2022 Stewardship Award Recipient

Award winner: Ken Ames. Photo by Dee Ann Klein.

Frank Maranville Memorial Stewardship Award

The most prestigious stewardship award given by the branch honors Frank Maranville for his decades of perseverance and leadership in trail maintenance and conservation. The award is presented for long-term service to our public lands and our environment.

Ken Ames

Ken joined The Mountaineers in 2014 and has completed and volunteered with many Mountaineers courses including Basic Alpine Climbing, Basic Sea Kayaking, Snowshoeing, Cross Country Skiing, Avalanche Awareness, and more. He is also a 2019 Super Volunteer.

Ken certified as a crosscut sawyer with the Olympia Branch in 2018 and since has helped with the sawyer classes. He has joined us on almost all of our log outs over the past three years and has participated with many of our other work parties.

Ken took it upon himself to become one of the first in The Olympia Mountaineers to be certified with a chainsaw because he saw there were log-out problems that couldn’t be fixed with a crosscut saw. In addition, he completed Dolly Chapman's saw sharpening class and is part of our Team Sharp!

He purchased a cordless Stihl chainsaw for our branch because it makes little engine noise, emits no fossil fuel issues, and is more compatible with public land managers' attitudes toward power tools. He is the first recipient of our Chainsaw Operator Certification badge and the reason the badge exists. He is widely admired for his leadership, instructor skills, and willingness to help new and experienced sawyers. Additionally, he is a good problem solver and master trip planner.

Ken often applies his knowledge of school grounds and maintenance to problems we encounter, like the repairs to several boardwalks in Tolmie State Park. Congratulations Ken on your well-deserved award.

Ken Ames, 2022 Frank Maranville Memorial Stewardship Award recipient.