Oldham County CES

Title:

Protecting Water and Natural Resources

MAP:

Protecting Natural Resources

Agents Involved:

Traci Missun, Kelly Woods

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Ag Water Quality Program

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Backyard Streams

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Urban Environments (water issues)

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND 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.

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.

Long-Term Outcomes:

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.

Intermediate Outcomes:

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.

Initial Outcomes:

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.

Evaluation:

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Learning Opportunities:

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