The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) 2018 INSPIRE Award Announcement of Winner
UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20240–0036
http://www.blm.gov
October 26, 2018
In Reply Refer To:
1115, 8362 (420) P
EMS TRANSMISSION 11/07/2018
Information Bulletin No. 2019-003
To: All Washington Office and Field Office Officials
From: Assistant Director, National Conservation Lands and Community Partnerships
Subject: The Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) 2018 INSPIRE Award Announcement of Winner
We are pleased to announce the winner of the BLM’s 2018 INSpirational Interpretation and Resource Education (INSPIRE) Award, Corrine (Cory) Coffman. Cory serves as the Environmental Education Specialist at the Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area (NCA) in Idaho.
Cory was instrumental in planning and executing the many events marking the 25th anniversary of the NCA and ensured there was a 25th anniversary event for everyone who participated. The celebration raised awareness of the NCA and the recreational and other resources the NCA offers.
The NCA is designated because it has the highest density of nesting raptors in the country and Cory was able to bring in a great-horned owl, prairie falcon, and red-tailed hawk for public presentations.
Cory has also facilitated the addition of the Raptor Quest program for all third graders in the NCA’s gateway community of Kunaj, which has increased opportunities students to get outdoors within the community by expanding the NCA’s hiking series. Cory also continued to organize the NCA’s annual raptor banding trips, which allow the public to help band raptors to further the US Fish & Wildlife Service’s research studies.
Cory also coordinated the 25th anniversary Kick-Off Party and the Snake River RaptorFest. She arranged for tours and lectures during the RaptorFest, including the addition of a Bikes and Birds event, a guided bicycle birding tour. More than 1,500 people attended each event. Cory was instrumental in organizing volunteers for Idaho’s largest “Clean Up Event”, which resulted in approximately 600 volunteers removing more than 210 cubic yards of trash from the NCA.
Cory's contributions have helped spread the shared conservation stewardship message of public lands to thousands of individuals, school groups, and civic organizations in the Treasure Valley of Idaho. By including the full NCA staff, as well as other BLM technical specialists and academic scientists, in her outreach plans she created synergy between the education and science goals of the NCA; and created a new pool of partners and volunteers who continue to work on NCA projects after being inspired by Cory's presentations.
We invite Cory to attend the Federal Excellence in Interpretation Awards ceremony on November 29, 2018, held in conjunction with the National Association for Interpretation’s 2018 National Conference. This year’s conference is November 27 – December 1, in New Orleans, Louisiana. Winners of the Hiram M. Chittenden Award (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), Sense of Wonder Award (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service), Gifford Pinchot Excellence in Interpretation and Conservation Education Award (U.S. Forest Service), and Freeman Tilden Award (National Park Service) are also acknowledged during this ceremony.
Congratulations to Cory and many thanks to all who participated in this year’s awards competition. Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Brianna Candelaria, BLM National Lead for Interpretation, at (202) 912-7583 or bcandela@blm.gov.
Signed by: Authenticated by:
Nikki Haskett Robert M. Williams
Acting, Assistant Director Division of Business Resources,WO-850
National Conservation Lands and
Community Partnerships