The Training and Education section conducts focus group session regularly to assure that Columbia Center programs are in line with the needs and expectations of user communities. The "best" geospatial tool is the one that is used, and the best way be sure a tool will be used is to align it perfectly with the needs of the users.

Columbia Center invites professionals from a particular discipline, ems, fire or law enforcement for example, from across the region to gather at a central location. There is a brief presentation on geospatial technology, and then the session is opened up for discussion. Whenever possible, an individual from the selected group is chosen to facility the meeting. Geospatial experts from the Columbia Center listen to the comments and offer suggestions. Ideas and comments are recored and used to guide Columbia Center policy and program development.

Focus groups are an effective method of ensuring that we fully understand the issues facing our various user communities," said P. R. Blackwell, Assistant Director for Operations. Without this direct contact, we can only guess at our user's needs. These sessions also afford us the opportunity to meet and come to know the people we are supporting. We invariably come out of these meetings with enhansed admiration and appreciation of the jobs they do every day."

The Columbia Center Training and Education group regularly conducts community outreach activities. One common activity is providing enrichment for local and regional K-12 educational institutions.

"We reach several thousand elementary kids each year with a variety of outdoor, Center, and classroom programs," says Dr. Darrel McDonald, Assistant Director for Education and Training.The kids really enjoy it and so do we!"

For the younger kids, Professor World may very well make an appearance. Professor World is an intrepid wanderer roaming the globe his his walking stick and wearing his "Walking Woofers" looking for opportunities to talk to kids about our world and the places, people and things on it.

Other groups taking advantage of Columbia Center outreach opportunities are the Girl Scouts, the Boy Scouts, FFA, Boys and Girls Clubs and other similar youth organizations.

In addition to youth-oriented activities, the Training and Education group provides instruction for adults as well. One popular offere is "GPS for Hunters and Fishermen." This one day class is usually offered on a Saturday and focuses on using recreational grade GPS recievers for outdoor activities.

These training sessions are generally offered free of charge for schools and other non-profit organizations. A modest fee is charged for some programs. If you are interested in the Columnbia Center visiting your organization, or if you would like to bring a group to the Columbia Center for training, please contact the Training and Edcuation Group by clicking here.

The Columbia Center Education and Training team provide geospatial training and educational opportunities for the community at large. Among the most popular of these activities is a class on GPS training for hunter's and fishermen. The program is aimed at the outdoorsman wanting to learn more about recreational grade GPS receivers that they own, or may be planning to purchase.

The classroom portion of the course covers theory, operation and usage of typical consumer-grade GPS Units. Garmin 76C GPS receivers are provided, but participants are encouraged to bring and use their own units. Classroom instruction is augmented with field exercises cover all normal modes of GPS operations. In addition, an introduction to GIS data sources and use is given along with tips on where to find free resources to enhance your GPS mapping experience.

Visit the Training and Education Schedule frequently for these and other training opportunities.

Columbia Center Education and Training personnel frequently speak to service clubs and other civic groups. Topics include all aspects of geospatial technology as well as real-world experiences during the Columbia Shuttle recovery effort, Hurricanes responses such as Katrina and Rita and other emergency events that the Center as been involved in.