Extension
It Starts With Us
Environmental education
Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Awareness
County Staff
4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
4-H Science, Engineering, and Technology Core Curriculum
As the population in Boone County continues to grow, and urban areas become more prominent our youth have fewer opportunities to explore our natural environment. Boone County School systems have identified a need for hands on experiences that make connections to our natural resources and the State Education Core Standards. Teachers can also benefit in the classroom from environmental focused curriculum guides such as Project WILD, Project Learning Tree, and Project WET.
Environmental Sciences scores will increase in Boone County Schools during State Core Standard Testing.
Environmentally friendly practices will be adopted within schools and our communities, preserving our natural resources.
Schools utilize local natural spaces to promote learning.
Youth will choose to become more environmentally friendly by recycling more, polluting less, and decreasing negative impact on our environment.
More teachers are utilizing the environment and environmentally focused curricula in their classrooms.
Youth will understand ecosystems and our relationship and impact on natural systems.
Youth will appreciate the environment and strive to decrease negative impacts.
Increased participation in curricula trainings.
Initial Outcome: Youth will understand ecosystems and our relationship and impact on natural systems.
Indicator: Participants can correctly answer assessment questions after programming
Method: pre/post assessment
Timeline: as programming occurs
Initial outcome:Increased participation in curricula training.
Indicator: More trained teachers
Method: attendance records
Timeline: yearly
Intermediate Outcome:
More teachers are utilizing the environment and environmentally focused curricula in their classrooms.
Indicator: More curricula being used in the classrooms
Method: survey of training participants
Timeline: end of school year
Long-term Outcome: Schools utilize local natural spaces to promote learning.
Indicator: More schools will have/utilize outdoor classrooms and other outdoors areas utilized for learning
Method: Verbal survey of teachers
Timeline: As areas are identified and managed for use
Audience: 4thGrade students
Project or Activity: Spring Environmental Camp
Content or Curriculum: state supported
Inputs: staff, curriculum, volunteers, etc.
Date: March-May
Audience: 4th-5th Grade Students
Project or Activity: Overnight Environmental Camp
Content or Curriculum: state supported
Inputs: staff, curriculum, volunteers, outside resources, etc.
Date: September-October
Audience: 4-H Members
Project or Activity: 4-H Summer Projects
Content or Curriculum: State 4-H fair exhibits
Inputs: Agents, Nature Center
Date: Summer
Author: Lacey Kessell
Major Program: Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education
According to recent studies, in the last 50 years, bird populations have declined by nearly 3 billion birds across North American. That is about 1 out of every 4 birds.These numbers come from a series of databases including citizen science led programs such as the Christmas Bird Count and Great Backyard Bird Count. The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is an easy way for the community to engage with nature and create a real-time snapshot of bird populations in our area as well as acro
Author: Lacey Kessell
Major Program: Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education
The American Kestrel used to be a common sight perched on power lines and fence post along roads and open fields. With each year, less and less of these small falcons are being observed across the country. Since the 60’s their populations are declining by an average of 1% annually across the country (over a 50% population decline since 1966). Although there is speculation among scientist and wildlife biologist as to the reason of this decline, without a more widespread da
Author: Lacey Kessell
Major Program: Forestry and Natural Resource Professional Education
The importance of environmental education in our youth has been widely accepted and studied internationally. Studies show that youth exposed to environmental education have heightened imaginations, enhanced critical and creative thinking skills, promotes tolerance and understanding of different point of views and cultures, combats "nature deficit disorder", encouraged healthy lifestyles, enables students to make connections between social, ecological, economic, cultural and polit
Author: Lacey Kessell
Major Program: Youth Forestry and Natural Resource Education
Environmental education has been shown to improve a wide-range of learning capabilities as well as social, mental and emotional heath in youth, as well as adults. Increased environmental education leads to a better understanding of the world around us and encourages environmental friendly behaviors that can result in a better environment for us and generations to come. According to recent studies, in the last 50 years, bird populations have declined by nearly 3 billion birds across N
