News Release

National Park Service Recognizes Protectors of Tule Springs for Exemplary Service

Date: August 28, 2019

National Park Service and Bureau of Reclamation
U.S. Department of the Interior

TULE SPRINGS FOSSIL BEDS NATIONAL MONUMENT News Release

For Immediate Release: August 27, 2019
Release No.: 2019-03
Contact: 702-515-5462

National Park Service Recognizes Protectors of Tule Springs for Exemplary Service



WASHINGTON – The National Park Service and the National Park Foundation awarded the Protectors of Tule Springs with the George and Helen Hartzog Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service Aug. 22.

This group of community citizens has donated more than 40,000 hours of service to permanently protect the unique paleontological, archeological and biological resources at Tule Springs Fossil Beds National Monument in Las Vegas.

“The Protectors of Tule Springs played a key role in the designation of the monument five years ago, and continue to provide valuable support today as the park develops," said Diane Keith, the park’s superintendent. “We are grateful for their immeasurable hours of volunteer work.”

Protectors of Tule Springs Board President Jill DeStefano and Vice President Sandy Croteau attended the awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., to accept the Outstanding Volunteer Service, Group Award presented by the National Park Service.

“To receive this level of national recognition is a testament to the deep commitment and hard work of our small but mighty volunteer team,” said DeStefano. “Our founding members spent more than eight years raising awareness for the need to protect these lands, and since the monument was established almost five years ago, our board and extended team of volunteers have spent thousands of hours in cleanup efforts, trail building, fundraising, educational outreach, legislative support, fence patrol and anything else you can imagine.”

The George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service are named for a former National Park Service director and his wife. In 1970, Hartzog started the agency’s Volunteers-In-Parks Program.

Last year, more than 300,000 volunteers contributed over 7.2 million hours of service, assisting in virtually every aspect of National Park Service operations. The work they performed is valued at $179 million. The awards recognize the time, talent, innovation and contributions volunteers provide to national parks.

“These award recipients have exhibited extraordinary dedication to the National Park Service,” said National Park Service Deputy Director P. Daniel Smith. “These groups and individuals eagerly share unique talents and skills to enhance park operations and provide safe and memorable park experiences for visitors from around the world.”

-NPS-