About the Program
The Outreach Training Program (OTP) is designed to help ACS members passionate about science outreach fully maximize Society resources through in-person workshops at or this online on-demand course. The OTP includes seven parts on the history of ACS Outreach, safety, event planning, communication, marketing, leading volunteers, and monitoring success. Attendees will learn to successfully plan and execute hands-on science outreach events, as well as have an opportunity to network and build a community with others passionate about science outreach and ACS. More info at www.acs.org/otp.
For permission to reuse content from the Education Division, please contact Outreach@acs.org.
  • ACS Outreach Coordinators who organize local section activities for National Chemistry Week (NCW) and Chemists Celebrate Earth Week (CCEW).
  • Any ACS member who organizes outreach events on behalf of ACS.

Program Goal: Using online and in-person instruction, provide outreach training and instruction so that participants can effectively and efficiently plan hands-on science events.

Program Competency: Participants will learn how to coordinate and improve outreach efforts.

Program Objectives:

  • Identify ACS resources for outreach activities.
  • Deploy new planning, communicating, and analyzing skills to improve outreach efforts.

Program Outline:

  1. Introduction and History of ACS Outreach
  2. Safety in Outreach Settings
  3. Event Planning and Fundraising
  4. Communicating through Hands-On Activities
  5. Marketing and Partnerships
  6. Leading Volunteers
  7. Monitoring and Sustaining Success
David Horwitz

David C. Horwitz is a Program Manager of Science Outreach for the American Chemical Society where he manages outreach programs including the public awareness campaigns, National Chemistry Week and Chemists Celebrate Earth Week. David started his career at ACS by running an accelerator to train entrepreneurial members about how to pitch their technologies. He hosted pitch events, team advising sessions, and the annual entrepreneurial summit. From there, David moved to the Volunteer Support team to work on volunteer engagement and recognition strategies for NCW, CCEW, and other local section programs. Before joining ACS, David led various courses and trainings on public speaking, group communication, and leadership styles for executives, managers, and undergraduate students. David received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication with honors from the University of California, Davis and his Master of Arts degree in Communication with distinction from the California State University, Fresno.


Patti Galvan

Patti Galvan is a Program Manager of Science Outreach for the American Chemical Society where she manages the Kids & Chemistry program and provides kits and training for scientists who visit classrooms. She has shaped ‘Science Coaches’ from an idea to an established program that partners 250 American Association of Chemistry Teachers (AACT) member-teachers and ACS member-chemists each school year. She has co-authored lessons for elementary and middle school teachers, provided professional development for teachers, and was part of the team that developed the child-facing resource, Adventures in Chemistry. Before joining ACS, Patti was a classroom teacher, math enrichment instructor, and traveling science program presenter. Patti is most passionate about helping kids become caring and resilient life-long learners. Patti received her Bachelor of Science degree in Education with a focus on middle school mathematics from The Ohio State University.

Program Contact

The program is offered to you by the Office of Science Outreach in the ACS Education Division. Questions? Contact us at outreach@acs.org.

Part 1: Introduction and History of ACS Outreach

Learning Objectives

  • Point out how future outreach efforts fit into organizational goals and help communicate chemistry’s value.
  • Identify resources for CCEW and NCW to incorporate into planning for future campaigns.

Course Outline

  • About ACS
  • About ACS Outreach
  • About CCEW and NCW
  • Related Outreach Programs
  • Reflections from Coordinators

Part 2: Safety in Outreach Settings

Learning Objectives

  • Review and recall ACS safety guidelines for outreach to plan methods to lessen the risk of hazards during events.
  • Perform a RAMP analysis to identify potential risks and consider modifications to planned hands-on activities.

Course Outline

  • Reasons for Safety
  • Safety Guidelines for Demonstrations
  • Safety Guidelines for Hands-On Activities
  • RAMP Analysis

Part 3: Event Planning and Fundraising

Learning Objectives

  • Recognize necessary items to prepare a materials list for outreach events.
  • Identify funding sources and methods to build resources for future outreach events.
  • Assign dates to tasks to follow an event planning timeline and use run-of-show to ensure successful outreach events.

Course Outline

  • Event Materials and Costs
  • Event Fundraising
  • Before Event: Planning Timeline
  • During Event: Run-of-Show
  • After Event: Follow-up

Part 4: Communicating through Hands-On Activities

Learning Objectives

  • Identify how the Let’s Do Chemistry (LDC) framework helps determine appropriate content and strategies to increase effectiveness of hands-on activities.
  • Compose age-appropriate explanations of a hands-on activity that build meaning across different groups.
  • Practice LDC techniques to increase effectiveness of the facilitation of hands-on activities.

Course Outline

  • Designing Hands-On Experiences
  • Crafting Your Message
  • Communicating Across Age Groups
  • Facilitating Hands-On Activities

Part 5: Marketing and Partnerships

Learning Objectives

  • Determine essential elements of an effective message.
  • Identify branding kit assets for use on marketing materials to contribute to campaign cohesion.
  • Recall steps for taking high quality photos for use in reporting and marketing efforts.
  • Identify important processes of partnership building to ensure the success of future outreach events.

Course Outline

  • Create Marketing Materials
  • Consider Media Channels
  • Utilize the Branding Kit
  • Take High Quality Pictures
  • Build Lasting Partnerships

Part 6: Leading Volunteers

Learning Objectives

  • Summarize steps to recruit, organize, train, and recognize volunteers to ensure retention for future outreach events.
  • Identify specifications for planning group members and facilitators to ensure successful recruitment and a positive volunteer experience.
  • Utilize ACS resources that support organizing and recognizing volunteers.

Course Outline

  • Recruiting Your Volunteers
  • Organizing Your Volunteers
  • Training Your Volunteers
  • Recognizing Your Volunteers
  • Retaining Your Volunteers

Part 7: Monitoring and Sustaining Success

Learning Objectives

  • Adapt surveys to measure event satisfaction and training to improve data collection processes.
  • Plan short- and long-term solutions to outreach-specific problems to ensure future event success.

Course Outline

  • Surveying Attendees and Volunteers
  • Identifying Potential Problems and Solutions

Part 8: Program Evaluation and Certificate

Once you have completed Parts 1-7, you will receive a key to enroll in Part 8 where you must complete the program evaluation to gain access to your custom certificate of completion.