BLMs 2008 Excellence in Interpretation or Environmental Education Awards: Announcement of Winners

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240
http://www.blm.gov
September 11, 2008

In Reply Refer To:
1115, 1200, 8300 (172) P
EMS TRANSMISSION 09/17/2008
Information Bulletin No. 2008-112

To: All WO Officials, AFOs

From: Director, Office of the National Landscape Conservation System & Community
Partnerships

Subject: BLM’s 2008 “Excellence in Interpretation or Environmental Education”
Awards: Announcement of Winners

We are pleased to announce the selection of four winners in BLM’s 2008 “Excellence in Interpretation or Environmental Education” Awards competition. They are:

GOLD AWARD winner: Victoria Atkins, Supervisory Interpretive Specialist, Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, Dolores, CO, for her contributions to the development and production of the film Visit with Respect, inwhich members of local Native American pueblos share their perspectives on courteously visiting archaeological sites. The film is now available on DVD, captioned in six languages.
GOLD AWARD winner: David Sisson, District Archaeologist, Cottonwood Field Office, Cottonwood, ID, for the development of a series of educational and interpretive programs, including the “Nez Perce Quiz Card Set,” the Lower Salmon River Cultural Resources website, educational programs for river guides, and a time-lapse video of a Salmon River excavation site. David also works with local schools to enrich the Idaho history curriculum through hands-on classroom presentations.
SILVER AWARD winner: Luise Woelflein, Environmental Education Coordinator, Campbell Creek Science Center, Anchorage, AK, for her efforts in developing a diverse array of education and outreach programs. Examples of her program contributions include: the “Celebrating Women in Science” poster program; the “Fireside Chat” lecture series; early- morning bird walks; an astronomy lecture series; Girl Scout programs; and a renewable energy fair.
SILVER AWARD winner: Jane Childress, Archaeologist, San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area, Tucson, AZ, for her restoration and interpretation work at the Historic Fairbank Townsite, especially the Fairbank Schoolhouse. Jane has also organized an annual Fairbank Reunion event for former students of the schoolhouse.

Each of this year’s winners has done exceptional work with partners and communities to create meaningful interpretive and/or educational experiences and materials for public lands users. Winners were selected from a slate of BLM nominees by a review panel comprised of BLM staff and partner-group representatives.

Our GOLD and SILVER award winners have been invited to attend the “Excellence in Interpretation” awards ceremony on November 13, 2008, to be held in conjunction with the National Association for Interpretation’s (NAI) 2008 National Workshop.

This year’s workshop will be held November 11-15, 2008 in Portland, Oregon. Winners of the U.S. Forest Service’s “Gifford Pinchot Award,” the National Park Service’s “Freeman Tilden Award,” the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ “Hiram M. Chittenden Award,” the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s “Sense of Wonder Award,” and NAI’s “Master Interpreter Award” will also be acknowledged during this ceremony.

Congratulations to our award winners and thanks to all who participated in this year’s awards competition. Should you have any questions, please contact Amy Galperin, BLM’s Lead for Interpretation, at (303) 239-3960, or Mary Tisdale, Chief, Division of Education, Interpretation, and Partnerships, at (202) 452-0365.

Signed by: Authenticated by:
James Murkin Robert M. Williams
Acting, Director Division of IRM Governance,WO-560
National Landscape Conservation System
and Partnerships