Oct
16

Volunteer Day: Growing a Healthier Landscape

Be part of the behind-the-scenes crew that makes Community Day possible! We’ll prepare activity stations, set up event infrastructure, and complete stewardship projects such as invasive species removal, native planting, litter cleanup, and other site improvements to ensure everything is ready for the next day’s event.

More details coming soon.

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Oct
17

Growing a Healthier Landscape: Community Day

Discover the plants that belong, learn how to manage the ones that don’t, and leave inspired to restore your own landscape. Visit interactive learning stations where local experts will help you identify native plants, explore practical invasive species removal techniques, and develop a revegetation plan using native species.

Participants will receive free native plants to jump-start their restoration efforts, and eligible attendees can earn Conservation Training Program credits while connecting with others who care about creating healthier habitats and waterways.

Partners:

Wings on the Edge

Watershed Conservation Resource Center

Botanical Garden of the Ozarks

City of Fayetteville

The two-tiered Conservation Training Program is being developed under the EPA CPRG Workforce Development Grant administered by MetroPlan and NWA Regional Planning Commission. Project Partners implementing the Workforce Development Grant are: The Watershed Conservation Resource Center (lead), Illinois River Watershed Partnership, Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation, and Beaver Watershed Alliance.

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Communications for Conservation
Dec
4

Communications for Conservation

Qualifies as an Elective Workshop

Effective conservation depends on more than good science— it depends on connecting with people in ways that inspire action. This interactive workshop combines conservation communications strategy with hands-on workshopping to strengthen participants’ communication, outreach, and public engagement skills to further conservation and restoration efforts.

Participants will explore some psychology of communication and behavior change, examining the research behind what motivates people to act and how to craft messages that move audiences from awareness to long-term stewardship. Through practical exercises, participants will learn to identify and research target audiences, frame messages for landowners, elected officials, funders, volunteers, students, and the general public, and develop compelling elevator pitches and audience-specific calls to action.

The course will cover storytelling techniques that create emotional connections while remaining scientifically accurate, as well as strategies for communicating about complex or controversial conservation topics in ways that build trust and productive dialogue. Participants will also learn principles of accessible, inclusive communication, plain language, and communicating effectively with audiences of varying levels of scientific literacy.

In addition, the workshop will explore modern communications tools and strategies, including Search Engine Optimization (SEO) in the age of AI, responsible uses of artificial intelligence for marketing and media support, social media strategy, visual communication, media relations, and creating content that captures attention across digital platforms. Participants will gain practical skills in selecting effective imagery, developing graphics, writing press releases, preparing for media interviews, and creating communication plans with measurable goals, key messages, tactics, timelines, and evaluation metrics.

By the end of the course, participants will leave with a stronger understanding of strategic conservation communications and a practical toolkit they can immediately apply to outreach, education, fundraising, advocacy, partnership development, and community engagement.

Who Should Attend?

This course is designed for anyone who wants to become a more effective conservation communicator. Whether you’re sharing scientific information, promoting a program, building partnerships, or inspiring stewardship, the skills in this workshop will help you connect with your audience and motivate action.

This course is ideal for:

  • Conservation professionals, educators, and nonprofit staff

  • Natural resource agency employees and other professionals

  • Business owners and consultants working in, or interested in entering, the conservation and environmental industry

  • Communications, outreach, and marketing professionals supporting conservation initiatives

  • Community leaders, volunteers, and advocates

  • Anyone looking to strengthen their ability to communicate effectively one-on-one, with small groups, or through broad public outreach

What Will We Learn?

  1. The Billboard Challenge: Communicating with Clarity

  2. The Psychology of Conservation Communication

  3. Understanding Audiences & Behavior Change

  4. Storytelling for Conservation

  5. Crafting Messages that Inspire Action

  6. Modern Communication Tools

    • SEO in the Age of AI

    • AI for Communications

    • Social Media & Visual Communications

    • Branding & Media Relations

  7. Building a Conservation Communications Campaign

  8. Campaign Presentations & Peer Feedback

The two-tiered Conservation Training Program is being developed under the EPA CPRG Workforce Development Grant administered by MetroPlan and NWA Regional Planning Commission. 

Project Partners implementing the Workforce Development Grant are Watershed Conservation Resource Center (WCRC) (lead), Illinois River Watershed Partnership (IRWP), Arkansas Advanced Energy Foundation (AAEF), and Beaver Watershed Alliance (BWA).

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Native By Design: Improving Stormwater with Detention Pond Retrofits
Jul
25

Native By Design: Improving Stormwater with Detention Pond Retrofits

Meeting Location: Intersection of Apple Butter St. and Granny Smith Ave. in Springdale, AR 72764

Limited parking is available along the road in the residential neighborhood. Carpooling in encouraged. Please be considerate and DO NOT block any driveways, fire hydrants, or mailboxes.

During this tour, participants will explore how the Illinois River Watershed Partnership (IRWP) and the City of Springdale transformed a conventional dry detention basin into a thriving ecological feature. This innovative retrofit demonstrates how stormwater infrastructure can be reimagined to support both environmental and community goals. The site showcases the strategic use of native wetland vegetation and hydrologic modifications that extend water retention time, allowing for greater sediment and nutrient uptake. These changes not only improve water quality but also create habitat for a variety of wildlife, enhancing biodiversity in an urban setting. Participants will learn about the design process, implementation challenges, and long-term benefits of converting traditional stormwater systems into multifunctional green spaces. The project serves as a model for integrating ecological restoration with urban planning, balancing aesthetics, habitat value, and water quality improvements in a community-friendly environment.

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Chainsaw Safety Basics with STIHL
Jul
14

Chainsaw Safety Basics with STIHL

A chainsaw is one of the most useful tools you can own — and one of the least forgiving.

Whether you're doing restoration projects, maintaining trails, clearing storm debris, or managing your own property, knowing how to operate one safely makes all the difference.

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Spring Creek Volunteer Day
Jun
11

Spring Creek Volunteer Day

Join us at Spring Creek along the Razorback Greenway! Help us restore this vital waterway by removing invasive plants and replanting with native species to improve habitat and water quality.

No experience needed—just bring your enthusiasm! Gloves and tools will be provided. Wear sturdy shoes and be ready to get your hands dirty for a great cause!

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Conservation Happy Hour - Northwest Arkansas Naturals vs. Midland Rockhounds
Jun
3

Conservation Happy Hour - Northwest Arkansas Naturals vs. Midland Rockhounds

Come hang out with us at Arvest Ballpark for a night of baseball, networking, and fun! Tickets are just $14 each, or $12 each for groups of 3 or more. You’ll get to enjoy the game, connect with fellow water and conservation professionals, and support a great cause.

We’ll even get to go down on the field together, where the Naturals will give a shoutout to IRWP and our mission! Proceeds from ticket sales will support our organization’s programs.

Everyone who purchases a ticket through us will be seated together. Join the party!

📅 Date: June 3rd, first pitch at 7:05. Gather at 6:35 if you want to go on the field!

📍 Location: Arvest Ballpark

🎟 Tickets: $12-14 - submit a form below and we will send you an invoice. Tickets can be picked up the week prior in Cave Springs or at will call that day.

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