Parks & Trails Council to honor nine who’ve made significant contributions to Minnesota’s Great Outdoor Legacy
Minnesota’s parks, trails and other assorted wild outdoor places have long been celebrated as part of our state’s Great Outdoor heritage. On Thursday, April 24, 2008 at the Inaugural Ball of the Wild, the Parks & Trails Council of Minnesota is flipping the script and celebrating the extraordinary people and organizations behind these special places.
With the Mississippi River as its backdrop, the Parks & Trails Council will serve up our inaugural awards along with a gourmet dinner, live music and chocolate s’mores in the beautiful indoor-outdoor setting of the Nicollet Island Pavilion. Proceeds from the Parks & Trails Council’s Ball of the Wild will go toward fulfilling our mission of acquiring, protecting and enhancing critical lands for the public’s enjoyment now and in the future.
Individual tickets to the Parks & Trails Council’s Ball of the Wild can be purchased for $85 and regular tables of 10 for $850. Tickets must be purchased by Thursday, April 17. Premier level tables and sponsorship opportunities are also available. For more information, please visit www.parksandtrails.org or call Erin at 651-726-2457.
Award Winners by category
Access
Camp Sunrise – A 34-year-old multicultural youth development program, Camp Sunrise brings together youth and adults from diverse backgrounds to live, work and learn in Minnesota’s great outdoor environments.
Kao Thao – For more than 10 years Fort Snelling State Park Naturalist Kao Thao has furthered the excellence of public parks through his extraordinary work connecting urban youth and adults and other underrepresented park user groups to nature and the outdoors.
Business
Scott Harrison – Lutsen Resort & Sea Villas Owner Scott Harrison has helped promote tourism opportunities on Minnesota’s North Shore since 1988 through his active involvement in development efforts of the Gitchi-Gami State Trail, Lake Superior water trails and as a board member of the Lutsen-Tofte Tourism Association.
Community Service
Eric Hart – A Midtown Greenway Coalition board member since 1996, Eric has worked tirelessly to build and promote the Midtown Greenway bike and pedestrian trail in Minneapolis, particularly in the Longfellow neighborhood where he resides.
Friends Group
Friends of Lake Shetek – This committed group of volunteers has generously given time, money and labor to protect, enhance and expand natural, cultural and physical amenities at Lake Shetek State Park.
Arts & Communications
Charlie Maguire – Since the mid-1980s, musician and songwriter Charlie Maguire has devoted a significant portion of his career to acting as a voice for Minnesota State Parks as their "Centennial Troubadour" and also for the National Park Service as their first official "Singing Ranger".
Education
Cara Madsen – As the regional coordinator for the popular Women in the Outdoors program, Cara shares her passion and knowledge of the outdoors with countless groups of women through organized outdoor adventures.
Government/Citizen Action
Terry McGaughey – More commonly known as Mr. Paul Bunyan Trail, Terry McGaughey has spent a quarter of a century working to make the 110-mile state trail connecting Crow Wing State Park to Lake Bemidji State Park a reality.
Emil Sturzenegger – 91-year-old Emil Sturzenegger took his passion for pedestrian safety to a whole new level when he advocated for and convinced local and state officials to build a trail in Maplewood bordering Battle Creek Regional Park.
