This award recognizes an individual that has made outstanding contributions and provided consistent support for trail planning, development, or maintenance. It is intended to recognize the efforts of a private or public sector individual working for enhanced trail recreation on either the local, state, or national level.
Bruce Burrows has been a long-time volunteer with Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, and Trails (WY SPHS&T).
Bruce is an avid outdoor recreationist, hiking, mountain biking, and spending time outside as often as possible. Because of his active lifestyle, and with the encouragement of friends who were also involved, Bruce started volunteering with trail-building projects at Curt Gowdy State Park in 2006. Since that time, the 35 mile trail system at Curt Gowdy State Park has been completed and Bruce continues to volunteer with trail maintenance projects at The Park, even heading out on summer evenings and working until the sun sets.
WY SPHS&T has begun work on a new trail system at Glendo State Park and Bruce has continued his volunteerism at Glendo, which is approximately 100 miles from his home in Cheyenne. Bruce is a master at many aspects of trail-building, most particularly rock work. Bruce’s rock walls are professionally-constructed in appearance and, on various occasions, have prompted State Park’s Staff to inquire about his willingness to work on personal backyard projects.
In addition to volunteering with Wyoming State Parks, Historic Sites, and Trails, Bruce has also volunteered with the Cheyenne Running Club, the Cheyenne Ski Club, the National Ski Patrol, the National Mountain Bike Patrol and served as a Council Member for the Wyoming State Trails Advisory Council from 1997-2006. Currently, Bruce is a Council Member for the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports, whose mission is to promote, educate, encourage, and provide opportunities for all citizens of Wyoming to achieve overall well-being through physical activities and health awareness.
Bruce is also a founding Board Member and current Treasurer for Wyoming Pathways, the first statewide, non-motorized trails organization in Wyoming whose mission is to inspire, motivate and unite a strong community of public, business, and political leaders to improve non-motorized travel and recreation opportunities in Wyoming, including bicycling, walking, hiking and cross-country skiing. Bruce holds degrees from the University of Montana and the University of Wyoming and is a long-time employee of the Wyoming Department of Transportation’s Public Affairs Office. Bruce also serves as WYDOT’s Employee Wellness Coordinator.
The hours that Bruce has contributed to trail building and maintenance projects with WY SPHS&T would equate to thousands of dollars of staff or contractors’ time. We, at WY SPHS&T are grateful to Bruce for his generosity and support and for that, would like to nominate him for the 2013 National Trails Wyoming Trail Worker Award.
646 views • posted 01/16/2018
