bureau of land management facilitator guide 3

Bureau of Land Management Volunteer Orientation

Facilitator Guide

BLM MissionTo sustain the health, diversity, & productivity of

America’s public lands for the use & enjoyment of present & future generations.

Copyright © 2012 by Sabrina GoffAll rights reserved.

Volunteer Orientation 3

Welcome & Overview Welcome! 4

Program Overview 5

Purpose 5

Your Map & Compass

Preparation & Environment 6

Facilitator Outcomes 7

Volunteer Learning Outcomes 8

Program Map 9

Outcomes Guide 10

Planning Your Trip Workshop Agenda 11

Visual Cues Legend 12

Your Path... Training Script 13

Appendix 25

Table of Contents

Volunteer Orientation4

Congratulations on becoming the new facilitator for the BLM volunteer

orientation workshop. This program is an exciting opportunity to

inspire and educate volunteers joining the BLM in various departments.

It is our hope that together we can promote passion for what we do and

cultivate a deeper understanding and appreciation for the culture of

this organization while establishing connections between volunteers.

This Facilitator Guide is organized to optimize your success in facilitating the

BLM volunteer orientation workshop. It is intended to assist you in creating

a successful and, yes, playful, environment for them to learn about their

new role as ambassadors for the BLM. In it you will find all the information

you need to complete a successful workshop as well as additional resources

in the appendix that you may find useful to customizing the workshop for

yourself and the needs of your participants.

Welcome & Overview W

elco

me!


Welcome & Overview continued...

Every volunteer comes to the BLM with varying levels of knowledge

about what we do and who we are, many have a particular area of

interest in mind. The purpose of this training program is to expand their

knowledge of the agency and its land management practices.

Our goal is to engage them in the culture of the BLM and educate them on

the importance of their role as ambassadors, regardless of their function

within the organization.

Finally, it is also intended to provide new volunteers working in various

departments the opportunity to cultivate connections with others in the

agency.

It is important to remember that volunteers are an essential part of

the BLM. These are individuals who are spending their available time

supporting our organization, making a difference, and learning new

skills. Let’s nurture their passion and excitement for this agency.

Purpose & Program

Overview


Map & CompassPr

epar

atio

n &

Env

ironm

ent

It’s in your best interest to go through

this guide before the workshop so

that you can familiarize yourself with

the material and customize it to your

temperament and needs. Remember

that this is only a guide and it is up to

you to adapt it to your individual taste

and training. You will find a Participant

Guide and a powerpoint presentation to

use in conjunction with this Facilitator

Guide, please be sure to familiarize yourself with both of them prior to the

workshop.

A couple of requirements to be consistently included in the facilitation of

this workshop are;

1) activities which allow volunteers to interact, 2) videos from BLM’s YouTube website and, 3) a capstone denoting learning from participants .

These three things are essential components of successfully cultivating a

strong relationship between the BLM and our volunteers, ensuring learning

and creating a fun environment.

Materials needed: » Computer with internet access

» Flip Chart » Note paper & pens » Facilitator Guide » Participant Guide for each volunteer

» PowerPoint Presentation » Sticky notes


As the new Bureau of Land Management volunteer orientation

facilitator my hope is that you will approach the instruction of this

course with passion and enthusiasm.

The intent is to ensure new recruits leave with a working knowledge and

understanding of the culture, history and structure of the organization

that instills within them their own sense of passion and connection. After

reading this guide you will be able to successfully lead a workshop on the

history and practices of the BLM.

As a facilitator it is expected that you have a working knowledge of

the subject matter in this guide and explore any area that you feel less

confident about.

Facilitator Outcom

esMap & Compass continued...


Map & Compass continued...

This training is designed for new and recent volunteers of the Bureau

of Land Management. Most will come in with a basic knowledge of

the agency and an interest in furthering their knowledge of our land

management practices, agency history and foundation, and be looking to

gain experience and skills to advance their careers.

