1. The Power of Long-term Observation: Using Long-term Participation in Phenology Monitoring to Teach Observation and Perseverance LoriAnne Barnett – Education Coordinator: lorianne@usanpn.org USA National Phenology Network, National Coordinating Office, Tucson, AZ Results Summary Long-term Nature’s Notebook phenology monitoring programs:  Take place at a given location over a year or more  Offer opportunities for collaboration between observers, sites, and site-leaders  Enhance observer knowledge of species phenology, morphology, and timing  Serve as an engagement strategy for existing research, education, and outreach programs Long-term Monitoring Program What does long-term mean? The USA-NPN defines long-term as:  Linked to the site or individual of a species, not necessarily linked to a person  Generally, making repeat observations at least once per week during the growing season  Making observations for a least one growing season  Making observations for more than one calendar year Nature’s Notebook cultivates a deep understanding of the phenology (morphology and timing) of chosen species in a given location. Nature’s Notebook The Nature’s Notebook citizen and professional science program provides a national framework for the submission of long-term phenology observation data. Data collected by observers can be used at multiple scales:  By researchers interested in better understanding the effects of climate change on plants and animals  By people or groups of people interested in local or regional seasonal variation and change  By individuals who are interested in learning more deeply about the rhythms of the natural world around them.  Participants contribute data via shared sites  Outreach and education materials are available to meet desired site programmatic outcomes  USA-NPN Outreach and Education staff are available for consultation  Over 40 schools and universitites have implemented Nature’s Notebook as part of their curriculum  Over 70 non-profits, parks, arboreta have established monitoring locations for use with volunteers  Data collected at established sites are continuous over multiple years  Evaluation being conducted will elicit details about gaps in resources, data accuracy, long- term success, and observation skill gains Collaborative learning and research: Implementation Phenology provides a lens to teach inquiry, observation, the scientific method, data visualization, communication skills and climate change. Long-term phenology education, outreach, and research programs can be co-constructed by observers, educators and site-leaders to study phenological changes through time in a given location. Well-designed long- term site-based Nature’s Notebook monitoring programs engage stakeholders in the full observation cycle and: Engage participants in program design and implementation Include defined, measureable outcomes that are congruent with existing organizational outcomes Pose and answer site-specific questions Offer opportunities for long-term participation Continually share results with participants to engage them Applications in Education and Outreach Depending on how you seek to meet your programmatic needs via Nature’s Notebook, our education team can help you discover the best fit. Nature’s Notebook is flexible enough to allow multiple observers to be tracked (ideal for classrooms), and multiple sites to be established within your group. ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL! Visit our website to learn how education groups are applying the long-term phenology monitoring program approach. There we highlight users who have fully developed program plans and we share how they are implemented in the field, with an eye toward understanding participant learning. nn.usanpn.org Resources Curricula Visualization Tool Mobile Apps How To Guides