Southern Nevada Residents Honored for Volunteering on Public Lands

LAS VEGAS -- Under the theme “Our Volunteers are Gems,” the Southern

Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program recently recognized more than 200 residents who have volunteered many hours toward the preservation and conservation of Southern Nevada’s public lands. The Second Annual Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer Recognition Ceremony was held at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel on November 4, 2006. The event was hosted by the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service.

Federal land managers, volunteer coordinators, and invited guests saluted the volunteers and celebrated their accomplishments:

1. During Fiscal Year 2006, residents volunteered for 150,000 hours to maintain visitor facilities, monitor cultural sites, host campgrounds, educate the public, and answer visitors’ questions. These contributions carry an estimated value of $2.7 million.


2. Maintained more than 120 miles of trails.


3. Removed cattails in national wildlife refuges, clearing more than 2,500 linear feet of stream to provide habitat to threatened and endangered species.


4. Cleared lands of more than 126 tons of trash.


5. Restored habitats and removed invasive species.

Awards also were presented to several individuals and organizations for their outstanding service. Pictured with the recipients are agency volunteer coordinators Nancy Bernard (National Park Service), Amy Meketi (U.S. Forest Service), Callie Leau Courtright (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service), and James Cribbs (Bureau of Land Management).

Volunteer Supervisor of the Year David Hughey, Maintenance Team Lead for Boulder District of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, supervises 25 volunteers who maintain the campgrounds and serve the public at the Boulder Beach and Las Vegas Bay areas.

Volunteer Service

This award recognized the volunteer who contributed the most hours to the federal agencies. National Park Service volunteer Judy Orr contributed 2,874 volunteer hours as a campground host at Boulder Beach Campground.

Volunteer Group of the Year The Lake Mead National Recreation Area Volunteer Water Safety Patrol Program was honored for its members logging more than 4,000 hours to provide boat tows and respond to search and rescue missions.

Volunteer of the Year

Terry Conner donated 2,534 hours serving as the spokesperson for the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge Upper Lake Campground and assisting U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff with maintenance and administration.

Lifetime Achievement This award recognizes sustained volunteerism to one or more agencies over a long period of time. Emma Schliepp, who was unable to attend, has volunteered with the Bureau of Land Management for more than 21 years, contributing 4,800 hours to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. In those years, Schliepp has conducted aerial surveys and cultural site inspections, removed litter, cleaned graffiti off rocks and in caves, and built and repaired trails. Accepting the award on behalf of Ms. Schliepp is BLM Volunteer Coordinator Jim Cribbs.

Environmental Education

Norm Kresge, a retired school principal, has served as a dedicated volunteer at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area for five years. As chair of the environmental education committee for Friends of Red Rock Canyon, he helps to fund teacher workshops, writes the “Explore the Great Outdoors” curriculum, coordinates the transportation scholarship for inner city schools, and works with the Mojave Max Program.

Volunteer Leadership

Two special awards were presented for outstanding leadership of volunteers. Manager Sharon McKelvey and the staff of the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge stepped up volunteers’ efforts so that on some workdays their staff increased by 1000 percent! Volunteers had the rare opportunity to work closely with endangered species while protecting unique species.

Shawn Goodchild, an Ecological Services Biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, helped develop the Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex Volunteer Program. His work became the cornerstone for establishing Stewardship Saturdays, held on a regular basis throughout the year.

Allison Brody, Conservation Education and Interpretation Strategy Program Manager

for the UNLV Public Lands Institute, served as event emcee.

Alan O'Neill, Founder of the Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program

and President of Outside Las Vegas, was guest speaker.

2006 volunteer award recipients pose with federal land managers and volunteer coordinators.