Friday, December 22, 2006

PLI Staff Gain State and National Accolades

Staff members of the Public Lands Institute recently received recognition at the state and national levels.



















thumbsup Forever Earth/Discover Mojave Project Manager Daphne Sewing made a presentation to the North American Association of Environmental Educators at its 2006 annual conference in October. The presentation, “Connecting a Disconnected Youth to the Outdoors,” highlighted the Discover Mojave Outdoor World Program and the assessment results to date.
thumbsup

Research Assistant Professor Jef Jaeger has received the 2006 Outstanding Dissertation Award from the UNLV College of Sciences. The award is presented to the outstanding dissertation submitted by a College of Sciences Ph.D. student as selected by the faculty committee. Jaeger also is the program administrator of the National Park Service Monitoring Program for the Public Lands Institute.

thumbsup Research Assistant Professor Scott Abella has been named Distinguished Alumnus-in-Residence from the Biology/Natural Resources Management Department at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan.
thumbsup Conservation Education and Interpretation Strategy Project Manager Allison Brody has been selected to serve a two-year term on the board of directors for the Nevada Natural Resource Education Council (NNREC). The NNREC is a statewide non-profit organization that works to develop and promote natural resource education in Nevada. Allison has been working closely with NNREC to help the organization obtain its EETAP capacity and certification grants.

Congratulations to Daphne, Jef, Scott, and Allison!

Wednesday, December 13, 2006

From the Classroom to the Ballroom: UNLV Event Planning Seniors Get Real

by LaNelda Rolley, UNLV Public Lands Institute


When the UNLV Public Lands Institute (PLI) and the Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program started making plans for an annual volunteer recognition event, talks soon led to involving students from UNLV’s William F. Harrah College of Hotel Administration in the event planning. A key component of PLI’s mission is to provide opportunities for faculty and students to contribute professional expertise to the institute’s programs. In PLI’s view, the College of Hotel Administration was a great resource to draw upon, since it has a well deserved reputation for providing its students with quality education in the classroom as well as real-life opportunities for practical experience.


The federal volunteer recognition event was created by the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service to recognize community residents who have dedicated hundreds of volunteer hours to such efforts as repairing trails and picnic areas, removing litter, staffing visitor centers, and hosting campgrounds. The agencies also present special awards to selected individuals and groups.


In August 2006, at the suggestion of Tourism and Convention Administration Department Chair Patti Shock, PLI Director Nancy Flagg and Interagency Volunteer Program Manager Donna Grady met with Gael Hancock, a member of the college’s adjunct faculty. “Gael was immediately enthusiastic about using this event as a team exercise in her senior capstone course,” said Flagg. “We quickly realized the partnership would benefit both entities, with students being able to practice their event-planning skills while providing us with additional staffing.”


As the fall semester got underway, 15 undergraduate students in TCA 490 – Festival and Event Management began planning the Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer Recognition Breakfast. The initial assignment called for the students to form two teams to develop competing proposals for the event, which was to be held Saturday, November 4, 2006. Each team was required to prepare and present a professional package using the theme “Our Volunteers are Gems.”


Team proposals were reviewed by the interagency team and PLI staff on September 15, 2006. “We were impressed with the students’ knowledge, creativity, and attention to detail,” said Interagency Volunteer Program Manager Donna Grady. “The ideal would have been to weave elements of both proposals into one, but we had committed to honoring each team’s concept as presented.” Grady explained that the second assignment called for all 15 students to work together to implement the winning team’s proposal. Over the next six weeks, the students held several planning meetings, finalized the invitations and program, and created decorations for the event.


On the morning of the event, the students moved into implementation mode at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel – arranging signage, checking the room set-up, making sure the audio/visual equipment was operational, decorating the room, and greeting guests. Tables were decorated with jewel-toned centerpieces containing photograph holders highlighting volunteers in action. When the doors opened, more than 200 community volunteers felt truly treasured as they joined federal land managers, volunteer coordinators, and invited guests to celebrate their contributions to Southern Nevada’s public lands.

