Tremont Executive Director Receives TEEA’s Distinguished Service Award

(Great Smoky Mountains) – Ken Voorhis, executive director of Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont received the Tennessee Environmental Education Association’s Distinguished Service Award at their annual meeting held September 28-30, 2007 at Reelfoot Lake in Hornbeak, Tennessee.

“His leadership at Tremont has been an example to all involved in environmental education in non-formal settings,” states Jim Holt past-president of TEEA.  “Ken’s vision and dedication has led the way.  He’s been a stalwart of environmental education since I became involved in the field.”

Voorhis shared his appreciation by stating, “I have been a part of TEEA for 23 years.  It is a huge and humbling honor to receive this award.  TEEA consists of a group of doers when it comes to environmental education in Tennessee.”

The Distinguished Service Award, the highest honor bestowed by TEEA, is for his lifetime of connecting people and nature to promote awareness, appreciation, understanding and stewardship of our natural and cultural resources. 

Voorhis has served as Tremont’s executive director since 1984 where he and his staff have developed a varied schedule of successful programs that encourage people in the appreciation of the Smokies and their connection to the natural world.  Tremont is nationally known and respected being one of only a few residential environmental education centers with a national park.

Voorhis served on TEEA’s board and served two terms as president.  He holds a B.S. from West Virginia University in Park and Recreation with an emphasis in Nature Interpretation and a M.S. in Experiential Education from Mankato State University in Minnesota.  He has been involved in connecting people and nature for nearly 30 years working in programs in Ohio, North Carolina, Minnesota, Pennsylvania and now Tennessee.

TEEA is a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting environmental education throughout Tennessee. See http://www.eeintennessee.org/ for more information.

Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont is a 501(c) 3 non-profit organization that provides in-depth experiences to thousands of people of all ages through educational programs designed to nurture appreciation of Great Smoky Mountains national Park, celebrate diversity, and foster stewardship. (www.gsmit.org)