The Leafmonkey Workshop

This is the 11th in a series of monthly workshops by The Leafmonkey Workshop. The workshops are customized to maximize interactions between experienced volunteers and those new to the community in a non-denominational setting.

=============
PLEASE REMEMBER TO REGISTER!
=============
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?...key=px2COHxHF_2c0f3KpjH60EA&hl=en

Registration allows us to better design the workshop and customize it to your needs. So please remember to register! Registration is only complete after filling up the online form. RSVP on facebook does not count as registration.

================
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
================
After the successful run of blogging for nature workshops last year, The Leafmonkey Workshop is bringing back our blogging workshops. This workshop is for those who already have a blog and wish to know how to improve their blogs for more effective nature outreach.

Some of the topics covered in this workshop include:
1) How can I improve my blog's design and readability?
2) How should I structure my blog?
3) How can I reach out to more readers?
4) How do I integrate with other social media tools like twitter/facebook?
5) What should I know about copyright, ethics and etiquette?

Be prepared to work hard, have fun, make new friends and definitely learn new ways of looking at guiding and our wild places. This is a great opportunity to meet the faces behind the nature blogs that you always read and learn from other bloggers. Exchange ideas and experiences on blogging for nature!

===============
REQUIREMENTS
===============
To participate in this workshop, you must have:
1) A regularly updated blog
2) Interest in blogging for nature outreach
3) Interest in exchanging blog ideas and experience with others
4) A laptop with wifi capabilities that you MUST bring to the workshop

=================
PROGRAM
=================
7.00pm - Registration & Networking
7.30pm - Presentations on Blogging Strategies
8.30pm - Hands on practice & Ideas Sharing Session!
10.00pm - End of workshop

===========
TRAINER
===========
November Tan
November Tan is the author of the Midnight Monkey Monitor blog (http://leafmonkey.blogspot.com) which was listed as Blogger’s Blog of Note in 2007. A self-confessed social media addict, she spends her off days testing new social media platforms and cooking up new projects. She currently coordinates workshops for nature volunteers under the initiative known as The Leafmonkey Workshop which has a popular blogging workshop series which she facilitates.

============
COST OF WORKSHOP
============
Participation is by donation and participants are free to pay whatever they are comfortable with. What does this mean? There are costs to be covered to provide this event, mainly rental of the room and admin costs. We hope if everyone contributes what they can, it will add up to just enough to cover the costs. If the donations exceed the costs, we will keep the extra money. Hopefully this will allow us to pay for specialists to give lectures on specialised subjects.

=============
WORKSHOPS FAQ
=============
Please read the workshop FAQ which aims to answer many of your burning questions.
http://leafmonkeyworkshop.blogspot.com/2008/10/workshops-faq.htmlRead More

This is the 10th in a series of upcoming monthly workshops by The Leafmonkey Workshop for existing nature guides and those interested in becoming nature guides. The workshops are customized to maximize interactions between experienced volunteers and those new to the community in a non-denominational setting.

===========...==
PLEASE REMEMBER TO REGISTER!
=============
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=px2COHxHF_2c0f3KpjH60EA&hl=en

Registration allows us to better design the workshop and customize it to your needs. So please remember to register! Registration is only complete after filling up the online form. RSVP on facebook does not count as registration.

================
What is this workshop about?
================
This workshop introduces the Sea Slugs of Singapore's shores and waters. Learn about their ecology, food, sex and where about to find them.

==============
ABOUT THE WORKSHOP
==============
The focus of this workshop is on connecting ordinary people with nature. If you have been struggling, trying to digest and convert biological facts to fun stories for your visitors, this workshop is for you! The workshop is not just a lecture but there will be ample of opportunities for participants to learn through participating in activities and experiences of other participants.

This workshop aims to bring experienced and new guides together to brainstorm ideas. Let's learn from one another, and come up with new ways to share our passion.

Be prepared to work hard, have fun, make new friends and definitely learn new ways of looking at guiding and our wild places.

This workshop is likely to be more useful for those who have already started guiding and who have some basic knowledge. The workshop is not intended to replace self-study and practical experience in the field.

===============
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
================
"Help! I'm struggling as a guide!"
I've read all the guidebooks, memorised all the details, but I still can't guide with confidence.

"Why don't my visitors get it?"
I've told them everything I know but they still don't seem to appreciate the habitat.

"I need local stories!"
All the stuff I read doesn't help me tell stories that Singaporeans can understand.

"Some guides can do better."
I've been guiding for some time and when I see some other guides at work, I wish I could help them do it better.

=================
PROGRAM
=================
7.00pm - Registration, Networking, Bring your own Dinner!
7.30pm - 30 minutes of background content
8.00pm - Workshop discussion and group presentations.
10.00pm - End of workshop

===========
SPEAKER
===========
Toh Chay Hoon
Chay Hoon is a volunteer guide at Chek Jawa and the Sensory Trail (both at Pulau Ubin and Pulau Semakau). She is also a volunteer diver with ReefFriends (reef survey) of Blue Water Volunteers. She blogs at Colouful Clouds: http://colorclouds.blogspot.com

============
COST OF WORKSHOP
============
Participation is by donation and participants are free to pay whatever they are comfortable with. What does this mean? There are costs to be covered to provide this event, mainly rental of the room and admin costs. We hope if everyone contributes what they can, it will add up to just enough to cover the costs. If the donations exceed the costs, we will keep the extra money. Hopefully this will allow us to pay for specialists to give lectures on specialised subjects.

=============
WORKSHOPS FAQ
=============
Please read the workshop FAQ which aims to answer many of your burning questions.
http://leafmonkeyworkshop.blogspot.com/2008/10/workshops-faq.htmlRead More