Neighborhood Ambassador Leader Role
Neighborhood Ambassador: this individual is the neighborhood wildfire protection team leader – and the glue that holds the community-based fire protection efforts together!
Specific Ambassador tasks for the 2024 Pilot program include:
Step 1: Meet with the Southern Colorado Ambassador Coordinator (Dawn Lervik and/or Ed Carlson) and learn about the Ambassador role – benefits and expectations (15-30 min virtual meeting)
- Review the Southern Colorado Neighborhood Ambassador Program website
- Review the FACO Neighborhood Ambassador Approach website to learn more about the methodology
- Contact Dawn Lervik (d.lervik@yahoo.com) to set up a short phone call or Zoom meeting.
Step 2: Think about it! We hope that you agree to become a Neighborhood Ambassador! Sign the SPAWP-ARWC Ambassador Commitment form and return it to the Ambassador Coordinator.
- Already familiar with Wildfire Preparedness concepts?
- Yes! Then consider becoming a mentor for a new less experienced Neighborhood Ambassador!
- No? Then review the available training material links below
- Recommended for those new to neighborhood leadership in wildfire preparedness – or those interested in brushing up on the topics! See lower on this page for training module descriptions.
- The 2024 live training completed at the end of March. However, you can still view the recorded training session links at the Ambassador Resources webpage. Contact your local coordinator (d.lervik@yahoo.com) for the access pin.
- Interested in brushing up on the wildfire readiness concepts? See the online Self-help Education links below!
Step 4: Participate in monthly Ambassador planning meetings (1 hr Zoom meetings, March – October 2024), hosted by the Southern Colorado Ambassador Coordinator co-leads.
- Network with fellow Neighborhood Ambassadors and guest speakers!
- Share your successes and challenges!
- Learn from professional wildfire expert guest speakers!
- Learn more about available resources (e.g. grants, chipper access, slash pile access, team training opportunities, etc)
Note: We plan to have at least 1 meeting available in a live forum, summer 2024 – stay tuned!
Step 5: Plan and execute community work days/projects
- Are you already a Firewise-USA community or working toward Firewise certification?
- Yes! Then the Neighborhood Ambassador Program leverages wildfire preparedness work your community is already doing!
- No? Then the Neighborhood Ambassador Program will can provide mentoring and guidance to get started!
- Learn more about Firewise USA and consider taking action!
Step 6: Log volunteer hours regularly; work with sponsoring organization to track metrics
Neighborhood Ambassador Training Options
FACO hosted Ambassador Workshop (via Zoom)
FACO is hosting a Neighborhood Ambassador Training virtual training course every Wednesday evening, Feb.21-Mar.27, 2024. Contact your Ambassador Coordinator (d.lervik@yahoo.com) for access to the recordings.
Topics include:
- Module 1: Basics of Fire Behavior – Completed 2/21/2024
- Module 2: The Home Ignition Zone & Structural Ignitability – Completed 2/28/2024
- Module 3: Colorado fuels and vegetation management – Completed 3/6/2024
- Module 4: Household & Community readiness – Completed 3/13/2024
- Module 5: Planning community events – Completed 3/20/2024
- Module 6: The human aspects of moving neighbors to action – Completed 3/27/2024
Self-Help education available on line
There is a wide variety of online information about the topics above. Below are links to some of our favorites:
Get Ready!
- Learn how to Harden your Home
- Learn how to Create Fire Resistent Landscaping
- Learn how to Create a Defensible Space
Get Set!
- Prepare your Emergency GO BAG
- Create your Household Wildfire Action Plan
- Create an Inventory of your Home and Review your Insurance Policy
More Education material:
- Digital Brochures (provided by Rotary Wildfire)
- Wildfire Thread (videos collected and provided by Rotary Wildfire)