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Professional development committee update
Finance committee members wanted
ANREP Conference Wrap-Up
ANREP 2020 conference location announced
ANREP awards
Conference photo sharing
ANREP presidents pic
We are listening: what members want from ANREP
Conference session update: study leaves
Conference session update: mentoring project
CIVIC-A Framework for Extension's role in public dialogue
Celebrating Arbor Day
Invasive species in 3D
EAB app from Colorado State University Extension
Northern Forest Atlas now available
Southern Region Extension Forestry updates
Colorado Native Plant Master program impact report available
Fire!
Woodland Stories from Oregon State University Extension
Seeding success: online course for extension specialists & agents
ANREP and ANROSP: an opportunity for cross-pollination?
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President's Corner
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Greetings fellow ANREP members! So many of you were able to be with us in Biloxi, Mississippi for our ANREP Biennial Conference. On behalf of my fellow Mississippians we hope you thoroughly enjoyed yourself. We were proud to host you. We are the Hospitality State after all. I hope you were able to eat plenty of Mississippi Gulf Coast seafood, visit with old friends and colleague, and make new contacts with those from around the country that also have the privilege of working in natural resources extension. For those of you that are new to ANREP or this was your first ANREP conference, you will come to see how invaluable being engaged with ANREP can be and why so many of us keep coming back every two years. I am also of the opinion that every two years is too infrequent.
One of the challenges for all of us after such a great conference is to act on what we have seen and heard and to move ahead with making the most of the experience. I am confident that each and every one of you had a least one good idea or project that resulted from being able to listen to and have conversations with your fellow ANREP members. Don't fail to take advantage of these opportunities. One item I am particularly excited about that resulted from the conference was the momentum to create a Mississippi chapter of ANREP. So move on that creative idea that was sparked or call or email that person you shared ideas with for collaboration. Keep the momentum going!
This is our professional association and it is what we make it. Our association is small enough that there is room for everyone to embrace ANREP service for our colleagues at some point in our career. Very soon the call for nominations will go out for several executive committee officer positions. North East Region Representative, North Central Region Representative, Treasurer, and President-Elect. If you are willing to serve please checkout the duties for each of these positions. There are also opportunities to serve on committees and there are a few open chairmanships. Check it out and help out.
These officer openings are a great opportunity to help shape ANREP as we move forward with new initiatives and to work with our colleagues at Oregon State University to make the next conference (Bend 2020) the best one yet. In the meantime I hope to see many of you next year at the JCEP PILD conference (Washington, D.C.), JCEP Leadership conference (San Antonio), and at state chapter meetings. I hope you all have a wonderful summer.
James Henderson
ANREP President, 2018
Coastal Research and Extension Center
Mississippi State University
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ANREP Updates
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ANREP Professional Development Committee Compiles Webinar Opportunities
The ANREP Professional Development has been compiling upcoming webinar opportunities and shares the information with ANREP members. If you have a webinar that you would like to share with ANREP members, simply forward the webinar announcement to
[email protected] one month in advance and it will be promoted to the ANREP membership.
If you have any questions about these webinar announcements, please contact ANREP PD Chair,
Nicole Strong.
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Wanted: Finance Committee Members
We are looking for 1-2 more ANREP members who would be willing to serve on our finance committee. If you are interested, you can expect two major duties over the year. In late fall (September/October) the committee meets to review the previous budget and make budget recommendations to the Executive Committee. This has usually taken 2-3 meetings, each an hour in length.
In the early spring (February/March) several committee members are brought together to run a financial audit of the Treasurer's books. This effort involves a little more time, but you can expect it to be in that 5-10 hour range. No previous experience is needed, but some knowledge of budgeting is helpful.
If you are interested, please contact Kris Tiles, ANREP Treasurer.
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ANREP Conference Wrap-Up
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ANREP 2020 Conference Location Announced
Sorry for the poor image quality. That's a photo taken at the conference of the screen as the 2020 conference location was announced.
