Environmental EducationPlan of Work

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Scott County CES

Title:
Environmental Education
MAP:
Practicing Stewardship in Natural Resources
Agents Involved:
Allen, Flynt, Redmon, Conner
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Cook Wild Kentucky
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Chemical Management
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Natural Resources
Situation:

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.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Youth will use scientific techniques, responsible practices and innovative technologies that will positively sustain the natural resources in the home, community and world.

Youth will engage in community projects related to natural resource conservation.


Environmental conditions will improve in Scott County.

Natural resources will be utilized wisely.

Landfill usage will decline due to recycling efforts.

Families will consume more locally produced food.

Recycling will increase.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Youth will make decisions in their daily lives that positively impact natural resources.

Youth will adopt practices to conserve and protect the environment in their home and community.

Youth will use problem solving and logical reasoning skill and apply them to environmental issues.


Scott County residents will implement strategies to practice resource conservation.

Residents will maintain properties with less water and fewer chemical inputs.

Residents will recycle more organic and inorganic waste products.

Residents will utilize more energy efficient products.

Residents will purchase/grow local foods.

Initial Outcomes:

Youth will develop an interest in environmental sciences and sustainable practices and technologies ? Youth will gain knowledge of the interrelationship and interdependencies with an ecosystem. ? Youth will identify the natural resources that are used within their home and community.


Residents will become educated about the benefits of green living practices.

Residents will attend programs and events related to green living.

Children will encourage parents to become involved in green issues.

Evaluation:

Outcome: Environmental conditions will improve in Scott County.

Indicator: Lower landfill inputs, cleaner watersheds

Method: environmental agency reports

Timeline: Ongoing


Outcome: Residents will increase practices related to green living.

Indicator: Increased recycling, stronger local foods demand, increased onsite water management.

Method: Reporting from local government, farmers markets, and environmental agencies.

Timeline: Ongoing


Outcome: Residents will become knowledgeable about green living practices.

Indicator: Demand for environmental education programming,

Method: Program evaluation, surveys

Timeline: ongoing


Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth

Activity: 4-H Environmental Camps

Content or curriculum: 4-H Natural Resources

Inputs: staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers, Scott County Schools, Various agencies

Date: Fall and Spring


Audience: Youth

Activity: 4-H Soil/Erosion Control Education

Content or Curriculum: Enviroscape Curriculum, State 4-H Curriculum

Inputs: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, Scott County Schools

Date: Throughout School Year


Audience: Youth

Activity: Recycling Opportunities with 4-H

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Project Material

Inputs: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials

Date: Throughout School Year


Audience: Youth

Activity: Lifecycles and Biodiversity

Content or Curriculum: Lifecycles

Inputs: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, Scott County Schools

Date: Spring


Audience: Youth & General Public

Activity: Various Agriculture and Environmental Programs Planned with Other Agencies Such as Scott County Conservation District, City of Georgetown, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Yuko En Earth Day Celebration, Ed Davis Center, Scott Co. Public Schools, Scott Co. Pre-School, Toyota Environmental Day

Content or Curriculum: Project Material and Involved Agencies Resources

Inputs: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, Scott County Schools and listed organizations above

Date: Throughout Year


Audience: Homemakers

Activity: Scott County Homemaker Tab Recycling Project

Content or Curriculum: Homemaker Club Activities

Inputs: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Throughout Year


Audience: General Public

Activity: Soil, Water, Manure, Plant Testing

Content or Curriculum: UK Soil Lab

Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Year Round


Audience: General Public

Activity: Rinse and Return Program

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Dept. of Agriculture, Local agribusiness operations

Inputs: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Summer


Audience: Youth, Homemakers, General Public

Activity: Recycling Opportunities with Scott County Homemakers and 4-H

Content or Curriculum: Project Material

Inputs: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Throughout Year


Activity: Pesticide Training -- Private Applicators

Content or Curriculum: Material provided by the Univ of KY & State Departments of Agriculture

Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials

Date: Throughout the Year


Audience: General Public

Activity: Lawn Management Series

Content or Curriculum: Various lawn publications

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials

Date: Spring





Success Stories

Water and Pollinator Conservation Goals Are Achieved with One Rain Garden

Author: Sharon Flynt

Major Program: Pollinators

In 2013, a rain garden was installed on a slope in Brooking Park to briefly hold/soak in water that flows off surrounding impervious and land surfaces at the Scott County Extension office. A carefully planned rain garden looks like an ordinary flower garden, but by 2021 the rain garden had become overgrown, filled invasive plants. Master Gardener volunteers, along with the horticulture agent, renovated the garden, this time with thoughtfully chosen non-invasive, native perennials that survived t

Full Story

Everyday Gardener Webinar Series II

Author: Sharon Flynt

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

Continuing efforts to meet the public desire for horticultural educational classes in the ever-changing climate of the post pandemic world, horticulture agents in 7 counties of Central Region collaborated in the Fall of 2021 to offer the Everyday Gardener Webinar Series once again. The series, taught by agents and specialist, provided educational classes related to horticulture under the  fields of:  Insects: The Good , the Bad and the Ugly, Wildlife and Woodlands, and Season to Season

Full Story

4-H Adventure Club

Author: Patrick Allen

Major Program: Natural Resources

We have started the program year with one indoor meeting at the extension office and have had one field trip. Both meeting and trip were well attended with returning members. During the meeting at the extension office we went though basic skills for outdoor survival and gear. We took a trip to a wooded property to practice fire building, facilitated three activities that relate to tracking and sound mapping. All youth and parents that attended the trip enjoyed the content and were looking forwar

Full Story

4-H Camp is Back!

Author: Alivia Faris

Major Program: Camping

4-H Camp is Back!

The previous Lawrence County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences collaborated with the Lawrence County 4-H/ANR Assistant and the Lawrence County 4-H Summer Intern to provide the opportunity for youth to attend 4-H Summer Camp at the end of July 2021. This 4-H Camp experience was slightly different then years past, as safety measures were put into place to help insure the wellness of campers during the COVID-19 pandemic. After a year of uncertainty it was important for 4-H Camp to be

Full Story

TREES BUILD SOCIAL CAPITAL

Author: Sharon Flynt

Major Program: Water and Soil Quality and Conservation

With pandemic restraints loosening, citizens of Scott County wanted a way to interact with nature in urban green neutral spaces. With an invitation from Urban Forest Initiative, the framework in which the people of Georgetown/Scott County  could come together, to achieve community building and increased social capital emerged in the form of the first annual 2021 Georgetown Tree Week. The Tree Week Committee started in August to bring about city-wide and county opportunities to communicate a

Full Story

Environmental Education Camp

Author: Patrick Allen

Major Program: Camping

For eight years now I have worked to increase the Scott County public school's 4th grade attendance to Environmental Education Camp (EE camp). We went from having only three schools attending to having all nine participating in the program. These nine were divided between the Fall and Spring seasonal programs. The program was designed to help youth increase knowledge in several facets of the environment. These areas included; wildlife studies, Micro invertebrates, aquatic life, mammal studie

Full Story
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