NOAA's National Ocean Service (NOS) works with other federal agencies to impart information, services, and technology to the nation's coastal resource managers. This community includes state coastal zone management and natural resource management offices, research reserves, sanctuaries, and Sea Grant offices. Each of these organizations has the difficult task of helping coastal communities balance the often competing demands for coastal resources. Training to acquire new skills is one of the many ways NOS helps these state and local partners reach their goals.

A wide variety of courses are offered and new classes are frequently added to meet the demands of constituents. These courses, highly rated by participants, are taught by professionals certified in instructional design. The courses can be brought to a local facility for a minimal cost. Some courses are available on-line. Participation is limited to NOAA partners from the nonprofit, local, state, and federal government sectors.

Classes that are offered by the NOAA Coastal Services Center are divided into three categories:

• Geospatial Technology
• Process Skills
• Coastal Issues

Geospatial Technology Courses

Satellite images like this one contain a wealth of information for natural resource agencies. NOAA training programs help state programs make effective and efficient use of this information resource.

Technology-oriented classes focus on geographic information systems (GIS) and remote sensing, with beginning and advance courses offered. Courses range from seminars for managers wondering what technologies make the most sense for their organizations to courses geared toward the technologist who wants to learn how to apply spatial technologies to coastal management issues.

 

Process Skills Courses

Many in the field of coastal resource management are trained scientists whose management skills were developed on the job. While experience is the best teacher, the courses offered in this track can help professionals improve their abilities and introduce new concepts.

Course titles include Project Design and Evaluation; Public Issues and Conflict Management; Negotiating for Coastal Resources; Needs Assessment Training; and Web Content Design and Evaluation.

 

Coastal Issues Courses

Coastal managers need a basic book of knowledge to successfully perform their jobs. Whether new to the field or just in need of a refresher course, class participants find in these courses the information needed to guide their efforts.

Class topics include the Public Trust Doctrine; basic coastal resource management skills; visitor-use impacts; and community planning and development.

NOAA training courses designed specifically for state coastal management programs keep this group knowledgeable about the latest trends in technology and coastal management strategies.

 

Other Training Opportunities

Other training opportunities focus on methods and techniques used to respond to oil and hazardous materials spills. NOS's Office of Response and Restoration (OR&R), which is charged with mitigating negative environmental effects of oil and hazardous material spills, provides training courses for spill responders, contingency planners and coastal managers. Through these courses, NOS shares its knowledge and capabilities in effective spill response that it has learned while working with other federal and state agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and private sector partners.

OR&R training courses in spill response are offered both in Seattle and regionally to spill response professionals. In addition, OR&R has been instrumental in developing training for CAMEO (Computer-Aided Management of Emergency Operations), a set of software modules designed to assist first responders and emergency planners. CAMEO was developed jointly by NOAA and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  A calendar of CAMEO training events is available on the EPA CAMEO Web site.