Four Minutes to a Better Backyard

Type: Nomination of a group, possibly including the nominator

Category: Educational Material - Video/DVD/CD

The video "Four Minutes to a Better Backyard" was developed to help generate interest about the Woods In Your Backyard program and to provide an introduction to workshop participants. The Woods In Your Backyard (WIYB) self-assessment manual was developed in 2006 by Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia extension foresters to provide forest stewardship education for small acreage owners (usually 1-9 acres) that are not serviced by most state forest stewardship programs.

The 138 page manual has sold over 4,000 copies ($18 list price) and is being used by many state and private organizations, especially in the eastern US. The objective of the program was to: 1) develop the self assessment manual that guides landowners on how to create and enhance natural areas for sustainable outcomes; 2) develop a local delivery and mentoring system using trained volunteers and organizations; and 3) train and develop service providers. Over 3,000 individuals have received training on the WIYB in Maryland, Virginia, and Pennsylvania. In addition to the printed manual, a companion website (www.naturalresources.umd.edu/EducationalWBY.html) serves as a resource for volunteers with additional material and a repository of related professional papers as well as an online version of the promotional video. The video is also linked to from Virginia Tech extension website (http://cnre.vt.edu/forestupdate/Pages/small%20woodlots.html).

The need for a promotional video was identified by focus groups, workshop participants, and volunteer presenters as a mechanism to succinctly present why managing small backyard woods was important and how the WIYB program can help. A four minute promotional video was developed in fall of 2009 and released in January 2010. The basic script was developed by University of Maryland Extension with input from PA and VA extension partners. A private video company was used to shoot and edit the footage with oversight from Jonathan Kays. It is intended to provide useful content with some humor as a tool to efficiently engage users.

In four minutes, the goal of the video is to: address the question of how much lawn is enough and how to convert to natural area; explain the principle of natural succession;; how to enhance existing woodland; and encouragement on how to get started and use the WIYB program and manual

The video was named "Four Minutes to A Better Backyard" to draw interest. An initial production of 12 CD copies were created and distributed throughout PA, MD and VA through the Extension Forestry network. Approximately 700 have been distributed largely through targeted workshops.

The video was used as the introductory segment at six Maryland WIYB landowner workshops and at three professional forester or natural resource professional meetings since early 2009 and viewed by over 500 participants. It has been used at three Virginia WIYB landowner workshops in 2009 which had an average of 25 people in each.

Effectiveness/impact of the video has been gauged informally by observation and real-time response by workshop participants. Participants are asked (by show of hands) if the video was useful in explaining the rationale, content and value of the WIYB program. On average, 90% have indicated the video was useful. Participants are then asked if they will share the video with other family members, friends or neighbors and about 60-70% indicate a positive response. Additionally, of the value of the video is validated by the fact that most every program participant elects to take a copy of the CD home for viewing on their own or with others.

The video has filled a void in the program in that it succinctly explains the issue and is delivered in an “easy to digest” fashion. This video will continue to be an integral part of each WIYB workshop.