By the end of this training volunteers will have a working knowledge of the

basic practices of the BLM and be able to;

1. Articulate their role and its importance in understanding & maintaining our lands.

2. Describe the different disciplines & organizations involved in managing Oregon’s lands.

3. Educate public on BLM’s land management practices.

4. Articulate the history of the BLM

5. Educate public on the relevance and important functions of the BLM

Volu

ntee

r Le

arni

ng O

utco

mes

Volunteer Orientation 9Volunteer Orientation 9

The graphic image seen above is a visual representation of the progression of this program, including prerequisites, themes throughout the program and the intended outcomes.

1. Educate public on history & relevance of BLM

2. Articulate to public the important functions of BLM

3. Articulate their role and its importance in understanding & maintaining our forests.

4. Conduct oneself as an ambassador of BLM

5. Describe the different disciplines & organizations involved in managing Oregon’s forests.

Bureau of Land Management Volunteer Orientation MapSabrina GoffSnapshot: October, 2012 OFRI OSU

Intro to BLM

History Structure Management

Prerequisites:

Volunteer for BLM

Capstone

USFS

Bureau of Land Management

Outcomes

Volunteer Orientation

Communication, professionalism, integrity, accountability

Volunteer Orientation10 Volunteer Orientation

PrerequisitesEducation & experience that learners must have had prior to the start of the workshop.

•New volunteer for BLM

ThemesConcepts of ideas that recur throughout the program.

•Communication•Professionalism• Integrity•Accountability

OutcomesAction that participants will do in the real world as a result of the workshop.

•Articulate their role and its importance in maintaining our lands.

•Describe the different disciplines & organizations involved in managing Or-egon’s lands.

• Educate public on the BLM’s land man-agement practices.

•Articulate the history of the BLM

• Educate public on the relevance and important functions of the BLM

ConceptsIdeas that learners must understand in or-der to achieve workshop course outcomes.

•Public Planning

• Land Management•Multiple-use mission• Stewardship •Ambassador

IssuesProblems that learners must resolve to achieve the outcomes.

•Public Speaking•Time Constraints•Term Length

Skills Actions that participants must learn, prac-tice, and demonstrate in class in order to achieve outcomes. • Identify historical milestones • Articulate BLM mission • Identify organization structure• Articulate BLM values• Identify priorities

Assessment TasksAssignments that ask learners to show evi-dence that they can achieve outcomes.

•Present BLM history, structure, & current projects indicating knowledge of mission, values, priorities and culture of agency.

Workshop Outcomes Guide


Planning Your Trip

Time Activity Materials20 min. Welcome & Introduction Flip Chart, PowerPoint

5 min. Agenda & Participants Guide

Facilitator & Participant Guide

20 min. BLM Mindset Flip Chart/PowerPoint, Video

25 min. Making Meaning Activity Powerpoint, Flip Chart

10 min. Break

10 min. BLM Overview PowerPoint

15 min. Venn Diagram Flip Chart

30 min. BLM Priorities/Research Activity

Powerpoint, Internet, Flip Chart

10 min. Break

45 min. Jigsaw Activity Internet/Flip Chart

20 min. Capstone

10 min. Debrief & Closing Flip Chart/ PowerPoint

Workshop Agenda

Total workshop time: Aprox. 4 hrs.


Note: Throughout the script pages of this guide you will find icons and italicized instructions to indicate actions for each section. The blue sections indicate ideas for discussions and instructions for actions to take at certain intervals.

Words in BOLD will be indications of what you will say in that particular section.

The images below include a definition of each icon you will see throughout the script.

Planning Your Trip continued...Vi

sual

Cue

s Le

gend

ActivityFlip chart

SlideVideo Question


The Path - Introduction... 20 min.

NOTE: To keep volunteer focus on introductions do NOT hand out Participant Guide’s until the next section.

[Welcome each participant as they enter the room.]

As I pass around a note card to each of you I would like you to spend 5 minutes & write down 5 questions you want to know about the BLM. When you are finished I will collect them.

