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

 

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