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Extension Forestry in the United States: MASTER VOLUNTEER AND OTHER PEER LEARNING PROGRAMS

Eli Sagor, Amanda Kueper, Charles Blinn, and Dennis Becker

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Citations

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Landowner education

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“the exchange of ideas and information among landowners and family, friends, neighbors, and other landowners”

Kueper et al. 2013

Peer-to-peer learning: Spreads information through formal or informal social networks; Involves two-way (or more) communication; Recognizes that every participant can be a teacher and a learner; Is community- and participant-driven; and Can occur through either an ongoing forum or one-time exchange.

Catanzaro 2008

Peer learning

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Master Volunteer (MV) and other peer learning (OPL) programs

Workshop image

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Two-step flow model

Source: Watts & Dodds 2007, J. Consumer Research

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Study objectives

Identify Extension Forestry MV and OPL programs nationwide that target family forest owners;

Characterize these programs in terms of delivery method, curriculum, audience, partnerships, budgets , and evaluation metrics; and

Describe trends in these programs by identifying recent and expected changes to program implementation.

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Online survey of state Extension Forestry program leaders

Three data collection phases

Online survey of MV and OPL program managers

Focus group discussions with selected program managers

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Programs

Map: MV & OPL programs

Map source: www.infoplease.com

Master VolunteerOther peer learning

22 Master Volunteer programs

17 Other Peer Learning programs

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Partnerships39 programs, 186 contributing organizations:

52 University partners42 State Agencies27 Landowner associations20 Federal agencies16 Trade or industry groups15 Conservation or environmental groups8 Conservation districts6 Other

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Operating budgets: MV programsRange: $0 - $55,000

Average $12,875 (median $10,000)

10% of Extension forestry capacity in states that have MV or OPL programs (0.5 – 0.75 FTE)

Almost entirely grant funded

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Audiences specifically targeted

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Outputs

Most programs train <30 volunteers / year

13 programs have 100+ active volunteers, including 6 with 200+, 2 with 400+

Content: State-level and MV Topics

Right side: % states teaching topic MORE now than 5 years ago

Left side: % states teaching topic LESS now than 5 years ago

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Formats: State-level and MV

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Trends in 39 MV and OPL programs over prior 5 years

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Focus group results

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Why peer learning models?

“I would say over half of the evaluations… will have… comments… about the value of learning from other landowners, that they learned just kind of what works what doesn’t work from just talking during the down time or the… evening sessions. So, that’s… why we’re doing the format we are.”

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Program changes planned during the next five years

Better communications“We constantly strive to be in closer contact with our network”

Revenue

Volunteer management efficiencyIssue focus

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Communications

“the group of volunteers gets bigger each year but staff time remains the same.”

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Discussion

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Role of peer learning in toolkitPeer learning is a common Extension forestry strategy

Volunteer capacity built through peer learning programs lasts a long time

Nimble program model?

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Efficiency

Potential to improve efficiency of professional forester time:

NY Master Forest Owner example

But: Requires investment of coordinator, volunteer manager time

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Capacity

Potential to improve efficiency of professional forester time:

NY Master Forest Owner example

But: Requires investment of coordinator, volunteer manager time

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Evaluation

Increased demands to account for outcomes, impacts

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ConclusionsCommon Extension Forestry program model

Grounded in local personal networks

Reduced budgets, increasing demands

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© 2013 Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved.The University of Minnesota is an equal opportunity educator and employer. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, this PowerPoint is available in alternative formats upon request. Direct requests to the Extension Store at 800-876-8636.

Eli Sagoresagor@umn.edu(612) 624-6948

Amanda KueperCharlie BlinnDennis Becker