Questions to Ask: Quick Start Guide Part 1

Guide to Building a New York Phenology Project Monitoring Site

 

Do you have:

 

• An organization committed to: ecology, community participation, restoration and education?

 

• A site with established trails, gardens or native plantings easily accessible by target populations?

 

• Staff with interpretive skills dedicated to monitoring, recruiting volunteers and developing resources?

 

• A volunteer network or a “friends of” network? (This helps to get started quickly, but can be built over time.)

 

• A monitoring location that can withstand foot traffic and people “handling” the plants?

 

• Institutional commitment?

  • Is your board on board?

  • Is there a staff person or committed volunteer (or both) to act as site administrator on a continuing basis?

  • Is funding available for signage, supplies, and training?

  • Are benefits to the institution clear? (benefits such as increasing visitors, engaging community, meeting educational standards, developing STEM education, attracting new members)

 

If you plan to engage community-scientists, do you have:

• Project management capabilities?

  • A volunteer coordinator or someone to serve as site administrator (SA)?

    • Does SA have capacity to manage community events?

    • Can SA collect data at least once a week?

    • Can SA manage social media (not necessary but it helps)?

• Ability to create maps for the site, instructional materials, brochures, etc.?

 

 If you plan to work with schools, do you have:

• A target age group?

• An education team that can outline learning outcomes, build curriculum, teach?

• Relationships with a school or schools in your area?

• An outreach team that can talk to students, teachers, principals, superintendents?

 

Other Quick Start Guides . . . 

Before You Launch: Quick Start Guide Part 2

Choosing Species to Monitor: Quick Start Guide Part 3

Training and Leadership: Quick Start Guide Part 4

 

Complete Quick Start Guide (to view or download)