Kurt Repanshek, founder and editor-in-chief of National Parks Traveler, the top-ranked website dedicated to daily editorial coverage of national parks, has been awarded the George Wright Society’s Communication Award for 2014.
The award recognizes outstanding efforts in communicating highly technical or controversial park-related subjects to the public in a clear and understandable manner. Repanshek received the award Thursday evening at the organization’s biennial conference in Oakland, Calif.
“I am absolutely humbled by this award because I share the values and goals of the George Wright Society,” said Repanshek. “It is imperative that we as a society continue to improve, nurture and learn from our national parks. On the one hand I am fortunate to be able to help tell the stories of the parks, but on the other I am like so many others who simply possess a profound love of our parks, monuments, historic sites and other places managed by the National Park Service.”
Founded in 1980, the George Wright Society states as its goal that “The Society strives to be the premier organization connecting people, places, knowledge, and ideas to foster excellence in natural and cultural resource management, research, protection, and interpretation in parks and equivalent reserves.”
Nominated for the award by retired National Park Service historian Richard Sellers, Repanshek founded National Parks Traveler in 2005. In the past 10 years the “Traveler” has grown into the leading park-focused consumer web magazine and discussion venue for park topics. Both Repanshek and the Traveler are quoted and referenced by other publications, blogs, web sites and broadcasts seeking park expertise.
Repanshek, whose journalism career began with The Associated Press in West Virginia and Wyoming, has been a freelance reporter and author whose articles have appeared in a wide variety of national and regional publications. He has authored a number of guidebooks, including National Parks With Kids.
Comments
Congratulations Kurt - well-deserved! A great way to mark the 10th anniversary of National Parks Traveler. All of us who care about the national parks are beneficiaries.
It's very well deserved. Kurt, Traveler probably does more good for our parks than any of us realize.
How many subscribers regularly tune in?
Congrats Kurt, another hard earned and well deserved award.
Three cheers for Kurt !!! It's a great website. Congratulations and THANK YOU for all your work.
Here's to 10 more years, Kurt. Heck, you're just a kid! Seriously, a wonderful honor and much deserved. The national parks are in your debt.
Kurt,
One well earned Award for managing NPT and for allowing all
personalities to express themselves toward a better understanding of
America's National Park controversial ssues and management realities.
Here are GWS's previous Award Associates:
http://www.georgewright.org/awards
Full List of Past Awardees
GWS Cultural Resources Achievement Award (established 1997; prior to 2009, called the GWS Cultural Resources Management Award)
1997: Rowland Bowers
1999: Jerry L. Rogers
2001: Ann Hitchcock
2003: Denzil Verardo
2005: Nora Mitchell
2007: Nelly Margarita Robles Garcia
2009: Edwin Colón
2011: Ernie Gladstone
2013: Hugh C. Miller
GWS Natural Resources Achievement Award (established 1988; prior to 2009, called the GWS Natural Resources Management Award)
1988: Roland Wauer
1990: Robert Moon
1992: No award given
1995: Robert J. Krumenaker
1997: Russell E. Galipeau, Jr.
1999: R. Gerald Wright
2001: Vincent Santucci
2003: Jerry Mitchell
2005: Linda Drees
2007: Charles van Riper III
2009: Kate Roney Faulkner
2011: David Cole
2013: Robert Winfree
GWS Social Science Achievement Award (established 2009)
2009: Robert Manning
2011: No award given
2013: Peter Newman
GWS Communication Award (established 1999)
1999: Tim Davis
2001: Stephanie Dubois
2003: Jeffrey Cross
2005: David Andrews (on behalf of the staff of Common Ground)
2007: Harry Butowsky
2009: Yvonne Menard (in conjunction with colleagues at The Nature Conservancy)
2011: Paul Schullery
2013: Charles Jacobi
George Melendez Wright Award for Excellence (established 1992)
1992: Jerry F. Franklin
1995: Robert M. Utley, Jean Matthews, William B. Robertson, Jr. (co-winners)
1997: Bruce M. Kilgore
1999: Bryan Harry
2001: Robert M. Linn, Theodore W. Sudia (co-winners)
2002: Boyd Evison
2003: Daniel Lenihan
2005: John Hope Franklin, Jan van Wagtendonk (co-winners)
2007: George B. Hartzog, Jr.
2009: Michael Soukup
2011: Richard West Sellars
2013: Denis P. Galvin
Special Achievement Award (occasional; given at discretion of GWS Board)
2001: George J. Minnucci, Jr.
2003: Wesley R. Henry, Jr.
2007: Gary E. Machlis
2013: Vernon C. "Tom" Gilbert
Well done, sir.
Who would have known that back in late November of 1978, two Jersey boys, making a winter ascent of Mount Washington, in the White Mountains, would still be friends 37 years later. Now I can also say that my best friend is nationally recognized and honored with this prestigious award. Congrats my friend....