Training and Leadership: Quick Start Guide Part 4

Guide to Building a New York Phenology Project Monitoring Site

 

Training:

• Host a training session with visuals such as a PowerPoint or other presentation, samples of your plants, handouts, and species identification cards.

 

• Educational resources can be found on the New York Phenology Project website.

 

• The introductory presentation should introduce your project, New York Phenology Project, National Phenology Network, species you will monitor, your datasheet and how to establish a Nature’s Notebook account.

 

• Head to the site and share a meal or snacks together.

 

• Actually collect data at the site. Each participant should have a datasheet to record phenophases. Encourage participants to ask questions about datasheets, species identification, and phenophase descriptions. Practice more than you think is necessary.

 

• Follow up through email within a few days and check in regularly.

 

• Host another training in a few weeks and again in another 6 weeks or so.

 

• Have a potluck or gathering around a favorite plant phenophase or something of that nature to retain excitement levels about the subject and continue to build community.

 

Leadership:

• It is necessary to have a site administrator that works at the site (or a really dedicated volunteer that agrees to take on that role) who will collect the same data that participants are gathering and host/organize events. Over time, you can identify and “groom” participants for leadership roles.

 

• Continue to solicit participant input and be willing to change plants, locations, or volume of data collected to meet your participant needs.

 

• Be a community builder. Not just formal trainings but potlucks and other social events are important, too.

 

• Create mechanisms for participants to submit photos or social media posts.

 

• Have all documents in one location – maps, data sheets, information guides, photo guides. These can be hosted on NYPP's website or your own or both.

 

• Provide ongoing feedback to participants:

  • Check their data (as well as your own) to ensure data quality and accuracy.

  • Clarify tricky phenophases in training, emails, newsletters, and/or social media to help build participants’ skills and accuracy.

  • Give summary presentations at the end of the season to show how much got done and what needs improvement.

 

• Be “visible” – be available to receive participant feedback and answer their questions.

 

• Be “invisible” – give credit to others and boast of their accomplishments. Celebrate their participation as often as possible.

 

Other Quick Start Guides ... 

Questions to Ask: Quick Start Guide Part 1

Before You Launch: Quick Start Guide Part 2

Choosing Species to Monitor: Quick Start Guide Part 3

 

Complete Quick Start Guide (to view or download)