrick Aalto. Patrick specializes in outdoor photography, teaching technique and composition in natural settings. Read Ralf's full blog to find out how curiosity, expert guidance, and quiet observation came together in a rewarding day of hands-on learning and exploration. To experience this for yourself, join us for the final photography hike of the season on October 18.
Southwest Washington offers many opportunities for exploring alongside Mount St. Helens, from the scenic Kalama and Lewis Rivers to peaceful stretches of forest perfect for slowing down after a big day outside. In today's high-stress world, it's no surprise that more people are turning to nature to reset. In fact, scientists and health professionals increasingly recommend "green prescriptions" for both mental and physical well-being.
At MSHI, a favorite staff (and education program) activity is taking time to connect with nature using all of our senses. Find a quiet sit spot to observe your surroundings, slowly scan for local wildlife or watch the movement of the clouds, close your eyes and tune in to noises around you, and then try reaching out to brush the grass or letting your feet sink into the earth. Other grounding activities might include outdoor yoga, walking barefoot, or going for a paddle.
You could also explore your sense of connection by taking photos, writing, drawing or painting pictures of the landscape, plants, or animals - combining nature with creativity (like our wonderful artists-in-residents!).
Looking for your own green prescription? We're grateful to Welch Cabin, a fellow nonprofit and one of our generous sponsors, whose commitment to environmental stewardship echoes so much of what we care about here at MSHI. Perched 90 feet above the Kalama River on 19 private acres, it's a peaceful addition to any Southwest Washington getaway.
Mount St. Helens Institute operates under a special use permit from the US Forest Service and is honored to work on the Traditional Cultural Property, ancestral and present-day lands of the Cowlitz Indian Tribe and the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation.
Mount St. Helens Institute is an equal opportunity provider.
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