Selection of Members of the Bureau of Land Management Hands on the Land Working Group

BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENTWASHINGTON, D.C. 20240http://www.blm.govSeptember 17, 2010In Reply Refer To: 1115 (172) PEMS TRANSMISSION 09/22/2010Information Bulletin No. 2010-120To: All Washington Office and Field Office OfficialsFrom: Director, National Landscape Conservation System and Community PartnershipsSubject: Selection of Members of the Bureau of Land Management Hands on the Land Working GroupThe Division of Education, Interpretation, and Partnerships is pleased to announce the selection of six Bureau of Land Management (BLM) employees as the initial members of the BLM Hands on the Land (HOL) Working Group. Hands on the Land is an interagency program linking outdoor classrooms across America's public and private lands. The BLM hosts a growing number of HOL sites offering education programs developed in conjunction with local schools.The employees selected as HOL Working Group members are:Julie Clark, Park Ranger, Arcata Field Office, CaliforniaMcKinney Briske, Park Ranger, Las Cruces District Office, New MexicoAllison Barnes, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Buffalo and Newcastle Field Offices, WyomingChris Cook, Archaeologist, Milwaukee Field Office, WisconsinLiz Townley, Outdoor Recreation Planner, Salmon Field Office, IdahoKate Sorom, Interpretive Park Ranger, Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, NevadaMembers of the HOL Working Group will share their personal experiences, leadership skills, and perspectives to help shape and promote the HOL Program, and will play an important role in representing Field Office needs and perspectives to the Washington Office. Members will serve staggered terms of two or three years.Areas of focus for the Working Group will include:-- assessing HOL site needs;-- developing orientation materials for new HOL classrooms;-- promoting the sharing of best practices through the HOL website, mentoring programs, meetings, and other avenues;-- encouraging interactivity among HOL sites through distance learning programs, comparative studies, special events, and other approaches;-- establishing standards of excellence for HOL programs and materials; -- identifying tools and best practices for training and professional development;-- identifying measures of success and identifying appropriate assessment tools;-- developing BLM recognition and publicity programs to showcase outstanding HOL programs; and-- identifying avenues for leveraging resources through volunteers, partners, and grant opportunities.Working Group members were selected from a slate of applications submitted by BLM employees nationwide. The members were chosen for their significant experience working in field classroom settings; partnering with schools or school districts; and developing educational programs that support school curricula and standards of learning, as well as resource management objectives. Working Group members will collaborate during monthly conference calls and informally by various communication methods.Should you have questions about the HOL Working Group, please contact Derrick Baldwin, Division of Education, Interpretation, and Partnerships, at Derrick_Baldwin@blm.gov or (970) 882-6805.Signed by: Carl Rountree, Director, National Landscape Conservation System and Community PartnershipsAuthenticated by: Robert M. Williams,  Division of IRM Governance, WO-560