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

Junior Master Naturalist

Author: Lacey Kessell

Major Program: Natural Resources

Junior Master Naturalist

Boone County Extension launches first Jr. Master Naturalist program in 4-day summer camp targeted towards ages 12-17.  The age group was chosen due to a need of programming for teenagers within the community.  Fifteen participants learned a variety of environmental topics in various locations throughout the county. The first two days took place at the Boone County Environmental and Nature Center where they studied birds, insects, wildflowers, mushrooms and trees.  Activities

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4-H Shooting Sports

Author: Stephen Conrad

Major Program: Natural Resources

The KY 4-H Shooting Sports program is a great way for our youth to safely learn how to handle firearms and archery equipment.   Parents must see the value because our program in Boone County has really grown.  In the 21/22 program year we had 140 youth attain the necessary 6 educational hours.  We have 11 adult certified coaches and 5 teen certified coaches working with our 140 youth.   For the year end state shoot, we had 17 competitors (our largest delegation to date) with

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24 Hour Environmental Experience

Author: Lacey Kessell

Major Program: Natural Resources

24 Hour Environmental Experience

“For a new generation, nature is more abstraction than reality." (Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder"This Fall, Boone County Extension partnered with Boone County schools to provide an unforgettable, hands-on experience to 1,073 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

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Stream Team Provides Habitat for Local Amphbians

Author: Lacey Kessell

Major Program: Water and Soil Quality and Conservation

Stream Team Provides Habitat for Local Amphbians

Kentucky has over 91,000 miles of rivers and streams and more than 225,000 acres of ponds, lakes, and reservoirs. These water resources not only play a vital role in Kentucky’s drinking water systems, but also are imperative to our agriculture industry. Each day in Kentucky, 81 million gallons of surface water and 4 million gallons of groundwater are withdrawn for agricultural use. In addition, these resources are a source of recreation for

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