Browsing by Author "Gupta, Angela"
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Item 4-H & Forestry Afterschool Clubs: A Collaboration to Foster(St. Paul, MN: University of Minnesota Extension Service, 2009-10) Grant, Samantha; Gupta, Angela; Lorek Strauss, AndreaResearch indicates that youth who have direct experience in nature mentored by an adult are more likely to choose actions that benefit the environment as adults (Chawla, 2006). The University of Minnesota Extension’s 4-H and Forestry Afterschool program combined the 4-H structure and various forestry curricula to build environmental knowledge and foster stewardship attitudes and behaviors in third through fifth grade club members at three different schools across Minnesota. The program met the goal of involving students in science, a part of 4-H’s national Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) initiative. It also addressed a need identified by professional forestry groups to interest youth in forestry 8 careers. Evaluation results revealed statistically significant changes in the measurement of knowledge, attitudes, behavior, and skills related to stewardship behavior. Correlation analysis showed support for building high quality youth development environments.Item Emerald Ash Borer First Detector Program: A Volunteer Early Detection Program(St. Paul, MN: University of Minnesota Extension Service, 2009-10) Abrahamson, M.; Cervenka, V.; Gupta, Angela; Hahn, Jeffrey D.; Herzfeld, Dean; Holman, K.; Johnson, Gary R.; Reichenbach, Michael Russ; Wyatt, GaryEmerald Ash Borer (EAB) is an invasive insect that attacks and kills all ash (Fraxinus sp.) trees. The Emerald Ash Borer First Detectors program is part of the federal “National Plant Diagnostic Network (NPDN) First Detector program that promotes the early detection of invasive, exotic plant pathogens, arthropods, nematodes and weeds.” The EAB First Detector program is designed to help identify the first incidence of EAB in Minnesota. This first in the United States program is a joint project between University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Department of Agriculture, and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. The EAB First Detector program targeted participants with either a working or volunteer background in forest or tree care. EAB First Detector trainings were held in six statewide full-day training sessions in 2008. A modified version of this program, which now includes additional forest pests, of concern (Gypsy Moth, Asian Longhorned Beetle, and Sirex wood wasp), was held 5 times in 2009. A total of 233 volunteers committed to become First Detectors. These trained individuals scattered throughout the state will improve our scouting abilities in identifying pests and infestations early so management practices can be implemented quickly.Item External revenue and partnerships to sustain a forest landowner education program(University of Minnesota Extension, 2007) Gupta, Angela; Reichenbach, Michael; Sagor, EliThe Woodland Advisor program moved from a cohort to an open model in 2003. This created partnerships, expanded delivery, and increased external revenues. Classes now have flexible content and schedules, participant feedback focuses new electives, and marketing and volunteer support increased. Business tools also focus activities and identify growth areas.Item Integrated emerald ash borer management: Testing a novel approach to assess stakeholder perceptions(2023-01-23) Schneider, Ingrid; Rannow, Brett; Russell, Matt; Gupta, Angela; Windmuller-Campione, Marcella; ingridss@umn.edu; Schneider, IngridThese data describe Minnesota state park visitors' perceptions, attitudes, preferences, and behaviors pertaining to landscapes managed in response to emerald ash borer (EAB, Agrilus planipennis) and EAB itself. Two primary datasets are included: 1) Onsite data captured from visitors at Fort Snelling, Lake Bemidji, and Wild River state parks and 2) Data obtained from online surveys. These data aim to inform researchers and managers of the public's understanding of EAB, their acceptance of common Minnesota forest management strategies, their intended visitation behaviors in response to management surrounding EAB, and preferences for landscapes managed in response to EAB. Coding manuals, data descriptions, and participant consent forms are included. Data were released to provide transparency and data to potential stakeholders and interested parties.Item Invasive species blitz impact analysis(University of Minnesota Extension, 2016) Wood, Christian; Gupta, AngelaBetween 2013 and 2016, the Master Naturalist Invasive Blitz advanced training program engaged participants from across Minnesota on how to identify and manage invasive species in order to address the growing threat of invasives. An impact analysis of the program was performed using data self-reported to the Minnesota Master Naturalist website by Invasive Blitz participants. These data were summarized with descriptive statistics, including totals and averages. In addition, service event data were correlated with zip codes to determine the geographic impact of the program. Results of the