The PA Wilds Planning Team wants to recognize individuals, groups, organizations or businesses that have done outstanding work in the last year to help grow and sustainably develop the outdoor recreation economy in the Pennsylvania Wilds through its annual PA Wilds Champion Awards.

Nominations are due March 20.

Past PA Wilds Champion award winners have represented talented artisans, communities, events, youth projects, new business development, local historic/cultural events, great leaders who share the vision of public and private sector partners to grow the region’s nature and heritage tourism industry to create jobs, diversify local economies, inspire stewardship and improve quality of life.

“The PA Wilds ingenuity encourages those that hold dear this distinctive area in the Penn’s Woods to gently share our unique treasures and our successes along the way. Thereby connecting naturally and economically to people seeking something different and new,” said Planning Team Chair Jan Hampton. “Tourism is a growing industry that will enable our region to thrive and grow. It is truly amazing how many local businesses have sprouted and taken root. The Champion Awards are the Planning Team’s mechanism of recognizing and supporting these positive efforts. So we wholeheartedly invite the public to nominate PA Wilds Champions from their areas. We want to make sure they are honored and recognized for their contributions and ingenuity towards this effort.”

Categories for the 6th Annual Champion of the PA Wilds Awards include: outstanding leader; great places, conservation stewardship both individual and organization, great design, member of the year, artisan of the year, entrepreneur/business of the year, inspiring youth award, outstanding event and best brand ambassador.

The 12 1/2 -county PA Wilds region, which covers about a quarter of the Commonwealth, boasts 29 state parks, 8 state forests, 50 state game lands, two National Wild & Scenic Rivers, some of the darkest skies in the world, the largest wild elk herd in the northeast, the only National Forest in Pennsylvania, the PA Wilds Artisan Trail and a multitude of historic and culturally diverse communities and events that exemplify the uniqueness of this region of the Commonwealth.

Awards will be presented at the PA Wilds Planning Team’s Annual Dinner on April 30 at the Red Fern in St. Marys.

Click Here for a nomination form.  For assistance contact Candi Hand at 814-545-1333 or send email to: candih@pottercountyedcouncil.org.

1/26/2015