"Champion of the Pennsylvania Wilds" Awards Program

NOMINATIONS ACCEPTED YEAR ROUND - REVIEWED YEARLY IN APRIL. 2015 DEADLINE IS MARCH 20

Every spring the Pennsylvania Wilds Planning Team recognizes individuals, groups, organizations, communities or businesses that in the last year have made significant contributions to help grow and sustainably develop the outdoor recreation economy and nature tourism in the Pennsylvania Wilds by marrying economic development and conservation goals. These prestigious awards are presented at the Planning Team’s Annual Dinner, which this year will be held April 23, 2015 at the Red Fern in St Marys.

JUDGING CRITERIA
Award nominations will be judged by the degree to which they help advance one or more of the following goals: to create jobs, diversify local economies, inspire stewardship of natural and cultural resources, and improve quality of life.
Award nominations will also be judged by the degree to which they reflect the hallmarks of the effort to grow the outdoor recreation economy in the Pennsylvania Wilds. These hallmarks include: use of creative partnerships and planning; fostering a strong sense of place and community pride; ability to replicate new ideas or models in other communities; and demonstration of strong grassroots support.

Question Title

* 1. NOMINATION CATEGORIES – CHECK ONE ONLY

Outstanding Leader Award: Honors a person, organization, business or elected official that has used their platform to advocate for outdoor recreation economic growth in the Pennsylvania Wilds as a way to create jobs, diversify local economies, inspire stewardship and improve quality of life.

Great Places Award: Honors innovative asset development and promotion that have worked together to create an excellent new or revamped sustainable tourism destination within the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Conservation Stewardship Award (Individual): Honors the best practices and achievements of an individual that demonstrates a commitment to conservation and outstanding resource stewardship of the natural and cultural assets in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Conservation Stewardship Award (Business/Organization): Honors the best practices and achievements of a business or organization that demonstrates a commitment to conservation and outstanding resource stewardship of the natural and cultural assets in the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Great Design Award: Honors an individual, business or organization that has done outstanding work to preserve, protect or enhance an area’s rural community character and to promote the use and understanding of the PA Wilds Design Guide.

Member of the Year Award: Honors individuals who have made exemplary contributions to the work of the PA Wilds Planning Team.

Artisan of the Year Award: Honors a PA Wilds Juried Artisan who has gone above and beyond to use their medium and creativity to promote the region or help advance the PA Wilds Artisan Trail.

Small Business of the Year Award: Honors a new or existing business owner that has taken bold steps to grow their business in a way that embodies what it means to marry conservation and economic development and to offer an authentic experience or product to visitors and residents.

Inspiring Youth Award: Honors an adult or youth who has made outstanding contributions to involve young people in the work to grow the region’s outdoor recreation economy and to conserve its unparalleled natural and cultural resource assets.

Event of the Year Award: Recognizes a festival, race, art show or other local or regional event in the Pennsylvania Wilds which through its quality and authenticity and use of the PA Wilds brand has become a regional attraction that is having a positive economic and social impact on the area.

Best Brand Ambassador: Honors an organization or individual who has made significant contributions to promoting and developing the Pennsylvania Wilds brand through logo use, place name recognition, branded product development, storytelling, event or experience packaging or similar efforts.

Other (please specify)

HOW TO APPLY- Submissions accepted year round. Nominations reviewed yearly in April.
To nominate yourself or others, please fill out Sections A, B and C.
If you have any questions, please call Candi Hand at (814) 545-1333
2015 deadline is March 20.

Question Title

* 2. Name of Nominee

Question Title

* 3. Address

Question Title

* 4. E-mail

Question Title

* 5. Telephone

Question Title

* 6. Award Category (Please select one)

Question Title

* 7. Name of Person Making Nomination

Question Title

* 8. Address

Question Title

* 9. Email

Question Title

* 10. Telephone

Question Title

* 11. Please include a narrative that addresses the following in 500 words or less.
- Describe why nominee is deserving of this recognition.
- Explain how efforts involved other partners; and how activities helped support one or more of the following goals: create jobs, diversify local economies, inspire stewardship of natural and cultural resources, and improve quality of life.
- If applicable, provide summary of approximate project cost, timeline and results.
- A photo of your nominee is required. Please email the photo to: candih@pottercountyedcouncil.org. Please state in the subject line which nomination the photo goes to - e.g. "Picture for X nomination".
- Support letters, reports, news articles, maps, renderings, video links and other supporting documents that bolster the application are strongly encouraged. They can be emailed to candih@pottercountyedcouncil.org.