“The student teams did a fantastic job, and we valued their assistance,” said Grady. As their final assignment in the course, the students provided a summary of the event along with suggestions for improvement. In particular, the class will provide recommendations on ways to improve the experience for students designing the 2007 program.


















Senior capstone students work on table decorations
for the event.
UNLV event planning
students pose after staging a successful volunteer recognition breakfast.
Joining them are IVP Program Manager Donna Grady (front left), Instructor Gael
Hancock (front center), and PLI Graduate Assistant Tyra Jenkins (front right).

Friday, December 1, 2006

Southern Nevada Residents Honored for Volunteering on Public Lands

Text Box: Number of hours volunteered: 150,000  Value of volunteer hours: $2.7 million  Saving our natural treasures: Priceless


LAS VEGAS -- Under the theme “Our Volunteers are Gems,” the Southern

Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program recently recognized more than 200 residents who have volunteered many hours toward the preservation and conservation of Southern Nevada’s public lands. The Second Annual Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer Recognition Ceremony was held at the Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel on November 4, 2006. The event was hosted by the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service.

Federal land managers, volunteer coordinators, and invited guests saluted the volunteers and celebrated their accomplishments:


  1. During Fiscal Year 2006, residents volunteered for 150,000 hours to maintain visitor facilities, monitor cultural sites, host campgrounds, educate the public, and answer visitors’ questions. These contributions carry an estimated value of $2.7 million.

  2. Maintained more than 120 miles of trails.

  3. Removed cattails in national wildlife refuges, clearing more than 2,500 linear feet of stream to provide habitat to threatened and endangered species.

  4. Cleared lands of more than 126 tons of trash.

  5. Restored habitats and removed invasive species.

Awards also were presented to several individuals and organizations for their outstanding service. Pictured with the recipients are agency volunteer coordinators Nancy Bernard (National Park Service), Amy Meketi (U.S. Forest Service), Callie Leau Courtright (U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service), and James Cribbs (Bureau of Land Management).






Volunteer Supervisor of the Year

David Hughey, Maintenance Team Lead for Boulder District of the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, supervises 25 volunteers who maintain the campgrounds and serve the public at the Boulder Beach and Las Vegas Bay areas.

David Hughey






Volunteer Service

This award recognized the volunteer who contributed the most hours to the federal agencies. National Park Service volunteer Judy Orr contributed 2,874 volunteer hours as a campground host at Boulder Beach Campground.







Volunteer Group of the Year

The Lake Mead National Recreation Area Volunteer Water Safety Patrol Program was honored for its members logging more than 4,000 hours to provide boat tows and respond to search and rescue missions.







Volunteer of the Year


Terry Conner donated 2,534 hours serving as the spokesperson for the Pahranagat National Wildlife Refuge Upper Lake Campground and assisting U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service staff with maintenance and administration.







Lifetime Achievement

This award recognizes sustained volunteerism to one or more agencies over a long period of time. Emma Schliepp, who was unable to attend, has volunteered with the Bureau of Land Management for more than 21 years, contributing 4,800 hours to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. In those years, Schliepp has conducted aerial surveys and cultural site inspections, removed litter, cleaned graffiti off rocks and in caves, and built and repaired trails. Accepting the award on behalf of Ms. Schliepp is BLM Volunteer Coordinator Jim Cribbs.







Environmental Education



Norm Kresge, a retired school principal, has served as a dedicated volunteer at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area for five years. As chair of the environmental education committee for Friends of Red Rock Canyon, he helps to fund teacher workshops, writes the “Explore the Great Outdoors” curriculum, coordinates the transportation scholarship for inner city schools, and works with the Mojave Max Program.


Volunteer Leadership

Two special awards were presented for outstanding leadership of volunteers. Manager Sharon McKelvey and the staff of the Ash Meadows National Wildlife Refuge stepped up volunteers’ efforts so that on some workdays their staff increased by 1000 percent! Volunteers had the rare opportunity to work closely with endangered species while protecting unique species.


