News Release
NPS
Contact: Alexandra Picavet, Midwest Region Chief of Communications Email: apicavet@nps.gov
Trail Safe! Video Series Creator Recognized with Superior Service Award
Omaha, Neb. — Dan Watson, Ice Age National Scenic Trail Volunteer Coordinator, was recently recognized with a Superior Service Award for his contributions in creating the Trail Safe! video series. The training series was originally developed to provide trail volunteers with an accessible venue to learn the tenets of National Park Service Operational Leadership. Thanks to the successful implementation at the trail, the series now serves as a Servicewide refresher-training tool for all NPS employees and volunteers.
Working at a trail that spans over 1,200 miles, Watson identified a need for bringing critical safety training to long distance trail volunteers where formal classroom settings were not possible. By working with the tools at hand, and securing in-kind technical support, Watson captured all core- learning objectives of NPS Operational Leadership in a series of eight self-study videos.
After its successful implementation at Ice Age NST, staff, volunteers, and partner organizations are adopting Trail Safe! throughout the National Trails System as a valuable safety tool. Now, Trail Safe! is available to any NPS employee or volunteer with access to the internet. The training can be completed from home or the field, greatly reducing expenses and logistics of formal classroom training.
Through his efforts, Watson has significantly enhanced safety-training opportunities hroughout the National Trails System and the service. To see the videos or share them with your volunteers, visit https://www.nps.gov/iatr/trail-safe.htm.
NPS
The Midwest Region encompasses 61 park areas in 13 states (Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa, Missouri, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Arkansas, and North and South Dakota), and has been headquartered in Omaha since the mid-1930s.
Last updated: August 28, 2019