Facilitating Naturally - Design Your Outreach Activity

During this four week virtual Facilitating Naturally workshop become a more effective instructor and facilitator of community workshops and trainings. The workshop includes topics of:

• Workshop Design
• Becoming an Effective Facilitator
• Knowing Your Audience
• Teaching and Learning - How People Learn
• Strategies for Participant-Centered Facilitation
• Assessment Strategies

Course Dates: Course work begins on March 1,  and ends March 29, 2024

Required Course Zoom Meetings:  Mondays, March 4, 11, 18, 25; 5:00 pm-7:00 pm  mountain time

You should come with an idea of an actual outreach activity that you want to design from scratch or edit and improve with new facilitation strategies you will learn. 

You will draft (or edit) and complete your own unique activity teaching plan for one of your upcoming workshops or trainings you are facilitating throughout this workshop. Using engaging interactive virtual teaching and learning techniques, connect with other outdoor leaders, naturalists, interpreters, public lands folks, guides, and others (trainers, instructors, facilitators) throughout this online training event.

Sarah Johnson from Wild Rose Education will facilitate this training experience which will include work on your own through Canvas LMS and live sessions on Zoom. Expect approximately 3 hours of homework per week. It is essential that all participants can fully access and engage with these tools during the zoom sessions with their cameras on, microphones enabled, have the ability to access google drive docs and other online tools, and be ready to connect and learn together. This is not a static webinar. To get the most from the zoom sessions, participants need to participate from a computer in a stationary location (not on the phone while in transit). Live zoom sessions are not recorded due to their engaging interactive nature.

Virtual Learning Hardware and Software - these tools will make your learning experience the most effective and pleasant:

• laptop or desktop computer
• computer camera (so you can be seen by others on zoom) and microphone
• familiarity with google slides/docs and have a google/gmail log in
• ability to learn how to use Canvas LMS to access the course website and all assignments
• create Padlet.com free login to be able to contribute to course activities and assignments

Texts/Materials

While no text is required, suggested books will be referenced throughout the course. All readings and materials will be provided in electronic format for download. 

Pre Course and Post Course Work

• Participants are sent email communication 1-2 weeks prior to the start of the course with directions for logging into the course canvas website.
• Pre-work assignments are available 5 days before the course begins and are expected to be completed by the first zoom class.
• Post work final assignments are to be completed within 5 days of the last zoom class.

Eligibility

Participants must be 18 years old or older and have a role as an outdoor educator, naturalist guide, interpreter, leader, instructor, guide, ranger, etc. International folks (outside of USA) are welcome to participate.

Each Course Participant Receives

• Four 2-hour long sessions of engaging interactive virtual instruction from a professional trainer and instructor
• Tools and skills to design and facilitate commuity outreach programs and activities
• Certificate of 16 professional development training hours