GLIN==> Workshop: Aquatic Invasive Species Education Handbook

INTRODUCING: Wisconsin's Aquatic Invasive Species Education Handbook

Workshop Announcement: Using the New Aquatic Invasive Species Education Handbook

Is there interest in aquatic invasive species education in your community? Are you providing support to local Aquatic Invasive Species Grant recipients? Would you like to learn more about the educational resources, programs, and funding that are available to you? If so, plan to attend one of the upcoming workshops that will premiere a brand new publication: "Aquatic Invasive Species: A Handbook for Education Efforts".

Workshops: The purpose of these half-day workshops, provided by Wisconsin Sea Grant, University of Wisconsin-Extension, and Wisconsin DNR, is to launch our new invasive species education handbook. All participants will receive a copy of the handbook and accompanying resource CD. We will discuss aquatic invasive species in Wisconsin and the statewide programs that allow volunteers to get involved in the fight against these nuisance species. We will also review the handbook contents and hopefully generate ideas for how you can take this resource home and put it to good use!

Who should attend: The workshops are open to anyone, and we encourage the following individuals to attend: UW-Extension Agents, LCD Employees, DNR Lake Coordinators and Environmental Grant Specialists, lake association representatives, representatives from interested municipalities, and DNR Aquatic Invasive Species Grant recipients.

Where:
October 4th - Madison - Friedrick Center (UW-Madison Campus)
October 5th - Stevens Point - Student Union (UW-Stevens Point Campus)
October 6th - Minocqua - The Pointe Resort and Conference

When: 10 am - 3 pm

Cost: They're free! The workshops, including lunch, are being provided by the National Sea Grant College Program and the Great Lakes Commission, who is managing this grant in the Great Lakes states.

Registration: Pre-registration is required. Contact Phil Moy at (920) 683-4697, pmoy@uwc.edu or Diane Knier at (920) 683-4700 to reserve your spot at one of the workshops.

Background: Aquatic invasive species are plants and animals that have been introduced into Wisconsin waters and are having negative economic, ecological, and recreational impacts. Awareness of aquatic invasive species is growing in Wisconsin, and increasing numbers of citizens are looking for ways to get involved in helping to prevent their introduction and spread. Education is the basis for more citizen involvement and effectiveness, and state agencies are increasing their educational efforts. However, this battle will not be won with a statewide education effort alone. Numerous local groups - schools, counties, towns, lake associations, businesses - have recognized this and are beginning to launch their own prevention education efforts. Local programs are encouraged to collaborate with and capitalize on statewide educational efforts to achieve maximum effectiveness.

The new education handbook was developed jointly by UW - Extension, Wisconsin Sea Grant, and the Department of Natural Resources. It includes a compilation of information on statewide programs, resources, contacts, case studies, and action strategies. It also provides some suggested approaches for designing successful local education efforts. We hope that this book will serve as a resource for those who might be interested in taking on this issue but don't know where to begin, or for individuals working in communities statewide who might be called upon to provide support.

For more information about the workshops, contact:
Phil Moy, Wisconsin Sea Grant, pmoy@uwc.edu, 920-683-4697
Mandy Beall, UW-Extension/DNR, mandy.beall@dnr.state.wi.us, 608-267-3531

Mandy Beall
Aquatic Invasives Education Specialist

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Wisconsin DNR
Bureau of Watershed Management, WT/2
101 S. Webster St, P.O. Box 7921
Madison, WI 53707-7921
(ph) 608-267-3531, (fax) 608-267-2800
Mandy.Beall@dnr.state.wi.us

Environmental Resources Center
204 Hiram Smith Hall
1545 Observatory Dr.
Madison, WI 53706-1289
(ph) 608-261-1092, (fax) 608-262-2031
Amanda.Beall@ces.uwex.edu