It has been now over three weeks since I started the summer leadership placement at the Evaluation Unit of the UW- Extension Natural Resources Institute (NRI) and I must say, it has not been easy. As I mentioned in my first blog, I was overwhelmed by the amount of information I needed to process to accomplish my original goal of developing logic models for each of the Natural Resources Institute’s environmental programs, including an integrated logic model for the Institute. I spent a lot of time thinking how to begin, I made at least three different frameworks to organize data so it could be easier for me to integrate them into a final model. None of them was making sense and I was not feeling very optimist. I took a deep breath (or maybe five) and decided to stop thinking about the final result and just going step by step. I met with my host supervisor and he agreed that I should focus on the “land and water” program area of the NRI, and set aside other programs, centers and reserves. The “land and water” program area includes seven NRI branded programs: the Aquatic Invasive Species Program, the Water Action Volunteers Program, the North Central Region Water Network, the Regional Natural Resources Education Program, the Conservation Professional Training Program, the Wehr Nature Center Outreach Program and the Wisconsin Master Naturalist Program.

Including the final NRI logic model, I would have to develop 8 logic models (instead of the original 12). In addition to reduce the number of programs, we also decided to focus on working on one program at a time. He mentioned that even if I can only finish a couple of logic models it will very useful for the Institute. This changes and conversations have helped me to be more efficient with my time and more effective in my tasks. It also has helped me reduce the anxiety of maybe not reaching my goal.

I have now finished collecting and systematizing program’s data and I am starting developing logic models drafts. I have just completed the first one, a logic model for the Wisconsin Master Naturalist Program (image below). The idea is for me to finish the first logic models drafts this next two weeks and to meet with the program’s coordinators, staff and/or partners the first days of July to present them the drafts and ask for feedback. I want to be sure that the logic models are representing how they think the program works and that I am including all the correct activities, intended outcomes, assumptions and impacts. In these meetings I will be accompanied by Samuel Pratsch, the Evaluation Unit Coordinator and my host supervisor, Kadi Row, the UW -Extension Evaluation and Program Development Specialist, and/or Amulya Ponna, one of the Evaluation Unit Evaluation Specialist. They have experience facilitating this kind of work meetings so they will be supporting me in the process.

First project lessons

I always heard that logic models/theory of change should be developed when designing or planning an environmental program/policy. It is in fact part of the first steps when using the Open Standards framework for conservation planning. Now I know why. It is much more difficult to find out how the program’ activities are understood to achieve the intended outcomes and impacts after having implemented them, especially if the program has been running for several years and it has been modified along the way. It is extra difficult if you base your knowledge of the program only in reports, work plans and website’s data. I think that has been the hardest thing for me. I think if you really want to understand a program you need to talk with the people that works in it, the program directors, coordinators, staff and partners. I am looking forward to interviewing them next month. I have spent a lot of time researching each program background, and I think I have good ideas of how their programs works, but these are just ideas. I will only be sure that the logic models are well done, after our meetings. I’ll let you know in the next blog how it goes.

First personal lessons

I have known for a while that I do not enjoy working in front of a computer all day, every day. Don’t get me wrong, I like office work, but it needs to balance with some field work (I need outdoors). I have spent these almost four weeks working in my cubicle and it has been starting to affect my motivation. I look forward to starting the interviews so I can interact with people, and maybe have the chance to see some programs in action. In the meantime, I will continue going hiking on the weekends and having lunch at the Allen Centennial Gardens to have, at least, a taste of nature.