Network of Centers Program
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What is a NatureMapping Center?
- Facilitates NatureMapping training to the local community
- Supports their local community in field research projects
- Provides project data to the NatureMapping Program for statewide analyses
Description and Criteria
There are three types of Centers recognized and supported by the NatureMapping Program:
Regional
- Meets all 12 criteria listed below
- Capable of supporting multiple research projects or projects over a wide geographic area (e.g., a regional initiative)
- Capable of supporting Certified and Registered Centers in their area through
- In-kind support of their staff
- Accessing data submitted to NatureMapping, and either conducting data analyses through the
generation of maps and reports or contracting with the NatureMapping Foundation to do so.
- Regional Centers can also be organizations with statewide staff, offices or influence such as state/federal agencies or universities.
Certified Center
- Meets all 12 criteria listed below.
Registered Center
- Meets 8 out of the 12 criteria listed below (#1-6, #9, #11)
- Primarily focused on NatureMapping workshops, long-term NatureMapping monitoring and at least one field project
- Has an agreement with a Regional and/or Certified Center to conduct NatureMapping projects, download and analyze submitted data to the Program, and fundraise for a field project.
NatureMapping Centers Criteria:
- A self-identified interest in NatureMapping (i.e., fits into their mission statement)
- Existing natural resource programs in place, with a clientele of citizen participants
- Dedicated Center staff available to be trained as NatureMapping facilitators
- Expertise in field-based science/STEM (e.g., Science, Technology, Engineering, Math)
- Dedicated to manage or participate in coordination of NatureMapping projects
- Conduct NatureMapping workshops
- Develop or have developed a network of partners to conduct various field research projects
- Have a suitable physical place to convene and serve as a center of public operations
- A defined geographical area in which to conduct long-term NatureMapping monitoring
- Have the capacity to acquire funds for additional projects and the availability of outside support
- Ability to edit data for accuracy before submission
- Ability to use data submitted to NatureMapping to create maps and reports for local constituents
NatureMapping Certification Process:
The certification process is listed below. Please note that if a Center being certified is in a state without
a statewide program, then costs for visiting NatureMapping staff should be included in the Center’s budget.
- First and foremost is the need to attend a workshop provided by a certified NatureMapping facilitator.
- If you plan on facilitating NatureMapping workshops, it is important to identify a partner that will assist you in facilitating your own workshops.
- Once you and your partner attended a workshop, you’ll need to alert the NatureMapping staff when you begin planning your initial workshop.
- The planning process (i.e., a meeting with NatureMapping staff) will guide the development of an agenda that is appropriate for your anticipated audiences, and link you with the necessary and most up-to-date workshop materials (e.g., handouts, Powerpoint presentations, maps, etc.)
- The NatureMapping Program will advertise the workshop on its website, unless of course, it is a “closed” workshop for a specific group.
- You and a partner will then run a workshop with the NatureMapping staff in attendance in order to review the workshop.
- The post-workshop review will provide an evaluation of the workshop, which will include the delivery of materials, content and presentation.
- There will be an annual summit in which all facilitators will convene in order to share their experiences and find program updates.
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