NCR selected Dwight Madison, Rock Creek Park, as its 2008 regional Freeman Tilden Award winner. His selection was clearly deserved for "Why Are There No Bears in Rock Creek Park?" — Rock Creek Park's First Children's Book project, Madison’s creation of a 21st-century fable, which he wrote in lyrical prose, walks young readers through the human behavior that slowly stripped away bear habitat in Rock Creek Park. In addition to working with illustrators, who provided beautiful color paintings of the park’s animals and plants, Madison included his own striking photographs of the park in the book.

NCR recognized other outstanding employees through its presentation of three regional interpretive awards:

Regional Interpretive Awards

Interpretive Teamwork Award: The Prince William Forest Park’s 1930s Heritage Days Team received the Interpretive Teamwork Award. The park's Heritage Days event commemorated the 75th anniversary of Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal programs. Throughout the event, musicians performed music of the 1930s and heritage craftsmen and women showcased skills that members of the Civilian Conservation Corps would have learned. Demonstrations included blacksmithing, hand hewing logs and operating a portable sawmill. The park's talented maintenance staff also conducted an onsite restoration of a cabin.

Sustained Interpretive Services Award: Carl Lennartson, Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, received the Sustained Interpretive Services Award. Lennartson blends music, humor, showmanship, visitor interaction, and an easy-going style to help visitors experience life on the 1870s canal and explore the importance of preserving a piece of it. With his “bag of tricks” not two trips are alike, and he serves as a mentor for seasonal employees.

Support to Interpretation Award: The Williamsport Trolley Barn Exhibit Support Team, from the Chesapeake and Ohio Canal National Historical Park, received the Support to Interpretation Award. This group of people provided a variety of skills and services to prepare the Trolley Barn to receive the National Canal Museum traveling exhibit, "Building America's Canals." They cleaned and painted the Trolley Barn was cleaned up, as well renovated it for accessibility. In addition, the team provided additional exhibit work and technology components for the exhibits.

NCR held the ceremony at the Indigo Landing Restaurant, along the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Eastern National sponsored the event. Last year’s regional Freeman Tilden award winner, Ron Harvey, Rock Creek Park, served as master of ceremonies. Lisa Mendelson-Ielmini, acting regional director; Sue Hansen, regional chief of Interpretation and Education; Cathy Beeler, Laura Cohen, Mona Enquist-Johnston, Fairfax County Parks; and Laura Loomis, senior director of Government Affairs, National Parks Conservation Association; Mendelson-Ielmini and Harvey presented the awards.

For more information contact Sally Griffin, NCR, NPS, at (202) 619-7145.