March 2012 Natural Resources Education Committee Minutes

Natural Resources Education Committee Minutes

3/13/12

Attendees: Linda Escher, April Rust, Roland Sigurdson, Darren Lochner, Kathy Smith, Jennifer Narveson, Amy Childers, Renee Vail, Kathy Dummer, Margaret Dexter, Dawn Flinn (note taker)

 

Introductions

 

TurningPoint demonstration

Dawn demonstrated how to use the interactive TurningPoint technology where you use a PowerPoint presentation developed in TurningPoint and little “clickers” that the audience uses to answer questions posed in the presentation. The results show up immediately via graphs. Currently has been used by DNR staff for public input meetings, staff meetings. Are able to create demographic slides and track/sort answers via this information, can set up to rank answers (choose top three, etc.). All answers anonymous so participants more likely to answer and contribute truthfully.  

You will be able to look at TurningPoint availability on Outlook, but if you want to check them out, contact Debra Lohm­eyer at 651-259-5525 or send her an email at debra.loh­meyer@state.mn.us. If you have “getting started” ques­tions, Lohmeyer will be able to help you. Also, there is a “getting started” quick guide in the TurningPoint bag. You can find more information at:

http://www.turningtechnologies.com/professionalaudienceresponse. 

 

Assistance

Reminder: Please tell the Information Center when you are releasing a new publication so they can be prepared.

 

 

NREC minutes via GovDelivery – When transferred from Outlook 288 members, today 305. To have others receive monthly NREC minutes (like the ones you are reading at this moment) sign up using this link https://public.govdelivery.com/accounts/MNDNR/subscriber/new?topic_id=MNDNR_79

 

Note the link is not publicly listed on our website but can be shared with staff and others who may be interested in this type of detail regarding education and outreach programs within DNR.

 

June Education News ideas – NREC recommended theme ideas include: invasive species, national get outdoors day, take a kid fishing/camping

 

Education packet – passed around materials. Note: new MN Conservation Volunteer magazine, many additional resources available on-line. Black and white drawings of main insect classes now available – get info from Dawn, MinnAqua has aquatic invertebrate drawings available for use, soon will be available on the web.

 

MAEE booth – conference June 21-22, 2012. Booth 1-6 PM Thursday, June 21. At Itasca State Park. Michelle, Nadine, April, Roland will be going and may be able to help a bit.

 

Web discussion – removed Living with Wildlife from under Natural Resources Education in the drop down menu. The rest of the items will remain. Ice Safety is only up during the winter. Any larger changes would need to take place when restructuring the website which won’t be happening any time soon. Teacher Resources page redesign subcommittee is needed. If interested in helping with this let Dawn know. Colleen Schoenecker and Dawn met with DNR/PCA IT staff to discuss creating an “add to SEEK” button when entering events on the DNR calendar. This will be able to happen and they will begin working on it soon.

 

If want to add our social media links to the bottom of your signature in Outlook copy the row of icons from the upper right corner of the DNR home page. Go to Tools, Options, Mail Format, Signatures, E-mail Signature. Here you can create a signature and/or add these social media links to your current signature by pasting them.

 

Education & outreach in your area

 

Forestry, Laura Duffey.

Arbor Month seedling orders- schools need to contact their local DNR forester no later than March 23 to order Arbor Month seedlings. As always, free seedlings are for school site/school forest plantings associated with Arbor Month. No seedling give-aways.

 

Forrest Boe is Forestry’s new director. He signed up for NREC newsletter updates via Gov Delivery.

 

Minnesota Arbor Day is April 27

National EE Week is April 15-21

EAB Awareness week will be the last week of May

Minnesota Fire Prevention week will be April 22-28

 

Lands & Minerals, Jennifer Narveson

School Trust Lands big focus, looking at removing management from DNR. Legislature wants bigger return on investment, follow HF2244. See Operational Order 121 for more information, listen to Commissioner link to testimony http://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/audio/ls87/env022312.asx.

 

U of M/DNR, Darren Lochner

Piloting Master Naturalist Explorers in a few weeks with a condensed version. Main rollout will be in the fall. Working with volunteers this spring.

 

Fish & Wildlife, Roland Sigurdson.

‘Pier Notes’ – a take along guide for fishing with kids (highlighting messaging from the MinnAqua leaders guide) is complete. Volunteer educator, teachers, youth leaders can take out on the dock with them to assist in delivering aquatic education lessons in conjunction with their fishing time. Five different ‘notes’ on Tyvek-type, water proof paper. Samples will be sent to Fisheries liaisons, State Parks naturalists/managers at I Can Fish! sites and other MinnAqua leaders. Will be available on-line as a pdf. Kathy Dummer suggested to think about selling them.

 

Governor’s Fishing Opener in Waconia plans coming together. Kids fishing program will take place on the Friday of the opener and involve 4^th grade students from the four elementary schools in Waconia. All 4^th grade students will receive pre-instruction at their schools from west metro FiN staff and then one classroom from each school, through a drawing, will get to attend Friday event with their families.

Friday evening community picnic will feature fish aquarium/ID with FiN, various MinnAqua activities, Info Center with selection of brochures and information, and invasive species program.

 

Outdoor Mentor training calendar for 2012 in final edition. More information to follow

Piers and Peers, a sustainable, community based fishing program will pilot in a four locations this summer utilizing MinnAqua intern staff.

MinnAqua presented at MNCOSE in Duluth. Attendance was good. Suggestion to have an NREC booth at this conference in future years.

MinnAqua intern hiring is occurring. Two interns north, two metro for 2012. No interns in south (New Ulm) until the Specialist position can be hired.

 

Parks & Trails, Kathy Dummer.

Hiring 33 positions for Naturalist Corps, about 150 applications. May 31-June 2 training at Wild River State Park. Have new interpretive naturalist positions at Afton and Minneopa State Parks (Legacy funded). Afton position received over 260 applications. June 9 launch of new geocaching program, will be at 76 locations, will run for two years. May 2, 2012 Geosafari ending.

 

Operations Services, Renee Vail

February presented at Academy for Science and Agriculture career fair for middle school, used Discover DNR! DVD. Printed recent entry level job postings. Working on State Fair, will be building a new storage room. Fair safety training will occur. Have a building plan for fish tanks if receive funding so shovel ready. Doing an event proposal, staff will be coding time for state fair hopefully. Department interested in learning about how much time staff spend working on the fair.

 

Ecological and Water Resources, April Rust.

Has returned to work from maternity leave and will be catching up on many projects.

 

Region 1 (works statewide), Amy Childers.

The Stream Habitat Program has opened registration for The Dam Dilemma workshop, May 21-23 in Fergus Falls, and The Ditching Dilemma workshop, July 16-18 in Fergus Falls. These workshops are designed for anyone interested in watershed issues, this year specifically the effects of dams and ditching on stream function and health.  The workshop flyer with the registration form is available on our website: www.mndnr.gov/eco/streamhab. We would appreciate it you could forward the announcement and flyer on to colleagues or organizations that may be interested in attending.

 

Next meeting April 10 from 1-3 PM in the 2^nd floor main conference room.