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ANREP Awards
At each conference we take some time to honor the past year's award winners. ANREP President James Henderson was ringmaster as we honored the 2018 award winners in Biloxi. For a
full list of award winners, head over to the ANREP website.
Enjoy this photo collage of our 2018 award winners! Note: not all winners are represented in the photos. Use the link above to see all winning entries and a complete list of winners.
Individual images are available for
download from a Google folder associated with the next newsletter entry.
Poster winners from the 2018 conference are as follows:
First Place
Conserving Habitat in the Degrading Florida Beaches: A Homeowner Survey
Melisa Hill, Martha Monroe, Raymond Carthy, Thomas Andersen, and Tom Kay. University of Florida.
Second Place
Delphi Expert Opinion Survey to Assess Threats to Oaks in the Eastern United States
Ellen Crocker, Anna Conrad, Xiaoshu Li, Billy Thomas, Thomas Ochuodho, Thomas Holmes, and C. Dana Nelson.
University of Kentucky
Third Place
Making a Meeting Matter: What Makes an Impact
Catherine Gowan, Patricia Townsend, and Kevin Zobrist.
Washington State University
Green Award in Excellence in Sustainability Programming
Expanding our Dark Skies: Sea Turtle Dig In
Erik Lovestrand, Lawrence Scott Jackson, Ray Bodrey, and Karen Shudes.
University of Florida
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Conference Photo Sharing
Many thanks to
Jim Ekins (University of Idaho Extension) for creating a Google Drive folder of conference photos that anyone can access! You can download photos or even upload your own for sharing.
The sub-folders Jim has already created are set to allow for downloading of the photos but you cannot add new photos to those folders. If you'd like to add your own photos, you can create a new folder and add your photos to that.
Of the folder and photo sharing, Jim writes, "
I took many photos from the ANREP 2018 week (including pre-conference tour, Deer Island Mobile Workshop, and historic Schooner twilight tour). Use them as you see fit. If you use a photo publicly, please credit me (Jim Ekins) as the photographer if space and situation permit. And, please feel free to add your own photos to the folder!
I can't wait to see all y'all in Bend, OR in a couple of years, if not before!"
Access Jim's photos here.
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ANREP Presidents
It's become tradition at each ANREP conference for all past presidents to gather for a group photo. Chris Jones (2017) somehow escaped the room prior to the photo.
To see a history of ANREP, including a list of all past presidents, visit the
ANREP website.
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We Are Listening: What Members Want from ANREP
It was wonderful to see so many members at the conference in Biloxi. The food was amazing and we got to see some great sites. During our regional meetings, we worked in small and large groups to identify and recommend initiatives that will benefit ANREP members.
One recurring theme was communication. The newsletter is great but folks would also like to see more marketing, social media, testimonials and member highlights. Help with marketing was a need expressed by many groups. And some were interested in a web-based discussion board where we could continue these great conference conversations throughout the year.
Working together was high on the list too. Some groups suggested an off year "virtual' conference. Working groups by specialty area was suggested as a way to increase multi-state programming. Meetings held a few times a year might keep us connected and could highlight special topics. One possibility might be for regions to identify national collaboratives that regions could work on together. One ANREP benefit that was heard loud and clear was that members highly valued ANREP conferences as a place to percolate program ideas and actually see them come to fruition.
We discussed how to increase membership and support states with fewer members. A suggestion included an off year membership drive that would reduce the membership fee for new members for one year. One great idea was to target specialists and program leaders, to raise the knowledge around Extension programs. Several states are interested in forming state chapters so templates for By-Laws and Policy and Procedures that can help those states along are being developed. The idea of several states coming together to plan and host upcoming ANREP conferences was discussed to distribute work across multiple states instead of falling on a single state.
Many groups had suggestions for the conference including making it a "Green" conference, more drink tickets, tools training and adding more local historical information. Name tag labels for first-timers, "veterans" and spouses were also mentioned, so that everyone could take advantage of mentorship within the organization. One group suggested a Caribbean location for 2022, another NOLA 2022! Chatter continued after the session with Michigan folks brainstorming the slogan "Kalamazoo in 2022"!
