George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service

"When a VIP agrees to share his talents, skills and interests with the National Park Service, he is paying us one of the highest compliments possible by offering a most valued possession—his time."
—George B. Hartzog, Jr. Director, National Park Service, 1964–1972

In 1970, the Volunteers-In-Parks (VIP) program started with a few hundred volunteers. Today, hundreds of thousands of volunteers donate their time, skills, and talents to the National Park Service every year.

The George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service recognize the exemplary contributions of these very important people. After his retirement, George Hartzog and his wife Helen remembered the VIP program with a generous donation to the National Park Foundation. This fund has been used to support awards that honor the efforts of exceptional volunteers, groups, and park VIP programs. (Interested in volunteering? Find out how to get involved!)

George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service Map

View the interactive map highlighting current and previous national recipients of the George and Helen Hartzog Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service. The map provides a geographic overview of where recipients are located with links to information about them.