Expanding Reach of Extension Programming Through Partnerships with State Park Naturalists
Rebecca Koetz, Purdue University, None
Veronica Bullock, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, None
Nicholas Burgmeier, Purdue University, None
Angie Manuel, Indiana Department of Natural Resources, None
Rod Williams, Purdue University, None
Abstract
Partnerships between natural resources agencies and Extension have existed for years and Extension has served in many roles. These roles include writing grants, facilitating meetings, training, and designing collaborative programming. Herein, we highlight a partnership between Purdue Extension and the Indiana Division of State Parks (IDSP) where Purdue Extension used an existing partnership to create programming about eastern hellbenders in a format presentable by interpretive naturalists, Extension educators, and K-12 teachers. The program increased pre/post knowledge gain scores for attendees by 129.27%. This model has successfully expanded Purdue Extension’s outreach efforts while satisfying a need expressed by IDSP. Forming reciprocal partnerships with nontraditional partners can have a tremendous positive impact on the success of outreach and education efforts.
Keywords: conservation education, hellbender, interpretation, natural resources agencies
How to Cite:
Koetz, R., Bullock, V., Burgmeier, N., Manuel, A. & Williams, R., (2021) “Expanding Reach of Extension Programming Through Partnerships with State Park Naturalists”, [TEST] Journal of Extension 59(4). doi: https://doi.org/10.34068/joe.59.04.16
Rights: In Copyright
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