1. Working with Community Partners
December 14, 2014
OCAq is an organization that promotes the conservation and appreciation of marine and coastal ecosystems
Have been around for 20 years providing lots of educational opportunities
-labs
-outreach
-kits
-professional development
Sleepovers
And a variety of public programs
Swell and dandy so why do we need a different approach? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it

2. Goals for Session Identify strategies for effective communication
Explore various means of engaging community partners in student learning
Get to know existing community partners on the Central Oregon Coast

3. Why use community partners?
How many people have been to Oregon?
How many people have been to the Oregon Coast Aquarium?
Bring up animation
Most of our visitors, including school groups, are from the valley (highly populated areas) and Portland– explain the distance
Even with the distance, many local students were not participating in OCAq programs– don’t appreciate what’s in your own backyard issue
Beyond that, it wasn’t even that they were not only not visiting the Aquarium, students were not even going to the beach or enjoying the ocean
As an organization that wants people to understand and cherish marine and coastal ecosystems, we were not serving the K12 students in our own community as well as we knew we could

4. Community partners assets…
Content expertise
Facilities/sites
People
Shared mission
Authentic audiences or issues
Career connections
How many people have been to Oregon?
How many people have been to the Oregon Coast Aquarium?
Bring up animation
Most of our visitors, including school groups, are from the valley (highly populated areas) and Portland– explain the distance
Even with the distance, many local students were not participating in OCAq programs– don’t appreciate what’s in your own backyard issue
Beyond that, it wasn’t even that they were not only not visiting the Aquarium, students were not even going to the beach or enjoying the ocean
As an organization that wants people to understand and cherish marine and coastal ecosystems, we were not serving the K12 students in our own community as well as we knew we could

5. Before seeking out collaboration…
Develop an idea
Identify primary content standards to be addressed
Brainstorm how you might want to utilize a community partner

6. Initiate Conversation
Communicate your learning objectives
Inquire what assets they may be able to contribute
Ask about timelines
Inquire if they know of anyone else

7. Collaboratively Identify…
Schedule
Activities
Responsibilities
Products
Audiences

8. Think Outside of the Box
Virtual visits
Multiple visits
Use of volunteers
???

9. Reflect and Evaluate Curriculum committee Teacher advisory activities
Leaders within their school

10. Get to know… Brian Fowler, Oregon State Parks; Brian.Fowler@oregon.gov
Renee O’Neill, Streamwebs;
Wendy Spaulding or Rachael Bashor, Oregon Coast Aquarium; or
Curriculum committee
Teacher advisory activities
Leaders within their school

11. Get to know…
Brenda Kauffman, Drift Creek Camp;
Lisa Phipps, Tillamook Estuaries Partnership;
Todd Williver, OSU Extension 4H;
Graham Klag, REEF Education Program;
Cait Goodwin, Oregon Sea Grant/Oregon Coast STEM Hub;
Curriculum committee
Teacher advisory activities
Leaders within their school