[Collect each card, these will be used for the volunteers capstone at the end of the workshop].

[Introduce yourself]

[Have each volunteer introduce themselves and tell what department they will be working in, what they will be doing (or would like to be doing) and why they chose to volunteer for the BLM].

5 min.

10 min.


Introduction continued...

Let’s talk about why we are here today -

[The purpose of this training program is to expand their knowledge of the agency and its vision, mission, values, and land management practices.

The goal is to engage them in the culture of the BLM and educate them on the importance of their role as ambassadors, regardless of their function within the organization.

Finally, it is also intended to provide new volunteers working in various departments the opportunity to cultivate connections with other volunteers in the agency].

When I first came to the BLM...

[Your experience here, be sure to include your knowledge, understanding, & connection with their mission and vision].

Would any of you like to share your experience coming into the agency?


[Hand out participants guides]

Right now I am handing out a Participant Guide to each of you. Each of your guide’s has an introduction section, a table of contents, and agenda for the workshop.

All the slides you will see today, additional resources and contact information for different areas of information within the agency are also included.

If you open to the page containing the agenda we’ll go over it briefly.

[Lay groundwork for workshop environment and expectations].

[Cover your goals/outcomes for workshop].

What outcomes would you like to see by the end of the workshop?

[Chart responses and post chart on the wall].

Agenda & Participant’s Guide 5 min.


BLM Mindset - 20 min.

Activity:

[Have participants take 5 min. and define the BLM based on their understanding. Ask them: Who are they and why are they important? Chart their responses- key elements, key words, adjectives & hang chart on a wall].

Now that we have created our definition of the BLM, let’s find out what we may not know.

[Our public lands video]

Note: Be sure to come back to this chart toward the end of the workshop and see if volunteers have a different response to these questions.

5 min..


BLM Mindset continued...

When you enter into an organization, what is one of the first things you want to know?

[Chart responses]

In addition to those things, you want to know the mindset of the organization, you want to understand who they are and where they’re coming from.

To begin to understand that, you have to analyze their vision, mission, values.

Each individual in an organization has made an agreement whether on paper or mentally to uphold and be accountable to the vision, mission, and values of that organization.

Now that we have established who we think the BLM is, let’s find out how closely our perceptions match their intentions.


Making Meaning Activity - 25 min.

I want move into the next part of this workshop by doing a kind of deconstruction & reconstruction of the BLM’s mission, values, & vision.

Using the BLM’s as our foundation, we are going to create our personal version of each of them. We are going to give them personal meaning.

[Conduct Making Meaning Activity- see appendix]


BLM Overview - 10 min.

Looking at the Mission, Vision, & Values of the BLM, you can see the BLM is considered a small agency with a big mission.

Today we manage over 260 million acres of surface land & over 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate [such as oil, natural gas, gold etc.].

The majority of this land is distributed throughout 12 western states in the U.S, including Alaska, with the largest acreage of BLM surface land found in Nevada. [Nevada stats- 48,000,000].

Oregon is comprised of 15,700,000 acres of BLM land & WA has 400,000. Much of this land was acquired following the O & C Land Act of 1866 which we will discuss in more detail a little later.


BLM Overview continued...

The BLM is one of the few federal agencies that generates more revenue for the U.S that it spends.

In 2011, the BLM contributed more than $130 billion to the US economy.

[Question] What are some of the ways you can think that the BLM would generate revenue?

[Mineral leasing, energy development, outdoor recreation, timber sales...]

[Briefly discuss distribution of revenues - see appendix]

(Question) How do you think this ties into our Mission, Vision, & Values?


Venn Diagram Activity - 15 min.

Let’s turn our attention to the 3 main areas of focus for the BLM. Commercial activities, recreation, & conservation.

[Venn diagram, see appendix]

[Take sticky notes from Venn diagram, and stick to chart or wall. Ask volunteers what disciplines or jobs they think could be involved in working each of the areas they defined in the activity- record responses].

