Leaping from Awareness to Action: Impacts of an Amphibian Educator Workshop

Where endangered species occur, recommendations call for conservation education programs that engage local educators; however, few studies have measured the effectiveness of implemented programs. We conducted a multipartner educator workshop for the endangered Houston Toad, Anaxyrus houstonensis, as one local example illustrating the broader issue of globally declining amphibians. We measured the effect of the workshop on participants' (n = 50) awareness/knowledge, values, beliefs, emotions, and intent to take action. We observed significant increases in awareness/knowledge and values regarding general amphibian declines and the focal species. The workshop significantly increased participants' belief that they had necessary resources to teach about the Houston Toad. Ninety-nine percent of participants agreed that they cared more about wild toads after meeting live ambassador toads. Postworkshop, we observed a 33% increase in use of amphibians or Houston Toads in participant learning settings. We recommend that educator workshops include biologist-educator teams, identify and address incentives and barriers to action, develop ecological knowledge, and incorporate experiential programming focused on native species and habitats.