Training Registration Page – FY26Q4 Camp Ripley, MN

There is a cap of 25 people for this training; a waitlist will be created once all seats are filled. There will be additional training sessions in the future.

Travel Information: 
For attendees that need to travel by plane, Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport (MSP) is the closest international airport. Brainerd has a small airport with connections to Minneapolis-St Paul (30 minute drive) and MSP is a 2 hour drive. The classroom will be on base at Camp Ripley.

On-base lodging is available for $32/night. A reservation block of suites has been made under “AKN” or “Camp Ripley environmental”. Please call the billeting front desk to reserve a room within the block. The phone number is 320-616-3140.

Once your registration is confirmed by our team, we will communicate week-of logistics and other pertinent course information via your provided email(s) below.

Course Description:

On 24 Jun 2022, the Office of the Secretary of Defense issued a memo that endorses and requires the use of the Avian Knowledge Network (AKN) by each DoW Component. The power of the AKN and its tools are dependent on getting data uploaded and users trained on the system. In support of DoW’s use of the AKN, the DoW Legacy Program is funding regional, in-person, DoW AKN training sessions. Sessions will equip users with the knowledge and skills to utilize the data management system and decision-support tools within the system in support of DoW’s participation in the AKN.

Attendees will learn how the AKN system is organized, how to create project metadata and input data, how data sharing levels work, and how to visualize, analyze, and aggregate data for conservation purposes. Participants will leave with the capability to upload, archive, access, and use extensive avian data tools to assist in NEPA analysis and assessing impacts of readiness and non-readiness activities directly supporting the military mission.

This training session will take place over three days. Two days will be classroom instruction on the AKN system and focus on DoW’s coordinated and comprehensive approach. The third day will include a field component where attendees will complete a field survey with standardized sampling methods and return to the classroom to directly input data into a DoW “Project” within the AKN.

Instructors include engineers and biologists from Point Blue Conservation Science, Klamath Bird Observatory, and U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center – Environmental Laboratory.

There is no cost for this training except for participant travel expenses.

For any questions, please email the DoW AKN Team at DoDAKN@erdc.dren.mil.