About Vol-a-Palooza:

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What: Vol-a-palooza is a 3 day professional development event for Extension volunteers and Extension volunteer support personnel. During this event, we will provide opportunities for our volunteers and staff to learn, network, and engage with their peers all while living the University experience. 

Where: University of Arizona Campus, ENR2 Building

When: Arrive June 11^th, Depart June 13^th

Lodging: Cooperative Extension will be paying for single occupancy UA Dormitory rooms for all attendees. If you wish to pay for your own lodging options, there are a number of local hotels that are close to campus including: aLoft, the Graduate, and University Marriott. 

More Info: Vol-a-Palooza will be held on the University of Arizona main campus, in Tucson, Arizona. Attendees will have many sessions to choose from, ranging from role specific (such as 4H, Master Gardener, Staff and more) to group sessions intended to bring everyone together. There will also be many campus-based Field Trips to choose from, so all of our folks have an opportunity to see and engage with the many facets of the University.  Meals and lodging (UA dorms - single occupancy) will be provided, attendees will need to provide their own transportation to and from the event. For questions regarding Vol-a-Palooza, please reach out to Jessica Montgomery.

Agenda

**Agenda subject to change**

Wednesday, June 11th

      Arrival Activities:

• 2pm- 5pm
  • Registration & Check In; Slot Canyon Cafe, ENR2
• Field Trip Options Available: (sign up required)
  • 2pm-3pm: TBD; 
  • 2:30pm-4pm: TBD;
  • 2:30pm-3pm: TBD;
  • 3pm-4pm: TBD;
• 5:30pm-7:30pm
  • Welcome Dinner; ENR2

Wednesday, June 12th

      Morning Activities:

• 7am-8am
  • Breakfast; Slot Canyon Cafe ENR2
• 8am-8:50am 
  • Group Session: TBD
• 9am-10:30am
  • Breakout 1: Communicating with Confidence; Kathy Broneck, Ph.D.   |   Staff and volunteers are at the heart of every organizational team and being able to skillfully communicate is crucial for not only recruiting and retention, but the overall atmosphere within the organization.  As communication is an ever-changing landscape, we need to continually learn the skills necessary to communicate in a more creative and effective manner that promotes inclusivity.  The best part about communication is that everyone can learn the skills necessary to develop their communication.
  • Breakout 2: TBD
• 10:30am-11:20am 
  • Group Session: TBD
• 11:30am-1pm
  • Lunch; Slot Canyon Cafe ENR2

      Afternoon Activities:

• 1:00pm-1:45pm: Group Session: Making Connections Through Storytelling; Eileen Lawless  |  As we communicate more and more in virtual ways, learn how to connect in a deeper way through storytelling. Understand the benefits of telling stories and take away creative ways to record and share your storytelling moments. 
• 2:00pm-2:50pm
  • Breakout 1: Growing Greener; Chris Jones & Alex Kosmider    |    Drawing on insights from psychology, human-centered design and climate communication strategies, Growing Greener helps individuals develop clear next steps for your own climate action plans and a clear understanding of what will motivate you to succeed.
  • Breakout 2: TBD;
  • Breakout 3: TBD;
  • Breakout 4: TBD;
  • Breakout 5: TBD;
• 3pm-4:30pm
  • Breakout 1: Plant Propagation; Michael Chamberland & Beth Reidhead - Learn the basics of plant propagation (emphasis on vegetative propagation), how to make more plants from one!  This information is useful for Master Gardeners growing plants for plant sales.  Attendees will be able to pot up and take home their own plant.
  • Breakout 2: TBD;
  • Breakout 3: TBD;
• 5:30pm-7:30pm
  • Appreciation Dinner; ENR2 Courtyard

Thursday, June 13th

      Morning Activities:

• 7am-8am
  • Breakfast; Slot Canyon Cafe ENR2
  • Optional Field Trips: TBD;
• 8am-8:50am
  • Opening Session - Peace Corps Prep;  Chris Elsner   |   Established in 1961, Peace Corps is an international service program with the U.S. Government which sends skilled U.S. citizens to countries around the world to support local communities’ work related to Education, Agriculture, the Environment, Public Health, Economic Development, and Youth Development. Volunteers also participate in cultural exchange – sharing with the communities they serve about American society and culture while learning more about their host countries. When they return to the U.S., Peace Corps Volunteers help other Americans better understand about different people and places around the world. 
• 9am-9:50am 
  • Breakout 1: Working with 4-H Volunteers on Tribal Nations; Kristy Kinlicheenie   |   This presentation will include effective methods of volunteer engagement utilized within the 4-H programs on the Navajo Nation. Specific initiatives utilized by the county and Federally Recognized Tribal Extension programs to alleviate barriers for volunteers will be highlighted. We will show how volunteer recruitment efforts focus on methods that inspire members of the community to become volunteers.
  • Breakout 2: Firewise Landscaping in the Sonoran Desert;  Chris Jones   |   Wildfires in the Sonoran desert have become increasing large and more frequent in the past two decades. In this presentation, you will learn how wildfire embers are a major source of home ignitions during wildfires, where homes are exposed to embers, and how to limit those exposures. 
• 10am-10:50am​​​
  • Breakout 1 - Engaging Through Tactile Learning; Haley Chappell   |   Age does not matter; everyone has the ability to learn new things. Tactile learning is a process where the learner uses their sense of touch to learn new concepts.  Through this presentation, volunteers will receive information about why tactile learning is important and engage in a tactile learning activity.
  • Breakout 2: Terrariums and Indoor Growing; Michael Chamberland   |   Terraria are enclosed environments for growing certain plants indoors with little water.  They can be useful for school classes, for experiments, for growing high-moisture loving plants, and as decorative indoor features.  Terraria are usually grown indoors under artificial lighting.  A variety of lighting options will be demonstrated.
  • Breakout 3: TBD;
• 11am-12pm
  • Lunch & Sendoffs; ENR2
• 12pm
  • Dorm Check Outs must be completed

FAQs