of
FOSCR Members
and
Friends
2004 Freeman Tilden Award Winners
The National Freeman Tilden Award for Interpretive Excellence is presented
annually to a single individual for producing and/or presenting a program or
project that best exemplifies all that the profession of interpretation
represents. In the Intermountain Region the Interpretive Leadership Council,
comprised of representatives selected by the interpretive community in the
parks, review the nominations and decide on an individual to represent each
cluster. Then a panel comprised of the Regional Director, Regional Chief of
Interpretation, and another respected member of the interpretive profession
select a regional winner from among the three cluster winners.
This year's cluster winners include Roy Simpson from Tumacacori National
Historical Park, representing the Southwest cluster. Roy was selected for his
work in developing The Santa Cruz River: Its People and Environment, a
curriculum based education program designed mainly for the fourth grade
classes of Santa Cruz County, Arizona. Roy has done virtually everything
that has made this program a success. This includes: contacting and
maintaining a relationship with the principals and teachers involved in the
program; recruiting, training, and selecting high school mentors; writing
teachers curriculum guides and integrating the program into the fourth
grade curriculum; and writing grants to maintain funding for the program.
This program has helped students develop a deep appreciation for their
heritage and understand their role in protecting and preserving that heritage.
In recognition of valuable contribution to continuous service in the
field of environmental education, four FOSCR Members recently received
Educator Awards from the Arizona Association of Environmental Education.
Mike Alcala, Public Health Officer for Santa Cruz County volunteers at the
4th grade River Program at Tumacacori as well as advising students,
teachers and local citizens about the river, health issues and concerns.
Dennis Jex volunteers in a number of places, bringing his live snakes to the
river program and classrooms, as well as leading weekend river walks from
Tumacacori and Tubac.
Cynthia Shoemaker is a local teacher, author of the S.A.F.E. water education
curriculum and co-founder of the S.C.R.I.P.E. (The Santa Cruz River, its
People and Environment) teacher training program.
Roy Simpson is a park ranger at Tumacacori National Historical Park,
author of our three Teachers' guides about the river, architect and
coordinator of the river education program.