The award honors excellence in long-range planning, resource management, volunteerism, environmental stewardship, program development and professional development.

Pennsylvania has 117 state parks and three conservation areas. The system’s nearly 300,000 acres and 1,800 full- and part-time employees play host to more than 35 million visitors each year.

Some of DCNR’s new state park programs include the Get Outdoors PA program that offers hundreds of activities annually for people to learn about outdoor recreation such as kayaking, fishing and hiking, and learn about how we protect our natural resources, their role and why they should care.

To increase exposure to natural experiences for children in urban areas, the Bureau of State Parks teamed up with city parks and recreation programs and youth organizations to create the Adventure Camp program for teens. More than 150 kids attended camp in eight metropolitan areas last summer.

DCNR launched a green parks initiative in 2007 to address climate change and energy consumption in parks. The goal is to reduce the carbon footprint of parks by 20 percent over the next five years.

Construction is under way on the system’s first nature inn at Bald Eagle State Park, to expand overnight accommodations and attract new visitors.

“We see ourselves not only as land protectors and recreation providers, but also as a model of best practices, conservation advocates, and educators of our future stewards,” John Quigley, acting secretary of DCNR, said Thursday.