WI Awards and Honors

Wilderness Inquiry has been honored to receive many awards from our friends and partner organizations over the years. A few of these awards and honors are listed here. These awards reflect the commitment and dedication of staff and volunteers at Wilderness Inquiry to share the adventure with everyone.

WI Wins Non-Profits Excellence Award

Wilderness Inquiry was the recipient of the 2010 Excellence Award from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and MAP for Nonprofits. The award was presented at a ceremony in Duluth, MN on October 7th, 2010.

Wilderness Inquiry was selected among other nominees to receive the Nonprofit Excellence Award because of our alignment with the Minnesota Council of Nonprofit's "Principles and Practices for Nonprofit Excellence." This award recognizes the overall quality, responsibility, and accountability of Wilderness Inquiry's programs, management, and governance.

We are honored to have received this distinction, and for being recognized as a leader among Minnesota's nonprofits.

Check out these links for more information, photos, and video surrounding WI, the award, and the event:

• VIDEO: Wilderness Inquiry receives Nonprofit Excellence Award

• 2010 Nonprofit Mission and Excellence Awards Recipients

• Minnesota Council of Nonprofits

• MAP for Nonprofits

Representing WI at the award ceremony from left: Josh, Cory, Amanda, Lee, Mark, Sarah, Megan, Greg, Jenni, Greg

Wilderness Society

In 2005, The Wilderness Society presented a special "Environmental Heroes" award to Wilderness Inquiry and its executive director, Greg Lais, for exceptional efforts to protect wilderness in Minnesota.

"Greg Lais has given heart and soul to this mission for more than a quarter century," said Rebecca Rom, former chairperson of The Wilderness Society's Governing Council and an attorney with Faegre and Benson in Minneapolis. "He has proved that it is not necessary to compromise wilderness values to provide quality access for everyone."

http://www.wilderness.org

American Network of Community Options and Resources (ANCOR)
Community Building Award

Also presented in 2005, this award recognizes Wilderness Inquiry's leadership in helping to initiate change in communities and organizations that result in persons being increasingly valued and included as community members.

http://www.ancor.org

AAIDD Full Community Inclusion Award 2005

This award recognizes Wilderness Inquiry as a model and inspiration for other community integration efforts at the local, state, regional, national, and international levels. Based in Washington DC, AAMR promotes progressive policies, sound research, effective practices, and universal human rights for people with intellectual disabilities.

http://www.aaidd.org

Memorandum of Understanding with Federal land Management Agencies

On July 26th, 2005, Wilderness Inquiry and all federal land management agencies renewed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote use of federal recreation lands by persons of all ages, backgrounds and abilities.

Wilderness Inquiry hosted the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in the Cannon House Office Building in Washington, DC, with the USDA Forest Service, the Bureau of Land Management, the Bureau of Reclamation, the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the US Army Corps of Engineers. Honorary hosts for the event included Congressman Martin Sabo, Congressman James Ramstad and Congresswoman Betty McCollum. Congressman Steve Pearce from New Mexico also joined the event. The signing took place on the 15-year anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act.

MOU Group
Left to right: Gerald Barnes, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Greg Lais, Wilderness Inquiry, Matthew Hogan, Acting Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Steve Martin, Deputy Director, National Park Service, Ed Shepard, Assistant Director, Bureau of Land Management, John Keys, Commissioner, Bureau of Reclamation, Congressman Steven Pearce, Dale Bosworth, Chief, USDA Forest Service, Congressman Martin Sabo. Not pictured: Congresswoman Betty McCollum.

REI Awards WI Volunteer Bob Gregory Environmental Steward Award In 2003, as part of its ongoing commitment to promote outdoor stewardship, Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) honored long-time WI friend and volunteer Bob Gregory. This award included a $25,000 contribution to Wilderness Inquiry's scholarship fund. http://www.rei.com

White House recognition for contributions to the betterment of American society Wilderness Inquiry was recognized at the White House in 1991 for its contributions to American Society. At right: Greg Lais greets Barbara Bush at a reception for Queen Sylvia of Sweden. http://www.whitehouse.gov

National Therapeutic Recreation Association's Organization of the Year Award Wilderness Inquiry was honored as the Organization of the Year in 1988 by the National Therapeutic Recreation Association. At Right: Leo McAvoy receives the organization of the year award on behalf of Wilderness Inquiry from Tom McPike. http://www.nrpa.org

Minnesota State Council Distinguished Service Award (twice) 1992 and 2002 http://www.state.mn.us ARC of Minnesota's "Bogg's Mitchell Award" recognizing outstanding integrated recreation programs 2003. http://www.arcmn.org