A pair of Grand Teton National Park volunteers are set to receive AARP Wyoming’s highest honor for volunteers.

Walter and Karen Jones have been voted by the public as the 2019 honorees of the Andrus Award. They will be honored during the AARP Wyoming Volunteer Recognition Dinner in Sheridan on Oct. 29.

However, in true Jones fashion, they will not be in Sheridan. Rather, with their volunteer duties at Grand Teton National Park over, they’re leaving to camp at Canon Lands, Capital Reef in Utah.

“We don’t let the grass grow beneath our feet,” Karen Jones said.

The Andrus Award, named after AARP founder Ethel Percy Andrus, recognizes individuals who are sharing their experience, talent and skills to enrich their communities in ways that are consistent with AARP’s mission, vision and commitment to volunteer service.

Only one volunteer per state (or couple performing service together) can receive the award each year and the recipient must live in the awarding state. The award winner is required to be at least 50 years old.

Karen and Walter Jones spend their retirement years volunteering with the National Park Service in Grand Teton.

For four months out of the year, the Joneses live in their camper and devote their time to ensuring that park visitors have a fulfilling and educational visit. Their duties include talks about bear safety, animal information and cultural history. The Joneses can be found answering questions at the desk or out on the hiking trails.

“Karen and Walter are an inspiration for their dedication to the park and their connections to visitors from all over the world,” AARP Wyoming said in a news release announcing the award.

“It was so exciting to be a part of this. We had a lot of fun,”  Karen Jones said. “We love volunteering, we love the people. We think that we make a difference, we hope, and that is a good thing. It is the perfect retirement for us.”

The Jones family was one of three finalists for the 2019 Andrus Award. The others were Kenda Colman of Medicine Bow and Linda Bebout of Riverton. The winner of the Andrus Award was determined by the public, which was encouraged to vote for their favorite finalist on AARP Wyoming’s Facebook page, www.facebook.com/AARPWY/, from Sept. 10-17. The Jones family received 146 votes, while Bebout finished second with 84 votes.