Technology Grant Introduces FieldGuide

If you’ve been a part of our Crew Program in the past, the word “zippy” should bring a smile to your face.

A “zippy” was a physical 3-ring binder that each Crew Leader was given at the start of the season to carry with them as a resource guide for navigating leadership responsibilities and project assignments. With the information found in the zippy, Crew Leaders could access company information, such as procedures and operation processes. Additional information about their vehicles and herbicide applications was also included for reference. Paper forms were made available for Crew Leaders to fill out incident reports or various feedback requirements. Due to our increased number of members serving across five different crews, it took a tremendous amounts of staff time to process and file these physical forms. Important information was often delayed in reaching our administrative team, which weakened our programs’ communication as a whole. 

Crew Leaders from the Fall 2023 Field Season showcasing their Zippy in a humorous way.

An organization’s growth often requires redefining processes, upgrading technology, and restructuring internal staffing. As we entered the rebranding process, our permanent staff identified major needs for adaptation within these areas. Collectively, we invested time and energy into a plan to upgrade our technology internally, as well as streamline communication systems using mobile devices for our programs’ participants.

Upon receiving the Paul E. Stry Foundation Technology Grant in 2023, we partnered with our creative agency and web development team at BWdB to develop a custom app called FieldGuide to host our program guides and wilderness resources. Five new generation ipads were purchased for crews to access our new app, which allowed for information to be sent and received at the same time. Our Administration team at Central Conservation is now able to manage and process inquiries from the field immediately. FieldGuide allows us to capture high-quality project updates and equips our participates with a tool for streamlined communication that address’ their needs from anywhere. 

Customized handbook app for all WisCorps Participants to send and receive direct communication.

“Despite being a 15-year-old organization, WisCorps has some outdated systems. Some of our programs have not fully embraced technology and are operating at reduced capacity. With the support and funding from The Paul Stry Foundation, WisCorps collaborated with BWdB to launch an online staff handbook called FieldGuide. This handbook contains valuable information and online forms. FieldGuide has streamlined several administrative processes and increased efficiency for our annual updates. I acknowledge that I didn’t have a clear vision of what FieldGuide would look like or how it would function. However, I have enjoyed learning about what is realistic in the short term and what can be achieved in the long term.”  – Eric Robertson, the Director of WisCorps

Immediate outcomes in relation to the iPads and FieldGuide App:

• Ten internal administrative forms have been digitized, enhanced for comprehensiveness, and now facilitate quick communication with field staff.
• Fifteen standard operating procedures are now accessible and can be edited at any time by both staff and field participants.
• Ten training resource links related to conservation fieldwork are now readily accessible and editable anytime by staff and participants.
• Conservation crew leaders can view their budgets in real-time and submit expenses without incurring additional postage costs.
• WisCorps started collecting field data using customized GPS maps that track accomplishments. This information has enhanced our project partner/sponsor communication about completed work and provided our partners with reportable proof and data.
• WisCorps participants could submit bi-weekly timesheets from their project campsites or lodging without requiring the leader to drive the crew into town for public Wi-Fi access.
• Crews navigated hard-to-access project sites by using the iPad’s large interface and downloadable off-road maps and hiking routes.

Project updates from the Fall 2024 Season.

Over the next year, our organization plans to enhance communication efforts and improve the user interface of the FieldGuide. We aim to explore the additional capabilities of the iPad for WisCorps and its’ participants. We are dedicated to improving our programs to continue engaging the next generation of environmental leaders and equipping them with the skills needed to succeed in this industry. We believe that providing opportunities to utilize advanced technology not only benefits individuals but also elevates the conservation field as a whole.