Shawn Goodchild, an Ecological Services Biologist with the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, helped develop the Desert National Wildlife Refuge Complex Volunteer Program. His work became the cornerstone for establishing Stewardship Saturdays, held on a regular basis throughout the year.







Allison Brody, Conservation Education and Interpretation Strategy Program Manager

for the UNLV Public Lands Institute, served as event emcee.




Alan O'Neill, Founder of the Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program

and President of Outside Las Vegas, was guest speaker.



2006 volunteer award recipients pose with federal land managers and volunteer coordinators.

Tuesday, September 19, 2006

PLI Program Awarded Grant to Link Environmental Education and Cultural Diversity

PLI’s Conservation Education and Interpretation Strategy has received a grant from Clark County to assist in strengthening the relationship between environmental educators and diverse audiences. The $3,500 grant will be used to provide a professional development diversity workshop for environmental educators in Las Vegas in January 2007.


The workshop is sponsored by the Environmental Education and Training Partnership (EETAP), a national leader in the delivery of environmental education training for education professionals. EETAP is funded by the Office of Environmental Education in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Part of the mission of EETAP is to ensure ethnically diverse and low-income communities actively take part in “education that advances student learning and environmental literacy.”


“We are honored to develop and present this workshop in Las Vegas,” said Allison Brody, program manager for the Conservation Education and Interpretation Strategy. “Research and our experiences indicate that environmental education can inject new energy into academics while increasing environmental literacy and stewardship. That is something that needs to be shared with as many audiences as possible.”


The workshop will explore multicultural issues and how they impact environmental education. It also will examine changes that educators should make to work more effectively with diverse audiences. The Las Vegas workshop will be offered to environmental educators involved with Partners for Education About the Environment, a consortium of educators and others working at public lands, nature centers, museums, aquaria, and other nature- and heritage-related places. For more information, contact Brody at 895-5097 or allison.brody@unlv.edu.

Wednesday, September 6, 2006

PLI Celebrates 2006 Harvest Fest at Red Rock Canyon

September 06, 2006


The Public Lands Institute (PLI) joined with dozens of local artists, educational programs, and agencies to celebrate the unofficial end of summer at the Harvest Fest on September 3, 2006. Hundreds of residents from the Las Vegas Valley and visitors from throughout the United States and Canada attended the annual event at the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area’s Visitor Center.


PLI promoted the Get Outdoors Nevada program at its booth by signing up volunteers for upcoming clean-up and trail restoration projects in Southern Nevada. In particular, visitors to the booth were informed of the events planned for National Public Lands Day September 23, 2006 at Red Rock Canyon and September 30 at Lake Mead National Recreation Area.







Each of the more than 60 individuals who signed up received a free water bottle lanyard, while each child visiting the booth received a free PLI eraser and a desert animals/plants coloring sheet designed by local artist Sharon K Schafer. It was also a chance to visit one-on-one with local school teachers about outdoor education opportunities provided by the institute and the federal land management agencies.


The Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area is managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Harvest Fest was organized by BLM, the Red Rock Canyon Interpretive Association, and Friends of Red Rock Canyon.








 

Tuesday, August 29, 2006

UNLV Names Post-Doctoral Scholar to Direct Area Archaeological Research Projects

LAS VEGAS-The UNLV Public Lands Institute and the Department of Anthropology & Ethnic Studies have named Dr. Gregory Haynes as post-doctoral scholar in archaeology. Haynes will lead a team of research assistants who conduct archaeological surveys, site assessments, and research in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area and the Parashant National Monument Area of southeastern Nevada and northwestern Arizona.


Haynes will work under the direction of Dr. Karen Harry, assistant professor in the Department of Anthropology, who leads the archaeological efforts for the Public Lands Institute in its partnership with the National Park Service.


