Congratulations to the 2017 “Making a Difference” Volunteer Award Winners!
Today, the Bureau of Land Management will present 8 awards to valuable volunteers from across the nation, including three youth awards. Across the nation, volunteers are integral to helping BLM achieve its day-to- day responsibilities of public land stewardship. Last year alone, over 27,000 BLM volunteers performed nearly 1 million hours of service, valued at close to $23 million. The annual "Making a Difference" Award recognizes exceptional volunteers who have contributed thousands of hours to improving the public lands. These hard-working volunteers have helped the BLM monitor cultural resources, improve fish habitats, keep campers safe, and provide environmental education, interpretation, and other visitor services.
Take a look at each of the award winners on the BLM’s National Flickr album for the winners, and find more information about volunteering with the Bureau of Land Management on the “Volunteers” page our website.
Celebrating BLM Volunteers during National Volunteer Week!
April 10-16 is National Volunteer Week. Although the BLM’s fantastic volunteers deserve thanks every day, it’s especially appropriate to highlight their contributions during this special week. With that, the BLM extends a warm, heartfelt “Thank You” to the 25,000+ volunteers who supported the BLM in 2015 and continue to do so today!
Volunteers served over 1 million hours to the BLM in 2015, the equivalent of 577 work years. Using the Independent Sector’s hourly rate for volunteers, that represents $23.5 million dollars’ worth of service donated to the Bureau, a 29:1 return on investment. The BLM simply could not do all that it does without these volunteer contributions. Moreover, the many BLM staff members who recruit, screen, train, and supervise volunteers do so while also working in myriad other positions, balancing countless other duties. Volunteers are not free; it takes concerted effort on the part of BLM employees to guide their service. Thus a thank you to our volunteers would not be complete without a thank you to our employees who support them.
Volunteers contribute to every facet of the BLM’s work in every Field, District and State office, as well as every Monument, National Conservation Area, and Center. From day-to-day activities like trail or facility maintenance and greeting guests at visitor centers, to ongoing service such as working with the Site Steward and Wild Horses and Burros programs, to seasonal opportunities such as serving as a campground host, to large-scale events such as National Public Lands Day, volunteers are an integral part of the work that we do. If you see a BLM volunteer (or a BLM staff member who supports volunteers) this week, please take a moment to thank them for all they do for our agency and the public! We deeply appreciate the time, energy, and effort they give us all year long.
The nation has celebrated National Volunteer Week every year since 1974. The creator of this annual event, Points of Light, is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service and works to recognize people who engage in their communities and encourage us all to do so.
More on volunteering with the BLM here.
Story by Linda Schnee, National Volunteer Program Lead
