Award Descriptions

The Corporate Stewardship Award recognizes a company that has demonstrated exceptional achievement in enhancing the quality of the visitor experience in America’s public lands through a partnership with a nonprofit public lands partner. This impact may be accomplished through activities like cause marketing and philanthropic support. Examples of nominees may include publishing partners, vendor partners, and major corporate donors.

The Outstanding Public Engagement of the Year Award recognizes exemplary products, displays, programs, or services created in partnership by a nonprofit organization and a land management agency that advance meaningful and sustainable connections between individuals and America’s public lands and was carried out in the 2025 or 2026 calendar year. Awards are given in two categories: one for products or displays, and one for programs or services. Examples of eligible entries include, but are not limited to:

• Product or Display: Trail guides and brochures, annual reports, airport kiosks or retail displays, mobile apps, and radio programs.
• Program or Service: Educational sessions, lecture series, conservation corps project, membership, or donor outreach initiatives.

If your submission is best represented in physical form, please mail (5) copies that best represent your submission to the Public Lands Alliance office (Public Lands Alliance, 8437 Tuttle Ave, #356, Sarasota, FL 34243) so that they are received prior to October 18, 2026. Copies will be sent to our judges for review; we are unable to return these copies to submitters.

We highly encourage sending supporting evidence that best demonstrates impact, innovation, and context related to your submission. Please include URL links and attach online documents, web content, brochures, photos, and other media to this application.

This award recognizes an exemplary partnership for a stunning achievement to protect and preserve our public lands and enhance the experiences of their visitors. The award is presented in tandem to both the nonprofit(s) and agency partner(s) for their shared achievements in the 2025 and/or 2026 calendar year.

The Publication of the Year Award recognizes a book or other publication created in partnership by a nonprofit organization and a land management agency that embodies innovation in educating and interpreting public lands to its readers and impacts a substantial audience. Two awards are given annually based on the annual revenue of the nonprofit public lands partner that helped develop the product. Nominees may be produced in any media (e.g. hardback, paperback and/or digital) and published in the calendar year 2025 or 2026.

Please mail five copies that best represent your submission to the Public Lands Alliance, 8437 Tuttle Ave, #356, Sarasota, FL 34243, so that they are received prior to October 18,2026. Copies will be sent to our judges for review; we are unable to return these copies to submitters.

We highly encourage sending supporting evidence that best demonstrates impact, innovation, and context related to your submission. Please attach URL links, online documents, web content, brochures, photos, and other media to this application.

The Trail of the Year Award recognizes a public lands trail that has been created or improved in 2025 or 2026 in partnership by a nonprofit organization and a land management agency with the intention of enhancing the visitor experience.