DLNews News Staff:

It's excellent news that five park rangers from Joshua Tree National Park were recognized for their outstanding work in interpretation, wilderness stewardship, and volunteerism. They received two national awards on August 23rd in Washington, D.C. Four park rangers were honored with the Freeman Tilden Award, which celebrates excellence in interpretation and education among NPS employees. This award is given to those who demonstrate creative thinking that positively impacts the preservation of parks and enhances the visitor experience. These rangers genuinely deserve this recognition for their hard work and dedication!

Johanna Lombard, Mat Stevens, Ian Ferris, and Jen Kolm have won an award for their excellent work on the "Universal Threads" museum exhibit at The Joshua Tree National Park Visitor Center in Twentynine Palms. The show is fantastic because it lets visitors explore different themes like the earth, sky, plants, animals, and people. It's incredible, and I'm not alone! "This award is such a big deal, and it shows how awesome teamwork can be," said Jennie Kish Albrinck, the program manager of interpretation, resource education, and volunteers at Joshua Tree National Park. "Everyone involved in this project was so passionate about sharing our important stories, and I'm so proud of them all.”

The Freeman Tilden Award honors national park staff and the 15 Native American communities who helped create informative exhibits that tell their stories. The partnerships were closely collaborative throughout the project.

Congratulations to Jane Rodgers for being awarded the Excellence in Wilderness Stewardship Award. As the Program Manager of Science and Resource Stewardship, Jane played an instrumental role in safeguarding the wilderness at Joshua Tree and beyond. She trained Resource Advisors to preserve natural resources during disasters and spearheaded a plan to prevent off-road vehicle use in nature. Jane's remarkable achievements have made a significant difference in protecting the wilderness, and we commend her for her efforts.

Source: Pam Price