The BLM’s focus is on 5 main priorities currently;

[Brief description of each- see appendix]

America’s Great Outdoor Initiative, New Energy, Cooperative Landscape Conservation, Youth in the Great Outdoor, Climate Change. 5 min.


Research Activity - *25 min.

[Depending on group size, divide volunteers - individually or in pairs]

I would like you to choose one of the areas described in the priorities and find a current project the BLM is taking part in. Note, it must be local or at least in this state. Take 15 min. to find and research it, be prepared to present your findings.

[Note key information they must find]

[Give each group/volunteer *3 minutes to present on their findings- time varies depending on workshop size]

[Question] What does your role contribute to the Mission, Vision, & Values?

What can you do to enhance this?

15 min..


Jigsaw Activity - *45 min.

We are going to shift gears now. We have spent most of the workshop talking about the BLM of the present and relating connecting its activities to its Mission, Vision, & Values.

Now I want to take us back to how the BLM originated & some of the important milestones along the way.

[O & C Video]

[Review historical timeline key points]

[Jigsaw activity- see appendix]


Capstone Activity - 20 min.

Facilitator note:[The goal of this activity is to determine whether volunteers are successfully able to execute the workshop outcomes.

Hand out the index cards that volunteers wrote their questions on at the beginning of the workshop, (I recommend that you add 2 or 3 additional questions on the chart).

Split volunteers into pairs and indicate that one person role play a BLM associate and one play a public citizen. (Afterwards, pairs will switch).

Direct each volunteer to answer questions the best they can.

Watch for demeanor, passion and clarity. Listen for language in relation to BLM Mission, Vision, & Values].

[Debrief class, example discussions- what went well, what didn’t, why? What will you take away? Was anything not covered that you wanted to know?]

[Refer back to BLM definition chart from beginning of workshop, has it changed?]

Note: They don’t have to have all the “correct” answers, the idea is that they understand the agencies priorities & can convey the integrity, mindset and accountability however they answer.


Appendix Table of Contents

Activities 26Making Meaning 27Venn Diagram 28Jigsaw 29

Mission, Vision, & Values 30

5 Current Priorities 31

Revenue Distribution 32

Historical information 33

BLM - Commercial, Recreation, Conservation 36

Additional Resources 37


Meaning Making Activity- 25 min.

The goal of this activity is to encourage volunteers to create their own view of what the Mission, Vision, & Values of the BLM are so that it has personal meaning for them.

You are welcome to do this activity in whichever way you are inspired to, however I will provide an example for you to use if you chose.

Write each of the Mission, Vision, & Values on a flip chart (or you can do this on the computer provided you have it on the overhead screen).

For each word have a volunteer look up the meaning and read them aloud. Ask volunteers to choose the most accurate meaning for them that they feel works within the framework and replace the word with that meaning.

For example, in the Vision, the first word we would look up would be “enhance”. The dictionary gives 3 interpretations; to increase or improve in value, quality, desirability, or attractiveness; To make greater, as in value, beauty, or effectiveness; &, To provide with

improved, advanced, or sophisticated features.

Have volunteers pick the meaning they feel fits. If none do, look up additional meanings

(I would stick with no more than about 4 or 5 in the effort to save time).


Venn Diagram Activity- 10 min.

This activity is used to engage volunteers in thinking critically about what the BLM is responsible for managing with regards to land use, and the kinds of activities that it provides…

Please feel free to modify this activity to fit your needs and vision.

Pick 3 areas of focus within the workshop, example; BLM works within 3 main areas- commercial activities, recreation, & conservation.

Draw a Venn Diagram with these 3 areas in it and BLM at the center.

Have participants use sticky notes to post information in each circle denoting the kinds of activities they think are conducted in each sphere.

(Examples; fire, prescribed burning, suppression, wind energy, trail maintenance, forestry, grazing, planning) – for further information on each see http://www.blm.gov/or/resources/fire/index.php.

