Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund (ENRTF) PROJECT TITLE: STATEWIDE ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION VIA PUBLIC TELEVISION OUTDOOR SERIES I. PROJECT STATEMENT This project will produce 26 new episodes of a statewide outdoor public television series designed to inspire Minnesotans to connect with the outdoors and to restore and protect our valuable natural resources. Currently titled Prairie Sportsman, the show is produced by Pioneer Public Television, which is evaluating the market impacts of rebranding the program with a new name to reflect changing viewer demographics and a widening audience. Prairie Sportsman is broadcast on all Minnesota Public Television Association (MPTA) stations main channels as well as the Minnesota Channel carried by all stations. Each new episode will include a minimum of three segments featuring outdoor sports and recreation, advances in natural resource management and agricultural practices that benefit the environment, and special features on citizen scientists, artists, chefs and others connecting with nature in innovative ways. In addition, the project will produce two stand-alone videos on citizen science opportunities and environmental research findings. Broadcast in 2021 and 2022 from late January to mid-May, the two 13-episode seasons will be filmed at locations throughout the state and feature a wide range of topics that appeal to diverse, changing demographics as well as traditional viewers. The program's success in inspiring viewers to connect with the outdoors, increase their environmental science knowledge and adopt conservation practices will be measured through a post-production survey, and through the number of households with program access and online views. All MPTA stations have been broadcasting ENRTF-funded Prairie Sportsman episodes including KSMQ (Austin), Lakeland Public Television (Bemidji and Brainerd), TPT Life (Twin Cities), WDSE (Duluth), and Prairie Public Television (Fargo) as well as Pioneer. The program also airs eight times per week on the Minnesota Channel, which is carried by all MPTA stations. In total, each new episode, including rebroadcasts, will air 26 times during the year. TPT estimates MPTA's total broadcast audience is more than 5.7 million viewers. While Greater Minnesota stations do not have individual program viewer data, TPT Life has been airing Prairie Sportsman Saturdays at 12:30 p.m. since July 2018 and reports that each episode reaches an average of 4,153 viewers. The 78 segments contained within this project's 26 episodes will also be produced as stand-alone videos and distributed online and made available on DVD to public agencies, learning centers, outdoor organizations, civic organizations, educational institutions and other groups to extend the segments educational and inspirational reach. The broadcast and online audience will be engaged through the program's e-newsletter, website, blog, social media, presentations and other communications. Episodes and individual segments are promoted aggressively on social media. Prairie Sportsman's Facebook page has more than 3,000 likes and in 2018 had a reach of 217,140 with 350,883 total impressions. II. PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES ACTIVITY 1 Title: Produce, promote and distribute 26 episodes with 78 stand-alone video segments. Description: The 26 new episodes will be distributed via MPTA stations and online. Each episode will include a minimum of three video segments on outdoor sports and recreation, conservation and a special feature. BUDGET: $270,000 Outcome - Completion Date 1. Produce 13 segments on connecting Minnesotans to the outdoors through sports and recreation for 2021 season - May 15, 2021 2. Produce 13 segments on environmental and wildlife research and advances in water, soil and habitat protections for 2021 season - May 15, 2021 3. Produce 7 segments on citizen science volunteer opportunities and 6 on outdoor-related special features for 2021 season - May 15, 2021 4. Edit 39 segments to be stand-alone videos for widespread distribution - June 1, 2021 5. Produce 13 segments on connecting Minnesotans to the outdoors through sports and recreation for 2022 season - May 15, 2022 6. Produce 13 segments on environmental and wildlife research and advances in water, soil and habitat protections for 2022 season - May 15, 2022 7. Produce 7 segments on citizen science volunteer opportunities and 6 on outdoor-related special features for 2022 season - May 15, 2022 8. Edit 39 segments to be stand-alone videos for widespread distribution - June 1, 2022 ACTIVITY 2 Title: Produce citizen science and environmental science videos for public outreach and education In addition to 26 new episodes, Pioneer Public TV will produce two stand-alone videos for LCCMR, state and local agencies and outdoor and environmental organizations to use for education and outreach, and they will be offered to MPTA stations. A 30-minute video will feature ENRTF projects such as research findings on beaver impacts on trout streams, aquatic and terrestrial invasive species controls, pollinator habitat, genetic diversification of Minnesota purebred bison herds, bioreactors, salt impacts on water quality and other research. The focus will be on completed studies rather than those underway. An additional 10-minute video will feature Citizen Science volunteer opportunities such as becoming a phenologist, wasp watcher, AIS detector or monitor of butterflies, songbirds, deer, raptors or water quality, and other opportunities. ACTIVITY 2 ENRTF BUDGET: $30,000 Outcome - Completion Date 1. Produce 10-minute video on citizen science opportunities for public education - June 30, 2022 2. Produce 30-minute video on natural resource and wildlife research results - June 30, 2022 III. PROJECT PARTNERS AND COLLABORATORS: NA IV. LONG-TERM IMPLEMENTATION AND FUNDING: This project addresses the long-term need for environmental education, engagement and tools that Minnesotans can use to restore and protect our valuable natural resources. Because of the increased statewide focus of the program and equipment needs for outdoor action videography, the costs of travel and related expenses have gone up considerably. However, because of increasing sponsorship support from corporations and organizations, we are able to maintain our ENRTF funding request and the quality of programming. To provide more value from ENRTF funds, this project increases video production outcomes to include two videos on environmental research results and citizen science opportunities for public and private use. With a rebranded show and continuous audience growth, the program will be poised after the 2021 and 2022 seasons to launch into national distribution and should be self-supporting through major corporate underwriting support.