Press release from National Park Service:
WASHINGTON (August 11, 2016) An extraordinary group of VIPs (Volunteers-In-Parks) donated 7.9 million hours of service to the National Park Service in 2015. These 440,000 people performed an astonishing variety of tasks which enhanced both park operations and the visitor experience. This week, the National Park Service and National Park Foundation honored the recipients of the annual Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service at a ceremony in Washington, DC.
“National Park Service volunteers are amazing,” said National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “They are willing to do anything and everything for parks and ask for nothing in return. Among many other things, they welcome visitors, lead tours, maintain trails, conduct research, plant gardens, monitor wildlife, demonstrate arts and crafts, and perform historical reenactments, and they do it all with unwavering enthusiasm. They are an inspiration to us all.”
The award is named in honor of former National Park Service Director George B. Hartzog, Jr. and his wife Nancy. Hartzog created the Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP) Program in 1970 with 300 volunteers. Since then, more than 4.3 million people have volunteered more than 1.4 billion hours of service.
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The Hartzog Award for Outstanding Volunteer Group was presented to the Cades Cove Bike Patrol from Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Bike Patrol has led to an increase in both visitor ridership and safety during the 41 times each year that the Cades Cove Loop Road is closed to motor vehicles. Every Wednesday and Saturday from May through September, the popular road is open only to bicyclists and walkers from sunrise to 10:00 AM, providing an opportunity to enjoy the scenic road at a slower pace.
Patrol members are a strong presence on the 11-mile road. They take turns roving by bike and manning designated stations in an effort to assist with traffic management issues, advise of hazards, respond to accidents, serve as first responders, administer first aid, make bike repairs, and manage wildlife encounters.
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ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
More than 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America’s 412 national parks and work with communities across the nation to help preserve local history and create close-to-home recreational opportunities. Learn more at www.nps.gov.
ABOUT THE NATIONAL PARK FOUNDATIONThe National Park Foundation is the official charity of America’s national parks and nonprofit partner to the National Park Service. Chartered by Congress in 1967, the National Park Foundation raises private funds to help PROTECT more than 84 million acres of national parks through critical conservation and preservation efforts, CONNECT all Americans with their incomparable natural landscapes, vibrant culture and rich history, and INSPIRE the next generation of park stewards. In 2016, commemorating the National Park Service’s 100th anniversary, the Foundation launched The Centennial Campaign for America’s National Parks, a $350 million comprehensive fundraising campaign to strengthen and enhance the future of these national treasures for the next hundred years. Find out more and become a part of the national park community at www.nationalparks.org.
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