Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 04/19/2021

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B. Increase Learning and Engagement With the Environment Through Key Terms, Signage, and Innovative Communication How the community and developers interact with natural resources in Ramsey is important to preserving the character of the city. Many people in the area care about its rural character and a key aspect of this is the surrounding natural environment. An interactive and effective form of education can help create a common understanding on the impact developers and the community can have on the natural resources around them. Building knowledge around what natural resources means to the community is an important Figure 2. Example of Visual Learning Aid first step and is necessary in building strategies to protect specific assets in the city. We suggest that strategic educational engagement take a few different forms including: a key terms page centrally located on the city website, creative signage placed near recreational activities in the community and an interactive chalkboard activity that gives the EPB an opportunity to discuss natural resources directly with the community. take a few different forms. A key terms page will define natural resources that are important to the community. Image from the Center for Urban Pedagogy Clear examples and definitions on the city website will build credibility and a reference for development or projects interact with these resources. The list can encompass and define important words and phrases the community feels are important when describing natural resources and the environment. To build the list the EPB can utilize engagement strategies like a chalkboard activity (expanded upon in Appendix A) and stormwater, watershed, vegetated buffer, rain garden, native plants and Figure 3. Example of Learning Poster helping people understand complicated environmental terms and issues. The community will get a better understanding of what natural resources means when they see real examples from their daily lives. Pictures taken from the city and maps showing the location of where the community interacts with natural resources can help create meaning to the key terms list. A key terms list on the city website forces the community and developers to actively seek out information. Integrating educational tools into places the community may already be can broaden the audience. There are bike paths, parks, rivers and other recreational activities in which to integrate signage to educate people about the importance of natural resources protection. Education can be fun for residents and can enhance the experience http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/education/index.html people have with the outdoors. The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has several educational activities, typically run through schools, which Ramsey could leverage. The DNR has posters already created (Figure 3) for resources like 12