Art Projects

Pieces of art have long enhanced our public spaces — just think about fountains, statues, and archways. These works help define a community's identity and evoke the spirit of the landscape. Whether the unveiling of a piece is a one-time celebration or an element of an ongoing series, each encounter with the artwork becomes an event. Art draws people together and enriches their experiences. More>>

Awards

It is all too easy to get lost in our work and forget to tell those around us what valuable contributions they are making. Awards can help to remind us of the promising and outstanding individuals we have in our communities. We have seen awards used to make people feel part of a group, bring attention to accomplishments, generate publicity, motivate behaviors, and to simply help people laugh and feel appreciated. Awards have a place in any project; they give people something to strive for and they generate news. They also positively reflect and strengthen a group’s image in the community. More>>

Conferences and Symposiums

Organizing and running a conference takes work: a lot of time, money and resources. They can be extremely energizing events; they can also be deadly dull. What makes the difference is the planning. Having clear objectives, exciting speakers and topics, and plenty of opportunities for freely exchanging ideas are the keys. Conferences offer a tremendous opportunity to positively reach large numbers of people and generate publicity. More>>

Festivals

Although it takes a lot of planning and hard work to run a festival, the reward is reaching people who may not normally be involved in a project. With hands-on awareness-raising activities, new environmental stewards are cultivated and new volunteers may be recruited. Festivals can also be a way of starting a community tradition that promotes a project’s mission for years to come. More>>

Field Trips

Quite often the difference between the loss or continued abuse of a resource and an innovative solution to protect it is a rallying of caring, interested people. Even though a resource may literally be in someone’s backyard, do not assume they make use of it, are aware of threats to it or are knowledgeable about its importance and history. Field trips to the resource such as a guided canoe trip or a hike with a knowledgeable guide can generate interest and enthusiasm for its care. An overlooked site may be seen as an opportunity for community renewal. We find this outreach tool is also an excellent way to reach diverse interests and non-traditional groups. More>>

See also:
    Community Tool Box