April 6, 2021 - Today, the Vermont Agency of Natural Resources (ANR) proudly announces the launch of an online training for Municipal officials. Sixteen informative videos, most around 10 minutes long, are intended to help new, and not-so-new, municipal officials learn about ANR’s work and the tools available to help communities. While trainings are specifically tailored to municipal officials, any community member who would like to learn more about ANR’s work is invited to participate.
Training topics range from invasive species to recycling laws to dam safety. Tutorials help attendees gain proficiency in tools such as the Permit Navigator, BioFinder and the Clean Water Projects Explorer. One video even shows how to clean a bat house. A visually engaging platform known as a StoryMap has been used to combine stunning photographs, instructional video trainings and, in one case, music to showcase a sample of what ANR has to offer.
Ted Brady, Executive Director of the Vermont League of Cities and Towns (VLCT) states that “In these times of social distance and new norms, the need for collaboration between municipal and State governments remains just as important as ever. VLCT is grateful to have this resource available to our members to help career staff, volunteers and everyone in between continue to learn and grow their skill sets.”
ANR has been proud to partner with municipalities over the past 7 years to provide a wide range of workshops at our annual training event, fondly known as Muni Day. When plans for 2020’s in-person workshop were quashed due to the pandemic, staff turned their sights to technology for a solution. “Adaptation is a key survival skill in the natural world,” says ANR Secretary Julie Moore, “and adaptive thinking has also been critical to the work of the Agency over the past year. We’re still working diligently to help Vermonters steward and protect the environment but we’re going about it in different ways.”
The online Municipal Day 2021 Workshop can be found at: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/53fd61b0d1f14c4b9a825bdaacb8ebab
Information about the Agency of Natural Resources Municipal Day is at:
https://anr.vermont.gov/about_us/special-topics/municipal-day