Expanding the event

If you or your organization have participated in the Landing Blitz in the past, you may be seeking ways to grow your event(s) or expand their impact. Below, we have outlined several opportunities to expand your Landing Blitz activities based on feedback from past partners. 

 

Determining event specifics

  • Consider events that co-occur with other events (festivals, paddle days, fishing tournaments, etc.) to reach a wider audience for outreach
  • Create and leverage local connections that are mutually beneficial
  • Consider engaging with target audiences (e.g., shore anglers, lakeshore homeowners, etc.) to meet specific goals

Advance planning

  • Use pre-made educational materials that are specific to your location/region
  • Determine what AIS are present at each launch/body of water in order to answer questions or provide specific information to boaters
  • Determine where a boater can get their boat washed locally and provide recommendations to boaters
  • Consider using additional signage that is eye-catching and very clearly communicates to boaters why you are there
  • Recommend AIS reporting apps the public should use for their specific region (e.g., EddMapps for Ontario, or MISIN for Michigan)
  • Consider your goals when choosing a launch based on traffic volume: higher traffic launches may provide larger reach, but slower launches may have higher engagement.

Coordination with partners and volunteers

  • Expand events by recruiting a wider network of local partners and coordinating with them
  • Manage logistical and funding needs in order to allow partners to show up at a launch and not worry about details
  • Leverage interesting/novel volunteers/spokespeople to volunteer at events – don’t necessarily restrict your partnership contacts to environmental groups only
  • Coordinate with your jurisdiction’s natural resource department to better understand the network of potential partners
  • Consider recruitment strategies to engage younger volunteers

Organizational considerations

  • As allowable, and ensuring no overlap, consider applying for multiple sources of funding to support larger, longer, or broader events