[Geysers] NPS news release: Yellowstone ranger named Freeman Tilden Award winner

[Tonya Mathews]

National Park Service News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – November 14, 2008 
Contact: David Barna (202) 208-6843

Yellowstone ranger named Freeman Tilden Award winner 

WASHINGTON – Tom Cawley, Yellowstone National Park’s visual information specialist and web specialist, has been awarded the national Freeman Tilden award for excellence in interpretation. Cawley was honored Thursday evening for his work to create, produce and manage a series of web-based interpretive and educational programs that encourage visitors to experience Yellowstone in new ways. The programs are on the park’s website www.nps.gov/yell and include the live-streaming web cam Old Faithful Live! as well as the park’s series of web videos and podcasts, Online Rangers. Millions of people have visited the park web site to watch the videos and the web cam.National Park Service Director Mary A. Bomar singled out Cawley as one of the country’s top park rangers. “When people visit our national parks they know park rangers, like Tom, will have facts, figures and wonderful stories to share. Tom’s efforts with the web cam, videos and podcasts take those ranger stories beyond the evening campfire into people’s homes, classrooms, offices or wherever we go online today.” The Old Faithful Live! streaming web cam provides live video of Old Faithful geyser and hundreds of otherhydrothermal features on Geyser Hill. Web cam viewers can also see wildlife in the geyser basin and spectacular displays of seasonal conditions and phenomena. Online Rangers are web videos that feature uniformed park rangers and National Park Service scientists asthe hosts for engaging multimedia explorations of Yellowstone’s natural and cultural resources, management challenges, recreational opportunities, and educational experiences.

Cawley said he was shocked to learn he won the Freeman Tilden Award. “I have been ridiculously lucky,” he said. “I started late in interpretation at 30 years of age. The worldwide web opened up all sorts of opportunities to reach people.” The production of both Old Faithful Live! and OnlineRangers required adapting interpretive skills to the demands of electronic media – writing scripts for video, gathering visual elements to enhance interpretation of complex phenomena, editing content into engaging and accurate stories, and producing videos for online viewing and user needs. On his own initiative, Cawley researched the skills, equipment, and methods he needed to develop and deliver these products. He trained himself in videography and editing and worked with other park staff to prepare funding proposals to buy computers, camcorders and the additional software and hardware needed to support the projects. He also led extensive testing of all elements of the programs. Cawley said he was “thrilled that web work is important to what we all do and that I’m being recognized for it.” Intermountain Region Director Mike Snyder said, “Tom’s creative thinking elevated traditional park exhibits to a new level. He has incorporated web and interactive activities to encourage visitors of all ages to experience Yellowstone National Park in new ways.” The Freeman Tilden Award, sponsored in partnership by the National Park Service and the National Parks Conservation Association, annually recognizes outstanding contributions to the public through interpretation by a Park Service employee. It is named for Freeman Tilden, the author of The National Parks, What They Mean to You and Me and Interpreting Our Heritage. Tilden’s writings have had considerable influence on interpretation and education programs within NPS. The award was created in 1982 to stimulate and reward creative thinking and work that has positive effects on park visitors. Nominees are judged on creativity, originality and contributions to enhanced public understanding of the Park Service and the resources it protects. The 2008 Freeman Tilden Award nominees were Cawley, Don Pendergrast of the Alaska Region, Bryan Culpepper of the Midwest Region, Dwight Madison of the National Capital, Curtis White of the Northeast Region, Stephanie Sutton of the Pacific West Region, and Kimberly S. Coons of the Southeast Region. 

                                        -NPS-

_____________________________________________________________
This email service is courtesy of Yellowstone Net.
__________________
http://www.yellowstone.net