(Optional: have a slide or chart that indicates some of the actual activities and areas of overlap).

Debrief exercise and overlap.

***You will use sticky notes for the next exercise.***


Jigsaw Activity - 45 min.**

The goal of this activity is to engage volunteers in using their critical thinking skills to research and present key aspects of historical milestones that created the BLM in their own way. In essence, they will become experts on their particular milestone.

Begin with specific areas of content to be researched;

Example- 4 areas of contentOregon & California Railroad Act, National Environmental Protection Act, Federal Land Planning & Management Act, Chamberlain & Ferris Act, Mineral Leasing Act, Endangered Species Act, Homesteading Act (if volunteers have a specific area they would like to research that could be an option as well so long as it’s an Act).

Have participants count off 1-4 (less groups if smaller group). Ideally you want 3 or so people per group.

Have participants get into groups of like numbers, these will be your experts.

Have each group choose an area to research. Optional: if area of focus is large enough allow groups to focus on specific areas within 1 focus area.

Have each group research and discuss their particular area & take notes on chart.

Allow approximately 20 minutes for research.Gather volunteers, have 1 person from each group form a new group with a member of each other group. (See diagram below)

1, 2, 3, 4 1, 2, 3, 41, 2, 3, 4 1, 2, 3, 4


Jigsaw Activity Continued...

Have each “expert” in the group educate the other members. Give each volunteer 5 minutes to cover the key areas of their findings.

Keep volunteers in groups and conduct a class debrief. Have your list of debrief questions.

Ȗ Key points learned Ȗ Key points they needs to know

Note: During group discussions & research sections you should be moving around the room guiding the groups & taking note of:

• What their learning• Who’s talking• What’s working & not

** Time will vary depending on size of group


BLM Mission, Vision, Values

BLM Vision-To enhance the quality of life for all citizens through the balanced stewardship of America’s public lands & resources

BLM Mission- To sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the public lands for the use and enjoyment of present & future generations

BLM Values- To serve with honesty, integrity, accountability, respect, courage, and commitment to make a difference.

BLM Priorities- To improve the health & productivity of the land to support the BLM multiple-use mission.

To cultivate community-based conservation, citizen-centered stewardship, and partnership through consultation, cooperation, & communication.

To respect, value, & support our employees, giving them resources and opportunities to succeed.

To pursue excellence in business practices, improve accountability to our stakeholders, and deliver better service to our customers.


BLM 5 Current Priorities

The America’s Great Outdoors initiative, which is aimed at enhancing the conservation of BLM-managed lands and resources and reconnecting Americans to the outdoors. The New Energy Frontier, which encourages and facilitates renewable energy development – solar, wind, and geothermal – on the Nation’s public lands. Cooperative Landscape Conservation, a scientific initiative that recog-nizes the need to better understand the condition of BLM-managed land-scapes at a broad level. Youth in the Great Outdoors, which supports programs and partner-ships that engage youth in natural resource management and encourages young people and their families to visit, explore, and learn about the public lands. Climate Change, which is affecting public lands in ways that could im-pact on Americans’ quality of life. The BLM is responding with two intercon-nected initiatives: a proposed landscape approach to land management and Rapid Ecoregional Assessments, which will improve the agency’s un-derstanding of public land conditions to inform future management deci-sions.


BLM Revenue Distribution

Oregon law requires that the Proceeds of Sales funds be distributed to all 36 counties on a pro rata basis that is based on the total number of square miles in each county compared with the total number of square miles in the state.

As a result, some counties received funds even though no receipts were generated by the counties. For example, in fiscal year 1997, 16 counties received about $62,937, or about 23 percent, of BLM’s Proceeds of Sales funds even though none of the receipts were generated in those counties. In addition, the county that generated the largest receipt--$167,885--received only $4,572, or less than 3 percent of its receipts, from the state.

Oregon law requires that the counties use the funds for the repair and/or construction of roads and bridges and therefore distributes the funds to all counties in the belief that roads and bridges benefit the entire state.

