Awards

Honoring Those Who Make a Difference
We recognize conservation and historical preservation efforts through a number of award programs. Read more details on each one below.

Historical Restoration Award


Recognizes entities that have affected the restoration of sites, structures, facilities or other features of significance to the history of the Forest Service.
More about this award
Eligibility: Any person or group who has made a significant contribution by restoring a U.S. Forest Service site, structure, facility or other feature used to achieve the Conservation Legacy of the U.S. Forest Service.

Nomination: Any member of the NMFSH can make a nomination. Then the Museum Awards Committee will work with the nominating person(s) to complete the process by providing their recommendations and supporting evidence for submission to the Museum Board of Directors.

Selection: The Board of Directors will select individuals for this award based upon the nomination information and recommendation of the Awards Committee.

The Award: A plaque will be presented to the recipient at an appropriate event. An attempt will be made to include the National Forest Service Historian or Regional Office Historian in the presentation ceremony. The recipient’s name will also be added to a permanent recognition plaque prominently displayed at the Museum facility listing all the previous winners of this award.

Conservation Legacy Award


Recognizes an organization, company, or individual that demonstrates an exceptional commitment to advancing the legacy of conservation of our National Forests and Grasslands. This prestigious award is intended to recognize major accomplishments that are significantly unique or have national or regional influence.
More about this award
Eligibility: Any person, organization or company which has made significant contributions toward the Purpose described above.

Nomination: Any member of the NMFSH can make a nomination. Then the Museum Awards Committee will work with the nominating person(s) to promptly complete the process by providing their recommendations and supporting evidence for submission to the Museum Board of Directors.

Selection: The Board of Directors will select winners based upon the nomination information and recommendation of the Museum Awards Committee.

The Award: A bronze bust of America’s first Forest Ranger, William R. Kreutzer, with an engraved plate, will be presented to the recipient at an appropriate event. An attempt will be made to include the Chief or his/her representative in the presentation ceremony. Their name will also be added to a permanent recognition plaque prominently displayed at the Museum facility listing all of the previous award winners.

Curator’s Award


Given to an organization, company, or individual that donates a significant contribution to the collection of Museum artifacts. All types of donated artifacts that are accepted by the Museum Curator are eligible for consideration. The artifacts must be unique and represent a significant new addition to the collection of artifacts managed by the Museum.
More about this award
Eligibility: Any person, organization, or company who has made a significant contribution of an artifact(s) to the NMFSH collection.

Nomination: Upon receipt of a significant artifact donation to the Museum, the Museum Curator will nominate this donor for consideration by the Executive Director.

Selection: The Executive Director will approve or disapprove this selection.

The Award: A plaque will be presented by the Executive Director to the recipient at an appropriate event. The recipient’s name will also be added to a permanent recognition plaque prominently displayed at the Museum facility listing all the previous recipients.

Gary G. Brown Founder’s Award


Numerous people have provided significant contributions to the establishment, organization and operations of the National Museum of Forest Service History. They have worked tirelessly to insure the history of the United States Forest Service is preserved, developed and displayed for current and future generations. These individuals have dedicated their service to the Museum by their generous contributions of time, efforts or financial resources. All have served in the classic tradition of dedicated volunteerism. The Board of Directors has established this award to honor individuals who have made significant contributions to achieving the mission of the Museum.
More about this award
Eligibility: Any person who has made dedicated contributions to the National Museum of Forest Service History can be nominated for the award.

Nomination: Any member of the NMFSH can nominate someone. Then the Museum Awards Committee will work with the nominating person(s) to complete the nomination process by providing their recommendations and supporting evidence to the Museum Board of Directors.

Selection: The Board of Directors will select individuals for this award based upon the nomination information and recommendation of the Award Committee.

The Award: A plaque will be presented to the individual at an appropriate event. Their name will also be added to a permanent recognition plaque prominently displayed at the Museum facility listing previous winners. An attempt will be made to include the Chief or his/her representative in the presentation ceremony.

Leisz Leadership Award


The Leisz Leadership Award recognizes an individual who has demonstrated outstanding and distinguished leadership of and for the United States Forest Service as both an employee and a volunteer. In order to be considered for this Award, the selected individual must:

  • Have been recognized as an distinguished career leader in the U. S. Forest Service
  • Have continued to demonstrate outstanding leadership as a volunteer in the National Association of Forest Service Retirees and the National Museum of Forest Service History
More about this award
Timing: Nominations for this award will be considered every three years and evaluated one year in advance of an upcoming National Forest Service Reunion.

Eligibility: Any person who has made exceptional contributions to the United States Forest Service and the National Museum of Forest Service History and the National Association of Forest Service Retirees pertaining to the Purpose described above.  There are no specific criteria for the selection of individuals to receive this Award other than the judgement of worthiness as determined by the Board of Directors of the National Museum of Forest Service History and the National Association of Forest Service Retirees.

Nomination: Any past or present member of the Board of Directors of either organization can nominate someone for this Award.  After a nomination has been received, the Award Committees from both organizations will process the nomination, develop supporting evidence, and present their recommendation to their individual Board of Directors.

Selection: The Board of Directors have the sole responsibility to select individuals for this Award based upon the nomination information and recommendation of their respective Award Committees. The Boards of Directors must approve the nomination of the individual selected for this Award and share their decision with the other Board. If one Board does not support the person nominated for the Award and the other does, the supporting Board can submit a request for reconsideration and their rationale to the Board who denied the award. The Award will not be given if the Board of Directors of either organization fails to support the nomination.

The Award: The organizations will jointly share in the cost of this Leisz Leadership Award. A bronze bust of Gifford Pinchot or an engraved plaque with an appropriate likeness of Gifford Pinchot will be the Award. The Award will be presented at an National Forest Service Reunion.

Presentation of the First Leisz Leadership Award
The National Association of Forest Service Retirees and the National Museum of Forest Service History have jointly presented a founding award for sustained Forest Service leadership to former Associate Chief Douglas R. Leisz. The award is called the Leisz Leadership Award. Consideration will be given to presenting it in the future every three years at the National Forest Service Reunion if a deserving candidate is identified.

The award was presented to Doug at the Eldorado National Forest headquarters in Placerville, CA on August 14 by Tom Thompson, President of the National Museum of Forest Service History, and Al West, representing the National Association of Forest Service Retirees. A group of friends were on hand to help congratulate Doug on this special recognition. Acknowledgement of this presentation and the establishment of this recognition will be made with video at the upcoming National Forest Service Reunion in Asheville, North Carolina in late September.

Doug retired as Associate Chief in 1982 and was a former Regional Forester in the Pacific Southwest Region and also served as the Forest Supervisor on the Eldorado National Forest in the early 1960’s. Doug was the founding Chair of the National Association of Forest Service Retirees and also served on the Board of the National Museum of Forest Service History for many years. Doug’s passion, dedication, and commitment to lead the Forest Service and support it through continuing efforts in both of these organizations over many years inspired the two respective Boards to establish this award in his honor.

Nominate Someone Today


Fill out the form below to nominate someone for one of the above awards. Choose which award you are nominating someone for, then tell us a bit about your nominee and how their conservation efforts deserve special recognition.

Deadline: February 1, 2024

Nominee's Information

Tell us about your nominee and how they fulfill the qualities of the award you've selected.

Your Information

Please enter your info so we can follow up with you if needed.

The NMFSH Newsletter

Subscribe today for updates on our Visitor's Center and other stories of forest history and conservation.

Our online newsletter saves trees, but we're still responsible. We'll never spam you.

X