And finally, awards. Our members want more variety in the awards types including a "Friends of ANREP" award to acknowledge our wonderful partners that support our efforts all year.
If you have any suggestions about how we can make ANREP the best it can be, feel free to contact your regional representative.
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Conference Session Update: Just Can't Wait to (Study) Leave
Did you miss our fun and invigorating topic at the ANREP conference? Well, there was enough interest to continue the conversation that was started during our session. A study leave is a short and flexible way for Extension personnel to delve into an idea, learn from a place, or collaborate with colleagues. On study leave, educators can visit a host institution for a week to several weeks to spend time in the field with researchers and educators working on topics of interest, and share their own experiences through invited lectures or presentations. Even a brief leave can provide a valuable professional development opportunity. This is relevant because professional development is a critical component of an Extension educator's career.
In this presentation, we shared our experiences with study leaves, and how Extension and ANREP might better support them as a viable and available professional development opportunity. If this topic interests you, let us know, and we will host a brief webinar to share more from our conference session. Also, we are looking to start a study-leave matchmaking list; if you are interested in being on this list, please email us your name, office location, and topics you'd want to (study) leave. We'll share this out as we start to populate it.
Chad Cook (University of Wisconsin Extension)
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Conference Session Update: Interest in Mentoring Project Grows in Biloxi
A team of Extension natural resource specialists were on hand in Biloxi to promote a national 'onboarding' program designed for new forestry and natural resource extension professionals. Leslie Boby, project coordinator, and Mark Megalos, forest mentoring module leader both provided an overview of the project along with a detailed description of the various modules that will be presented live this fall during an online course for new extension professionals. In addition, Leslie spent time interviewing ANREP conference attendees to gain valuable insight into their Extension careers, insights and perspectives. Leslie gathered over 30 interviews from Extension professionals from all walks of life in the natural resources world. These interviews will be integrated into the live programs this fall and are designed to give a personal perspective to the learning experience. We would love to hear more from you.
Please contact Leslie for more information or to find out more about how you can provide some footage for the project.
See a ResourceExchange entry below for more information on the project.
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Submitted Articles
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CIVIC--An Emerging Framework to Support Extension's Evolving Role in Public Dialogue
Is your community dealing with recurrent flooding? Do you have new community members who'd like to get plugged in but don't know where to start? CIVIC, Community Voices Informed Choices, was launched in 2017 at the University of Florida/IFAS Extension to frame and support ongoing work on community capacity building. The CIVIC program will provide Extension agents with professional development trainings on engagement processes and best practices to effectively create Florida-specific frameworks for public deliberation. Additionally, CIVIC will identify and develop specific plans to engage local community leaders to become champions who can move the needle on actions and behaviors to improve local community conditions.
CIVIC activities are not new in the Florida Extension system but it provides a home for new and existing programs that educate participants about public issues and provides them with tools to leverage ideas and actions. This program can educate participants about a wide variety of topics (e.g. urban flooding, stormwater, climate change) and provides a framework for collecting ideas and opinions to solve the issue. This approach can be especially useful to gauge public opinion and guide efforts on contentious issues in many local communities.
CIVIC has already been successfully applied in Pinellas and Brevard counties with successes demonstrated through the Sustainable Floridians SM program where participants assumed new leadership roles and engaged in more sustainable behaviors to support resource conservation. New CIVIC related activities in these counties have focused on community forums to collect public opinion about stormwater and climate change. These forums use a structured approach to educate participants, engage in deliberative dialogue, and conduct assessments through pre and post evaluations. When forums are conducted with a partner group, the Extension facilitation team prepares a written report to summarize the process and provide feedback for further action.
