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Public Lands Alliance Honors Organizations, Businesses, And Agencies For Their Work

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Corporate stewardship involving public lands, organizations that preserve and protect public lands, and groups that produce interpretive materials have been honored by the Public Lands Alliance.

The alliance, previously known as the Association of Partners for Public Lands, handed out 14 Partnership Awards to 12 organizations, agencies, and corporate partners at its annual convention and trade show, held last week in Spokane, Washington.

The Partnership Awards Program celebrates the best in public lands partnerships, recognizing individuals, organizations, publications, products, programs and services that embody leading edge achievements in the preservation of public lands and the enrichment of visitors.

“The quality of this year’s nominations and submissions was outstanding,” said Public Lands Alliance Executive Director Dan Puskar. “They so clearly demonstrate the vitality and passion in today’s public lands partnerships and deserve recognition for being truly innovative, creative as well as collaborative.”

Corporate Stewardship

The Corporate Stewardship Award recognizes a company that has demonstrated exceptional achievement to enhance the quality of the visitor experience in America’s public lands. This award is presented to a corporation that has made an impact through activities like product development, cause marketing and philanthropic support.

CELESTRON – A leading sport optics manufacturer and partner with the National Park Foundation, Celestron has created a line of official NPF licensed telescopes, sport optics and outdoor electronics in support of America’s national parks and has a longstanding track record of supporting nonprofits and their efforts to interest visitors about astronomy.

VAPUR – A leading designer, marketer and distributor of reusable, handheld, collapsible hydration products, Vapur has saved more than 1,150,000 single-use bottles from ending up in landfills. The company's partnership with Bryce Canyon Natural History Association and other nonprofits has helped keep public land visitors hydrated while reducing landfill waste. 

Public Lands Partners

The Public Lands Partner Award recognizes an exemplary partnership for its stunning achievements to protect and preserve public lands and enhance the experiences of visitors and users. The award is presented in tandem to both the nonprofit and agency partners for their shared achievements.

FRIENDS OF NORTHWEST HATCHERIES AND LEAVENWORTH FISHERIES COMPLEX – For their Wenatchee River Salmon Festival, which has educated the public about salmon for 25 years during a three day natural resource education event each year in central Washington.

ADVENTURERS AND SCIENTISTS FOR CONSERVATION AND UINTA-WASATCH-CACHE NATIONAL FOREST – For their partnership in training citizen scientists to study rare carnivores and collect data, deep in the High Uintas Wilderness in north-central Utah and southwestern Wyoming.

GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS ASSOCIATION AND GREAT SMOKY MOUNTAINS NATIONAL PARK – For their partnership of more than 60 years, providing an unprecedented quantity and quality of visitor services and engaging with well over 2.5 million visitors annually in Tennessee and North Carolina.

FRIENDS OF THE CAMPBELL CREEK SCIENCE CENTER AND BLM CAMPBELL CREEK SCIENCE CENTER – For their educational programs, scholarships and transportation assistance to help children learn about archaeology, bear awareness, healthy waterways and other environmental issues in Anchorage, Alaska.

Innovative Product of the Year

The Innovative Product Award recognizes an interpretive product of any medium created in partnership by a nonprofit organization and a land management agency that embodies a path-breaking approach to achieve a public lands mission.

POTTERY INSPIRED BY ARTIFACTS OF THE ANCESTRAL PUEBLOANS OF THE COLORADO PLATEAU BY GRAND CANYON ASSOCIATION – In the words of the judges: “It is an excellent example of park partners working together to capture the history and culture of the park with replicas from actual artifacts that are not only beautiful but can be used today.”

Outstanding Public Engagement - Product or Display

The Outstanding Public Engagement Award recognizes exemplary products, displays, programs or services created in partnership by a nonprofit organization and a public land that advance meaningful and sustainable connections between individuals and America’s public lands.

MOJAVE MAX DESERT TORTOISE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM BY RED ROCK CANYON INTERPRETIVE ASSOCIATION – In the words of the judges: “The multiple channels of bringing Mojave Max to life through online, social media, in-class presentations, mobile community uses - demonstrate an understanding that an effective campaign needs to not just find people where they are, but seek them out. Given the importance of the desert tortoise to Nevada and its habitats, it provides a key, engaging way to educate the public about the tortoise specifically and about desert habitats and environments generally.”

Outstanding Public Engagement – Program or Service

BAYVIEW COMMUNITY SHUTTLE AND COMMUNITY TRAILHEAD PROGRAM BY GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVANCY – In the words of the judges: “Physical access to parks and open spaces is often the most challenging barrier to successfully getting new visitors out to them. Addressing this problem in these underserved communities is a critical step in cultivating greater awareness, support, and advocacy for public lands. Locating the trail head in one of the communities is an important signal and symbol of the relevance and accessibility of the parks as well as the "entitlement" that all communities have and should expect of their public lands. This is a fabulous program, connecting underserved, economically depressed areas of the bay area for first time national park visitors.”

ART IN THE PARKS PROGRAM BY GOLDEN GATE NATIONAL PARKS CONSERVANCY – In the words of the judges: “The diversity of art programs, projects, and installations under this program show a breadth of offerings that demonstrate a strong commitment between the public agency partner and nonprofit to really imagining and re-imagining parks for public use.”

ROSIE’S GIRLS SUMMER CAMP PROGRAM BY ROSIE THE RIVETER TRUST – In the words of the judges: “The program's focus on underserved girls targets an important population that needs to be cultivated to be the next generation of conservation and environmental stewards. Combining the use of the Bay Trail, access to the Historic Park, and applied, hands-on skills learning in the trade skills is a unique way to make relevant a park/historic story and opportunities for young people today.”

Publication of the Year

The Publication of the Year Award recognizes a book or other publication created in partnership by a nonprofit organization and a public land that embodies innovation in educating and interpreting public lands to its readers, and impacts a substantial audience.

Publication of the Year – with annual revenues less than $1.5 million

CAVE CREEK CANYON: REVEALING THE HEART OF ARIZONA’S CHIRICAHUA MOUNTAINS BY FRIENDS OF CAVE CREEK CANYON -- In the words of the judges: “The vision of the book to bring together local experts to "interpret the many aspects of the canyon" is executed with energy and inclusiveness. This was a 'labor of love' by the many subject matter experts/residents and reflects questions asked by visitors to Coronado National Forest.”

Publication of the Year - with annual revenues higher than $1.5 million:

MANUAL FOR DRIVERS AND GUIDES: DESCRIPTIVE OF THE INDIAN WATCHTOWER AT DESERT VIEW AND ITS RELATION, ARCHITECTURALLY TO THE PREHISTORIC RUINS OF THE SOUTHWEST BY GRAND CANYON ASSOCIATION – In the words of the judges: “A fascinating example of interpretation, partnership, and park values, this publication revives the architect's explanation of the re-creation of the Indian watchtower at Desert View 85 years ago for park guides and visitors. As the park returns the site to how the architect envisioned it, and adds an artist demonstration series and other interpretive programming, this book has new significance as an authentic, informative foundation that is remarkably current.”

Partners Choice Award

For the first time in the history of this awards program, the public was invited to vote on the Partnership Awards submission they found most inspiring through online voting. The Partners Choice voting received more than 200 votes and several applicants engaged their members to participate in voting online. This year’s recipient of the Partners Choice Award was SEQUOIA AND KINGS CANYON NATIONAL PARK ANNIVERSARY BY SEQUOIA PARKS CONSERVANCY.

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