Strategies for Community-Based Partners

to Connect with

Local School Districts

Monique Streit, Education Director�South Yuba River Citizens League

�Yarib Dheming, School & Community Outreach Manager�Orange County Department of Education, Inside the Outdoors

South Yuba River Citizens League

Watershed conservation organization

• Nevada County Enrollment
• 10,745
• Districts: 10
• # of Public Schools: 34
• Yuba County Enrollment
• 15,000
• Districts: 6
• # of Public Schools: 40
• Sierra County Enrollment
• 394
• Districts: 1
• # Public Schools: 2

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County Information

Connecting with Local School Districts

• Connecting with Teachers: Compile a list of key school contacts to connect with other teachers. Champion teachers are key to expanding programs
• Visual content: Create visually appealing brochures, flyers, and pamphlets. Post at schools and send electronically
• Email: Send registration and program emails throughout the year
• Website: Maintain an informative and user-friendly website with a blog.
• Local news outlets: Press releases and news stories showcasing education programs

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Connecting with Local School Districts

• Collaborate with local groups: Working with other CBPs, Forest Service, Water Agencies, to help connect with schools
• Provide Parent Info: Create videos, brochures, etc. for parents to ease stress of sending kids on field trips
• School/District Presentations: Talking to teachers and principals directly to gain support
• Education Committee: Consists of local teachers and community members to help with school engagement

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Inside the Outdoors

Administered by the Orange County Department of Education

• County Enrollment (2022-2023)
• 448,729
• Districts
• Total: 29
• Unified: 12
• Elementary School: 13
• High School: 3
• Charter Schools: 35
• # of Public Schools (including charter schools)
• Total: 621*
• Alternative, Community, Continuation, Court, Special Education: 45
• Elementary: 404
• High School: 74
• Middle School: 88
• K-12: 10
• Charter: 35

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Connecting with Local School Districts

• Visual content: Create visually appealing brochures, flyers, and pamphlets.
• Social media: Share regular updates, educational content, success stories, and event announcements on social media.
• Email: Send regular newsletters and updates.
• Website: Maintain an informative and user-friendly website with a blog.
• Webinars: Host webinars or online workshops focused on environmental education topics.
• Peer-to-peer marketing: Encourage teachers and students to share their positive experiences with your program with their peers and colleagues.
• Community events: Host community events and workshops that showcase the program's impact on the environment.

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Connecting with Local School Districts

• Curriculum integration: Develop resources and lesson plans that align with state and national standards, and make it easy for teachers to incorporate environmental topics into their teaching.
• Community cleanup events: Organize community cleanups or restoration projects in collaboration with schools. Highlight the environmental impact of these events and the importance of community involvement.
• District presentations: Arrange presentations for school districts to introduce them to the program's goals in a memorable and interactive way. Consider bringing a live animal!
• Host district meetings at outdoors locations: Offer your outdoor facilities to district teams. This can help them to immerse themselves in the great outdoors and think more creatively.
• District parent/PTA field trips: Connect with the district's parent leaders, who can be your allies in promoting environmental education.

In your breakout rooms, share and discuss:

• What similarities and differences do you observe between these two programs?�
• What are some of the strategies that could possibly work in your organization?�
• What other strategies do you use in your organization that would be helpful to others?

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Thank you!