An Alaskan artist has won the competition to design the 2020 bear pins for Katmai National Park/NPS

An Alaskan artist has won the 2020 Brooks Camp Bear Pins Design Competition with a design that features an outline of Katmai National Park and Preserve in the imprint of a brown bear paw print.

The winning entry was submitted by LaRece Egli. Beneath the paw print are the words "Qayihwik" and "Katmai National Park and Preserve."

“Qayihwik is a traditional Sugpiak place name for Katmai," explained Egli. "The pads and claws of the bear are intended to represent the resettlement of the tribes in the surrounding areas of the peninsula outside the park but still part of a larger whole that is connected to the place, wildlife and lands.”

Now that you have seen this beautiful design, you are undoubtedly wondering how you can get one for yourself. The non-color version is the bear pin awarded to any visitor to the Brooks Camp Developed Area who completes the mandatory bear etiquette training upon their first visit in a summer. Wearing this pin serves as a reminder to the visitor of their training and is a visual confirmation to park staff that the visitor has been through the training session.

The limited-edition pin with color is a bear booster pin, awarded to visitors who exhibit especially responsible behavior around the bears.

The park is currently preparing to open the Brooks Camp Developed Area to day-use-visitation starting July 1. These plans are contingent on the existence of acceptable public health conditions in communities in and around the park as well as on adherence to existing federal, state and local mandates at that time. 

The National Park Service is working servicewide with federal, state, and local authorities to closely monitor the COVID-19 pandemic. Outdoor spaces of the Brooks Camp Developed Area remain accessible to the public in accordance with the latest federal, state, and local health guidance. Law Enforcement and first responder services remain accessible.