General Discussion : How do I get started banding?

Administrator's note: This is a posting migrated from the original site. If, in the future a method can be found to reconnect these posts to the original authors, it will be done.

Originally posted by user "Keith" on May 17, 2013:

I am a Park Manager for a Federal organization.  Last fall we initiated a kestrel nestbox program and we are approaching 30 boxes.  We've had great success in this, our first season, with over 1/3 of these boxes currently having egg clutches in them.  As an employee working on site, I am interested in getting certified to band.  This in-house flexibility to band "at-will" versus coordinating with regional banders to band for us will enhance our interpretation and outreach abilities to work with children and other members of the public - teaching and sharing with them about our kestrel program, the efforts of the American Kestrel Partnership, and to do it in a professional, yet also exciting, memorable way.

Our desire is to recognize individuals of past cohorts, preferably through simple observation of color bands, etc. We also wish to contribute in a meaningful way to the body of data available to other birders engaged in trapping/banding efforts.  Lastly, as mentioned, we feel banding events are incredibly unique and powerful moments to encourage the curiosities of young people and to hope they evolve that excitement into a value for environmental stewardship.
One problem... How does a professional like myself, or any citizen scientist for that matter, obtain the experience and credentials necessary to handle kestrels for this purpose?  And of course the ensuing cascade of questions naturally follows.... Who determines the types of bands to use?  Where does one get them?  How does one ensure the bands used are registered properly to be of value to other scientists?  etc.  
Thank you in advance,
KH