Deer Creek-Sugar Creek
Education and Outreach Strategies
Steering Committee Meeting
January 23, 2014
All of these ideas about reaching and education various communities in the watershed
were suggested either at the public meeting in October, 2013 or have been suggested in the
course of other conversations. In groups of two, take 5 minutes to discuss which ones you
think will be most effective in the watershed to help implement the WMP.
Methods to reach target audiences (brainstorm results from public meeting)
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newspaper articles
email
postcards
website and internet ads
social media sources (Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube)
electronic newsletters
water quality apps for smart phones, (weather applications have pollen alerts, and
therefore a water quality application could fulfill a similar niche)
Teachers
public service announcements
door-to-door outreach
billboards
mall displays and activities
advertisements during SWCD annual meetings
Agricultural days
comic books
public library displays,
personal success stories were also listed as possible advertising techniques.
Target Audience (identified during public meeting brainstorm)
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Youth Groups: 4-H, Boy Scouts of America (BSA), Girl Scouts of America (GSA),
Camp Tecumseh, church youth groups, Future Farmers of America (early
exposure to environmental/watershed issues might help children find interest
and empathy with community causes, even if they drop out of their group)
Community Organizations: Kiwanis Clubs, service-focused groups (Goal:
Community organizations will have adults with various interests, skills, and
access to different resources.)
Farmers: CAFO’s, industrial/commercial farmers
High Schools: Environmental clubs (like the adult community organizations,
these groups attract a variety of kids); Teachers (biology, chemistry, earth
science, geography)
Home Schoolers: typically very engaged in the community; home school
network=good way to spread information; children and parents are not bound
by usual time and curriculum constraints
Transportation: INDOT, federal level (runoff, construction)
Homeowners: septic systems; small-scale fertilizer use
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Deer Creek-Sugar Creek
Education and Outreach Strategies
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Steering Committee Meeting
January 23, 2014
Correctional Facilities/At-Risk Youth: Inmates, juvenile delinquents are
occasionally involved with community service/enhancement programs. Their
involvement could help with watershed management initiatives and help them
cultivate a sense of ownership in their communities, thereby lowering rates of
recidivism.
Politicians: mayors, city officials
Local Business Owners: gas stations, dry cleaners, auto repair shops
Area Planning Committees: They should be aware of environmental impacts on
the watershed when they consider re-zoning requests.
Outreach Programs (brainstorm results from public meeting)
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Hands-On Activities for Kids (blending science and fun): canoe trips, clean-ups,
water quality testing; Children need chaperones, so adults may receive
exposure/education as well.
4-H Programs/Events: Host an event for 4-H kids to learn about the watershed;
Have 4-H participants do a project on the watershed.
Events at Prophetstown State Park, Camp Tecumseh: Places that have
environmental interests and places that people are familiar with.
Specialized Badges or Rewards for BSA and GSA.
Photo Contests: Post results throughout the community or in a centralized
location; Competition within the watershed, among the different cities/towns.
Come up with a creative name for “watershed” to attract and hold kids’ attention.
High School Curriculum: Local geography classes so students are aware of their
own watershed; Interdisciplinary programs/classes; Field trips
Continuing Education Classes: Fertilizer applicators must take continuing
education classes to maintain their fertilizing ability. These classes could be a
viable medium to educate applicators about how their practices affect the
watershed.
Host Expert Panel Sessions: A public meeting where locals could come and learn
about the watershed, best management practices, and what they can do to
promote a healthy watershed.
Create a unified group for watershed advocacy/management: Many groups are
already invested in watershed quality issues (WREC, NRCS, SWCD), but there
should be a consolidated group of experts from various cities/towns in the
watershed. In addition to governmental groups, professors (Ivy Tech, IUKokomo, possibly Purdue), local high school teachers (biology, chemistry) should
be included.
Host/post information about the watershed at local parks.
Share sampling blitz results with the volunteers and the community: Make it
easy for people to find local water quality information; Don’t make them search
for it because they won’t.
Art Projects Incorporating Local Bodies of Water: display photographs, paintings,
various art pieces made by children and adults; give out prizes for creativity,
accuracy; If every town in the watershed participated, could consolidate winners
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Deer Creek-Sugar Creek
Education and Outreach Strategies
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Steering Committee Meeting
January 23, 2014
in a centralized location and have the pieces represent the watershed as a whole.
Fun Activities in Smaller Towns: Like Lafayette’s Riverfest for Wabash
awareness (hosted by WREC); 5 Ks paired with interactive educational activities,
food, demonstrations; “piggyback” onto existing programs like Celebrate the
Wildcat; Add educational components to fun activities.
Focus Groups: To test what outreach/educational programs should be
implemented, to find out what people would like to see in their community, and
to discover what will work with their local culture.
Additional Outreach ideas
 Demonstration days/competitions
 Farmer-to-farmer mentorship system
 Float or Kayak trips (Deer Creek)
 Water Quality or Farm Stewardship Awards
 Tour of historic/notable bridges
 Water sampling blitz
 Water quality workshops (producers, equipment/seed/chemical dealers, agencies)
 Water-related hunting outings
 Certification maintenance
 Calendar/photo competition
 Watershed webinars
 “Enjoy Nature” events – NICHES properties.
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