Division of Education and Outreach
Division Chief: Steve Chase, steve_chase@fws.gov
The Division of Education and Outreach (DEO) supports Secretary Jewell’s Order on Engaging the Next Generation by working with partners to directly engage youth. DEO also provides subject matter expertise, technical assistance and consultation, professional development and training, and inter-agency coordination for youth program practitioners at NCTC, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS or the Service), and Department of the Interior (DOI) bureaus. DEO is divided into three branches; click the respective headings for additional information.
Career Awareness Branch
Branch Chief: Nate Hawley, nathaniel_hawley@fws.gov
The Career Awareness Branch (CAB) directly engages youth aged pre-K to college/graduate age with a focus on programs that are inclusive and can serve as models for Service, DOI, the extended federal family, non-profit, and other partners. Programs engage and educate young people directly to build their capacity within communities, and engage with Service staff and partners at the field level to expand youth interest in conservation and stewardship.
Professional Development Branch
Branch Chief: Dawn Lagrotteria, dawn_lagrotteria@fws.gov
The Professional Development (PD) Branch builds capacity of Service employees to engage youth through curriculum development and training within FWS and shares these resources with other DOI bureaus and partners. The Branch offers a variety of classroom and distance learning training programs that fall under three curriculum strands: Environmental Education, Youth Outdoor Skills, and Youth Diversity, and Leadership and Supervision. The Branch also coordinates various initiatives including Monarch Butterfly work.
Inter-Agency Coordination Branch
Branch Chief: Drew Burnett, drew_burnett@fws.gov
Based in Falls Church, VA, the Inter-Agency Coordination Branch facilitates communication, collaboration, and the sharing of information among DOI bureaus and across FWS offices. Priorities include intra – and inter – agency coordination, accomplishment reporting and communication, external partnerships, diversity, student support, and program policy guidance and policy development. The Branch also establishes and coordinates national-level non-governmental organization partnerships.
History and Heritage
The National Conservation Training Center Museum and Archives houses films, photos, and documents chronicling the rich heritage of wildlife conservation. A changing museum and state of the art research archive help the public, researchers and professional conservationists better understand the rich history of American wildlife conservation.
Resources
NCTC’s Division of Education and Outreach provides a variety of resources for youth program and environmental education practitioners.