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 2019/2020

Audience: general public
Project or Activity: Aquatic Ecology
Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental awareness
Inputs: paid staff
Date: July 2019, May, June 2020

Audience: general public
Project or Activity: Wilderness Walks
Content or Curriculum: Flower ID, environmental awareness and education
Inputs: paid staff
 Date: July, September, November 2019, March, May 2020

Audience: general public
Project or Activity: Night Hikes
Content or Curriculum: Nocturnal Education, environmental awareness and education
Inputs: paid staff
Date: December 2019, February, March 2020

Audience: general public
Project or Activity: Afternoon of Birding
Content or Curriculum: Bird ID, ecological education, environmental awareness
Inputs: paid staff
Date: July, September, December 2019, March 2020

Audience: general public
Project or Activity: Snakes
Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, wildlife education, environmental awareness
Inputs: paid staff
Date: June 2020

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 2020

 Audience: general public

Project or Activity: Nature Crafts

Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental awareness

Inputs: paid staff

Date: April 2020

Audience: general public
Project or Activity: Wreath Making
Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental awareness
Inputs: paid staff
Date: December 2019, February 2020

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 2020

Audience: general public
Project or Activity: Animal Habitat
Content or Curriculum: Wildlife awareness and education
Inputs: paid staff
Date: March 2020

Audience: general public
Project or Activity: Animal Tracking
Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental awareness
Inputs: paid staff
 Date: October 2019, January, March 2020

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 2019 - June 2020

Audience: general public
Project or Activity: Build a Birdhouse
Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental awareness
Inputs: paid staff
Date: December 2019, February, March 2020

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: December 2019, February 2020

Audience: public and private elementary students
Project or Activity: Fall Environmental Day Camp
Content or Curriculum: Reptiles and amphibians, solar energy, raptors, botany
Inputs: paid staff, KY Reptile Zoo employees
Date: September - October 2019

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 2020

Audience: general public
Project or Activity: Shiitake Mushroom Production Workshop
Content or Curriculum: growing, harvesting, marketing and cooking
Inputs: paid staff
Date: February 2020

Audience: general public, NKU students, Environmental Careers Course
Project or Activity: Tour and overview of jobs in Extension
Content or Curriculum: Environmental Education Center and UK Extension Resources
Inputs: paid staff, NKU professor
 Date: August/September 2019

Audience: general public

Project or Activity: Environmental/Land Management Assistance

Content or Curriculum: wildlife management, forestry, etc.

Inputs: paid staff

 Date: throughout the year 2019-2020

 

Success Stories