4-H Natural ResourcesPlan of Work

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Boone County CES

Title:
4-H Natural Resources
MAP:
Life Skills and Diversity
Agents Involved:
Steve Conrad, Christy Eastwood, Lacey Kessell, Gina Ligon
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Natural Resources
Situation:

Today’s youth spend less time outdoors than previous generations (Clemonts, 2004; Karsten, 2005; Carver et al., 2008) and are likely able to identify a Pokémon character more easily than a native plant or animal (Balmford et al., 2002). Every five years (since 1999) the Kentucky Environmental Education Council (KEEC) conducts a survey to assess Kentuckian’s environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. According to KEEC’s 2015-2020 Environmental Education Master Plan (2015), “…the average Kentuckian is able to answer correctly slightly more than half of the environmental knowledge questions included on the survey. This result leaves ample room for improvement” (p 27). The Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program strives to increase environmental literacy among youth in Kentucky. The KEEC (2018) defines environmental literacy as “…the ability to recognize the components of healthy natural and man-made systems and the actions necessary to maintain, restore, or improve them” (p. 4) and states that environmental education is a pathway to environmental literacy (KEEC, 2018). Kentucky Statute (KRS 157.905) defines environmental education as “…an education process dealing with the interrelationships among the natural world and its man-made surroundings; is experience-based; interdisciplinary in its approach; and is a continuous life-long process that provides the citizenry with the basic knowledge and skills necessary to individually and collectively encourage positive actions for achieving and maintaining a sustainable balance between man and the environment” (Kentucky Legislative Research Committee, 2020, p.1). Kentucky 4-H provides environmental education opportunities by engaging youth in hands-on, interdisciplinary educational experiences that foster an increased understanding and appreciation for natural resources and environmental sciences. Programs and projects are offered in the areas of environmental science, entomology, forestry and wood science, geology, soils, water, wildlife, and shooting sports.

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Success Stories

Decorating with Greens

Author: Gina Ligon

Major Program: Natural Resources

Decorating with Greens Decorating with Greens was created to show the community you could create beautiful wreaths, swags, and centerpieces from the landscape.   The community learns the types of evergreens that you can grow in our local landscape and gains the skills to create an arrangement.  Participants for the program ranged between the ages of 2-70. Eight members from the Union Garden Club, eighteen community adult members, fifteen 4-Hers participated from various 4-H c

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Overnight Environmental Camp

Author: Lacey Kessell

Major Program: Natural Resources

This Fall, Boone County Extension partnered with Boone County schools to provide an unforgettable, hands-on experience to 685 Boone County students, teachers, and chaperones.  These individuals were able to learn about their environment through guided, exploratory programs such as night hikes, pond ecosystems, KY wildlife, live animal encounters and so much more.  Students and chaperones learned about healthy ecosystem, adaptations, and how their behaviors impact them.  Programs f

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Environmental Field Trips Connects Hundreds of Students to Nature

Author: Lacey Kessell

Major Program: Natural Resources

Mountains of studies provide evidence that youth benefit from exposure to field trips, outdoor learning, and hands-on exploration of their environment.  Benefits range from mental health, increased test scores, behavior, critical thinking, decreasing cultural test score gaps and so much more.  In Spring of 2022, Boone County Environmental and Nature Center was able to provide over 1,600 students and over 200 chaperones (from public, private and homeschools) with the opportunity to expl

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2022 4-H Camp

Author: Stephen Conrad

Major Program: Camping

The Kentucky 4-H mission statement reads "4-H YD Education creates opportunities and supportive environments for culturally diverse youth and adults to be capable, competent, and caring citizens". The Boone County 4-H Program feels that one of the best ways to achieve this mission is with a strong residential camping program. This June we had 343 attend camp (265 campers, 35 teen volunteers, 39 adult volunteers, and 4 staff). 16 instructional classes were offered, covering a wide range

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