So far, three forums have been conducted with a total of 40 attendees. Evaluations from climate change forums showed 70% participants (n=23) "willing to take action" to solve problems but only 26% (n=27) knew what to do to solve problems created by climate change. At least 44% (n=27) were "thinking differently" since participating in the forum. With regards to the stormwater forum, 100% (n=8) were "very satisfied" with the "opportunity to talk about issues with others" and 89% reported "thinking differently" since participating in the forum. The Extension facilitation team also conducted a follow-up evaluation with a forum partner to collect information on the value of CIVIC and obtained the following outcomes: (a) partner believed that forums can serve the needs of their community (b) was willing to host other forums in partnership with UF/IFAS Extension, (c) had been approached by forum participants after the forum for additional information, and (d) had budgeted funds for future forums. Lastly, the report provided by the Extension facilitation team was useful to demonstrate impact and guide future programs.
Participation in community forums supports community engagement through an emphasis on social action and creates common citizen knowledge which can lead to an increase in community capacity. Educating citizens about necessary but sometimes costly projects may result in more community buy-in to support important public projects. The lack of reported ability to address climate change and stormwater problems indicates the need for continued education at both the community and leadership level. Extension's role in the public issue arena is not new but we must be prepared to embrace and challenge our ability to deliver meaningful and impactful programs. CIVIC can provide Extension educators with a wide variety of tools and approaches to ensure that Extension provides added value to our communities.
Submitted by:
Regional Specialized Agent, Urban Sustainability
UF/IFAS Extension, Pinellas County
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Celebrating Arbor Day: Twice is Nice!
Every year, each state in the union gets to celebrate Arbor Day twice; in addition to National Arbor Day celebrated in April, every state gets to designate a State Arbor Day. Florida being the 'Sunshine State, gets the honor of hosting the first Arbor Day of the year in January.
Even in the Sunshine State however, January can pose tree-planting challenges. Average Florida temperature lows in January range from 37°F to 47°F, which although not freezing, are also not the ideal temperatures for installing trees.
Since it's never a bad time to celebrate trees and their benefits to our communities, UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County hosted a Treejuvenation community scavenger hunt in January to celebrate Florida Arbor Day. Treejuvenation is an urban forestry Extension program I designed to increase awareness of the benefits of urban forests and promote community tree-planting efforts in Sarasota County.
To kick off the Treejuvenation scavenger hunt, there was a Florida Arbor Day Proclamation hosted at the Sarasota County Board of Commissioners Chambers. Promotional posters and postcards with clues were displayed and distributed at the Extension office, other county buildings, and also posted on the UF/IFAS Extension Sarasota County Facebook page, and the County Administrative and Parks departments' websites.
To encourage participation from a diverse segment of county residents, the county was divided into two regions - north and south. One park was selected per region, and five trees in each park were labeled with tree-tags. The tree-tags included information identifying the common and scientific names of each tree, and their urban forestry benefits (annual carbon sequestration, air pollutant mitigation, stormwater infiltration, etc.)
Participants were required to visit one of the two parks identified, find all the tagged trees, and submit their answers to the clues within two weeks, via a survey link. Winners received rain-barrels, or admission passes to State parks or UF/IFAS Extension gardening classes. I received many positive comments from participants on how much they learned from the Treejuvenation scavenger hunt - including the scientific names of the trees and how much oxygen per year each tree produces.
And since twice is nice, in April, Treejuvenation celebrated National Arbor Day with longleaf pine sapling adoption stations hosted at various UF/IFAS Extension Master Gardener Plant Clinic locations. Sixty-five longleaf pine saplings were adopted by Sarasota County residents.
Submitted by:
Commercial Horticulture Agent II
UF/IFAS Extension-Sarasota County
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Invasive Species in 3D?!
Heard about 3D prints but not sure what all the hype is about?
The University of Minnesota Extension Forestry and Natural Resources team created invasive species 3D print models for early detection identification training. During the past decade of dedicated work on many different invasive species, both terrestrial and aquatic, educators adapted and improved program instruction and display materials, including 3D prints.