Haynes previously was the archaeologist at Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest in Carson City, Nevada. Prior to that, he was an instructor with the Department of Anthropology at the University of Nevada, Reno and associate research archaeologist with the Desert Research Institute. Haynes received his Ph.D. in anthropology from the University of Nevada, Reno and a master’s degree in anthropology from Northern Arizona University.


UNLV’s Public Lands Institute was created in 2005 to work in collaboration with federal, state, and non-profit partners to create new knowledge, advance technology, improve education, and engage the community to enhance public lands stewardship. More information about the Public Lands Institute is available at http://publiclands.unlv.edu.


UNLV is a doctoral-degree-granting institution with more than 27,000 students and approximately 2,800 faculty and staff. More than 200 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees are offered. Founded in 1957, UNLV is located on 337 acres in dynamic Southern Nevada. The university is ranked in the category of Doctoral/Research Universities-Intensive by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Wednesday, August 23, 2006

New Staff Member Assists with Visits to Public Lands

LAS VEGAS - The University of Nevada, Las Vegas has selected a new program officer to assist faculty, staff, and students in gaining access to the area’s public lands for organized UNLV activities. As the public land permits program officer, Cathy Willey will ensure that any university research, travel, field trips, or programs conducted on public lands meet federal regulations.


Willey will work closely with the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service to assist with the issuance of public land permits to conduct activities on public lands in Nevada and contiguous states. Willey brings to the position nearly 20 years of administrative and accounting experience. Prior to joining UNLV, she worked in vendor services for the State of Nevada Controller’s Office. Willey has a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University, Northridge.


The program officer coordinates applications with federal agencies; obtains permits for faculty, staff, and students; and assists with any required reports. The program officer works through the office of the Associate Vice President for Research and Community Outreach and is housed at the UNLV Public Lands Institute. The Public Land Permits Program was created by the offices of the Executive Vice President and Provost and the Vice President for Research and Graduate Studies to provide a simple and effective way to ensure that UNLV-coordinated educational and recreational activities on public lands are conducted in a legal manner.


UNLV is a doctoral-degree-granting institution with more than 27,000 students and approximately 2,800 faculty and staff. More than 200 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees are offered. Founded in 1957, UNLV is located on 337 acres in dynamic Southern Nevada. The university is ranked in the category of Doctoral/Research Universities-Intensive by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Friday, July 7, 2006

Reid Secures Additional Funding to Preserve Walking Box Ranch, Research Facility


Projects help preserve local history and provide facility for

arid lands conservation research and education


Thursday, July 06, 2006


Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada has secured $200,000 for Walking Box Ranch and the Mojave Desert Education and Research Center in the FY07 Senate Interior Appropriations bill.



“The Walking Box Ranch has some of the richest history in Nevada. This project helps preserve and protect Nevada's natural heritage and the fragile ecosystems of the Mojave Desert,” said Reid.



These funds are in addition to the $16 million that Reid procured through Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act to rehabilitate the Ranch and to build a science center. The funds provided in the Senate Interior Appropriations bill will allow UNLV to hire staff and operate the site for the coming year as the Bureau of Land Management and UNLV locate long-term funding sources for the project.



“These emergency funds are critical to act as a bridge between immediate needs and long-term plans,” said Margaret Rees, Associate Vice President for Research at UNLV. “We will be able to maintain and protect the area’s historical and natural resources as we are planning for the long-term, which includes the development of a nationally renowned Mojave Desert Science Center to enhance conservation, restoration, and adaptive management of arid lands ecosystems.”



Walking Box Ranch, one of the most historic ranches in Southern Nevada, was built in 1931 by legendary silent film stars Rex Bell and Clara Bow. Environmentally, most of the property is designated as critical desert tortoise habitat.



Now that the bill has been passed out of the Appropriations Committee, it will head to the U.S. Senate floor for a vote by the full Senate.

Tuesday, May 23, 2006

Southern Nevada to Celebrate National Trails Day

Volunteers trek to the Spring Mountains to restore trails on June 3  


May 23, 2006


LAS VEGAS -With the theme “Experience Your Outdoors,” the Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program will join with the American Hiking Association to celebrate National Trails Day® on Saturday, June 3, 2006.


