© Thomas Szajner / WWF-US
Orientation
Getting familiar with all you need to know before beginning your Panda Ambassador journey—in five easy steps.
Step 1
Introduction to WWF
What makes WWF unique? What are we trying to accomplish as an organization? What is our mission, and how, as a Panda Ambassador, do you fit in? In this video, you’ll learn about WWF’s history, how we operate and fund critical programs around the world, and the core areas on which we focus.
Once you're done watching, you can learn more here.
Step 2
Toolkit overview
In this video, you’ll get an orientation to the Panda Ambassador Toolkit, your one-stop site for everything you’ll need to be a successful Panda Ambassador. You’ll learn where to find inspiration for your project ideas and lots of resources to execute them. The video also provides helpful information for getting connected to the Panda Ambassador online community in Mobilize.
Step 3
Our top 8 tips for how to be a great Panda Ambassador
You’ll find that Panda Ambassadors have a lot of freedom—there’s no one right way to be a Panda Ambassador. Figure out who you want to reach, how you want to work, what you want to accomplish, and what skills and talents you can best bring to the table. Since we know that it can be overwhelming, here are a few tips to get you started.
1. Make a plan for meeting your responsibilities
We know that every Panda Ambassador has their hands full with personal and professional commitments, so we appreciate your readiness to take on the Panda Ambassador role and the responsibilities that come with it. A great place to start is to decide how you’ll balance your variety of responsibilities with the requirements for participation in the Panda Ambassador program, namely:
- Completing at least four approved Panda Ambassador projects per year
- Attending at least six monthly calls live, or attending at least four calls live and watching at least two recordings
- Staying active and engaged in the online Panda Ambassador community, including creating two original posts per year and regularly engaging with others’ content
2. Decide on the four things you want to accomplish in your first year
Approved projects and participation are the primary ways Panda Ambassadors help carry out WWF’s mission in their communities and contribute to protecting the planet. What those projects are is largely up to you! We have a long list of options, but you’re free to come up with your own ideas too. You can take this short quiz to help you figure out what projects are right for you. Here's an example of what your first year as a Panda Ambassador could look like:
My four projects for the year
- Recruit 10 people to sign up for WWF’s Action Center
- Call my US representatives about an important environmental issue
- Participate in a local climate march
- Host a WWF fundraiser as my birthday party
or
My four projects for the year
- Educate local businesses about how to be more sustainable
- Organize a neighborhood cleanup
- Participate in WWF’s Lobby Day
- Start a blog about how environmental issues matter to my local community
3. Keep WWF informed
The big thing to remember is to keep WWF informed of what you're planning.
In the Toolkit, there is a link to Submit Your Project Idea. There, you should let us know the details of the project you are planning, and we can help provide you with additional resources!
What do you do once your project is complete? Click the link in the Toolkit for Completed Project Report.
Want to know if something is "big enough" to count? If we have any advice? If anyone has ever tried something like this before? Just ask. We're here to help. Email us at [email protected].
4. Make full use of your toolkit resources
The Panda Ambassador toolkit contains how-to guides, ready-made presentations, project ideas, social media assets, and more. These are here for you, so dive in.
Want to host an event but don’t know where to start? There’s a guide for that. Want to give a presentation to your school on food waste? We’ve got you covered with the slides, the script, and some public speaking pointers! Want to encourage local businesses to become greener? Yep, we’ve got help for that, too.
5. Attend the monthly Panda Ambassador calls
Each month, we host a conference call for Panda Ambassadors. This is where you will get the latest information on WWF priorities and initiatives, hear from WWF experts, and get to know what projects other Panda Ambassadors are working on, including opportunities for you to help out.
Especially as a new Panda Ambassador, it’s really important to make time to attend these calls if at all possible. If you absolutely can’t attend, you can catch up on past calls by visiting our meetings archive, hosted in the Resources section of the online community on Mobilize.
6. Sign up for and respond to WWF action alerts
When something really big is going on and we need your help—either by signing a petition, contacting your representatives, or writing to other decision-makers—we’ll let you know via email and/or text. Because you are a Panda Ambassador, we’re counting on you to take action and spread the word to your friends, family, and community.
You’ve probably already signed up, but if you haven’t, go ahead and do it now. (Be sure to include your phone number too!) Responding to and sharing action alerts is one of the easiest ways you can make a big impact on issues affecting the world right now.
7. Reach out to your fellow Panda Ambassadors
As a Panda Ambassador, one of your greatest resources is the network of existing ambassadors. These are some of the country’s most talented, compassionate, and hard-working people. Now that you’re one of them, you get the incredible privilege of picking their brains from time to time!
Join the online community if you haven’t already, and introduce yourself. Ask questions, share your ideas, and ask for feedback. You’ll find so many people willing to listen and help.
8. Have fun!
Saving the planet doesn’t have to be a chore. Finding a way to combine your favorite interests and hobbies with your projects as a Panda Ambassador can be the key to a long, fulfilling, and productive relationship. There’s a way to use your skills, experience, and interests, whatever they may be, to further your work as a Panda Ambassador.
If you’re stumped, make a list of your favorite hobbies or interests and post on the online community for suggestions on how to translate that to a Panda Ambassador project. Or send WWF an email, and we can help you figure it out.
Step 4
Frequently asked questions
How do I start a project?
It depends! Do you already have a project idea in mind? Great! On the Panda Ambassador Toolkit page, there is a link to submit your project idea. This helps us track active projects and provide you with the support you need to make them a success.
If you need a little help getting started, we suggest looking through some of the “How-to Guides” in the Resources section of the Toolkit for inspiration. Or you can also check out our handy Project Idea Generator.
How do I submit a completed project?
On the Panda Ambassador Toolkit page, there is a link to submit your completed project report. Please include a brief description of your project. How did it go? What are some topline results or takeaways that you can share about its impact? Do you have any photos or videos? What did you learn from it, and what would you tell your fellow Panda Ambassadors was a lesson you learned from it? These reports will help us keep the Panda Ambassador community updated on the great work each of you is doing.
How long do I have to complete my four projects?
We suggest Panda Ambassadors try to plan for one project per quarter or one every three months. However, you have the full year, so you can go at your own pace.
What are the educator or school classroom visit resources?
We have a “How-to Guide” in the Panda Ambassador Toolkit with tips for visiting a classroom. We also suggest checking out the wonderful resources WWF’s Wild Classroom provides for free to educators.
Can I reach out to other organizations to partner on a project with WWF?
Maybe. But it gets complicated very quickly, so it’s critical that you please reach out to the Panda Ambassador team first. You can email us at [email protected].
How can I collaborate with other Panda Ambassadors?
The easiest way to meet, communicate, and collaborate with other Panda Ambassadors is through Mobilize, our online community platform. On Mobilize, you can search for other Panda Ambassadors in your area or filter by similar interests. There are also standing regional groups you can join to connect with other Panda Ambassadors who live closest to you.
Can I contact the government on behalf of WWF?
WWF has a large team dedicated to Policy and Government Affairs, and they have long-standing relationships with many legislators on federal, state, and local levels. They also carefully craft WWF’s positions on environmental issues and decide how we should lobby for them. As a private citizen, you are always welcome to contact your elected officials with an opinion, but if you want to do so in your capacity as a Panda Ambassador, please email us first with your idea. If your idea is approved, we can provide you with talking points that are carefully prepared to be scientifically accurate and impactful. This way, you won’t unintentionally misrepresent WWF’s positions.
Step 5
Finishing up!
You're almost done...
Please verify you have completed all steps of the onboarding, including watching all videos and reading all documents.
© Ola Jennersten / WWF-Sweden