Description:

This course is designed to help environmental professionals develop and improve specific communication skills that will more effectively deliver regulatory, and/or scientific, technical information and ideas.

Effective and professional communication and public presentation skills are critical to the success of today’s environmental professionals, in every field. Each professional is expected to deliver clear information, but in order to be truly effective, he or she must also tell a story that engages and informs the audience by imparting a powerful message that compels them to take action and initiate change.

Through a team-based, interactive, accelerated learning format, each participant will develop his or her own personal communication and storytelling style by weaving themed, technical content with an intentional message. In combining these important skills, each participant will learn how to present a story that delivers the most powerful and compelling information that will engage and resonate with their audience.

Each session is geared to the interests and instructional needs of the participants and the group as a whole. The course work applies the most current ideas in effective oral communication techniques, with individual and group practice sessions reinforcing the skills presented.

Participants will receive a pre-course packet with an introduction to accelerated learning philosophy and methods, a course outline and references to familiarize them with the course content. In order to customize the course to the needs of participants, each participant will be asked to answer a short survey that will allow the instructor to tailor the course material to be uniquely relevant to the individuals, organizations and groups represented in the class.

What Participants will learn 

 Designing and delivering environmental information platforms

 Identifying your unique presentation voice and presentation style

 Communicating more effectively to a wide variety of audiences

 Crafting stories and messages that get heard

Managing public speaking fears and phobias

Utilizing media and the newest presentation software

*Reduced tuition is available to employees of Native American tribes, government agencies, nonprofits, students and NAEP members.

You may register online or by calling the Northwest Environmental Training Center at (425) 270-3274. Online registration is strongly encouraged.

Please wait to receive a course confirmation email, roughly one month prior to the class, before making any travel arrangements.

Intended Audience:

This workshop is intended for environmental professionals who would like to develop better communication and presentation skills, for personal and professional development. The skills learned in this class are applicable to communication to a variety of audiences in meetings, presentations and other situations where persuasive, professional, environmental, scientific and technical communication is expected.

Continuing Education Units: 1.30 CEUs

More Information

Course Topics

• Recognizing the characteristics of great communicators
• Creating and delivering quality presentations with persuasive content
• Building visuals and stories into your presentation content
• Managing fear and apprehension of public speaking
• Developing a personal writing and speaking communication style
• Intentionally making a connection with your audiences
• Adjusting written and presentation styles to a wide variety of audiences
• Eliciting an outcome and response from your audience 

About the Instructor

Barbara DeCaro

Barbara DeCaro is a horticulturist and senior environmental analyst with Seattle Parks and Recreation, where she develops policy, procedures, best management practices and complementary staff training programs for conservation and management of public landscapes. Barbara has extensive experience in facilitation, training adults, organizing educational seminars and presenting applied science information to the community, peers and government officials.

Barbara earned a Bachelor’s degree in Botany from the University of Washington and a certificate in Low Impact Development from Washington State University. She is a member of the Northwest Horticulture Society, the Association of Zoological Horticulture and Washington Native Plant Society. She is also the principle of VERDE Consulting Group, a consulting collaborative that offers teaching and training programs, vegetation management planning and interpretive planning services.

What to Bring

Please bring a pen or pencil, and notepad if you would like to take notes (you may also choose to take notes in your book). Lunch will be on your own, but drinks and snacks will be provided throughout the day.

Billing Information

In order to guarantee a space in a course, the tuition must be paid in full TWO WEEKS before the first day of the course by either check or credit card. State and government agencies paying with a purchase order are allowed payment under the two-week time frame if a copy of the purchase order is received by NWETC.

If You Need to Cancel

Cancellations*

• With 31 or more days notice, we will offer a 100% refund or credit towards a future course. The credit is good for one year and may be applied to any course.
• With 30-8 days notice, we will offer a course credit towards a future course. The credit is good for one year and may be applied to any course.
• With fewer than 8 days notice, there is no course credit available

*Please note that attendee replacement is welcome at any time

Disability Accommodations

Disability Accommodations:

To request disability accommodations, please contact us at info@nwetc.org or 425-270-3274 at least 30 days prior to the event.