In this issue:

• Two Minute Trainer
• Technical Training & Certification Program Updates
• Upcoming Training Events
• Learn on Your Own

Two Minute Trainer

Collaboration: More than a word   We often hear the word “collaboration” when addressing concerns and issues.   As the importance of collaboration continues to grow, the Tamarack Institute has completed research to provide a better understanding of collaboration. In the article “Collaboration|Exploring the Collaboration Cycle” author Liz Weaver provides insight into collaboration to move it from a word to working together to effectively address concerns and issues. While many have thought of collaboration as a linear process, research has shown it is cyclical because of the realities that come into play when collaborating. The cyclical nature of collaboration is compared to the ecocycle concept with four phases.   Author Chris Thompson in “Collaboration – A Handbook from the Fund for Our Economic Future” expanded on the work of the Tamarack Institute and developed the visual to the left. He has identified three elements necessary for impactful collaboration — capacity, process, and leadership. Also, not every partner moves through the cycle at the same pace, and it is important to assess where each partner is in the cycle.   To learn more about the word “collaboration” and what it means in application, search the authors and the referenced articles.

Technical Training & Certification Program Updates

Soil Mechanics Training

This course introduces performing field tests to classify soils using the Unified Soil Classification System. Two sessions will be held in Montevideo on July 6 and Cloquet on September 7. Participants are shown how to perform the field tests and classify various types of soil. Participants are provided soil samples to test, classify, and explain results. This training is the foundation for identifying soils based on texture and understanding physical soil properties as they pertain to conservation engineering design. Additional information and a link to register can be found here.

2023 Conservation Planning Course

Registration is now open for the 2023 Conservation Planning Course, which will be held August 7 to 11 at the West Central Research & Outreach Center in Morris. Course attendees are required to be Level I Conservation Planners before attending, and it is expected that those attending this course will complete the additional requirements to become Level III Conservation Planners. The Level I Conservation Planner requirements can be found here. In addition to being a Level I Conservation Planner, all attendees need to complete the Core Competency modules before attending.

The prerequisites for this course will take approximately 55 hours to complete, and it is recommended that attendees have at least one year of experience before attending. At this time, we are planning to hold this course again in 2024.

Additional information and a link to register can be found here.

Do you have questions about the Conservation Planning Course? Let us know!

Goal Driven Prescribed Fire Training

Registration is now open! Jason Andersen, Minnesota’s Prescribed Burn Coordinator, will be offering 4 sessions of Goal Driven Prescribed Fire in late August through mid-September. Every prescribed fire should have a goal. Effective use of fire for land management requires setting specific goals and planning the burn to accomplish those goals. The effects of prescribed fire are driven by many factors including seasonal timing and weather conditions. The Goal Driven Prescribed Fire class will discuss how to use prescribed fire to accomplish land management goals, with a focus on grasslands.

Common goals for prescribed fires include:

• Controlling brush and trees
• Changing species composition of grassland communities
• Rejuvenating vegetative communities
• Increasing wildflower diversity
• Removing fuel for potential wildfires

There will be a morning classroom session followed by an afternoon in the field. There is no live fire planned for this class.

Additional information, including locations and dates, and a link to the registration can be found here.

Grassed Waterway Training Using EFT

TTCP is offering two sessions of EFT-WDT training in southern Minnesota. This course is intended for folks who have some familiarity with Grassed Waterways but want to learn the design steps in EFT.  Each session is limited in capacity to maintain small groups. Participants must have EFT loaded on their computer before attending. The sessions will be Marshall (September 6) and Mankato (November 2).

For more experienced staff who want help with a particular project, especially design assistance in EFT or the waterway design spreadsheet, please contact Aaron Peter or Amanda Deans, BWSR training engineers directly!

Additional information and a link to register can be found here.

2023 Training Calendar

An updated working version of the 2023 training calendar is now available. This 12-month view of training offerings is regularly updated and provides information about upcoming training events, including potential dates and locations. Please see the legend at the top and note that the further out a training is proposed the more likely adjustments will need to be made. The dates, locations, and other details are always tentative until the event is posted on the Training Calendar.

Upcoming Training Events

BWSR Sponsored Training Events

Minnesota Wetland Professional Certification Program

Please see the MWPCP Training Opportunities page for more information on how to register for these courses.

Technical Training & Certification Program Trainings

Related Partner Trainings

Learn on Your Own

Not all training takes place in a classroom. Check out the links below to learn at a time and place of your choosing.

We’ve also put together a searchable library of recorded modules, webinars, videos and other resources to help our staff and partners find professional development information on a variety of topics. You can visit BWSR's Online Learning page to find web-based technical training resources sorted by category.

New:

• Split Applying Nitrogen for Corn: 3 Tips for Sidedress Applications

Program Contacts