1. Effective Outreach Events
presented by
Carolyn Donelan, Ph.D.
Lead Flight Director
Challenger Learning Center of Richland County School District One

2. Roper Mountain Astronomers
for the promotion of astronomy and science for families, schools, and community in Greenville, South Carolina, and the surrounding region

3. Effective Outreach Events
What is “outreach”?
Why do outreach?
How to design “effective” outreach
(Q&A is whenever you have a question.)

4. What is “outreach”?
“Roper Mountain Astronomers has an outreach program to educate people with an interest in learning about astronomy and the space sciences.”
ROPER MOUNTAIN ASTRONOMERSRMA. (n.d.). Retrieved March 23, 2016, from

5. Why do outreach?
To have effective outreach, you must have defined goals.
From RMA website:
“present astronomy-related talk or activities”
“help scout troops prepare for their merit badges and STEM initiative”
“give outreach programs to Schools, Libraries, and other Community Organizations.”
Some goals are not well-received (by Varner article, knowledge deficit of public, one-way communication to public)
Varner, J. (2014, April 4). BioScience. Retrieved March 23, 2016, from

6. How to design “effective” outreach
Varner, J. (2014, April 4). BioScience. Retrieved March 23, 2016, from

7. How to design “effective” outreach
Current Goal: “give outreach programs to Schools, Libraries, and other Community Organizations”
What do schools want?
What do other Community Organizations want?
Varner, J. (2014, April 4). BioScience. Retrieved March 23, 2016, from

8. How to design “effective” outreach
What do schools want?
Alignment to S.C. Curriculum Standards!
fourth grade: demonstrate an understanding of the locations, movements, and patterns of stars and objects in the solar system
eighth grade: demonstrate an understanding of the universe and the predictable patterns caused by Earth’s movement in the solar system.
high school: demonstrate an understanding of the structure, properties, and history of the observable universe

9. How to design “effective” outreach
Support Guides
Go through standards/indicators (essential knowledge, extended knowledge), describe ways to incorporate into a presentation

10. How to design “effective” outreach
How to market to schools?
District contact: Chris Burras Academic Specialist for K-12 Science/STEM (864) (from Greenville County School District website)
School contacts: principal contact on district website, make contacts with teachers
Be able to provide a document that outlines the program and provides standards that will be addressed.
To advertise events (like Starry Night), have a social media platform other than Facebook (like LinkedIn)
Science/math nights…
Be a “good” presenter… show up on time, be flexible, find out if local district has teacher “conferences” where you could have a booth or do a presentation.
What doing with Solar Eclipse 2017?

11. How to design “effective” outreach
What do “other community organizations” want?
Do you have a member who is a NASA Solar System Ambassador? “The Solar System Ambassadors Program (SSA) is a public outreach program designed to work with motivated volunteers across the nation. These volunteers communicate the excitement of JPL's space exploration missions and information about recent discoveries to people in their local communities.”

12. How to design “effective” outreach
Current Goal: “help scout troops prepare for their merit badges and STEM initiative”
Are any of your members certified Merit Badge Counselors?
Communicate when Merit Badge Counselors will be at Starry Nights (Facebook, LinkedIn)
See Challenger’s resources for Astronomy badge:

13. How to design “effective” outreach
Current Goal: “present astronomy-related talk or activities”
Target audience?
What does audience want?
Develop talk or activity
Determine how to market

14. Effective Outreach Events
presented by
Carolyn Donelan, Ph.D.
Lead Flight Director
Challenger Learning Center of Richland County School District One