Yosemite Association Wins National Partnership Awards

At its recent convention the Association of Partners for Public Lands (APPL) recognized the Yosemite Association for excellence in service. APPL's Media and Partnership Awards are an annual competition for non-profits across the United States that support public lands. In the 2004 awards, the Yosemite Association won first prize for its Outdoor Education and Cooperative Work Weeks Programs, and honorable mention for its publication A Trip To Yosemite, and its 80th Anniversary Commemorative Project.

APPL awarded Yosemite Outdoor Adventures top prize for on-site educational programs noting the great variety of offerings for diverse groups that include courses in Spanish and Junior Ranger activities. Since 1971, the Yosemite Association has been offering quality, educational courses through its Outdoor Adventure Program. Taught by park rangers, experienced naturalists, and field scientists, the classes focus on enhancing park interpretation and the national park service ideal of stewardship. Through the program, participants can experience Yosemite in-depth in a variety of subject areas: hiking, backpacking, photography, art, natural history, and writing.

The association's Cooperative Work Weeks Program was the winner in the Public Land Improvement category. Since 1988, the Yosemite Association has been coordinating teams of members who spend a week volunteering on important resource management projects in Yosemite National Park. In 2003, volunteers performed over 2,750 hours of labor to help preserve and restore Yosemite's natural resources. This program is a cooperative effort with Yosemite Institute, Delaware North Companies Parks & Resorts at Yosemite, and the Resource Management Division of the National Park Service.

Throughout its history, the Yosemite Association has contributed more than $10 million to aid park programs in Yosemite, and celebrated its 80th anniversary in 2003. The association maintains a roster of over 10,000 members, and with its earned revenues donates funds to the National Park Service to support education, research, and environmental efforts in Yosemite.