Debrief from WIYW Training

Location: Choteau, MT Dates: December 11, 2010 Trainers: Ciara Wolfe & Carla Hoopes

Training Content: There was plenty of material for this 4-hour training included. However the entire training was held inside, due to the downtown Choteau location not being favorable to outside work and the cold weather with this being the first winter training. With the workshop being held inside ample props and materials were necessary for the training to be effective. The ones most useful were the richor mounts and the plastic weeds.

Due to time frame and a 15 minute late start (participants traveling on winter roads and showing up a little late) we had to cut out watching a film, the scenarios and the skit portion of Bio Control blast. However the most favored activities from the participants were the not all weeds are ugle and the native species game.

Adding a power point with notes page was positive for the workshop. It provided a visual for those visual learners, allowed us to display pictures of the activities in action and gave the participants a handout with all resources, contact info etc to take home.

Logistics:

The location in the community room of the Choteau Library was an excellent space for the winter. It had a large meeting area, a projector for the power point, easy access to restrooms and a kitchen so that lunch could be brought in for the participants. The only downfall was that there was not a good outdoor natural area close to the library to go ourside and do activities and the participants had to go around back to enter the building, which was not obvious.

Working with Lisa Flowers was a pleasure in helping to coordinate the workshop. I definitely recommend coordinating with a local individual to help pick location, food etc. They know what their community has to offer and what will be most convenient for folks. There was no hiccups in the entire workshop and it all ran very smooth. We did have about 4 individuals registered for the workshop not show up. Again would a small fee to confirm participation be worth making folksbe more accountable to attending the workshop?

Tribal Component: In regards to the specific outcomes for the Tribal Component of the project the following ideas were brought up: - Have a tribal community member open the workshop with their native language and ceremonial opening appropriate to their reservation. - Develop a book mark that translates the questions in the OWP into their tribal native language - Tie the spirits of the plants into the identification process of each noxious weed - Use songs to represent the spirits found within each weed - Do not ask native american’s to share their usage of plants, since some of that information is sacred - Each plant is either make or female in the native culture, identify that and include with plant identification - Individuals that could serve on the focus group: Lisa Flowers, Theodora, Kenny’s brother who is a professor of the native Blackfeet language.

Overall Comments:

This was an excellent training. The participants were pleased with the materials they learned and received. We got excellent participation throughout, and the group was such a diverse population that it made the content in the workshop very meaningful and easy to relate to all different uses of the program. The new additions from our last workshop of a power point and adding OPI credits were implemented and received very well. Having a couple native American’s in attendance really helped us accomplish our work in adding some thoughts and ideas for a tribal component of the project. The workshop wold not have been the same without these participants. If the workshop was any longer a break in the morning would have been neccesary, however the 4 hour length was good. With only 4 hours we focused mainly on the WIYW and did only a short component of OWP.

Participants: Rachel Christensen (4-5th Grade Choteau) Casey Perkins (RMFWR coordinator) Sandy Farrell (Mission Valley – landowner and 4-H assistant)

Elizabeth Jorden (2nd Grade – Choteau Ele) Allison Milodragovich (K-6) and NRCS Joe Merenz (Bio-Control APHIS) Lisa Flowers (Boone and Crockett Ed Prog) Theodora Weatherwax (Browning Project Choices) Kenny Weatherwax (Browning Elementary)

Evaluation Summary: 5 formal educators 1 informal educator 1 resource manager 1 weed coordinator 1 other

Ratings workshop quality: Location 555553555 Presenters 555555555 Materials 555555555 Activities Learned 555544545 Relevance of Materials 555545555 Registration Information 55555 545

Comments: Excellent presentor and Carla has a lot of information on this project. I think the books are excellent. Nice to see the program working! Thanks for the effort and willingness to support these folks in the classroom or in other work arenas.

Benefits: Participating in lessons. The resource material and information that is important to our land and Blackfeet Indian Reservation. The kits are awesome. “buy in” concept! Last bit by Ciara – leadership, community org Engaging in Activities Activities and discussion with group All aspects were well presented. Informative and presented well. The aspect of learning more about the materials that have been developed. They are excellent!! Ciara did an excellent job teaching/facilitating us. (formal educator) I really like the educator’s guides – very beneficial for teachers – time, materials, objectives already outlined for us.

Future Use: In classroom. Help put a teacher workshop on in Browning. Work with our 4-H clubs and have a display at the 4-H fair in July in Browning. Share with Many Teachers. Using the lessons in community activities, networking with teachers to get this program implemented. Using the lessons in community activities, networking with teachers to get this program implemented. Organizing public affairs events Share with landowner groups Promote biocontrol in Lake and Sanders County through ranch communities, 4-H and schools. I.D. weeds Outdoor Education Events along the Rocky Mountain Front. Education Program at outdoor learning center. Teacher trainings for site specific outdoor education program. Yes – integrate into our inquiry-based science curriculum and into our field trips with Boone and Crockett and Blackleaf trip.

Modify to improve: We could incorporate the Native American use of plants. And how it effects us as Native Americans. I think a book using some native American Children would be good to the material. Carla’s afterthought – we include native American Children photos in reprints and games could include words and definitions in specific languages Maybe an adult plug-in to activities? Closer to home The workshop was well presented. It all worked.  Page #s on the pages of the manuals  Do another training during a time of year we can get outside. Nothing. It was great. More time – could easily have been an all day workshop.

Feedback: Teach active engagement strategies – sometimes open-ended questions limit student answers (same kids always answer) ex. Think – Pair – Share. Keep up the good work, I would be interested in your focus groups. Carla’s afterthought-We should have notified Theodora about the CSKT workshop. I really think that you need to increase exposure to teachers, school board members, administrators, and superintendents. Ciara did a really great job! Great program. I’ve usd it with kids in my community and they love it, esp [the] bug sucker and journal Need more time!!! Outdoors activities could be part of the workshop. Thank you both for yourpositive energy, well coordinated an dorganized program. Also for bringing this to Choteau.

Community Activism and Leadership Discussion Summary: Tools – choose a goal, identify target population, gather feedback, outline objectives, organize logistics, provide information.

Lisa Flowers – Front Range Conservation Educaion Group – yearly K-12 age specific integrated informatio stations: 1. Make a Splash event – Joanne coordinates combine water with weeds 2. Rocky Mountain Front Weed Rountable mapping project 3. Ranch (Boone & Crockett Ranch) initiated effort to fight weeds a. Rachel – set of kits 25 (44 full size class or 30 ultimate class) b. 1 mile hike to Teton watershd to Bridge – private Clark’s Bridge c. Field Trips d. Science Club – 2 x per month ½ day volunteers to field trip w/kids

Elizabeth Jordan (Fairfield) – science club – 2nd graders enthusiasm into the outdoors – Choteau mini park – city park – service project.

Sandy works with Rancher Groups – took kits to rancher wives, schools and 4-H – TRACK THIS STORY OF SANDY and the Hot Springs 4-H Wrangler Club – initiated a Dalmatian toadflax and mecinus janthinus club service project. Theodora – workshop in Browning – late January – Blackfeet environment – Tribal offices and housing – huge open area – fenced/paiont/cleaning by Indian Campground – Carol White program / 4-H clubs / afterschool / weekend programs – Display of stuff (25 people) – Focus Group interest