The Interagency Volunteer Program is seeking approximately 60 volunteers to work on a variety of projects at Kyle Canyon in the Spring Mountains National Recreation Area, which is managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Also participating in the event will be Lisa Young, an official with Take Pride in America, a Washington, D.C.-based national volunteer program within the U.S. Department of Interior.


The event will begin with registration at 8:30 a.m. and conclude at noon on June 3. Volunteers will restore trails, pick up litter, and paint picnic tables. It is recommended that volunteers wear long pants and sturdy shoes and bring a hat, gloves, and sunscreen.


To pre-register, visit www.getoutdoorsnevada.org or call 895-5734. The deadline is May 29, 2006.


Several organizations are joining with the Interagency Volunteer Program to sponsor the event. They are American Land & Leisure, American Hiking Association, Spring Mountains Volunteer Association, Starbucks Coffee Company, Take Pride in America, and the Las Vegas Regional Chapter of the U.S. Green Building Council.


The Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program, Get Outdoors Nevada, is funded by the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) and managed by the UNLV Public Lands Institute on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service. More information about the Public Lands Institute and SNPLMA is available at http://publiclands.unlv.edu.


UNLV is a doctoral-degree-granting institution with more than 27,000 students and approximately 2,800 faculty and staff. More than 200 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees are offered. Founded in 1957, UNLV is located on 337 acres in dynamic Southern Nevada. The university is ranked in the category of Doctoral/Research Universities-Intensive by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. 


FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:

Donna Grady , Interagency Volunteer Program

702-895-4890

Hillarie Patton, Bureau of Land Management

702-515-5046

Friday, May 19, 2006

Take Pride in America in Southern Nevada teams up with Boy Scouts

Boy Scout Troop 181 and Eagle Scout Candidate take on

litter and dumping at Desert National Wildlife Refuge


Environmental stewardship and community service were in full display on May 13, 2006 at Desert National Wildlife Refuge. Take Pride in America in Southern Nevada and Boy Scout Troop 181 teamed up to tackle the litter and dumping problem on an access road leading into the refuge. The clean-up effort also helped Eagle Scout candidate Zac Ipson in his quest to earn the highest rank in scouting.


Approximately 60 boy scouts and their family and friends ventured out to the three-mile section of the access road at 7:30 that morning. By noon, they had removed 60 cubic yards of waste, including discarded appliances, furniture, landscape debris, household waste, and thousands of shotgun shells.


“This was a very rewarding experience for our program,” said Doug Joslin, project manager of Take Pride in America in Southern Nevada. “In a matter of hours, we were able to see a huge improvement in a very important wildlife refuge in Southern Nevada. In addition to that, we had young people giving back to their community and helping one of their own achieve membership in an elite group.”


Joslin also thanked Republic Services of Southern Nevada for its sponsorship. “Republic donated the waste receptacles and disposal services, which saved us hundreds of dollars.”


The Desert National Wildlife Refuge is managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Take Pride in America in Southern Nevada is funded by the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act and managed by the UNLV Public Lands Institute on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service.

Friday, April 28, 2006

Southern Nevada to Celebrate Red Rock Day on May 13

Residents asked to put their outdoor passion into action at Red Rock Canyon


April 28, 2006


LAS VEGAS - The Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program, Get Outdoors Nevada, is seeking volunteers to participate in Red Rock Day on Saturday, May 13, 2006, from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Volunteers are needed for a variety of restoration projects at Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, which is managed by the Bureau of Land Management.


The Interagency Volunteer Program is joining with Friends of Red Rock Canyon to sponsor the annual event, which last year attracted nearly 200 volunteers. Community volunteers will participate in groups to repair trails, install signs, remove graffiti, and paint and apply wood preservative to structures.


