2022 Awards

Conservationists honored at Adirondack Wild’s annual meeting

Adirondack Wild: Friends of the Forest Preserve conveyed its annual awards to three deserving Adirondack residents on Friday, October 14, 2022, at the Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center.

Tracy Ormsbee with Adirondack Wild’s award. Photo by Ken Rimany

Tracy Ormsbee, Publisher of Adirondack Explorer, the nonprofit voice of the Adirondack Park headquartered in Saranac Lake, was presented with the organization’s Wild Stewardship award. She was honored for being a “ true steward of the Explorer, as well as a seeker and leader of reporters transmitting information, news, opinion, and constructive criticism about stewarding the Park. We are honored to recognize her and the Explorer for their focus on stewardship of the wild lands, waters, human and more than human communities of the Adirondacks,” read Adirondack Wild’s statement. In the audience to help recognize Tracy were a number of Adirondack Explorer writers, staff and board members.

Lou Curth, 2022 Champion of the Forest Preserve.

Lou Curth, 2022 Champion of the Forest Preserve. Photo by Ken Rimany

Lou Curth of Lake Placid received this year’s Champion of the Forest Preserve recognition. “For forty years Lou Curth was a DEC Forest Ranger, retiring as a Captain in Ray Brook. Lou personified the DEC Forest Ranger as approachable, communicative, frontline and backcountry educator of the Department. He continues to be an outspoken advocate for a more diverse Park welcoming of those historically underrepresented and excluded,” read Adirondack Wild’s recognition. “Today we celebrate Lou Curth as the consummate Champion of the Forest Preserve.”

Scott van Laer with the Paul Schaefer Wilderness Award, Paul Smith’s College VIC.

Scott van Laer with the Paul Schaefer Wilderness Award, Paul Smith’s College VIC. Photo by Ken Rimany

Scott van Laer, director of the Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center, received this year’s Paul Schaefer Wilderness Award. The award read:  “For 25 years, DEC Forest Ranger Scott van Laer has been at the right place at the right time to help the public to navigate and prepare for wilderness characteristics and conditions in all seasons. His knowledge of the High Peaks Wilderness and his emergency incident skills and endurance to help people requiring his aide have been legendary. So has Scott’s readiness to extend himself in support of the Forest Ranger’s integrity and budget within DEC, and since 2021 the Paul Smith’s College Visitor Interpretive Center where he has opened the VIC to a variety of programs, audiences, and recreational experiences that can be sustainably managed. Paul Schaefer (1908-1996), wilderness champion and friend to the Forest Preserve, Forest Rangers and Visitor Centers, would be applauding his efforts.”