3D printed invasive species model development stemmed from a problem: How do we teach folks to look for new plants and animals in the middle of Minnesota's long, dark, cold, and snowy winter? Natural Resource professionals told us, over and over again, that they want their training during the non-field season despite the fact that that's when it's hardest (OK. Often impossible.) to find samples. So for years, we used high-quality digital pictures.
One day over lunch we got to wondering: Could we print scientifically-accurate, three-dimensional models of these invasive species? Ever since then, we've been on a massive learning curve. Extension staff reached out to an artist and digital modeler who specialized in scientific drawings. After reviewing many pictures, and samples when available, she digitally sculpted our first 3D model of Grecian foxglove, a noxious weed that displaces native vegetation and causes harmful heart palpitations. We reviewed it for accuracy: Are the tubular flowers deep enough? Are the leaves long enough? Can they be fuzzy as they are in nature? After weeks of iterative review, the artist emailed the digital file to a 3D printer, and a little over a week later, a plastic print of Grecian foxglove arrived in the mail. Next, the artist hand-painted the model, delicately painting each flower, adding fuzz to the leaves, and even mounting it in real dirt.
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Our first 3D printed invasive species model was done, scientifically accurate, and beautiful! Furthermore, it's available all the time, not just in the summer when it's in bloom. A model is not regulated, as is common with many invasive species; regulated plants are very hard to legally transport. Lastly, a 3D model is not hazardous and doesn't cause heart palpitations when handled.
Next, we started using the model in education, and it worked really well! So more invasive plants were ordered. Then the aquatic invasive species educators ordered invasive fish and native look-alike fish for their educational needs. It turns out that fish are even harder to manage than plants. Although they're easily available in the environment, they get smelly and slimy fast!
As of today, we have about 20 3D printed models of invasive species and commonly-confused native species available for sale. Feel free to check them out and spread the word. We're working on additional invasive species resources that, when ready for sale, will also appear on this website.
Now when my elementary schooler comes home with the 3D printed keychain he developed at school, I can envision a clear and practical purpose for this emerging technology and his new skills. I finally understand the hype!
Submitted by:
Forestry Extension Educator
University of Minnesota Extension
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ResourceExchange
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EAB App from Colorado State University Extension Helps Landowners
Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is a highly destructive exotic insect from Asia, first detected in Colorado in 2013, which is fatal to all infested ash trees unless the trees have been chemically treated.
To help Colorado homeowners determine whether trees on their property may be susceptible to being killed by EAB, Colorado State University Extension and the Colorado State Forest Service released a free app that will allow anyone to use their mobile device to quickly ascertain whether a tree is a potential target for the pest.
EAB/Ash Tree ID is available in the
Apple iTunes store and the
Google Play store.
Contact: Mark Platten, Teller County Extension Director, Colorado State University Extension
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Northern Forest Atlas Available Now
We're excited to share with you a new natural history resource that focuses on the Northern Forest. The Northern Forest Atlas (link is external) was developed over many years by Jerry Jenkins, one of the best field ecologists and photographers in the Northeast.
The atlas website houses a library of stunning images for plant identification, including mosses and sedges, as well as charts depicting plant communities across different forest landscapes. Finally, there are a number of gorgeous videos taken from an Air Cam camera airplane that showcase some of the most spectacular ecosystems of the Northern Forest Region. The different resources would be excellent for use in the field, as well as for presentations and workshops.
Contact: Rachel Lowenthal, Outreach Assistant, The Northern Forest Atlas Foundation
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Southern Region Extension Forestry Updates
All the spring 2018 forest health webinars are now available for on-demand viewing. CEUs are valid for 12 months after the webinar. Webinars include:
- It's not a disease (or is it?): managing tree and forest health in palms, pines, and more
- Planning and timing are critical for saving your urban ash forest from EAB
- Balancing objectives and outcomes for wildlife habitat and forest management
Facebook:
The Southern Forest and Tree Health Diagnostics page on Facebook is now one year old! We answer your forest and tree health questions using the collective knowledge of experts throughout the Southeast. Submitting a question or issue is free and easy - users need only to upload a few cellphone pictures and give a short description of the issue. Experts generally get back within 1-2 business days.
