In response to Dr. Mamie Parker's strong desire to strengthen and coordinate outreach efforts, raise the visibility, and improve the quality of Fisheries and Habitat Conservation (FHC) Program outreach, the highly motivated FHC Outreach Team was created in 2004.

The FHC Outreach Team is composed of staff from the various Offices and Programs within FHC. Members possess a wide range of biological, marketing, graphic arts, environmental education, and outreach experiences. Membership on the Team is strictly voluntary.

To date, the Outreach Team has had several successes:

• Assisted in planning and hosting the highly successful Celebrating Habitat special event. This week-long series of events and activities highlighted the outstanding habitat protection and restoration efforts currently underway within FHC. During over 200 visits to Capitol Hill in only three days, US Fish and Wildlife staff, accompanied by our partners and colleagues, raised the awareness Congress about the significant contributions FHC employees and partners make every day to improve the quality of life of the American people. Over 350 people attended the "Celebrating Habitat Reception," where participants learned more about FHC programs through a variety of displays and interactive activities, while nibbling on tasty treat provided by our supporters, and tapping their feet to a live band, "Jazzed on Habitat."
• Developed a host of new web pages (including this one!) and designed and implemented new standard for all FHC web materials.
• Implemented the "FHC Presents..." a series of ongoing Brown Bag Luncheons that cover a wide range of topics meant to educate, inspire and bring together staff in the Washington Office.
• Created an in-house training program entitled "FHC Academy" that brings together skilled staff in a workshop environment to assist others in gaining much-needed skills such as improving public speaking and mastering computer software applications.

The FHC Outreach Team also has ambitious plans to expand outreach coordination and assistance beyond the Washington Office in the near future (FHC Outreach Strategic Action Plan Draft, 2005). Future projects include an on-line Events Calendar, publication of an annual FHC Accomplishments Report, developing a communications strategy for FHC, and many other exciting and innovative projects. The Team is dedicated to achieving its mission, "...to create and share a passion for Fisheries and Habitat Conservation that unifies, engages, and inspires all our audiences."

Links:

View the FHC Outreach Newsletters ( pdf files, unless otherwise noted):

December 2005
November 2005
October 2005
September 2005
August 2005
July 2005
June 2005
May 2005
April 2005
March 2005
February 2005
January 2005
December 2004
November 2004

Visit the National Conservation Training Center Division of Education Outreach for current training opportunities, and for Educator and Kids' pages.
http://training.fws.gov/deo/

US Fish and Wildlife Service Media Contacts: http://news.fws.gov/contacts.html

US Fish and Wildlife Service Virtual Newsroom: http://news.fws.gov/NewsReleases/