data analysis suggest a broad program impact. Over the course of the program, 128 students participated in eleven trainings. After taking the training, these participants engaged in 434 service events across 30 Minnesota counties, totaling 1,197 service hours and impacting an estimated 9,582 acres of land. Based on the program budget of $7,050 and the economic value of service performed by participants of $27,614.79, the cost-benefit ratio of the program was 1:4. Data are limited due to the fact that 30% of Invasive Blitz participants did not report service. Nevertheless, this analysis suggests that the program succeeded in promoting invasive species education and intervention statewide. In terms of broader application, this analysis also provides evidence of the potential impact of invasive-species-related education for natural resource professionals to reference in their own work.Item Jumping worms, community science and course-based undergraduate research experiences(University of Minnesota Extension, 2022) Kressin, Olivia; Gupta, Angela; Olson, Rachel● Inclusion of undergraduates in authentic research is an effective tool to increase interest and competency in a research career. ● Not all undergraduate students are able to participate in these formal research opportunities. ● To expand the connection of undergraduate students with researchers and educators, a Course-based Undergraduate Research Experience (CURE) was developed to engage students through their undergraduate institution. ● This CURE provided undergraduate students at the University of Minnesota Rochester (UMR), an opportunity to participate in ongoing environmental and community-based research and increase their interest, familiarity and confidence in research. ● A collaboration was formed between UMR, the University of Minnesota Extension and the Rochester, MN community. ● Students investigated the microbial community of soils with and without invasive jumping worms.Item Making connections and producing results in the woodland advisor program(University of Minnesota Extension, 2009) Gupta, Angela; Reichenbach, MichaelThe Woodland Advisor program moved from a cohort to an open model in 2003. This created partnerships, expanded delivery, and increased external revenues. Classes now have flexible content and schedules, participant feedback focuses new electives, and marketing and volunteer support increased. As the program matured many networks and links have formed, as illustrated in this concept map.Item Making Connections and Producing Results: The Woodland Advisor Program(St. Paul, MN: University of Minnesota Extension Service, 2009-10) Baughman, Mel; Geissler, John; Gupta, Angela; Miedtke, Julie; Reichenbach, Michael Russ; Sagor, Eli; Wilsey, David; Wyatt, Gary; Zamora, DiomyThe Woodland Advisor Program is an educational program for private forest landowners. In 2003, changes were made to the program allowing landowners to register for any or all of the 10 core classes or electives rather than commit to three or four weekend sessions. Some of the most popular topics include invasive species, property and income taxes, GPS, trail design, tree identification and non-timber forest products. Over 75 local landowner workshops were held through this program in 2008. Program graduates complete 10 core and five elective classes to become Woodland Advisor Volunteers. These volunteers help their neighbors learn about options and opportunities for their forestland. A concept map of the Woodland Advisor Program will be used to show the networks created as a result of this program. The key elements of the program include strategic planning, tactical planning, curriculum development, marketing, budgeting, external relations, class offerings, volunteer management and evaluation. The Woodland Advisor Program is a partnership between University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Forestry Association, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, and Soil and Water Conservation Districts and other local partners.Item Minnesota Women’s Woodland Network(St. Paul, MN: University of Minnesota Extension Service, 2009-10) Miedtke, Julie; Musich, Jo; Gupta, AngelaMinnesota’s forests are important ecologically, economically and socially and approximately one third of the forest is owned by family forest landowners. Family forest landowners face many challenges including pressures to convert, sell or subdivide their land. Women are increasingly becoming the primary land manager, sometimes unintentionally, and they generally lack the confidence and knowledge to make informed decisions to manage their land. To address this emerging issue of reaching an underserved audience, University of Minnesota Extension-Forestry Program recently sought federal grant dollars to develop a steering committee composed of landowners, foresters, educators and conservationists. The task of the steering committee was to become aware of the significance of developing an outreach program, review similar programs in Maine and Oregon State University. From that point of discovery, the steering committee cooperatively developed a platform with a mission