National Parks Traveler has been honored by the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks with its George Hartzog Award

Kurt Repanshek, founder and editor-in-chief of National Parks Traveler, has been honored by the Coalition to Protect America's National Parks with its George Hartzog Award, which is given annually to an individual who has made significant contributions to the National Park System and National Park Service.

"Kurt has been a strong supporter of and advocate for the National Park System and has raised important issues and concerns about the management of the parks," the coalition said in extending the award. "His efforts have raised awareness of challenges facing our parks and have been an important component of the ongoing dialogue about preserving parks for future generations."

Repanshek, who launched the Traveler in August 2005 and last year transitioned it into a nonprofit media organization, thanked the coalition for the award, but noted that there's an unsung supporting cast that helps keep the flagship website and its quarterly Essential Park Guides pertinent in its coverage.

"There are many contributions, and behind-the-scenes work, from folks such as Pat Cone, Gary Vogt, Lee Dalton, Rebecca Latson, Al Runte, Danny Bernstein, Jane Schneider, Bob Pahre, Scott Johnson, Fred Swanson, John Miles, Kim O'Connell, Erika Zambello, and Rita Beamish who really round out Traveler's coverage," said Repanshek. "Without them, Traveler would be a shell of itself. Going forward, we'll be adding more voices to provide wider coverage of the parks themselves and the issues surrounding them."