3:00 pm to 4:00 pm ET
Learn how local organizations and land managers are leveraging free or low-cost community resources, techniques, and technology to improve recruitment and event quality, with real-world examples from our featured speakers. We’ll also share volunteer activities that require little or no staff oversight to have a great event while conserving resources.
This webinar is for everyone considering coordinating a National Public Lands Day event, from beginners seeking direction to seasoned professionals looking to fine-tune their strategies.
Key takeaways:
- Real world volunteer engagement examples that showcase innovative, low-cost techniques
- Tips to identify and approach potential community partners
- Free or low-cost recruitment techniques
Speakers
Meagan Patterson, CVA
Senior Manager, Operations & Volunteer Engagement
Gateway Arch Park Foundation
Meagan has been with the Gateway Arch Park Foundation since 2020, beginning her journey as Volunteer Manager, where she launched and led a co-managed volunteer program with Gateway Arch National Park. Under her leadership, the program has grown to include over 400 volunteers contributing more than 6,000 service hours annually. In her current role, Meagan oversees the volunteer program and helps manage internal operations to support the Foundation’s mission. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Southern Indiana and a master’s degree in Historical Administration from Eastern Illinois University. Outside of work, Meagan enjoys spending time with her husband, Hunter, and their three pets—Paisley and Scout (dogs), and Sundae (cat). She’s also an avid concertgoer, book lover, and home cook.
Alison Young
Director of Outreach Programs
iNaturalist
Alison is passionate about deepening connections to nature, bringing people together, and advancing biodiversity conservation through community science events and campaigns that use iNaturalist. Alison helps to grow and support the amazing iNaturalist community through programs, events, and collaborations. Alison formerly was the co-Director of the Center for Biodiversity and Community Science at the California Academy of Sciences, where she co-founded the City Nature Challenge. Alison's background is in intertidal ecology, and you can often find her in the tidepools searching for nudibranchs, or in her pottery studio, covered in clay.