Forest Preserve & Conservation Section SIGnature Event Sessions

Exhibits on Any Budget (0.1 CEUs): Learn three different ways to approach exhibits in your nature center. First discover how to create and design interactive exhibits that won't break the budget. Then see how you can involve the community in art shows and traveling exhibits. Lastly see how a nature center bid out for a conceptual design plan with professional design companies. We will show examples of each approach from Plum Creek Nature Center and Hidden Oaks Nature Center. Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will learn how to be resourceful and efficient when planning rotating exhibits by discovering how two nature centers work together miles apart. 2. By showing examples of our in house designed exhibits, participants will have at least three seasonal ideas of hands-on activities to include in their own organization. 3. After discussing three traveling exhibits, participants will three new avenues to search for traveling exhibits in their own communities. 4. Learning how our conceptual design plan process worked, participants will have resources of where to find qualified experts and what to expect when starting a larger budget project.

How Trends in Volunteerism Can Facilitate Recruitment and Retention in Our Programs (0.1 CEUs): Discuss the current volunteer climate and how it affects recruitment and retention efforts. Explore examples from the Forest Preserve District of DuPage County and the Forest Preserve District of Will County that promote positive results in volunteer recruitment and retention. Learning Objectives: 1. Participants will learn about national and local trends in volunteerism. 2. Participants will consider the how, what, where, and when of recruitment. 3. Participants will realize retention that goes beyond April’s National Volunteer Appreciation month.