“Last year, our dedicated volunteers contributed more than 1,000 hours to improve one of the area’s natural wonders,” said Nancy Flagg, director of the Public Lands Institute, which manages the interagency program. “We are hopeful residents will come out again in large numbers to help keep the canyon beautiful.”


Volunteers are being asked to wear long pants and sturdy shoes and to bring a hat, gloves, and sunscreen. A buffet lunch and entertainment by Traffic Jam will be provided and sponsored by Friends of Red Rock Canyon.


To pre-register, visit www.getoutdoorsnevada.org or call 895-5734. The registration deadline is May 10, 2006.


The Southern Nevada Interagency Volunteer Program, Get Outdoors Nevada, is funded by the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act (SNPLMA) and managed by the UNLV Public Lands Institute on behalf of the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service. More information about the Public Lands Institute and SNPLMA is available at http://publiclands.unlv.edu.


FOR INFORMATION CONTACT:

Donna Grady , Interagency Volunteer Program

702-895-4890

Hillarie Patton, Bureau of Land Management

702-515-5046

State hires coordinator to oversee historical sites

"State hires coordinator to oversee historical sites," by Jan Hogan, The View - Green Valley/Henderson.

Tuesday, April 18, 2006

UNLV Public Lands Institute Hires Program Administrator

Program monitors research at Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Parashant National Monument

April 18, 2006


LAS VEGAS-The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Public Lands Institute has named Dr. Jef Jaeger to administer research projects conducted in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS). As the program administrator for the NPS Monitoring Program, Jaeger currently oversees a staff of 14 who execute a variety of research projects in the areas of vegetation, wildlife, and archaeology at Lake Mead National Recreation Area and Parashant National Monument. In addition, Jaeger manages the Institute’s wildlife research projects and serves as a research assistant professor in the UNLV Department of Biological Sciences.


NPS Resource Monitoring Program staff conduct surveys and research, and manage data collected to monitor sensitive rare plant and animal species, track their numbers, and recommend corrective actions when necessary. In particular, the wildlife monitoring focuses on desert tortoise, relict leopard frog, peregrine falcon, and songbird and shorebird populations. Further efforts address the effects of federal highway construction on desert tortoise and bighorn sheep habitats.


“It is imperative that we continue to monitor the urban encroachment on Southern Nevada’s desert ecosystem and track what effect it may have on sensitive animal species,” said Nancy Flagg, director of the Public Lands Institute. “Jef has extensive knowledge gained from more than fifteen years of experience conducting research in population and conservation biology in Nevada and California.”


Jaeger has been with UNLV for 12 years. He also has worked for a state resources agency and as a biological consultant in the private sector.


The Public Lands Institute is dedicated to strengthening the national fabric that is essential for the protection, conservation, and management of public lands. Its innovative partnership with the four land management agencies (Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service) was formally established in April 2004 to implement cooperative projects through the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act that fit the university’s educational and research strengths. The act specifies that a portion of the proceeds from federal land sales in southern Nevada be used for capital improvements, education, and conservation initiatives on public lands.


More information about the UNLV Public Lands Institute and SNPLMA is available at http://publiclands.unlv.edu.


UNLV is a doctoral-degree-granting institution with more than 27,000 students and approximately 2,800 faculty and staff. More than 200 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees are offered. Founded in 1957, UNLV is located on 337 acres in dynamic Southern Nevada. The university is ranked in the category of Doctoral/Research Universities-Intensive by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Friday, April 7, 2006

UNLV Public Lands Institute Hires Plant Expert

Program to monitor rare plants and advance ecological restoration of the desert ecosystem


April 7, 2006


LAS VEGAS-The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Public Lands Institute has named Dr. Scott Abella to lead its efforts to monitor sensitive and rare plant species in partnership with the National Park Service (NPS). As a Research Assistant Professor overseeing the NPS Vegetation Monitoring and Data Management Program, Abella will supervise a variety of vegetation research projects at Lake Mead National Recreation Area and adjacent lands. He will also teach part-time in the UNLV Department of Biological Sciences.


