2005 SMM Biennial Conference Workshop Taking conservation to the public: Strategies for getting the message out there A workshop for educators affiliated with marine mammal viewing platforms Saturday, December 10, in conjunction with the Society for Marine Mammalogy's 16th Biennial Conference <http://www.marinemammalogy.org/conference2005/> in San Diego, CA WORKSHOP SUMMARY Rationale: The conference is a great opportunity for naturalists from around the world to come together to discuss how they connect people to their experiences on the whale watch and to conservation. This workshop will be designed with a discussion-based rather than lecture-based format. We are hoping people will share their tricks of the trade so we all leave with more possibilities in our bag of tricks!!! Audience: Naturalists and educators Purpose: * To provide a forum for naturalists to share strategies for educating passengers about conservation. * To identify themes, messages, and best practices that could be used aboard various marine mammal-viewing platforms. * To discuss ideas and approaches to educating passengers aboard whale or dolphin watching boats or land-based facilities. Expected Results: * Naturalists will gain ideas that can be practically applied to their educational environments * Participants will gain effective outreach tactics. * Beginning naturalists will gain knowledge and heuristics for starting their own education programs aboard their marine mammal viewing platforms. * Big picture message: What is it? Can it be the same with every audience? How can it be delivered? CALL FOR PAPERS AND OUTREACH MATERIALS The early part of the workshop will be focused on heuristics or tricks of the trade. We are looking for 5 - 15 minute presentations that show how you get the conservation message out there. They might be lesson plans that can be adapted for a marine mammal-viewing platform. It might be games you play with passengers relating to conservation. It might be a simple demonstration you do. It might be your conservation talk that you give as a naturalist. If you have an activity you do on your platform that you feel successfully connects people to whales or to conservation, we want to learn what you do! Come and share your successes!!! We welcome abstracts from those who would like to speak on these or related topics. Abstracts should include a brief description of your proposed topic, your experience in the field and A/V equipment needs. Abstracts should be e-mailed to Cynde McInnis at acs_ed_chair@whalelady.com <mailto:acs_ed_chair@whalelady.com> on or before Saturday, October 15, 2005. As part of the workshop, we are hoping to have representative outreach materials available for take home that day on a CD. Those interested in submitting outreach materials for inclusion in our handouts or to be distributed at the workshop should contact us for more information. REGISTRATION We are now accepting registration forms. Cost for the workshop is $25. Registration includes handouts at the workshop, a CD-Rom with other workshop materials and representative outreach materials, and a breakfast and coffee break. Click here for the registration form <http://www.blueoceansociety.org/workshop/workshop%20registration.pdf> Registration deadline: Tuesday, November 15, 2005 (postmark date).
