The nomination process for the 10th annual Eagle Awards has now opened for the prestigious program that recognizes noteworthy contributions to Alabama State Parks.
The Alabama State Parks Division of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources has begun accepting online applications at alapark.com/eagle-awards. The deadline to submit nominations is set for Jan. 3, 2026, and winners will be publicly recognized during the Eagle Awareness Weekend at Lake Guntersville State Park on Saturday, Jan. 31, 2026.
“We recognize and appreciate that we have so many organizations and individuals who go above and beyond the call of duty to make Alabama State Parks better than ever,” said Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Commissioner Chris Blankenship. “Eagle Awareness Weekend offers amazing programs, and it’s the perfect time to thank the Eagle Award winners and show our gratitude for their dedicated service to State Parks.”
Eagle Awards are presented in five categories: Elected Official, Community Partner, Park Partner, Volunteer in Parks (VIP) and Youth (12th-grade students and younger). Anyone can make an online nomination.
Lake Guntersville State Park will host two Eagle Awareness Weekends in 2026, with the first from Jan. 23-25 and the second from Jan. 30-Feb. 1. This is the 40th anniversary of Eagle Awareness Weekends, which are filled with live bird demonstrations and programs provided by notable speakers, guided safaris for viewing eagles in their natural habitat, and the natural beauty of the mountains and Lake Guntersville.
The Eagle Awards presentation adds to the second Eagle Awareness Weekend’s festivities.
Here is a description for each of the five Eagle Award categories:
- Elected Official: This award honors an elected official who has worked in conjunction with the parks to help fulfill its mission to preserve natural areas, operate recreational facilities and extend the public’s knowledge of the state’s natural environment.
- Community Partner: Parks succeed with the cooperation and support of community organizations, including government organizations, chambers of commerce, tourism organizations and local businesses – groups that understand that the success of the park means success for the community.
- Park Partner: Organizations work to provide or maintain amenities in the parks, such as hiking and biking trails, that otherwise might not exist due to the allocation of resources for other services. This award celebrates those partners who see a need and cooperate with park leadership to fill it.
- Volunteer in Parks (VIP): These VIPs work in various ways to make our parks system better. Volunteers may provide physical labor or strategic planning to improve one park, or the entire Alabama State Parks System.
- Youth: Our parks inspire all ages, but the impression left on our children often remains with them forever. Many turn their love of the parks and the outdoors into projects to benefit some of their favorite places – often as part of a Scouting program. This award, for students in 12th grade and younger, honors a person whose contribution is extraordinary.
“I’ve been fortunate enough to attend the Eagle Awards ceremony several times, and I’m always inspired by the amazing work the winners perform for our parks,” Alabama State Parks Director Matthew Capps said. “I’m so proud that this recognition program is now in its 10th year. We’re dedicated to making our State Parks System better than it’s ever been, and we couldn’t reach that goal without the help of so many individuals and organizations who partner with us.”
