Volunteer Hall of Fame

Congratulations to the 2017 Volunteer & Instructor award winners! (L to R): Pat Wisner, Felice Bastian, Gary Chaudoir, Kathy Conrad & Bridget Austin.

2016
(L to R): Bob Kimbell, Dan Collins, Nancy Aten, Beth Coleman, Naomi Thomas, Jerry Apps.

2015
(L to R): Ron Hupe, Dan Poulson. (not pictured: Annette Jelen, Jack Travis, Bill Urbrock)

2014
(L to R): Ron Lokken, Judy Lokken, Tom Berns, Siobhan Drummond, Gary Chaudoir. (not pictured: Mary Murphy)

2013
(L to R): Judy Hasheider, Henry Timm, Joan Timm, Helene DiIulio, Dave Bultman, Judy Reynolds. (not pictured: Arvid Munson)

2012
(L to R): Bruce Foster, Marion Moran, Curt Wessel, Dan Anderson, Michael Farmer. (not pictured: Nancy Richards)

2011
(L to R): Mary Murphy, Ron Hupe, Irene Kustush, Paul Regnier, Pat Badger (not pictured: Gloria Dougherty)

The Hawthorn Award

Jens Jensen said, “Hawthorns are always illuminating. Their horizontal branches are always outstanding. Some varieties carry their scarlet-red berries far into the winter, and when snow has covered the ground with a white mantle, they add a brilliant touch of color. Hawthorn branches thatched with snow under a canopy of a multitude of red berries surpass the winter charm of their much-praised coniferous friends. Hawthorns used in the making of a landscape give breadth and bigness to the composition. The American landscaper will always find them in scale with the vastness of the country with which he works.”

Those who receive the Hawthorn Award emulate that venerable tree by faithfully giving breadth and bigness to the ongoing work of The Clearing over their years of service as volunteers.

Past Hawthorn Award Winners

2016
Dan Collins
Nancy Aten
Naomi Thomas

2015
Ron Hupe
Annette Jelen
Jack Travis

2014
Tom Berns
Siobhan Drummond
Ron & Judy Lokken

2013
Dave Bultman
Helen Di lulio
Judy Reynolds
Henry & Joan Timm

2012
Dan Anderson
Bruce Foster
Nancy Richards
Curt Wessel

2011
Gloria Dougherty
Irene Kustush
Mary Murphy
Paul Regnier

2010
Sally Burr
Nancy Rafal
Heidi Tamanaha
Patsy Weich

2009
Coggin Heeringa
Martha Newkirk
Dan Poulson
Joan Powers

2008
Gary Chaudoir
Mike Gilson
Shirley Hoague
Frank Weber

2007
George & Judy Bush
Edith Hoefer
Marion Moran
Jim Williams

2006
Hank Bardenhagen
Chuck Gaw
Michael Farmer
Bob McCurdy

2005
Hank Erdamann
Pat & Gene Stanis
Tim Stone
Jean Swanson
Gerry Voll

2004
George Dorn
Carl Erickson
June Nirschl
Char Tock
Jack & Jane Weis

2003
Fenton & Helen Heninger
Roy & Charlotte Lukes
Gertrude Mayer
Harvey Stahl
Bill & Barb Vondras

2002
Don & Loraine Brink
Gloria Drummond
Norma & Wally Hammerberg
Arvid Munson

2001
Tom Bennett
Jean Casey
Bob Davis
Ruth Anne Sorsen

2000
Bob & Carolyn Kimbell
Missy Kjellenberg
John Turner

1999
Bob Brogan
Nancy Davis
George Evenson
Dorothy Halvorsen
Charlie Lyons
Gretchen Maring

1998
Marjory Allingham
Marcela Boettcher
Paul Burton
Agnes Galik
Sollace Hotze
Carola McMullen
Marilyn Peterson

1997
Alice D’Alessio
Jean Dewalt
Judy Hasheider
Sue Peterson
Karen Severance
Mark Southard
Lee Traven
Lee Van Camp

1996
Phil Austin
Spencer Gould
Mary & Ross Langill
Irene Luethge
Elmer Otte
Pat Takemoto
Virginia Terhune
Bill Tishler

1995
The Clearing 60th Anniversary Volunteers

1994
Patty Deihl
Ruth Fisher
Elisabeth Gimmler
Jim & Phyllis Ingwersen
Gene & Donna Johnson
Frank & Marvis Pechman
Emma Pitcher
Evelyn Risseeuw
Raymona Robb
Orvetta Robinson
Barbara Rudolph
Jim Severance
Art & Mary Simpson

1993
Nedra Adams
Carol Doty
Dorothy & Claire Johnson
Bill KasaKaitas
Alice Larson
Dave Lott
Marve Lotz
Orv Svien
Bob Yeomans

The White Cedar Award

The white cedar, or arborvitae, which means tree of life, is a remarkable tree. At The Clearing, and along the entire span of the Niagara Escarpment—over 600 miles—white cedar grows on and in what appears to be solid limestone, gaining a toehold where it can, harvesting moisture when it can, defying the laws of both gravity and gardening. It does so into great age, often several hundred years, occasionally over a thousand years. The white cedars that grow along the Niagara Escarpment, including those at The Clearing, are the oldest trees in eastern North America—a remarkable feat, considering the challenging environment in which they grow.

The White Cedar Award is given to those Clearing instructors who have been devoted to teaching, devoted to their students and devoted to The Clearing for many years. Just as the white cedar represents the best of The Clearing’s natural landscape, those instructors who receive the White Cedar Award represent the best of The Clearing’s human and cultural landscape.

Past White Cedar Award Winners

2016
Jerry Apps

2015
Bill Urbrock

2014
Gary Chaudoir

2013
Judy Hasheider

2012
Marion Moran

2011
Pat Badger
Win Jones
Nancy Stevenson

2010
Nobert Blei

The Butternut Award

A beautiful butternut tree once grew near The Clearing’s Main Lodge. On Easter Sunday morning in 1937, a fire burned the Lodge to the ground, and the handsome butternut tree was badly damaged, so much so that Jens Jensen decided that it had to be cut down. But Jensen’s friend, George Hooker, who owned the first cottage directly south of The Clearing, happened to be walking through just as Jensen and his helpers were preparing to drop the tree. Hooker asked Jensen to spare the tree for one year, in hopes that it would survive. It did. It healed, grew new branches, and continued to serve as a central outdoor meeting place for Clearing students and instructors for 38 more years. Then, early in the morning of July 17th, 1975, with no wind blowing, the butternut tree fell gently to the ground, causing no damage except for a slight depression in the soil.

The Butternut Award is the Clearing’s highest award for volunteer service. Those who receive it represent the best of what has always been The Clearing’s greatest strength—dedicated people who love this remarkable place.

2016
Bob Kimbell

2015
Dan Poulson

2014
Mary Murphy

2013
Arvid Munson

2012
Michael Farmer

2011
Ron Hupe

2010
Don & Louise Buchholz

2009
Orvette Robinson

2008
Bob & Nancy Davis

2007
Gretchen Maring

2006
Mark Southard

2005
Carolyn Kimbell

2004
Carol Doty

2003
Jim Severance

2002
Lee Traven

2001
Bob Brogan

2000
Sue Peterson

1999
Claire & Dorothy Johnson

1998
Jean Dewalt & Roberta Nelson

1997
Gerry Tool

1996
Joe Patrick

1995
60th Anniversary Volunteers

1994
Bob Yeomans, Orv Svien & Marv Lotz

1993
Tim Stone