The vegetation monitoring program seeks to preserve and conserve various plant species of interest within all federal lands in Southern Nevada. The program addresses the monitoring of exotic, non-native plants, as well as shoreline and aquatic plants. It also bridges the gap between science and management to implement knowledge gained from research.


“We are in an ongoing struggle to protect Southern Nevada’s desert ecosystem from non-native plants overtaking native plants,” said Nancy Flagg, director of the Public Lands Institute. “Scott has extensive knowledge of vascular plants in the desert southwest and will be an asset to the vegetation monitoring program.”


Abella comes to UNLV from Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff, where he was a research specialist with the Ecological Restoration Institute. While there, he performed field experiments that advanced the restoration of the ponderosa pine forest and Sonoran Desert. Abella previously worked for the Metroparks of the Toledo Area in Ohio and the Department of Forest Resources at Clemson University in South Carolina.


The Public Lands Institute is dedicated to strengthening the national fabric that is essential for the protection, conservation, and management of public lands. Its innovative partnership with the four land management agencies (Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service) was formally established in April 2004 to implement cooperative projects through the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act that fit the university’s educational and research strengths. The act specifies that a portion of the proceeds from federal land sales in southern Nevada be used for capital improvements, education, and conservation initiatives on public lands.


More information about the UNLV Public Lands Institute and SNPLMA is available at http://publiclands.unlv.edu.


UNLV is a doctoral-degree-granting institution with more than 27,000 students and approximately 2,800 faculty and staff. More than 200 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees are offered. Founded in 1957, UNLV is located on 337 acres in dynamic Southern Nevada. The university is ranked in the category of Doctoral/Research Universities-Intensive by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.

Friday, February 24, 2006

Making Connections: 2006 Educators Conference a Success!

Our Places Tell Stories

2006 Educators

Conference University of Nevada, Las Vegas

January 24-27, 2006

Las Vegas, Nevada


EDUCATORS THROUGHOUT THE WEST MAKE CONNECTIONS


The Our Places Tell Stories: Making Connections with Our Audiences conference attracted more than 120 informal educators from Nevada, Arizona, Utah, California, Washington, and Idaho. The participants represented the federal and state public lands, nature centers, museums, zoos, aquariums, and other attractions.


These professionals came together to learn successful educational and interpretive strategies to make better connections with their visitors. “Our vision is that once the connections are made, children and adults will be inspired to understand, appreciate, and take care of our environment, particularly Southern Nevada’s desert environment,” said Allison Brody, program manager of the Education-about-the-Environment Strategy at UNLV’s Public Lands Institute.


EXCERPTS OF PARTICIPANT COMMENTS


“One of the best organized conferences I have attended and I have gone to many professional conferences.”



“This was an excellent and long-needed conference.”




“The conference is a wonderful value – I was able to send several staff members and several volunteers.”








REGIONAL AND NATIONAL EXPERTS SHARE THEIR STORIES


Two of the foremost authorities on interpretation joined with local and regional experts to share techniques so that children and adults can become motivated stewards of the environment.


The conference keynote speaker was Dr. Sam Ham (pictured below), director of the Center for International Training and Outreach at the University of Idaho’s College of Natural Resources. He is the author of a comprehensive interpretive planning process that has been adopted by national parks, historic sites, and private tourism businesses in the United States, Australia, Scotland, England, Costa Rica, and Ecuador.



Also speaking at the conference was David Guiney, director of the Interpretive Media Institute at the National Park Service’s Harpers Ferry Center in West Virginia. Guiney (below left) shared techniques to effectively communicate with audiences through such media as exhibits, signs, and brochures. Alan O’Neill (below right), executive director of the Outside Las Vegas Foundation, delivered the keynote address to share the importance of making personal connections to nature and place.








EXCERPTS OF PARTICIPANT COMMENTS


“You got top notch, head of the class people to teach the classes – give the speeches – to have access to that caliber is phenomenal.”



