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Collaborative Learning Workshops

 Building Clout In Your State Legislature

Program Presenter:  Sue Brown, Executive Director, National Wildlife Action

Sponsored by National Wildlife Action, the 501(c)(4) grassroots advocacy and accountability arm of the National Wildlife Federation.  This training offered affiliate leaders new ideas and strategies to increase the power and clout of conservaation activists in your state.  From holding elected officials accountable to effective advocacy, to getting conservationists to run for office, this workshop presented thought provoking ideas and examples from across the country.

If you would like to know more about this topic and the information given out at the workshop, please contact Beth Leodler, Grassroots Operations Assistant at leodlere@nwf.org.

 Online Tools For Advocacy and Membership

Program presenter: Cindy Morgan-Jaffe, Chief Operations Officer, Orchid Suites, Inc.

Rapidly changing technology and the convenience of the internet has launched our society online, making a strong web presence increasingly essential for effective outreach.  The National Wildlife Federation has partnered with Orchid Suites, Inc. to offer NWF affiliates a very affordable, strong, dynamic system that includes tools for advocacy and outreach, membership tracking and data management, content organization, online donation acceptance and more.  The presentation outlined the basics of the Orchid Suites program for NWF affiliates and Cindy met individually with interested affiliates later that afternoon to discuss specific questions.  In addition to the materials below, we strongly encourage you to explore the Customer Care Center created especially for NWF affiliates.  This site has information on the program, software features, pricing, flexible options, website skins offered to affiliates, how to contact Orchid Suites and more.

 Protecting Our Public Lands

Program Presenters:

  • Kate Zimmerman, NWF Sr. Land Stewardship Policy Specialist
  • Steve Torbit, Regional Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Natural Resource Center
  • Walt Gasson, Executive Director, Wyoming Wildlife Federation
  • Dennis Buechler, Director Emeritus, Colorado Wildlife Federation
  • Shoren Brown, NWF Campaign Director, Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development
  • Land Tawney, NWF Regional Representative
  • Kent Salazar, Family Advocacy Manager, Habitat for Humanity, Valencia County, NM and NWF Board Director, Region 10

This workshop focused on the current threats to the wildlife and wild places that comprise our public lands. The program presenters (listed above) discussed the dangers of oil and gas industries, drilling, livestock grazing, timber industries, and recreation. Protecting our public lands not only serves the needs of wildlife, but it also serves us, the people, by preserving the wilderness and the traditions that are essential to our “home place”, a term Walt Gasson used in his presentation on Energy Development in Wyoming.

Solutions to these problematic issues orbit responsible management. Using best management practices to mitigate impacts from mining and drilling, using responsible planning to minimize habitat fragmentation, and enforcing regulations are all example solutions. Organizations like Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development want to achieve a compromise that will maximize the benefits for conservation interests and energy development.

 Reverse Growing Nature Deficit In The Next Generation

Program presenter:  Kevin Coyle, NWF Vice President of Education

Today's children spend an average of six hours per day engaged with electronics instead of engaged with the outdoors.  Not only is this sedentary pattern a concern for children's health, but it's also a concern for the future of wildlife and wild places.  Kids are becoming progressively disconnected with nature and less likely to grow into adults who support and encourage conservation.  This workshop discussed the trends in today's youth, why it's a problem and possible solutions.

 Renewable Fuels And Habitat

Program Presenters:

  • Julie Sibbing, NWF Sr. Manager for Wetlands and Agriculture Policy
  • Kurt Zwally, Manager, NWF Global Warming Solutions

Fossil fuels are a shrinking resource and in the face of an ever growing population and our thirst for energy, the need for renewable fuels is increasing as well.  Solutions to our energy crisis start with 1) reducing the energy demand/consumption and 2) finding alternative sources.  This workshop discussed the current and potential sources for clean, renewable energy and the benefits and complications associated with each source.

 Water For Wildlife And People

Program Presenters: 

  • Steve Malloch, NWF Western Water Program Manager
  • Kevin Coyle, NWF Vice President of Education
  • Susan Kaderka, NWF Regional Executive Director, Gulf States Natural Resource Center

Climate change is impacting our world's water.  Severe weather events like flooding and droughts are impacting people, wildlife, and the ecosystems in which we live.  This workshop discussed the effects climate change is having on water, how that's affecting the world around us and what could happen in the future.  It also discusses the need for action to mitigate these impacts through responsible policy and conservation actions.