AORE AWARDS

Awards Timeline

The awards nominations process is always open. The consideration period for each year closes on September 30th.
- Example: nominations submitted Oct 1, 2023 - Sept 30, 2024 will be considered for the 2024 Outdoor Professional Conference.
All nominees will receive an email/invitation to attend the Outdoor Professional Conference on October 1st each year.
Blind reviews performed by the the Board of Directors: October 1-15th each year.
Winners of any awards are announced and celebrated during the Outdoor Professional Conference each year.

Voting Process

Members of the Board of Directors will review and score each application. All identifying information will be removed to ensure that the process is completed without bias. Each application will be scored on four factors, with the highest score being 20.

Final winners will be selected based on highest average score per award:

Rank 1-5: How well do the examples provided represent this AORE value?
Rank 1-5: How well do these examples show an impact on their community?
Rank 1-5: How well do these examples show an impact on/for AORE?
Rank 1-5: Based on the information provided, how would you rate this nominee overall?

AORE BIG 4 AWARDS

Each year, the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education recognizes work or leadership of unusual significance in the field of outdoor recreation and education, including contributions to the Association which are far beyond the ordinary and which have had a significant and lasting impact on the Association and its mission.

Within this framework, AORE established the Jim Rennie Leadership Award and the Bill March Student Achievement Award in 1996, in 2002 added the David J Webb Program Excellence Award, and in 2015 added the Patsy Kott Service Award. These awards memorialize four leaders in the outdoor recreation and education field, and recognize outstanding and noteworthy contributions to, and achievements in, the field of outdoor recreation and education.

JIM RENNIE LEADERSHIP AWARD

The Jim Rennie Leadership Award recognizes contributions to AORE which are far beyond the ordinary and which have had a significant and lasting impact on the Association and its mission. The award also recognizes professional work or leadership of unusual significance in the field of outdoor recreation and education. The nominee must be a current AORE professional member in good standing.

BILL MARCH STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

The Bill March Student Achievement Award is presented to an individual who makes outstanding contributions to an outdoor recreation and education program while pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree. The nominee must be a current AORE student professional member in good standing.

DAVID J. WEBB PROGRAM EXCELLENCE AWARD

The David J Webb Program Excellence Award honors an outstanding non-profit outdoor program which has provided dynamic and innovative services to its participants, demonstrated professionalism and high standards of conduct, and contributed to the outdoor community at large by sharing information and assisting other programs. The nominee must be a current organization member in good standing.

PATSY KOTT SERVICE AWARD

The Patsy Kott Service Award, established by donations from Patsy Kott and AORE members like you, recognizes long term professional work or service having a lasting impact on the Association and its mission. This award is presented to an AORE member who has demonstrated behind the scenes impactful and steadfast service to the AORE. A distinguishing characteristic for this award is significant long-term service to support the Association from behind the front lines.

BIG 4 AWARDS NOMINATION FORM

AORE VALUES AWARDS

AORE has made the intentional decision to update our awards to include new awards that align with our values. This update to the values-led awards allows us to celebrate the AORE members who are upholding and showing these values in their work and/or leadership. These awards are meant to honor and celebrate the work that AORE members have done. It is also a good way to recognize and celebrate leaders with the AORE community.

Our Transparency Value at Work

We are open and honest with ourselves and others, work with integrity, and are always willing to share best practices, lessons learned, our knowledge and skills as well as discuss our strengths and weaknesses.

EDUCATION

Through developmental opportunities and experiences, we empower individuals and groups to serve themselves and their communities and programs and services that are relevant and impactful.

INCLUSIVENESS

We welcome diversity, aim to be accessible and inclusive, and work to remove barriers to participation. We strive to be an organization that is reflective of the current and expanding community.

STEWARDSHIP

In all actions, we shepherd and safeguard our environment, our economy, our belongings, our name and each other.

PROFESSIONALISM

We are committed to the pursuit of individual and organizational excellence. We strive to improve ourselves and are accountable as individuals so we can contribute toward benefiting the organization and the profession we serve.

ADVOCACY

We exemplify and encourage healthy access to our natural resources for people of all abilities, backgrounds and cultural identities.

INNOVATION

We are a catalyst for new ideas, approaches and creative programming. We accept the risks that go along with innovating and see them as opportunities for deeper learning and ultimately greater outcomes and impact.

AORE VALUES AWARDS NOMINATION FORM