Oregon distributed, on a quarterly basis, all Mineral Leasing funds received from BLM and MMS to the counties in which the funds were generated because the amount of the funds involved was insignificant.

Oregon law specifies that the BLM and MMS Mineral Leasing funds that it distributes to its counties be used to support public schools or the construction or maintenance of public roads.


Historical Information

Federal Land Planning & Management Act (FLPMA) Highlights- 1976

This ambitious Act both recognized the value of our Nation’s public lands and provided a framework in which they could be managed in perpetu-ity for the benefit of present and future generations. It defined BLM’s mis-sion as one of multiple use -- a new concept for the times, but which today stands as our agency’s great strength. FLPMA provides us with the tools we need to cooperatively and creatively manage the public lands, and in the process, dispel the notion that a variety of uses and resources cannot co-exist.

National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) Highlights- Signed by Richard Nixon Jan 1, 1970

Congress recognized that nearly all federal activities affect the environment in some way and mandated that before federal agencies make decisions, they must consider the effects of their actions on the quality of the human environment. The law was established to foster and promote the general welfare, to create and maintain conditions under which man and nature can exist in productive harmony, and fulfill the social, economic, and other requirements of present and future generations of Americans.

Homesteading Act Highlights -1862

In 1862, the Homestead Act was passed and signed into law. The new law established a three-fold homestead acquisition process: filing an application, improving the land, and filing for deed of title. Any U.S. citizen, or intended citizen, who had never borne arms against the U.S. Government could file an application and lay claim to 160 acres of surveyed


Historical Information Continued...

Government land. For the next 5 years, the homesteader had to live on the land and improve it by building a 12-by-14 dwelling and growing crops. After 5 years, the homesteader could file for his patent (or deed of title) by submitting proof of residency and the required improvements to a local land office.

Mineral Leasing Act highlights - 1920

A United States federal law that authorizes and governs leasing of public lands for developing deposits of coal, petroleum, natural gas and other hydrocarbons, in addition to phosphates, sodium, sulphur, and potassium in the United States. Previous to the act, these materials were subject to mining claims under the General Mining Act of 1872.

Endangered Species Act (ESA) Highlights - 1973

The purpose of the ESA is to protect and recover imperiled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend. It is administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Commerce Department’s National Marine Fisheries Service. It recognized that our rich natural heritage is of “esthetic, ecological, educational, recreational, and scientific value to our Nation and its people.” It further expressed concern that many of our nation’s native plants and animals were in danger of becoming extinct.

O&C Lands Act Highlights - 1937

Active federal management of the Oregon O&C lands began with the passage of the O&C Lands Act of August 28, 1937. This law provides the authority for management of O&C lands along with Coos Bay Wagon Road lands.


The O&C Lands Act placed management jurisdiction of the lands under the United States Department of the Interior, and directed that timberlands be managed:

. . . for permanent forest production, and the timber thereon shall be sold, cut, and removed in conformity with the principal of sustained yield for the purpose of providing a permanent source of timber supply, protecting watersheds, regulating stream flow, and contributing to the economic stability of local communities and industries, and providing recreational facilities . . .(43 U.S.C. §1181a)

Historical Information Continued...


Additional Resources

There are many links and articles full of information on the BLM Oregon website. There are also several other states that have BLM websites, as well as a national website and a National Training Center website. I highly reccommend you browse these sites and see what resources you might be able to use.

BLM Oregon Home Website: http://www.blm.gov/or/index.php

BLM YouTube Website:http://www.youtube.com/user/BLMOREGON

About the BLM- Background & history synopsis:http://www.blm.gov/or/about/blmfacts2.php

Thank You!Your part in engaging our volunteers is valuable to our success at the BLM. We appreciate the time, effort & passion you put into facilitating this workshop. If you have any questions or comments, you are welcome to

contact me.

Sabrina [email protected]

(541)953-9833