PRESENTED BY GEOFFREY CASTRO, MANAGER OF MARKETING, CEE TIPS & IDEAS FOR MARKETING & COMMUNICATING YOUR FLYING WILD PROGRAM

FLYING WILD ROADMAP Where are we now? Where do we want to be? How do we get there?

HOW TO REACH FORMAL EDUCATORS STEP Identify your audience STEP Build connections Formal Educators -- Middle school educators Contact School District Science Coordinators Get on listservs School district professional development calendars Regional EE and community calendars Pre-service Educators University Education Departments

HOW TO REACH NON-FORMAL EDUCATORS Non-formal Educators Master Naturalist -- Master gardeners -- Girl Scout Councils -- Boy Councils or Scouts Units -- (Tigers, Wolf Scouts, Bear Scouts, Webelos, Boy Scouts) Boys and Girls Clubs

HOW TO REACH NON-FORMAL EDUCATORS Non-formal Educators (continued) Zoos, Aquariums-- YMCA’s -- Camps -- Others -- Nature Centers, Environmental Education Centers, 4H, etc. THINK OUTSIDE OF THE BOX

HOW TO FIND FACILITATORS Volunteer Match – Idealist – volunteer.org -- CraigsList-

PERSONAL PRESENTATIONS Get Social! You or your facilitators should: Attend youth organization monthly meetings Attend home school Association meetings Attend Environmental Education Association meetings

WHERE TO POST & ANNOUNCE YOUR WORKSHOP Community calendars TV stations Radio stations Newspapers Press Releases FW release templates are available in the City Partners Corner Create a Facebook account and post your event Post to various newsletters Boy Scouts Girls Scouts 4h Boys and Girls Clubs YMCA’s/ YWCA Create your own listserv and send announcements on upcoming events

HOW TO INCREASE WORKSHOP ATTENDANCE good location convenient parking ease of access promote credits They get a guide - promote guide...color, big, of activities.... "award winning" in write up connect to Project WILD for recognition hands-on, interactive food provided certificates conveyed “Learn how to conduct a bird festival”

WHEN SHOULD YOU BE MAKING CONTACT? Frequently At regular intervals Well in advance Tie into calendar themes Examples include Earth Day, IMBD, National Bird Day, Easter, Endangered Species Day

SO WHAT DO YOU SAY? Tell your story Be clear, personal Demonstrate your ability to meet needs Share logistics who, when, where Use photos Focus on local birds/ raise awareness about flyways

MESSAGE CUES Flying WLD… Builds academic skills Builds interest in science Introduces conservation careers Provides educators with EE certification in a national program Teachers receive professional development Builds stewardship Helps conserve birds and their habitats Connect youth to nature

“If content is king, then conversation is queen.”

TRY MARKETING marketing is a powerful marketing tool for communicating and developing relationships.

SOCIAL MARKETING Outlets Facebook Twitter YouTube Google Groups Word Press, Blogs etc. Community groups websites

THE BIG ADVANTAGES OF SOCIAL MEDIA Better targeting High Return on Investment (ROI) Requires no technical skills Increased visibility

CHECKLIST Who to target for Flying WILD training Formal educators Contact School District Science Coordinators Get on listservs Middle school educators School district professional development calendars Regional EE and community calendars Pre-service educators University Education Departments Non-formal educators Master Naturalists Master Gardeners Girl Scout Councils & Boy Scouts Units Boys and Girls Clubs Home School Nature Centers, Zoos, Aquariums, EE Centers, etc.