For ad hoc teams from small communities in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming. This is the fast track to checking a project off your community’s priority list. Great for placemaking, youth development, beautification, events, and other projects that won’t get done unless community members take the lead. Bring a project to work on or identify one as a team during the bootcamp.

This is the second annual bootcamp hosted by WeCAN, a three-state collaboration to help rural communities identify, understand, and achieve their goals.

Some of what we heard from 2022 Bootcamp participants:the process as a part of the Bootcamp and not just presentations.”

“The list of grant opportunities is a great tool.” 

“Not only the Art Walk project that we chose from this, but all the offshoots of that, like starting an Arts and Culture Council, Community Theater, and a Mosaic House project.”

In six action-packed evening sessions, teams of 4-6 participants from communities across our three states will:

• Prepare to think about—and work with—your community’s networks to uncover hidden resources.
• Learn how to tell compelling stories about your project.
• Develop a funding toolbox that helps you find the money and other resources to make your project a reality.
• Apply all this learning using a community building strategy to the project that the community team works on together. You’ll leave the bootcamp with a plan for completing your project and inspiration, motivation, team support and ongoing coaching to help that happen.

Communities that complete the Community Bootcamp are eligible for $500 in matching funds to support their selected project. They are also eligible to apply for a full Community Review and are invited to join WeCAN’s Peer Learning Network.

The WeCAN Community Bootcamp is open to teams of 4 – 6 people from each applicant community. Start thinking about community partners to join you, including some outside of the “usual suspects” who take the lead on everything. The Bootcamp can help new people be comfortable taking leadership, strengthen coalitions of community organizations and foster working partnerships between formal (elected or appointed) and informal leaders. Your community situation is unique, and your team will be, too!

We are especially focused on communities smaller than about 10,000 population. Anyone with an interest in making their community a better place is welcome to apply. It’s free!

Western Community Assessment Network (WeCAN) partners are University of Idaho, Idaho Rural Partnership, University of Wyoming, Wyoming Business Council, Montana State University, and Montana Economic Developers Association (MEDA).

Session dates & times:

March 23, 30 April 6, 13, 20, 27 | 5-7:30 pm Pacific/6-8:30 pm Mountain Time

Find additional details and more at our website communityreview.org/community-bootcamp

Applications are open now, please submit no later than February 24, 2023.  Please contact Marci Miller at [email protected] with questions or to see if your community qualifies.

Please forward this email to rural community champions who might be interested in this program. For example chambers of commerce, economic development offices, community foundations, tourism offices, social service agencies or nonprofits, civic engagement organizations or committees, volunteer groups focused on community arts, youth, environment, city councils and staff.

Marci Miller

Graduate Research Assistant- M.S.

Adult, Organizational Learning & Leadership

WeCAN

2 Degrees Northwest

My general office hours are

Monday – Thursday 8:30am – 1:30pm