The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation has received a national award for the the Catskill Interpretive Center Kiosk from the Association for Conservation Information (ACT). This award recognizes the outstanding partnerships and in particular the partners themselves, many of whom were volunteers, for a wonderful and effective project that was completed expeditiously with limited financial resources.

ACI, the Association for Conservation Information, is a non-profit association of information and education professionals representing state, federal and Canadian agencies and private conservation organizations. They have an annual nationwide competition that recognizes excellence in more than 25 categories. Their website is http://www.aci-net.org/

The award is under the category of Big Ideas, Small Budgets. According to the description "this category recognizes an effective campaign, event, process or other effort that is unique because it was done in a particularly efficient, cost-effective way while overcoming significant obstacles. Such projects might not have been possible except for the application of new technology, processes, volunteer support or external cooperation."