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Contact: Carol Borneman, 606-246-1070
Cumberland Gap National Historical Park (NHP) Ranger Pamela Eddy was recently selected as the recipient of the 2018 Freeman Tilden Award for the Southeast Region of the National Park Service (NPS). The Freeman Tilden Award is the highest recognition given in the National Park Service for excellence in interpretation and education. This prestigious award has been presented annually since 1981.Ranger Eddy was recognized for her leadership in the planning and implementation of Cumberland Gap National Historical Park’s 2017 “National Park's 101 - Become a Dream Ranger,” a placed-based course that offered innumerable opportunities for park visitors to be immersed in history, nature, and mountain culture. Working in concert with other park staff at Big South Fork National River and Recreational Area, Obed Wild and Scenic River, and historic sites in Virginia along the Wilderness Road Trail, Eddy was successful in bringing a broad spectrum of experiences for the participants. “Her unique interpretive style of visitor participation in programs have earned the respect and admiration by her peers and transformed the lives of the local community,” states Carol Borneman, the park’s Chief of Interpretation and Education, who nominated Eddy for the award.
Throughout 2016, the National Park Service’s Centennial, visitors were encouraged to “Find Your Park.” As Centennial celebrations began winding down, Ranger Eddy was still flying high after the park’s successful premier Centennial event “An American Memoir: From the Hearts of Our Ancestors…Into the Hands of Our Children” which was attended by almost 10,000 visitors including 2500+ school children. Ranger Eddy was the creative genius behind the “History & Heritage Frontier” venue where visitors reflected upon America’s colonial past, an era of greatly conflicting values.
Ranger Eddy felt the Centennial celebration euphoric feeling which still enveloped the entire Cumberland Gap team. Her creative cogs were already turning. Eddy rallied together the park’s interpretive and education team. The consensus was to insure that the momentum inspired by the “Find Your Park” campaign would not wane. With the second generation of park visitors finding their parks, Ranger Eddy knew the next logical and important sequence would be for visitors to understand their parks so they would become ardent supporters. Ranger Eddy embraced the seamless connection of the NPS 101st anniversary to 101 introductory college courses, a universal concept. “National Parks 101 – Become a Dream Ranger” was born!
Many visitors in 2016 shared with Ranger Eddy how as young children or college students they dreamed of becoming a park ranger. When connecting with these visitors, Ranger Eddy immediately understood that dream. As a young child, a family vacation across the US and ultimately to Alaska, included many stops at national park units. The dream of being a ranger was ignited within the young Pam Eddy. “I held that dream tightly within my heart and never let it fade away. Today, a picture from that family vacation and a young me at Mount Rushmore National Memorial is prominently displayed in my office,” shares a proud Ranger Eddy.
A 2017 December graduation ceremony included components found in all graduation ceremonies. Participants wore their Dream Ranger baseball caps with tassels proudly moved from the right to the left after they received diplomas. Each was awarded a special Dream Ranger badge. For the ceremony, Ranger Eddy created a moving program which included historic photos of NPS sites illustrating the first 100 years of the NPS. Throughout the year, Dream Rangers were asked: “What will you preserve?” “What do you most value?” “Do these values include national parks?” During the graduation, Dream Rangers were again asked: “What will your role be in the National Park Service?” “How will you impact the collective heritage of the National Park Service during the next 100 years?”
Ranger Eddy was presented with the award on November 29 at the National Association for Interpretation Conference in New Orleans, Louisiana where she competed against several other regional award winners for the national award. Elyssa Shalla, a Park Ranger at Grand Canyon National Park, was selected as the national recipient of the 2018 Freeman Tilden Award.
Last updated: February 21, 2019