Service organization recognized for Park work

Headwaters Montana recently awarded its second Jack Potter Glacier National Park Stewardship Award to the Glacier National Park Volunteer Associates.

Headwaters Montana director Dave Hadden said the nonprofit volunteer group, an active partner with Glacier Park for nearly 25 years, was credited with marshaling the volunteer help of hundreds of citizen-volunteers to help with many facets of Glacier Park’s operations and protection of resources.

“In 2013 alone, the Association’s volunteers logged over 6,000 of free public service to Glacier,” he said. “We think that commitment and what it represents to Glacier merits recognition and celebration.”

GNPVA’s projects included backcountry and river patrol, backcountry preservation and internships, operation of the Discovery Cabin learning center, assistance to the Park’s native plant greenhouse and the west-side transit center, and restoration projects like the Mount Brown Lookout and Lower Nyack Cabin.

“This award to the volunteers of the Associates is a real honor,” GNPVA president Tom Nelesen said. “We are a one hundred percent volunteer organization dedicated to stewardship and conservation of Glacier Park. To my knowledge the Associates have never been recognized like this over the many years of service to Glacier Park.”

Headwaters Montana received five nominations for the award this year.

“Glacier Park is blessed to be in the care of so many dedicated people who cherish the Park for its own sake and who also recognize the contribution the park makes to our quality and way of life,” he said.

The Jack Potter Glacier National Park Stewardship Award was established in 2012 to honor the 40-year service of its name-sake, Jack Potter, who retired from public service in Glacier Park as Chief of Science and Resources.

The award consists of a $200 check and a hand-blown glass sculpture of a water ouzel made by Bigfork artist Lee Proctor.