Ice Age Trail Alliance is the Recipient of 2020 National Hartzog Volunteer Group Award
Volunteers’ hard work and dedication not only builds, supports, and maintains the Ice Age National Scenic Trail, it also wins awards.
During a virtual ceremony on Wednesday, August 25, Ice Age Trail Alliance volunteers and staff were named recipients of the 2020 National Hartzog Award for Group Volunteer Service. Bestowed annually by the National Park Service (NPS), the prestigious George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service recognize the “exemplary contributions” NPS volunteers make to their park and community.
In 2020, while most National Parks shut down and volunteer activities were stymied, the Ice Age National Scenic Trail remained open and its volunteers continued trailbuilding, maintenance, and support. In fact, a total of 1,499 Alliance volunteers spent nearly 53,300 hours on Ice Age Trail-related activities; all while adhering to mask-wearing and social distancing safety protocols.
“Volunteers are the backbone of our organization and the Ice Age National Scenic Trail” said Mike Wollmer, Executive Director of the Ice Age Trail Alliance, who accepted the award on behalf of volunteers. “Without them, the Ice Age Trail would not be what it is today.”
Dan Watson, Volunteer Coordinator, National Park Service – Ice Age National Scenic Trail, nominated Alliance volunteers and staff for the award. He recognized the Alliance and its thousands-strong volunteer workforce as “strong innovators in trail construction, tireless protectors of resources, vivid storytellers of Wisconsin’s nationally significant geologic history, and true champions in public engagement.”
In June 2021, the Ice Age Trail Alliance received the Hartzog award for the Midwest Region – Volunteer Group Award out of 21 outstanding nominations submitted in recognition of 2020 efforts. This award was the precursor to receiving the award at the National level!
The Alliance offers a wide variety of ways for people to volunteer in support of the Trail: from large-scale Trail building projects, to smaller year-round stewardship events, hike leader opportunities, and more.
About the Hartzog Award
George B. Hartzog, Jr. served as the Director of the National Park Service and created the Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP) program in 1970. In retirement, he and his wife, Helen, established a fund to support the program and honor the efforts of volunteers. Nearly 300,000 volunteers contribute more than 6.5 million hours of volunteer service annually at our national parks, for a value of more than $185 million.
About the Ice Age Trail Alliance and Ice Age National Scenic Trail
The Ice Age Trail Alliance is a nonprofit volunteer- and member-based organization established in 1958 that works to create, support and protect the Ice Age National Scenic Trail. One of only 11 National Scenic Trails, the Ice Age Trail is a thousand-mile footpath that highlights Wisconsin’s world-renowned Ice Age heritage and natural resources. Visit www.iceagetrail.org to learn more.
