Award winners announced by DNR State Parks and Reservoirs

Indiana DNR Release:

Three employees of the DNR Division of State Parks and Reservoirs, one from Falls of the Ohio, one from McCormick’s Creek, and one from Potato Creek state parks, were recently honored with Monarch awards from the division.

The annual awards are the division’s way of recognizing its seasonal interpretive naturalists, heritage interpreters, and tour guides who have displayed and implemented an innovative program or project that has benefited the property, the division, or the interpretive profession.

Connie Farmer of Falls of the Ohio in Clarksville was honored for her work with the Naturalist at Heart program, which trains, supervises, and uses the talented efforts of more than 100 volunteers at the state park.

Amanda Simmons of McCormick’s Creek in Spencer received a Monarch for coordinating the park’s first “Barbeque and Blues” festival last fall, which promises to be an annual event at the park.

Marie Hamstra of Potato Creek in North Liberty received a Monarch for her successful management of the park’s nature center, oversight of Young Hoosier Conservation Corps workers, and assisting during two large special events that drew several thousand visitors.

The recipients’ names will be engraved on a plaque along with past winners.

The first Monarch Award was presented in 1993, and the tradition carries on today, when the award is presented each year at the annual interpreter’s training session in May.