Environmental Education Center Classes and ProgramsPlan of Work

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Campbell County CES

Title:
Environmental Education Center Classes and Programs
MAP:
Environmental Education Center Classes and Programs
Agents Involved:
Scully, Forrer
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Backyard Streams
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Urban Environments (water issues)
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Forestry Industry Education
Situation:

Tomorrow's leaders need to be equipped for tomorrow's challenges, and we must adequately prepare our children for the future they will inherit. That requires a commitment to providing children with environmental education that helps them become the educated thoughtful leaders of tomorrow.

America is in the midst of one of the most profound and rapid societal shifts in history. Today's generation of children is the first to grow up indoors. Their plugged-in lives are often devoid of exploring the natural world. Consider these facts:

•American children ages 3 -12 spend 27 percent of their time each week watching television, and only 1 percent outdoors (Hofferth & Sadberg, 2001)

•Children ages 8 – 18 engaged in over seven hours of media time (e.g., watching TV, listening to music, using the Internet/computer, playing video games) each day (Rideout, Foehr & Roberts, 2010)

•Approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of U.S. children and adolescents aged 2—19 years were obese in 2008 (Ogden & Carroll, 2010)

• In 2000, two-thirds of the public failed a basic environmental quiz and 88 percent failed a basic energy quiz (Coyle, 2005)

This movement indoors is not benign; there are costs to the health of our children: attention difficulties, hyperactivity, childhood obesity, diminished use of senses, disconnect from things that are real. Children need to learn about, understand, and value nature. The next generation will need to care about the land and be stewards of its resources.

Raising an environmentally literate generation of problem solvers will help ensure that tomorrow’s decision-makers are prepared for the challenges they will likely face. Studies have shown environmental education engages students in learning, raising test scores, and encouraging youth to pursue careers in environmental and natural resources.

(Source: Project Learning Tree)

Surveys with the Campbell County Extension Environmental Advisory Council and requests for services also verify this situation and the specific need for youth environmental education.

Long-Term Outcomes:

The quality of the environment will be improved by the youth of the county through their environmental awareness, education, and action.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Youth will be involved in activities that demonstrate their stewardship of the environment. They will continue this stewardship.

Initial Outcomes:

Youth will become more knowledgeable of natural processes and biological functions that sustain the environment. Youth will become more knowledgeable of human impact on the environment and use of natural resources. Specific focus will be placed on KY core content for science and practical living assessment including ecosystems, water, and solid waste.

Evaluation:

Long-Term Outcome: Improvement of the environment by implementing knowledge and practices

Indicator: Number of trees/wildflowers planted, amount of non-native plants eradicated, number of shiitake logs produced, number of birdhouses, feeders, bat houses, and nesting wreaths constructed

Method: written evaluations and testimonials

Timeline: follow up surveys with participants to inquire about implemented practices


Intermediate Outcome: demonstration of environmental knowledge

Indicator: responses on evaluations and surveys, testimonials

Method: eye witness accounts, responses on follow up surveys

Timeline: during programs


Initial Outcome: acquisition of environmental knowledge

Indicator: responses on environmental surveys, testimonials

Method: written evaluations by program participants and verbal comments

Timeline: immediately following class or program

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: general public and youth
 Project or Activity: Jolly Thursdays with Campbell County Public Library and Parks and Recreation Department

Content or Curriculum: Science and Arts

Inputs: paid staff

Date: Thursdays on June-July 2018/2019


Audience: general public
 Project or Activity: Aquatic Ecology
 Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental awareness
 Inputs: paid staff
 Date: July 2018, May, June 2019
 
 Audience: general public
 Project or Activity: Wilderness Walks
 Content or Curriculum: Flower ID, environmental awareness and education
 Inputs: paid staff
 Date: August 2018, January, March, May 2019


 Audience: general public
 Project or Activity: Night Hikes
 Content or Curriculum: Nocturnal Education, environmental awareness and education
 Inputs: paid staff
 Date: August, October 2018, April, June 2019
 