“A great deal of the material David Guiney presented goes right to work on planning projects in which I have immediate participation.”



“I appreciated the expertise of the presenters.”



“Without a doubt the speakers and topics were stimulating and timely – thanks for spotlighting and unifying them.”



“Quality of presenters was outstanding.”



“Speakers and presenters were of high quality, and the organization was great.”



“The speakers really added to ‘telling the story’ message.”








The innovative conference was prompted by a project of the Southern Nevada Agency Partnership (SNAP) titled Education in the Environment, which seeks to create an area-wide strategic plan for the delivery of environmental education throughout Southern Nevada. SNAP is comprised of the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and the U.S. Forest Service. The UNLV Public Lands Institute is developing the strategy on behalf of SNAP, and the project is funded by the 1998 Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act.






ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS


The Public Lands Institute extends a very special thank you to the speakers who shared their expertise and knowledge. We gratefully acknowledge our partners and sponsors: SNAP, Western National Parks Association, Southern Nevada Interpretive Association and the Outside Las Vegas Foundation, Friends of Red Rock Canyon, UNLV Division of Research & Graduate Studies, REI, Photo Viewpoints, UNLV Educational Outreach, Nevada Department of Wildlife, Las Vegas Springs Preserve, CHOLLA, and the Nevada State Museum and Historical Society. We are indebted to the conference planning committee, the SNAP Interagency Environmental Education Team, and the Public Lands Institute staff for contributing their time and energy to making the conference a success.












CONFERENCE DOCUMENTS (Click to view)




  • “No Child Left Behind Act and Nevada State Standards: SO WHAT?”

    Loretta Asay, K-12 Science and Health Coordinator, Clark County School District



  • Poetry and Podcasts

    Podcasts created by participants of conference session led by Dr. Mary Banbury, Visiting Professor at UNLV, and Dr. Greg Levitt, Chairperson, UNLV Department of Curriculum and Instruction


Friday, January 6, 2006

Archaeologist Joins UNLV Public Lands Institute

January 6, 2006


LAS VEGAS-The University of Nevada, Las Vegas Public Lands Institute, in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management, National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and U.S. Forest Service, has named Debra Dandridge to lead its Interagency Science and Research Strategy. Dandridge will collaborate with the four agencies to develop a coordinated interagency science initiative for federal lands in southern Nevada. Specifically, the program will conduct research and find solutions to address agency needs in the areas of ecosystem health, wildlife and habitat management, physical resources, natural and cultural resources, anthropology, and social sciences.


Dandridge comes to UNLV from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas, where she completed interdisciplinarydoctoral studies in archaeology. In addition, she has more than 20 years of experience working as a federal program manager and archaeologistwith experience in the Great Plains and the Southwest. Areas of expertise include historic preservation and cultural resources management.


“We are excited to have Dr. Dandridge join our efforts to increase the effectiveness of scientific research on federal lands,” said Nancy Flagg, director of the Public Lands Institute. “She will work closely with our federal partners to identify their strategic needs, integrate efforts to reduce redundancy, improve communication between the agencies and science providers, and develop funding mechanisms to support research programs.”


The Public Lands Institute is dedicated to strengthening the national fabric that is essential for the protection, conservation, and management of public lands. Its innovative partnership with the four land management agencies was formally established in April 2004 to implement cooperative projects through the Southern Nevada Public Land Management Act that fit theuniversity’s educational and research strengths.The act specifies that a portion of the proceeds from federal land sales in southern Nevada be used for capital improvements,education, and conservation initiatives on public lands.


More information about the UNLV Public Lands Institute and SNPLMA is available at http://publiclands.unlv.edu.


UNLV is a doctoral-degree-granting institution with more than 27,000 students and approximately 2,800 faculty and staff. More than 200 undergraduate, master’s and doctoral degrees are offered. Founded in 1957, UNLV is located on 337 acres in dynamic Southern Nevada. The university is ranked in the category of Doctoral/Research Universities-Intensive by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching.