WASHINGTON, D.C.— Secretary of the Interior Gale Norton today presented the 2005 National Take Pride in America Awards. The Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program is a winner in the federal volunteer program category. Secretary Norton, USA Freedom Corps Director Desiree Sayle and Take Pride in America Executive Director Marti Allbright commended the volunteers during the Department of Interior event. Clint Eastwood, Take Pride spokesman, addressed the audience via a recorded video message.

“Across America, there are people performing their civic duty. The individuals we honor today have surpassed simple duty and gone on to achieve excellence," Secretary Norton said. "Today's winners have given their time, their labor and their commitment to the lands that belong to all Americans. It is these citizens who make this Nation great."

"The winners that we celebrate today truly demonstrate the mission of Take Pride. The Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program worked in the spirit of cooperative conservation by working with other organizations and individuals to accomplish a shared goal,” Allbright said. “At Take Pride, we're thrilled to have volunteers of this caliber who embody the message of stewardship across our shared lands. It's an honor to recognize these individuals for their efforts."

The Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program, now recognized as “Get Outdoors Nevada,” was funded by the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act and is administered by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Public Lands Institute. This interagency program provides one point of contact for community residents to research opportunities, register for special events and apply for volunteer positions available on all public lands surrounding Las Vegas, Nev.

The four federal public lands agencies involved in this unique partnership include the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service under the Department of the Interior and the U.S. Forest Service under the Department of Agriculture. Together, these agencies manage more than seven million acres in southern Nevada.

“Get Outdoors Nevada” recruited more than 585 volunteers who contributed a total of 2,955 hours in 2004. Conservation events included litter and debris cleanup, trail repair, habitat restoration, road restoration, invasive weed removal, native plant propagation and planting, and outdoor education. The intent of this program is to foster both an understanding and a sense of responsibility for public lands and the natural and cultural resources these lands support.

The Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program was initiated in 2001 when the Outside Las Vegas Foundation, a private non-profit organization, asked the National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA) to build a partnership among the existing southern Nevada federal land volunteer programs to avoid confusion and provide a cohesive, centralized source of information for the region’s volunteers. The NPS RTCA program provides technical assistance to community groups and works with local, State, and federal government agencies to conserve rivers, preserve open space, and develop trails and greenways.

Take Pride in America, coordinated by the U.S. Department of the Interior, is a national partnership program that recruits, supports and recognizes volunteers who work to improve our public parks, forests, grasslands, reservoirs, wildlife refuges, cultural and historic sites, local playgrounds, and other recreation areas.

For more information regarding the Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program visit: www.getoutdoorsnevada.org. The Outside Las Vegas Foundation is dedicated to preserving the federal public lands surrounding Las Vegas, enriching the experience of its visitors, enhancing the quality of life for local residents and promoting community stewardship of these valuable resources. For more information visit: www.outsidelasvegas.org. For information about the NPS Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Program, visit www.nps.gov/rtca.