Hands on the Land

Perhaps the most important element in partnering with local schools is found in the relationships between your site and the school. Building strong relationships with individual teachers and administrators through consistent contact and positive interactions increases the likelihood that those students will visit your site for its educational programming.

Other tips to foster partnerships with schools:
• Have an in-person meeting with the school's administration and teaching staff
• Work to meet the teacher's educational standards for their school
• Consider offering professional development opportunities for local teachers
• Tailor your marketing message to teachers with your site's educational outcomes in mind
• Foster a personal relationship with teachers
• Invite students to help with your site's curriculum development
• If possible, tie your site's educational programming to standardized test questions and learning standards at the state level
• Gather materials from the classroom and align your programming
• Bring the site to the classroom via class visits, Internet, and live TV
• Give students a 'project' that is real
• Consider creating a 'partnership agreement' with schools to clearly state the benefits your site will provide to the school

Partnering with Community

Partnering with community groups can provide your site with invaluable resources that serve to enhance programming and staff. Building personal relationships with community members starts the dialogue that can lead to many opportunities.

Tips for building partnerships with community groups:
• Be strategic in matching your site's mission with that of the community group
• Enlist teachers and students who have participated in your site's programming to share the benefits associated with your site
• Determine projects where community partners will be visible and useful
• Invite community partners to help with specific tasks such as evaluation, trainings, volunteering
• Participate in community events sponsored by groups such as Chamber of Commerce, local foundations, etc.
• Work with student programs at local high schools, colleges or universities

Partnership Links

• Partnership Guide - Browse through the on-line guide to developing partnerships produced by USDA Forest Service and the National Forest Foundation.

Partnership Contract Examples

• School Group Contract, PDF format
• Memorandum of Understanding, PDF format