Contact: David Coyle, Director-Forest Health & Invasive Species Program, Southern Region Extension Forestry
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Colorado Native Plant Master® Program Annual Impact Report Now Available
A unique offering of Colorado State University Extension, the Colorado Native Plant Master program has published their annual impact report featuring videos, images, success stories, and participant quotes.
Here's what participants are saying about the program:
"I use my knowledge I acquired from the class daily. I have also shared so much of what I learned in the classes about native plants and noxious weeds with countless land owners, contractors, and coworkers." - Tami Kochen, Pitkin County Land Use Planner
"I think that the dramatic increase in population to environmentally sensitive areas . . . demands increased education initiatives, like the NPM program, in order to teach the importance of stewardship." - Meredith Long, architect
"As a park ranger and environmental educator, I have used information from the Native Plant Master courses to help literally thousands of people make personal connections to the plants of Colorado. I've personally seen how these connections increase the value people place on the natural world so they become better stewards of our parks and open spaces." - Shaun Howard, Jefferson County Open Space Ranger
Contact: Barbara Fahey, Natural Resources Agent - Native Plant Master Program, Colorado State University Extension
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Fire!
We've also created a
Fire Program website which contains a link to the FNR Extension's
Fire Science Core Curriculum.
This curriculum is designed to teach the basics of fire to non-fire professional community members including landowners. The goal is to reduce fire risk and hazard through education and understanding.
Also on the website is a link to FNR Extension's Citizen Fire Academy. The Citizen Fire Academy (CFA) program equips participants with the knowledge they need to improve fire preparedness and resiliency on their own properties and in their communities. This curriculum offers interested educators or agencies the teaching tools needed to conduct their own CFA program, including lesson plans, detailed agendas, tour ideas, and suggestions for presenting it as a hybrid course.
Contact: Carrie Berger, Forestry & Natural Resources Extension Associate, Oregon State University
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'Woodland Stories' by OSU Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Program
We are excited to launch our first podcasts called 'Woodland Stories' by Oregon State University Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Program. Woodland Stories is an audio tour of the forest from the perspective of family forest owners. These are stories about building your own cabin, planting trees by hand, watching an eagle's nest, and so much more.
The Woodland Stories project goal is to provide awareness and knowledge of Oregon's small woodland owner motivations and diverse management objectives. The stories will provide cultural information about this population, which will aid in preserving the stories and management objectives of woodland owners, communities, and serve as an archive for future generations.
In our first episode
"People Work and Tree Work" we take a walk in the woods with Gilbert, a small woodland owner. Gilbert says he manages his land for his family as well as the community that they have been a part of since 1864 when his parents were able to purchase a small parcel of land. He looks not only at the trees that have grown on the property but also the value of family and people. Gilbert says, "Sustaining family forestland takes tree work as well as people work."
We will be releasing a mini series of three podcasts this month.
We encourage you to listen, comment, subscribe and share.
Contact: Valerie Elder, Forestry & Natural Resources, Oregon State University
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Seeding Success: An Online Course for New(ish) Extension Specialists & Agents in Forestry & Natural Resources Launching Fall 2018
Are you a new Extension specialist or agent in forestry and natural resources? Do you wish you had a guide to explain all of the different facets of being an Extension specialist or agent? Would you like to learn more about the ins and outs of developing an Extension program and navigating your new role?
Forestry and Natural Resource Extension professionals from across the country have joined together to create this program to share information that will help a new Extension specialist or agent succeed. This program will provide an opportunity for "meeting" other early-career Extension professionals across the country to build relationships and connections. More experienced Extension specialists will share their insights and knowledge to help "newbies" more quickly learn and understand the issues, skills and social theory related to Extension programming.
