EDUCATION & OUTREACH
An important step in the management plan review is the process of characterizing priority issues. "Education and Outreach" was identified as one of six priority issues through the public scoping process and by the sanctuary advisory council and sanctuary staff. In response, the sanctuary advisory council formed a working group to address this issue. Through a series of public meetings and/or workshops, the working group will develop their final recommendations on management activities and strategies to be considered by the full council and the sanctuary superintendent. The following summarizes the work done by members of the subcommittee or working group and presents an overview of the issue and suggested action strategies.
Working Group Members:
- Haidee Williams, Chairperson, Council Education Representative
- Shelley DuPuy, FGBNMS Education Coordinator
- John Embesi, Council Research Representative
- Kristina Hardwick, Council Education Representative
- Dana Larson, Council Conservation Representative
- Art Melvin, Council Diving-Operations Representative
- Kate Thompson, NMSP Education Liaison
The Issue:
The level of awareness, understanding and appreciation of the Flower Garden Banks National marine Sanctuary varies greatly among users and other members of the public. In many cases, this is inadequate to produce changes in individual attitudes, behaviors and/or community decision-making processes that affect the health of sanctuary resources.
The Strategy:
- Evaluate current and promising practices/programs; continue or adopt those identified as most effective and sustainable, given constraints such as human resources and funding.
- Assess and document issues, audiences, and priorities. Incorporate education and outreach actions from other management plan components, such as habitat connectivity and visitor use.
- Identify perceptions, level of understanding and commitment to personal action of targeted audiences regarding key issues/content.
- Identify audiences
- Prioritize audiences
- Starting with highest priority audience, develop mechanism for assessing each audience level.
- Develop tiered education and outreach in multiple formats for identified audiences
- Basic to advanced knowledge, attitude
- Audiences could range from pre-K to researchers
- Use more than just electronic format; assess need for multi-lingual products and programs (e.g. Spanish, Vietnamese)
- Identify and develop appropriate work groups (with the subcommittee and possible external experts)
- Develop appropriate strategies/activities to increase the level of understanding and appreciation of the FGBNMS by the targeted audience(s)
- Build in a system of monitoring progress and making appropriate adjustments to programs.
- Develop and on-going system to identify potential resources that would support the education/outreach goal.
Download a copy of the Education & Outreach Fact Sheet (488kb pdf).
Questions or comments? Email fgbmanagmentplan@noaa.gov.
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