NOLS 2011 Stewardship Award goes to David Cole

Lander, Wyo. On Saturday, Oct. 15, the National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) will present its 2011 Stewardship Award to David Cole, world-renowned recreation ecology researcher and wilderness management author.

“It would be hard to overstate his contributions to the field of wilderness stewardship,” said Dr. Chris Monz of Utah State University. “With his background in biophysical work, he has not been afraid to take on new challenges throughout his career. He’s contributed in many positive ways to the sustainable use of wild lands in this country and around the world.”

NOLS chose to honor Cole for the significant body of research he has accumulated in the field of recreation ecology, as well as for the works he has authored on the subject. In addition to numerous impact monitoring sourcebooks and procedures, Cole co-authored “Wildland Recreation: Ecology and Management,” which is widely regarded as the seminal work in wilderness recreation management and science.

Cole said the focus of his work is identifying improved means of protecting wildlands.

“A lot of that is science, but some of it is just trying to get land managers to think more critically about the decisions they make and what they are trying to do,” Cole said. “I’m also interested in helping the people who actually use the land learn more about what they can do to reduce their impact.”

Cole’s early research provided the underpinnings for the principles of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics, which have influenced outdoor recreation nationally and around the world. Additionally, “Soft Paths: Enjoying the Wilderness Without Harming It,” as originally penned by David Cole and Bruce Hampton, was revised and re-released in 2011. Cole has a Ph.D. in geography from University of Oregon and a B.A. in geography from University of California, Berkeley.

The NOLS Stewardship Award, presented annually since 1990, recognizes individuals who have demonstrated exceptional stewardship of public lands and the environment.

Founded in 1965 by legendary mountaineer Paul Petzoldt, NOLS is the leader in wilderness education, providing awe-inspiring, transformative experiences to nearly 14,000 students each year. These students, ages 14 to 70, learn in the wildest and most remote classrooms worldwide-from the Amazon rain forest, to rugged peaks in the Himalaya, to Alaskan glaciers and Arctic tundra. Graduates are active leaders with lifelong environmental ethics and outdoor skills. NOLS also offers customized courses through NOLS Professional Training, and the Wilderness Medicine Institute of NOLS is the leading teacher of wilderness medicine worldwide. For more information, call (800) 710-NOLS (6657) or visit www.nols.edu.