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The Shawnee National Forest has recognized Volunteer and Trails Coordinator Kelly Pearson as a recipient of the National Volunteer Program Award in the category of Forest Service Employee.
Pearson received the award regionally and nationally for advancing and promoting the volunteer program, according to a release from the U.S. Forest Service.
Pearson developed the Shawnee Volunteer Corps and designed and implemented the Master Trail Steward Program using her talent for networking and development partnerships, according to the release. Her work includes building ties with University of Illinois Extension, Southern Illinois University, Illinois State University, AmeriCorps and other partners.
Since its inception in 2005 the Master Trial Steward Program has hosted 1,583 volunteers on the national forest who have provided 28,956 hours of labor and maintained 70 miles of trail, a monetary equivalent of $688,938 worth of labor. To date 14 Master Trail Stewards have completed the course most of whom continue to help in reconstructing and maintaining the Forest's designated trail system.
Pearson's work has resulted growth of of the program from 4,407 hours of volunteer labor in 2006 to 14,118 hours in 2010, the equivalent of 2.45 full time employees.
The Shawnee National Forest has recognized Volunteer and Trails Coordinator Kelly Pearson as a recipient of the National Volunteer Program Award in the category of Forest Service Employee.
Pearson received the award regionally and nationally for advancing and promoting the volunteer program, according to a release from the U.S. Forest Service.
Pearson developed the Shawnee Volunteer Corps and designed and implemented the Master Trail Steward Program using her talent for networking and development partnerships, according to the release. Her work includes building ties with University of Illinois Extension, Southern Illinois University, Illinois State University, AmeriCorps and other partners.
Since its inception in 2005 the Master Trial Steward Program has hosted 1,583 volunteers on the national forest who have provided 28,956 hours of labor and maintained 70 miles of trail, a monetary equivalent of $688,938 worth of labor. To date 14 Master Trail Stewards have completed the course most of whom continue to help in reconstructing and maintaining the Forest's designated trail system.
Pearson's work has resulted growth of of the program from 4,407 hours of volunteer labor in 2006 to 14,118 hours in 2010, the equivalent of 2.45 full time employees.