statement, identified core topics, and delivery method for this targeted audience and is seeking financial support for this new program. Ultimately the goals for the Minnesota Women’s Woodland Network are to recognize the growing numbers of women forestland managers, increase their knowledge and confidence on forestry through informal learning opportunities, encourage women to network with themselves and with 18 natural resource professionals and to be a stepping stone into Extension’s Woodland Advisor Program.Item Opportunities and challenges in advanced communication technologies in the environment: A case of forest management communications(Applied Environmental Education & Communication, 2023-12-11) Tsakakis, Elena; Gupta, Angela; Schneider, Ingrid E.Advanced information communication technologies (ICT) offer significant benefits to applied communications, including potential cost reductions, service improvements, and expanded natural resource education in an era of ever-decreasing budgets. Limited guidance exists about how to design and implement virtual reality and augmented reality experiences in environmental spaces but clearly it takes time, expertise, equipment, and iterative feedback with experts and users. Our 18-month collaborative development process used best practices, stakeholder involvement, and multimedia teams to create and test augmented reality and virtual reality visitor education about forest management. Based on this effort, we share challenges, opportunities, and ideas to implement ICT in applied environmental education.Item Using a modified delphi in rapidly changing times- Ash management guide(University of Minnesota Extension, 2011) Gupta, Angela; Mayer, Amy; Miedtke, JulieThe world is changing quickly; however, delivering scientific information takes time. A modified-Delphi approach offers those of us working in Extension a way to address methodological constraints to our ability to provide research-based, credible information under rapidly changing conditions. In 2011, the authors used a modified-Delphi technique facilitated by Survey Monkey to create a systematic, interactive, structured survey process to engage a panel of experts from many different areas of expertise. A careful administration of the survey over three distinct rounds generated sound management recommendations from which the publication Ash Management Guidelines for Private Forest Landowners was produced. The process used could be applied in varied disciplines when there is a desire to find meaningful answers to difficult questions in an efficient, timely manner. The modified-Delphi process enabled natural resource professionals and other stakeholders to share management recommendations in a quickly changing world of invasive species, climate change, and an increasingly unknown future. Respondents provided survey-based feedback in three rounds. Their responses, stripped of identifiers, were used to generate each subsequent survey round.Item Using a Modified Delphi in Rapidly Changing Times-- Ash Management Guide(St. Paul, MN: University of Minnesota Extension Service, 2011-10) Gupta, Angela; Mayer, Amy; Miedtke, JulieThe world is changing quickly; however, delivering scientific information takes time. A modified-Delphi approach offers those of us working in Extension a way to address methodological constraints to our ability to provide research-based, credible information under rapidly changing conditions. In 2011, the authors used a modified-Delphi technique facilitated by Survey Monkey to create a systematic, interactive, structured survey process to engage a panel of experts from many different areas of expertise. A careful administration of the survey over three distinct rounds generated sound management recommendations from which the publication Ash Management Guidelines for Private Forest Landowners was produced. The process used could be applied in varied disciplines when there is a desire to find meaningful answers to difficult questions in an efficient, timely manner. The modified-Delphi process enabled natural resource professionals and other stakeholders to share management recommendations in a quickly changing world of invasive species, climate change, and an increasingly unknown future. Respondents provided survey-based feedback in three rounds. Their responses, stripped of identifiers, were used to generate each subsequent survey round.Item Using external revenue and partnerships to sustain an Extension forestry program(University of Minnesota Extension, 2006) Gupta, Angela; Reichenbach, Michael; Sagor, EliThe Woodland Advisor program moved from a cohort participation model to an open model in 2003. This change created new partnerships, expanded delivery capacity, and increased external revenues. Classes now offered have flexible class content and schedules, new electives are created from participant feedback, and program marketing and volunteer support have been increased. Additionally, more business tools are used to help focus activities and identify areas of potential growth.Item Woodland advisor program: public value and program effectiveness(University of Minnesota Extension, 2010) Gupta, Angela