Nicholas County CES

Title:

Healthy Environments and Homes in Nicholas County

MAP:

Environmental Sustainability

Agents Involved:

FCS/ANR/4-H

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Environmental Sustainability & Responsibility

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Soils

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum

Situation:

Nicholas County has been blessed with an abundance of green space. Green space that urban areas would highlight, whereas, here it is easily taken for granted. It is our duty in extension to highlight this green space in ways that will ensure its longevity for generations to come. It needs to be utilized in a way that is beneficial for the community and environmentally safe.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Increase in environmental management of private land.
Identification of Nicholas County's natural beauty and the vast opportunities it present if managed and maintained properly.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Construction of a more robust county recycling system
Usage and implementation of rain barrels.

Initial Outcomes:

Growth of 4-H Environmental/Natural Resource Club
Participation in adult themed Natural Resources programming

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increase 4-H Clubs and Natural Resources programming
Indicator: Attendance
Method: sign in sheets, registration
Timeline: ongoing

Intermediate Outcome: Construction of a more robust recycling system
Indicator: increase in county recyclables
Method: contact convenience center about numbers
Timeline: ongoing

Long-term Outcome: increase in population of natural wildlife
Indicator: Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Surveys
Method: publications, public information
Timeline: ongoing

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Nicholas County Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Outdoor Club
Content or Curriculum: Project WET, Entomology, Project Learning Tree
Inputs: KY Department of Fish and Wildlife, Volunteers, Publications, State Parks
Date:2016-2020

Audience: NCES 4th Grade
Project or Activity: Annual Environmental Camps
Content or Curriculum: Teambuilding, Astronomy, Mammals, Soil Conservation, Ecosystems
Inputs: volunteers, interns, 4-H camp, students/teachers
Date: 2016-2020 (October yearly)

Audience: Families
Project or Activity: Wildlife Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Fish and Wildlife Department private lands biologist, UK Specialists, Soil Conservation
Inputs: speakers, publications
Date: 2016-2020 (spring annually)

Success Stories

Creating and Mainting Family Traditions

Author: Madison McAlmond

Major Program: Nurturing Families (general)

Nicholas County FCS Extension in collaboration with the Nicholas County Family Youth Resource Center provided a program on family traditions. Strong families play an important role in the community and contribute to society overall. For a young child, for example, positive development depends on a parent’s ability to nurture, teach and provide. Despite life’s physical, financial or even emotional barriers, families who establish positive interactions, including a sense of belonging,

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I Can Eat a Whole Plant

Author: Lindsay Arthur

Major Program: Health 4-H Core Curriculum

70 Cloverbud aged youth were able to identify the parts of a plant, discuss the function for each part of the plant and why it was important. and then sample an item from each of the categories.  For this session we used seeds- sunflower seeds, flowers-broccoli, stems-celery, leaves-spinach, and roots- carrots. 90% of the youth who participated in this activity had not tried 1 or more of the samples offered. Bringing fresh produce into the classroom gave youth the opportunity to learn about

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