Effective Outreach:

Lessons Learned from

LakeSmartChristine Smith

Christine.p.smith@maine.gov

Lakes Education Coordinator

Maine DEP

Getting In Step Getting In Step ProcessProcess1. Define driving forces, goals and

objectives2. Analyze target audience3. Create tools4. Package program 5. Distribute program 6. Evaluate outreach7. Improve and implement

http://www.epa.gov/owow/watershed/outreach/documents/getnstep.pdf

Scientific Method Effective Outreach

1 Problem Driving Forces

2 Observations Analyze Target Audience

3 Question/Hypothesis

Goals and Objectives

4 Research Methods Create Tools

5 Conduct Research Package/Deliver Program

6 Analyze Results Evaluate and Interpret

7 Conclusion Improve and Implement

Step 1. Define driving Step 1. Define driving forces, goals and forces, goals and objectives objectives Driving Force

Declining water quality due to urban/suburban landscaping

GoalLake-friendly landuse practices statewide

Objectives wait for next steps (don’t forget)

Step 2. Identify and Step 2. Identify and analyze target analyze target audienceaudience

•Target audience - lake shore residents

•McKenzie-Mohr– Barriers and incentives to actions– Identify “Spark plugs” and “Jacobs” in

community•Lake User survey 2000, Omnibus

surveys, focus groups– Concerned, lacking knowledge on cause

and effect, looking for easy fixes, retired

Survey DataSurvey Data

• 2000 Lake User survey http://www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/doclake/survey.htm

• 2005 Omnibus survey and focus groups http://www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/doceducation/nps/2005_report.pdf

• 1999 Omnibus Survey http://www.maine.gov/dep/blwq/docwatershed/npscamp4year.htm

Step 3. Create the Step 3. Create the toolstools•Training workshops

•Evaluation form for site visits

•Awards for incentive and to increase

visibility

ObjectivesObjectives •Hold 5 workshops/year

•Measure workshop success

•Track number awards and recognitions/year

•Long term measurement by redoing watershed surveys

Step 4. Package Step 4. Package ProgramProgram

• Name

• Logo

• Slogan- “Living lightly on the land

for the sake of our lake”

All develop by surveying audience

Step 4. Package Step 4. Package ProgramProgram •Presenters with credentials

•Agendas for the workshops– Pledges, prompts

•SWCD to do property evaluations

•Promotion

Step 5. Distribute Step 5. Distribute program program

2 year pilot 2003-2004

Step 6. EvaluateStep 6. Evaluate

Process Indicators ’03-’04 :

• 6 of 10 workshops (well received) but expensive

• 61% signed up – showed up in ‘04

• 68 property evaluations

• 27 awards, 39 recognitions

Summer 2005Summer 2005

•Evaluations on 22 lakes

•Many requests for workshops

•Lack of response to first workshops

•Performance Partnership Agreement – Measurable objectives– More evaluation

New ObjectivesNew Objectives

•Objective: 15% of properties on project lakes are LakeSmart

•Objective: 75% of workshop participants take action

Do More EvaluationDo More Evaluation

•Process- numbers, familiar

• Impact- measuring action, water quality

•Context- who, what, where, why (includes success stories)

SurveysSurveys•Written survey of target audience

•Phone survey of ’04 workshop registrants– Tell them you will call– Call no shows

•Phone interviews of participants, spark plugs, evaluators, collaborators

Impact Evaluation Impact Evaluation of 2004 of 2004

WorkshopsWorkshops

•72% learned something new

•37% had a property evaluation in ’04

•83% took action (planting, diversions, had evaluation..)

Context Evaluation:Context Evaluation:

•Who is getting awards? •Where are awards?•When are awards?•What support is need? •Why are some lakes successful and others not?

Context Evaluation Context Evaluation ExampleExample

Analyze location of property evaluations in relation to

workshops.

3+ Evaluations- ’03-’053+ Evaluations- ’03-’05

•16 lakes had 3+ evaluations

•10 lakes had workshop = 70 evals

•6 lakes no workshop = 58 evalsConclusion: workshop not a requirement

Step 7. Improve and Step 7. Improve and ImplementImplement

We need to focus on fewer lakes

•Offer support (with social marketing tools) to lake associations for longer

•Offer shorter trainings

•Choose lakes withkey elements

Elements for a Successful Elements for a Successful LakeSmart ProgramLakeSmart Program

1.A local “Spark Plug” 2.Active Lake Assoc.3.No other big projects 4.A minimum 2 year

commitment 5.Lake Assoc. offers incentives,

$, plants, YCC

Elements for a Successful Elements for a Successful LakeSmart ProgramLakeSmart Program

6. Local interest 7. Evaluators- SWCD or other8. High% year round or

summer9. High% shorefront in L A10. Sense of community

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

•EVALUATE- process, impact, context

•Measurable Objectives

•Implement Changes

Questions?Questions?