 Audience: general public
 Project or Activity: Hunting Basics
 Content or Curriculum: Wildlife awareness and education
 Inputs: paid staff
 Date: October 2018
 
 Audience: general public
 Project or Activity: Afternoon of Birding
 Content or Curriculum: Bird ID, ecological education, environmental awareness
 Inputs: paid staff
 Date: August, September 2018, February, May, June 2019
 
 Audience: general public
 Project or Activity: Snakes
 Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, wildlife education, environmental awareness
 Inputs: paid staff
 Date: August 2018, May 2019
 
 Audience: general public
 Project or Activity: Campbell County Animals
 Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental awareness
 Inputs: paid staff
 Date: January, February 2019
 
 

Audience: general public
 Project or Activity: Nature Crafts
 Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental awareness
 Inputs: paid staff
 Date: September 2018, February 2019
 
 Audience: general public
 Project or Activity: Wreath Making
 Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental awareness
 Inputs: paid staff
 Date: December 2018, February 2019
 
 Audience: general public
 Project or Activity: Nature Scavenger Hunt
 Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental awareness
 Inputs: paid staff
 Date: February, March 2019


 Audience: general public
 Project or Activity: Animal Habitat
 Content or Curriculum: Wildlife awareness and education
 Inputs: paid staff
 Date: October, December 2018
 
 Audience: general public
 Project or Activity: Animal Tracking
 Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental awareness
 Inputs: paid staff
 Date: October 2018, January, March 2019


 Audience: 4-H members, various scouts
 Project or Activity: 4-H Clubs and Scouts Environmental volunteer projects
 Content or Curriculum: Wildflower, Trees, and Grassland planting, as well as non-native control, to improve the environment
 Inputs: paid staff and volunteers
 Date: throughout the year, July 2018 - June 2019
 
 Audience: general public
 Project or Activity: Build a Birdhouse
 Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental awareness
 Inputs: paid staff
 Date: December 2018, February, March 2019
 
 Audience: general public
 Project or Activity: Build a Bat house
 Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental awareness
 Inputs: paid staff
 Date: April 2019
 
 Audience: general public
 Project or Activity: Build a Birdfeeder
 Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental awareness
 Inputs: paid staff
 Date: August 2018
 
 Audience: public and private elementary students
 Project or Activity: Fall Environmental Day Camp
 Content or Curriculum: soils, wetlands, reptiles and amphibians, solar energy
 Inputs: paid staff, KY Reptile Zoo employees
 Date: September - October 2018
 
 Audience: public and private elementary, middle and high school students
 Project or Activity: Spring Field Trips
 Content or Curriculum: Kentucky's Plants and Animals, Ecosystems and Ecology
 Inputs: paid staff
 Date: March - May 2019
 
 Audience: general public
 Project or Activity: Shiitake Mushroom Production Workshop
 Content or Curriculum: growing, harvesting, marketing and cooking
 Inputs: paid staff
 Date: February 2019
 
 Audience: general public, NKU students
 Project or Activity: Tree Identification Walk
 Content or Curriculum: How to identify trees by leaf features
 Inputs: paid staff, NKU professor
 Date: July/August 2018
 
 Audience: general public
 Project or Activity: Environmental/Land Management Assistance
 Content or Curriculum: wildlife management, forestry, etc.
 Inputs: paid staff
 Date: throughout the year 2018-2019



 



Success Stories

Students Interact with Science through the Environment and Learn Next Generation Science Standards

Author: DJ Scully

Major Program: Youth Forestry and Natural Resource Education

The Campbell County Environmental Education Center conducts school programs where youth interact with science through the environment. “Science—and therefore science education—is central to the lives of all Americans, preparing them to be informed citizens in a democracy and knowledgeable consumers.  If the nation is to compete and lead in the global economy and if American students are to be able to pursue expanding employment opportunities in science-related fields,

Full Story
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