How to Publicize a Project & Involve Your Community
 You're excited about your habitat project...now it's time to get others excited about it too! Don't wait until your project is done to involve other people. Follow the tips below to include students, staff, volunteers, and the community in your project from the beginning. The more the merrier!
1. Let everyone know what you are doing! • Share your project plans and the benefits of schoolyard habitat projects with your administrators.
• Tell other staff members about your project and standards based activities that can be used to integrate curriculum and habitat projects. They may want to be a part of it all!
• Getting other staff involved may also ensure that, if you ever leave, there is someone to carry the torch.
• Don't forget your maintenance staff! They should be a part of your team and may have valuable insight.
• Bring your project up at a PTA meeting to inform parents and ask for volunteers.
• Hold a meeting for the community to share your plans and ask for volunteers.
• Ask if anyone has special expertise / equipment to donate. Often parents, staff or community members have talents, skills or equipment that will be of great benefit to your project!
• Contact your local environmental education organizations for support and help publicizing the project.
2. Mark your calendar! Set preparation and planting dates and share them with everyone involved.
3. Plan a CELEBRATION! • Plan a Planting Day celebration / dedication ceremony with your students
• Share the date with staff, volunteers, local press and the community.
• Create a banner or signs to publicize the event!
• Contact local businesses to donate treats, like ice cream, water, etc. and invite them to the celebration.
4. Get media attention.
• Write a press release for your local paper (students can write one for the school newspaper)
• Ask a local reporter to cover the planting
• Utilize your community and local environmental education organizations to help publicize the project and get media attention
• Take photos! Even if media does not show up for your event, take "before & after" photos and contact local press about running a story about your project
 5. Utilize your project to make a lasting difference for your community and the environment.
• Students can use their project to monitor and record data:
• Biodiversity: amphibians, birds
• Water quality
• Water conservation
• Runoff: Team Mud Busters
• Waste reduction
• Students can use this data to demonstrate how their project has made a positive environmental impact and encourage others to create projects at their schools, offices and homes
• Students can use this data to work with their community, legislators, and regional environmental organizations on environmental issues and legislation.
"A small group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
-- Margaret Mead
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