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The International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) is thrilled to share that we’re in a remarkable place, delivering more services to our community than ever before. Our growth and success wouldn’t be possible without the invaluable support of our members, partners, and volunteers. Your dedication and passion have brought us to this point, and we’re honored to keep expanding our offerings to make a positive impact across the country.
In line with our mission to empower and support wildlife education efforts nationwide, we are excited to announce that we have signed a three-year partnership agreement with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks. This contract marks a major step forward in supporting the dedicated volunteers who serve Kansas’ wildlife and conservation efforts.
Highlights of the Kansas Partnership:
• OutdoorELN Learning Management System: Kansas volunteers will have access to a dedicated learning management system (LMS) on OutdoorELN.org, equipping them with essential resources to deepen their hunting knowledge and improve their mentorship skills. This LMS partnership provides Kansas a custom, branded, tool-rich platform to help volunteers refresh and grow their expertise, allowing them to better serve and guide new hunters with confidence and competency. Additionally, Kansas volunteers will gain access to the shared IHEA OutdoorELN course catalog, an expansive industry resource with curated content that supports volunteer training and fosters knowledge-sharing across the network.
• Customized Courses: Three exclusive, custom-tailored courses will be developed specifically for Kansas volunteers to enhance their experience and effectiveness in wildlife and conservation education.
• Volunteer IHEA-USA Memberships: All active hunter ed volunteers in Kansas will receive Free Memberships to IHEA-USA gaining them online access to the IHEA International Conference each year and premier access to discounts from IHEA industry partners.
• Annual Volunteer Background Checks: Each volunteer in Kansas will undergo annual background checks using IHEA's new national volunteer service to ensure the safety and security of both the volunteers and the community they serve.
This collaboration reflects our shared commitment to quality and integrity in outdoor education and ensures that Kansas’ volunteers receive the support and training they need to make a meaningful impact in the classroom and their communities.
"We are excited to partner with the IHEA to help strengthen and support our hunter education instructors of Kansas", said Dave Foster, Education Coordinator for Kansas Dept of Wildlife and Parks. "With over 1,000 instructors, this will allow us to team with our national organization to provide up to date resources and benefits. The development of instructor-based courses in the Learning Management System will provide invaluable training to standardize the process of recruiting and maintaining a top notch hunter education program".
“IHEA-USA is honored to partner with the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks on this three-year endeavor to empower volunteers with the skills, knowledge, and support they need to succeed,” said Alex Baer, Executive Director of IHEA-USA. “Together, we’re building modern tools and volunteer benefits for hunter education that will assist Kansas and set a benchmark for similar programs across the nation.”
This three-year agreement underscores the dedication of IHEA-USA to support outdoor education efforts and volunteerism, promoting safe and responsible practices in conservation. Thank you to everyone who has supported us on this journey. We look forward to seeing the positive outcomes this partnership will bring to Kansas and the broader community.
About IHEA-USA
The International Hunter Education Association (IHEA-USA) is a nonprofit organization committed to hunting safety, education, and conservation. Working with partners, state agencies, and dedicated volunteers, IHEA-USA continues to enhance hunter education and outdoor learning opportunities across the country.
International Hunter Education Association-USA
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