Valuing Natural Resources and Establishing Community Environmental AwarenessPlan of Work

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Garrard County CES

Title:
Valuing Natural Resources and Establishing Community Environmental Awareness
MAP:
Environmental Awareness and Sustainability
Agents Involved:
Comley, Hettmansperger, Hixson
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Health
Situation:

Garrard County is primarily rural with a consistent agricultural tradition as the dominant industry. In addition to expanses of small tracts of farmland, expected bluegrass-area, localized plots of forested area, and streams and rivers throughout the county. With a broad diversity of area within the county and throughout the state, the expectation of youth exposure to outdoor education, traditional farm practices, and knowledge of environmental awareness, but the reality is contrary. A 2014 report by The Outdoor Foundation shows a rise in girl participation in outdoor activities and a decline in boy participation. Another report NEARBY NATURE: A Buffer of Life Stress Among Rural Children discusses the importance of establishing green spaces, and access to nature for rural youth. Urban youth are given a greater amount of attention due to a perceived lack of green space in their community, but the opposite is generally true factoring in opportunity and more modern city planning.

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.
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.
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.
Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Youth will gain knowledge of the interrelationship and interdependencies with an ecosystem.

Indicator: Number of youth who have gained an understanding of the ecosystems in nature.

Method: Environmental Day Program, Overnight Environmental Camp, In-School Programming, Club Activities, Day and Project Workshops

Timeline: Year Round


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

Indicator: Number of youth who use their skills to conserve natural resources.

Method: Local Natural Resources Club or Environmental Club, In-School Programming, Envirothon

Timeline: Year Round


Long-term Outcome: Youth will engage in community projects related to natural resource conservation.

Indicator: Youth engaged in local through global environmental awareness, education, repair, and rebuilding projects

Method: In-School Programming, 4-H Designated Clubs (Environmental, Natural Resource, Nature Exploration or Photography Club)

Timeline: Year Round

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Environmental Day Camp

Content or Curriculum: Project WET, Project WILD, Project Learning Tree

Inputs: 4-H Youth Development Agent, Volunteers, Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Division of Forestry, KNSPC

Date:


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: In-School Natural Resources Programming

Content or Curriculum: Project WILD, Project WET, Project Learning Tree, National 4-H Natural Resources Curriculum

Inputs: 4-H Youth Development Agent, Volunteer, Curriculum Guides, handouts

Date: Fall, Winter, Spring


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Overnight Environmental Camp

Content or Curriculum: Project WILD, Project WET, Project Learning Tree, National 4-H Natural Resources Curriculum

Inputs: 4-H Agent, 4-H Camping Facility, 4-H Camp Director, Division of Forestry, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Division of Water

Date:


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Envirothon

Content or Curriculum: Project WET, National 4-H Curriculum, Insect Resources, Forestry Project 1

Inputs: 4-H Agent, Division of Forestry, Department of Fish and Wildlife, Division of Conservation

Date: Fall and Spring


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Project Day Programs (Insect, Leaf Collection, Geology)

Content or Curriculum: Project Learning Tree, Insect Curriculum, Forestry Project 1, National 4-H Natural Resources Curricula Guides

Inputs: 4-H Agent, Volunteers, Extension Office, Local Funding

Date: Spring and Summer


Audience: Youth, Adults

Project or Activity: Virtual Learning (Live Streaming or Virtual Learning)

Content or Curriculum: Junior Master Gardner (JMG), JMG Wildlife Gardner, "On the Ground" Virtual Learning Series

Inputs: 4-H Agent, Local Funding, Digital Camera

Date: Year Round



Success Stories

A New Perspective on Wildflowers

Author: Eric Comley

Major Program: Natural Resources

A New Perspective on Wildflowers

Our traditional understanding of native Kentucky wildflowers is based on the cause and effect relationship of the absence of specific plants for pollinators (FOR-98: Attracting Butterflies with Native Plants; Tom Barnes), but the benefits should not be limited to a single purpose. Native plants attract a number of types of wildlife with fruit and flowers, bio-indicators of the health of an ecosystem, provide a unique aesthetic to a native Kentucky ecological community, and, if used and planted p

Full Story

Fall Gardening (Victory Garden)

Author: Jay Hettmansperger

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

Gardening has 3 seasons, Spring, Summer and Fall.  Not many people know that you can go right in behind your summer garden and plant more vegetables for a fall and early winter harvest.  The Garrard County FCS and ANR agents teamed up to promote Fall gardening. Twenty five bags were prepared with handy garden tools, a knee mat and assorted garden seeds suitable for Fall Gardening.  The ANR agent used the same seeds that were in the bags to plant a demonstration garden at the Exten

Full Story

Creek, Learning, and Play Create a Healthy Environment for Kids

Author: Eric Comley

Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology

In an article written by Dr. Danae Lund for Sanford Health, the exploration of the outdoors by youth and the presence of outdoor play creates five positive long term outcomes.  Physically Healthier Children Cognitive and Social / Emotional Development Improve Sensory Skills Increase Attention Spans Grow in Happiness and ImmunityThese five areas were considered in the development and implementation of the Garrard County Creek Day. The program was offered to 25 total

Full Story
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