Park Authority Stewardship Awards Honor Natural Storytellers

It takes a special kind of skill, knowledge and talent to bring the wonders of local history and the natural world to life for park visitors. Those individuals who do that routinely were honored at the Fairfax County Park Authority’s 2008 Stewardship and Excellence in Interpretation Awards held last week at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon.

The recipient of the 2008 Stewardship Award was Dawn Kehrer, a historian at Colvin Run Mill Historic Site. Kehrer, a resident of Springfield, VA was recognized for her creation of a furnishing plan for the site. This plan will ensure the accuracy of current and future exhibits and provides interpreters with data and resources that will result in a unique and engaging experience for visitors to the still-active grist mill located in Great Falls.

The Excellence in Interpretation Award recognizes interpretation’s critical role in fulfilling the Park Authority mission and celebrates the exceptional interpretive skills of Resource Management Division staff. In 2006 two award categories were created: Outstanding Interpretive Program and Excellence in Interpretive Service.

Washingtonian Avery Gunther was named the 2008 Outstanding Interpretive Program Award recipient. For more than six years Gunther, a naturalist at Riverbend Park in Great Falls, has planned and implemented a varied menu of successful offerings geared for children six years and under. By creating programs, classes and camps for young children, she is responsible for attracting new audiences, effectively engaging kids in nature exploration and stimulating parent interest in Fairfax County’s natural resources.

The 2008 Excellence in Interpretive Services Award recipient is Ann Stat from Huntley Meadows Park in Alexandria, VA. Every day for the past 20 years her passion for natural resources and interpretive skills has enlivened programs, events and camps throughout Fairfax County resulting in 22,000 hours of high-quality interpretation. With humor, enthusiasm and energy this Alexandria resident connects with her audiences and makes nature relevant and accessible to them. She has breathed life into stewardship for more than 125,000 adults and 375,000 children.