Extension
It Starts With Us
Protecting Water and Natural Resources
Protecting Natural Resources
Traci Missun, Kelly Woods
Ag Water Quality Program
Backyard Streams
Urban Environments (water issues)
4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
People, animals and plants are dependent on our Earth’s natural resources. Everything from the air we breathe, to the water we drink, to the soil we use for food production –these resources are vital to our existence. Therefore, it’s important that we care for and respect these resources. Understanding how our daily choices affect our environment, we can conserve natural resources and protect our environment for present and future generations.
Oldham County includes watersheds that are on the impaired list, most often due to sedimentation with some bacterial issues. The Oldham County Ag Development Council has targeted soil and water conservation education as being an important initiative in programming. 4-H school programs for 4th graders include water science and conservation topics that correspond to required school curriculum and learning.
Additionally, Oldham County Fiscal Court has a Watershed Coordinator on staff to educate the public. Oldham County Extension began partnering with the Watershed Coordinator in 2013 to educate residents in practices to protect water and watersheds.
An increased number of farms will use updated ag water quality plans; an increased number of residents will use practices like soil testing. Youth will have a keen environmental awareness, realizing the long term impact and are willing to make changes in their lives to address this concern.
Youth will engage in community projects related to natural resource conservation.
Oldham County homeowners will use best management practices such as soil testing, buffer areas and integrated pest management practices. Oldham County youth will share water conservation practices with families and will adopt changes to conserve water. Oldham County farms will update and/or create ag water quality plans and use these on their farms.
Youth will adopt practices to conserve and protect the environment in their home and community.
Homeowners and farmers learn best management practices to protect water sources. Youth discover the properties of water and the water cycle and how this relates to the environment.
Youth will identify the natural resources that are used within their home and community.
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Audience: 4-H Members 4th graders
Project or Activity: Animal Adaptions
Content or Curriculum: Project Wet and Project Food Land and People
Inputs: CES Staff, CES Funding, Oldham County Public Schools, Classroom Teachers
Date: Fall 2019
Audience: 4-H Members 4th graders
Project or Activity: Mudballs (Soil and Erosion)
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Natural Resources Curriculum
Inputs: CES Staff, CES Funding, Oldham County Public Schools, Classroom Teachers
Date: Spring 2020
Activity: Sum of the Parts
Audience: 5th grade students
Content or Curriculum: What is a watershed? How do my actions affect a watershed?
Inputs: Project Wet Curriculum
Date: January 2020
Activity: Entomology
Audience: 5th grade students
Content or Curriculum: Hissing Cock Roaches
Inputs: University of Kentucky Entomology Department
Date: Spring 2020
Activity: Soil Samples
Audiences: 5th grade 4-H Members
Content or Curriculum: Science Sleuths
Inputs: Project Food, Land and People
Date: Spring 2020
Activity: H2O Olympics
Audience: 5th Grade 4-H Members
Content or Curriculum: Project Wet
Inputs: OCPS
Date: Spring 2020
Activity: Incredible Journey
Audience: 5th grade 4-H Members
Content or Curriculum: Project Wet
Inputs: OCPS
Date: Spring 2020
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Earth Day
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Youth Curriculum
Inputs: Conservation District Staff/Volunteers, Agriculture Agent, Horticulture Assistant
Date: Spring 2020
Audience: Community Education Program Participants
Project or Activity: Soils, Gardening Activities
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Materials
Inputs: Agriculture Agent, Horticulture Assistant
Date: Fall 2019 and Spring 2020
Audience: Residents
Project or Activity: Backyard Streams
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension materials; County Recycling Resources
Inputs: Agriculture Agent, County Engineers Staff
Date: Spring 2020
