Fort Ticonderoga recently announced that Mike Crimens of Williamsville, NY, has received the Fort Ticonderoga Volunteer of the Year Award. Mr. Crimens earned the honor for his work in Fort Ticonderoga’s Interpretive Department, giving support to numerous events and programs throughout the year.

“Mike’s support and assistance at Fort Ticonderoga has had a big impact on the overall site experience,” said Beth Hill, President and CEO. “Always willing to support the Interpretive Department, Mike has offered invaluable assistance with field trip programs, work in the tailor and shoe making shops, at the camp kitchen, and staffing the museum exhibition spaces as needed. He is also a tremendous advocate for Fort Ticonderoga in the greater community, and across the state.”

“A veteran officer from the US Army as well as veteran re-enactor, Mike Crimens began as an interpretive volunteer this winter,” said Stuart Lilie, Senior Director of Interpretation. “He is generous with his time and gracious with guests and interpretive staff alike in the variety of programs he is asked to support.”

Two additional awards were also presented at Fort Ticonderoga’s Annual Volunteer Reception, held on September 11. Frank Schlamp, of Ticonderoga, New York, received the Triple Diamond Award, recognizing his 502 hours of volunteer service this year and Bonnie Davis, of Putnam, New York, received the Diamond Award for 226 hours of volunteer service.

The Volunteer of the Year Award is part of Fort Ticonderoga’s Volunteers Count! Rewards Program. The volunteer rewards program was initiated in 2012 and allows volunteers with eleven or more hours donated to earn a Volunteer Ambassador Pass granting free general admission for the season as well as other benefits.

Volunteering at Fort Ticonderoga

Fort Ticonderoga volunteers have given nearly 9,000 hours so far in 2014 in areas including interpretation, horticulture, education, development, collections, exhibitions, and buildings and grounds. New volunteers are welcome to apply to the program which offers numerous and enriching volunteer opportunities. Volunteer information and applications are available on Fort Ticonderoga’s website at www.FortTiconderoga.org or by calling 518-585-2821.

About Fort Ticonderoga

The Fort Ticonderoga Association, a not-for-profit independent educational organization, serves its mission to ensure that present and future generations learn from the struggles, sacrifices, and victories that shaped the nations of North America and changed world history. Open to the public since 1909, Fort Ticonderoga is the earliest restoration of its kind in the United States. It preserves North America’s largest 18th-century artillery collection, 2000 acres of historic landscape on Lake Champlain, Carillon Battlefield, and the King’s Garden. Fort Ticonderoga engages more than 70,000 visitors each year, and annually reaches more than 10,000 people in outreach programs. Fort Ticonderoga is accredited by the American Association of Museums and pursues its vision to be the premier military historic site and museum in North America.

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