Bill Pierce
MAINE DEPARTMENT OF INLAND FISHERIES AND WILDLIFE

Building Inland Fisheries and Wildlife’s Future One Step at a Time
Bill Pierce is a longtime member of the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (IFW). For 10 years, as part of their Information and Education Division, Bill has worked tirelessly to promote IFW’s programs and initiatives throughout Maine, and it shows in his many successes.

Marianne Skeen
GEORGIA APPALACHIAN TRAIL CLUB

Advocating the Outdoors for Future Generations
A retired zoology professor from Emory University, in Atlanta, Georgia, Marianne Skeen is a role model for outdoor stewardship and education. As a member of the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club for over 25 years, Marianne has been recognized consistently for her commitment to youth outreach and trail maintenance.

Tom Jewell
PORTLAND TRAILS

Protecting Portland’s Natural Resources
Tom Jewell has enjoyed the natural beauty of the Portland Peninsula ever since childhood. As a college student in 1976, he convinced the Maine Audubon to protect the land around the peninsula. His efforts resulted in the creation of the Fore River Sanctuary—an 85-acre nature preserve that is home to Jewell Falls, Portland’s only natural waterfall.

Joe Payne
FRIENDS OF CASCO BAY

An unflagging advocate for our coastal waters
Casco Bay, located in Southern Maine is both a working waterfront and a recreational treasure. In 1989, after an alarming report about pollution levels in Casco Bay, Friends of Casco Bay hired their first staff person—Joe Payne. Since then, he has worked tirelessly to improve water conditions.

Lori Jean Kinsey
TIN MOUNTAIN CONSERVATION CENTER

Inspiring a generation of environmental stewards
With a love of nature matched only by her passion for teaching, Lori Jean Kinsey has been inspiring the next generation of outdoor stewards for the past 25 years.

Joe Sloane
BLUE HILLS TRAILWATCH

A lifelong passion for the outdoors
In the 1990s, mountain biking access in the Blue Hills of Massachusetts came under the scrutiny of state park managers, who were concerned that they would not have the staffing to support this new recreational use. In a true grassroots effort, Joe Sloane and a few friends started a volunteer program to help educate other mountain bikers.

Thomas Kerr
WILDLANDS CONSERVANCY

A long history of education, advocacy and conservation
For almost 20 years, Thomas Kerr led the Wildlands Conservancy, a conservation organization based in eastern Pennsylvania. During this tenure, Thomas inspired countless children and adults through his "teaching by doing" philosophy.

Liz Putnam
SCA

Founder of the Student Conservation Association
As a college student over 50 years ago, Liz Putnam read an article calling attention to the numerous threats facing our national parks. Moved to action, she proposed as her senior thesis the creation of a volunteer student conservation corps.

Buzz Caverly
THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LANDS

Gave his time to help add 4,000 acres of land to Baxter State Park
In 2005 after an impressive 46 years of service to Maine's Baxter State Park, Buzz Caverly decided to continue his service to Percival Baxter's vision. An opportunity arose to add 4,000 acres of pristine land around Katahdin Lake to the park, and Buzz jumped at the chance to help make it happen.

Dave Field
MAINE APPALACHIAN TRAIL CLUB

52 Years of Conservation and Trail Maintenance
Anyone who has ever done trail maintenance knows that it is grueling yet rewarding work. The historic Appalachian Trail is fortunate to have some of the country’s most dedicated volunteers maintaining the trails, but the Maine Appalachian Trail Club’s Dave Field stands out in this distinguished crowd.

Kay Henry
NORTHERN FOREST CANOE TRAIL

The Driving Force Behind a Recreational Treasure
In the late 1990s, Kay Henry had an idea. An avid paddler with a healthy dose of drive, Kay dreamed of creating an easily accessible “water trail” throughout the Northeast. To do so, she began fundraising efforts—first through corporate support from the Outdoor industry, then through four years of Federal funding to build the trail. In time, she raised over $1 million to turn her dream into a reality.

Greg Ponte
MAINE TROUT UNLIMITED TROUT CAMP

A Long History of Education, Advocacy and Conservation
Having taken the Maine Trout Unlimited Trout Camp from a far-fetched idea to reality in a remarkably short time, Greg Ponte now serves tirelessly as its executive director. Greg’s camp has helped over 60 teenagers learn about themselves, the sport of fly fishing and the conservation issues facing the next generation of anglers.