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The Copper TRACES program at the Keweenaw National Historical Park draws hundreds of fourth grade students from across the region for a variety of fun, educational, hands-on activities. Dozens of park employees and community volunteers are needed to make the annual program possible.
To show their appreciation for those volunteers, this year the park introduced the Copper TRACES Ron Toupin Spirit Award. The first of these awards were presented Thursday to Dave Crowley and Chris Trevino.
Crowley has volunteered for Copper TRACES for a few years and this year served as a crossing guard. He says he was very surprised to be among the first to be honored with this award.
“It’s named for Ron Toupin who did a lot of work at the Fireman’s Museum up in Calumet over the years and he was very much involved in this Copper TRACES program because one of the stops is the Fireman’s Museum,” Crowley said. “He was just a great guy and he passed away this past winter and so they wanted to honor him and I think it’s a really appropriate honor for him because he was very dedicated to the Fireman’s Museum and the whole Copper TRACES program. I just think there were other people who probably deserved it more than me but if they thought I did, I’m very honored to be able to accept it.”
Trevino works with the Calumet Theatre as a technical director and presents to the students about the theatre during the program.
Copper TRACES is part of the Every Kid in a Park program and focuses on the topics of Technology, Research, Art and Music, Community, Environment, and Service.
The national program is held every spring and is made possible with funding from the National Park Foundation (NPF) through the Every Kid in a Park Field Trip Grants program.
