LWG RESOURCES HUB

Local Work Group Resources

Everything your district needs to plan, build, and lead a successful locally led conservation project.

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Local Work Group Toolkit

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Tools to help your district organize meetings, build partnerships, develop projects, track progress, and document your locally led work. Each resource includes an editable Word doc download and a printable/viewable PDF version.

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1 Getting Started

LWG Toolkit Cover Sheet

Overview of the main toolkit items and how the pieces fit together.

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Local Input Survey (Online)

Share this survey with landowners and community members to gather local conservation observations and priorities.

Open Survey

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LWG Overview Handout

A one-pager explaining what locally led conservation and LWG are, and why they matter. Great for handing out at field days, meetings, and community events.

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LWG Roadmap

Step-by-step guide showing the locally led process from start to finish.

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Local Input Survey (Printable)

A printable version of the online survey for use at field days and events where people don't have their phones out.

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District Guide to LWG

A guide for district managers/ staff explaining what LWG is, what your district is supposed to be doing, and what happens between meetings

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Goal-Setting Guide

Helps districts create measurable goals tied to local conservation priorities.

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Community Input Guide

A how-to guide covering 5 ways to gather local input before your LWG meeting, and what to do with what you hear.

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Conservation District Infographic

A visual overview of what South Dakota conservation districts are, what they do, and how to get involved.

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2 Building Your Project

District Project Proposal

The key planning document for your district's locally led project.

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Partner Mapping Worksheet

Identify potential partners, their roles, and collaboration opportunities.

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Power Center Inventory

Map organizations, agencies, groups, and locals that can support your project.

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3 Organizing Meetings & Follow-Up

Before the Meeting

Pre-Meeting Checklist

Everything to do in the week, day, and hours before an LWG meeting so nothing gets left to chance.

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Session Design Form

A planning tool for facilitators - think through your objectives, challenges, and session design before you walk in.

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Facilitator Guide

A guide for running productive LWG meetings: core principles, a one-hour agenda, and tips for tough situations.

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Running the Meeting

Meeting Agenda Template

A ready-to-use 1 hour agenda for LWG meetings with time estimates, a notes column, and an action item table built in.

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Meeting Sign-in Sheet

A clean printable sign-in sheet capturing names, contact info, and who wants to stay in the loop.

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Meeting Minutes Template

A structured template for capturing what was discussed, decided, and committed to at each LWG meeting.

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After the Meeting

Between Meeting Tracker

Keeps projects moving between meetings. Who owns what, what's done, what's stuck.

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Post-Meeting Follow-Up

Five ready-to-use email and text templates for following up with attendees within 48 hours of a meeting.

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After the Meeting - Now What?

A phase-by-phase checklist for what to do in the 48 hours, week, and month after an LWG meeting.

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Getting Started

4 Tracking Progress

Project Progress Tracker

Monitor benchmarks, partnerships, and project outcomes over time.

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Match Report

Track volunteer time, non-federal participation, and cash contributions.

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5 Sharing Your Story

Success Story Template

A template for documenting project outcomes, partnerships, and community impact. Fill it out and send it to SDACD, we'll help you write and share the story.

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Build Your Project

Organizing Meetings

Track Progress

LWG Training Videos

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These training videos from our Huron LWG workshop cover everything from conservation district history and powers to building alliances and developing project proposals. Watch the full event or browse by topic.

SDACD YouTube Page

Upcoming LWG Meetings

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Conservation districts can submit upcoming Local Work Group meetings, workshops, and planning sessions to help partners and neighboring districts stay informed. Meetings may also be promoted through SDACD’s website and social media channels.

Find Partners for Your Project

Partners

Browse potential partners and resources that can help districts build stronger locally led projects and community connections.

Partner Ideas in Your Community

local partner ideas

Every community has potential partners. Use these ideas to think beyond traditional agencies and identify groups that may support your district’s work.