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<br />Page 20 of 24 <br /> <br />Criterion 6 - Amount and Duration of Engagement <br />This criterion has a maximum score of 3 pts (out of a total of 26 pts). <br /> <br />32. Please briefly describe the <br />target population to benefit <br />from the project. <br />There are multiple target populations to benefit from this project, one <br />of which is the local farming community. As previously described, rich <br />early successional habitats increase pollinators that positively benefit <br />agricultural production. This is important in this area due to the <br />surrounding agricultural lands. Another target population is the visitors <br />to the Confluence Natural Area. Visitors will experience the rich, <br />dynamic habitats created by the project. They will learn about the <br />benefits of reforestation and early successional habitats such as the <br />Piedmont prairie. Through both passive and active learning, visitors will <br />learn about the vast benefits of these habitats and how they might <br />establish these habitats in their backyards. Lastly, a target population <br />are students at both our 2-week summer Field Station camp and <br />through our school program partnerships. Our education team has <br />partnered with several schools in Hillsborough to bring students out to <br />our preserves to learn about the rich habitats that exist there. Our <br />summer Field Station camp introduces burgeoning scientists to <br />different fields of study and takes place on site at the Confluence <br />Natural Area for exposure to ERA’s environmental efforts. The <br />Piedmont prairie and the restored forestland will be used in the <br />programming for both the camp and the school programming. <br />33. How many people will benefit <br />from your project? <br />The Confluence Natural Area has over 10,000 visitors annually. Our <br />Field Station summer camp engages 78 students annually. We estimate <br />an additional 400 students educated through our school partnership <br />program. We estimate a minimum of 50 unique volunteers with many <br />returning engaged in the creation and maintenance of this project <br />annually. We will use our communication outlets to educate folks <br />about this project. Our social media outlets have over 28,000 followers <br />and our e-newsletter reaches over 18,000 people. Lastly, while we <br />don’t have an exact number of farms in the immediate area, we do <br />know there are over 600 farms in Orange County. We expect a subset <br />of these 600 will benefit from this project. <br />34. Please describe how you will <br />engage with and/or educate <br />project participants and/or the <br />community. <br />The Confluence Natural Area is a publicly accessible preserve visited by <br />10,000 annually. It also hosts our two-week Field Station summer camp <br />for students ages 12-15 and school programs and hikes led by our <br />educational staff. Passive engagement will include educational signage <br />discussing the benefits and history of Piedmont prairies and how these <br />communities can be used in residential landscapes. Active engagement <br />will include educational programming for camps, school groups, <br />community groups, and hikes discussing the history and importance - <br />ecologically and economically - of these rich habitats. We will engage <br />community members in the installation and maintenance of the <br />Piedmont prairies and the restored forest habitat. This will include the <br />Docusign Envelope ID: 044C3299-6F90-4782-B8F5-C4A7339F0897