Excellence in Partnerships Award

The Corps has established an annual award intended to recognize outstanding contributions by a partner to the Corps recreation and environmental stewardship programs. The Excellence in Partnerships Award is a regular part of the annual APPL convention usually held in February or March, each year. Divisions, districts and projects should be constantly on the lookout for outstanding examples to nominate each year. Headquarters will solicit nominations during the latter part of each calendar year.

Click here to view a list of past recipients and for application materials.

Take Pride in America Awards

Take Pride in America sponsors an annual national recognition and awards program. National awards recognize outstanding stewardship for group and individual volunteer efforts in twelve categories. Finalists and winners are selected by a panel of reviewers, and the awards are presented at a ceremony in Washington, DC in September.

National awards: Nominations for the national Take Pride in America awards may be submitted online via the Take Pride website, www.takepride.gov. Corps volunteers and events are eligible for these awards. Applications are typically due in June.

Federal Land Manager Award: In addition to awards for volunteers and events, one Corps staff member, along with the other federal land management agencies, is honored with the Take Pride in America Federal Land Manager Award. Nominations are submitted through Corps Major Subordinate Commands and are typically due in the spring.

Click here to view a list of past recipients and application materials.

American Recreation Coalition's Legends and Beacon Awards

The American Recreation Coalition annually honors an outstanding employee from each federal land management agency with the American Recreation Coalition (ARC) Legends Award. This award is presented to recognize extraordinary individual efforts that have expanded and enhanced recreational opportunities, connecting people- especially children- and the outdoors, through public/private partnerships, or have increased participation in outdoor recreation through innovative programs based upon public/private partnerships. Award criteria include:
• Quantifiable improvements in recreation opportunities or participation in recreation by non-traditional visitors
• Reliance upon partnerships with the private sector
• use of creative solutions and programs and sharing news of creative solutions with the agency
• Community support for the work of the individual

  The Beacon Award recognizes outstanding initiatives where new technologies provide improved, cost-effective solutions to recreation program needs. Award criteria include:

• Innovation in either the use of technology for visitor services or the use of technology for recreation management;
• Partnerships with for-profit and nonprofit organizations in the private sector;
• Efforts to share news of creative solutions within the agency; and
• Community support for the work of this initiative, as reflected in awards, community boards and committees, etc

• Legends and Beacon 2011 Nomination Request Memo

  Legends Award Recipients:

  • 2011: Tracy Fancher
  • 2010: James Lynch
  • 2009: Miles Johnson
  • 2008: Brad Keshlear
  • 2007: Keith Beecher
  • 2006: Terry Ramsey
  • 2005: Michael Miller
  • 2004: Erwin Topper
  • 2003: Joe Woods
  • 2002: David Grabensteder
  • 2001: Douglas Blount
  • 2000: David Wahus
  • 1999: Darrell Lewis

  Beacon Award Recipients:

  • 2011: Lake Okeechobee Visitor Center Rehabilitation
  • 2010: Lake Ouachita Citizens Focus Committee
  • 2008: Pike's Passage, Mississippi River Water Trail Development
  • 2006: NRM Gateway

Technical Problems
Updated: July 2011