The course will be offered live one time, in fall 2018, Tuesdays at 1 pm ET from Sept. 11 until late November. Eight modules covering:
1. Onboarding basics (getting started),
2. Mentoring and Networking,
3. Audiences and Needs Assessments,
4. Program Development and Delivery,
5. Evaluation and Impact,
6. Extension Scholarship and the role of Extension in campus programs,
7. Supporting your work with additional funding, and
8. Promoting Extension and Negotiating External Partnerships.
Are you and experienced Extension professional with a story to share that relates to any of these modules? Do you have an anecdote to share? If so, please email Leslie Boby
. We will incorporate small "video snippets" of stories into our modules.
Contact: Leslie Boby, Extension Associate, Southern Region Extension Forestry
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IdeaExchange
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ANREP and ANROSP: An Opportunity for Cross-Pollination in Citizen Science?
How can ANREP work in partnership with other professional organizations to support the work we do in the realm of citizen science?
At the recent 2018 Biennial ANREP conference in Biloxi, Mississippi, several Michigan ANREP members (Georgia Peterson, Julie Crick, Beth Clawson, Mike Schira, and myself) presented the "Sorting Out Citizen Science Means, Motives, and Messages" roundtable session. There were many great conversations on common topics we face in our work. One topic of particular note that surfaced was how ANREP might work together with other groups such as Alliance of Natural Resource Outreach and Service Programs (ANROSP), Citizen Science Association, and/or others to support, strengthen and coordinate the citizen science work in which many of us are currently involved. Simply, we know ANREP has overlap with other organizations, so how can be best come together to serve our common professional and programmatic needs?
For those who are not familiar, ANROSP is a national network of natural resource education and service programs which provides leadership, information, and resources to support the establishment and expansion of its member programs. ANROSP promotes active stewardship by supporting science-based outreach and service programs in the field of natural resources. Across the country, these types of programs are commonly referred to by a variety of names across the country, but generally referred to as "Master Naturalist" programs.
ANROSP offers an annual professional development conference targeting natural resource professionals and partner organizations that coordinate, administer, or host training and volunteer programs in natural resource conservation, education and outreach or for those interested in developing similar programming. This is a great opportunity to gain knowledge from a diverse range of programs, network with colleagues, and obtain valuable tools to enhance your existing program or develop a new one. This year, the 2018 ANROSP National Conference will be held on September 11-13 in New Orleans, Louisiana. More information about the conference can be found on the
ANROSP Conference
page.
Taking a closer look at the sessions offered at the recent ANREP conference, it was apparent that several ANREP members are currently affiliated with the naturalist program in their state and which are also ANROSP member programs. This is not surprising, but there are so many reason to enhance the interaction and connection between ANREP and ANROSP. To this end, several ANREP members, who also serve on the ANROSP Board of Directors, are seeking your input on the following questions:
- What other organizations similar to ANROSP should ANREP be working with in the area of citizen science and other related topic areas?
- Do you have input to help ANROSP determine what technique, tool and/or skill set member programs you would like to see presented at its September conference that would help individuals become better program coordinators for their state naturalist program? ANROSP would like to offer conference sessions that will help with your professional development needs. Please share your ideas with Mary Pearl Meuth.
- Would you like to learn more about ANROSP and the many benefits of
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So this spring newsletter is only a month late. My calendar conspired against me this time and I just couldn't quite find the blocks of time to get the newsletter together. At least we're still technically in Spring so I'll take that small victory.
The ANREP conference is fast fading into a distant memory but hopefully the content in this edition will bring back the memories for those that did attend and motivate those of you that didn't to start planning for our 2020 conference in Bend, OR. I really appreciated putting faces to names while in Biloxi. I communicate via email with a good number of ANREP members in my newsletter duties so it was good to meet many of those people in person. I feel like I grew my network and came back with lots of programming ideas. Now to put those ideas into action...
The next deadline for content submittals is August 1. With luck, the next newsletter will be out around August 15. Submit content at any time. Try to limit article length to 600 words. Photos (with captions/credit) are appreciated but please send them separately. Don't embed them into a document. As always, please contact me if you have questions.
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Chad Cook |
ANREP Newsletter Editor | University of Wisconsin - Extension
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