Campbell County CES

Title:

Environmental Education Center Classes and Programs

MAP:

Environmental Education Center Classes and Programs

Agents Involved:

Scully, Forrer

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Backyard Streams

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Urban Environments (water issues)

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Forestry Industry Education

Situation:

Tomorrow's leaders need to be equipped for tomorrow's challenges, and we must adequately prepare our children for the future they will inherit. That requires a commitment to providing children with environmental education that helps them become the educated thoughtful leaders of tomorrow.
America is in the midst of one of the most profound and rapid societal shifts in history. Today's generation of children is the first to grow up indoors. Their plugged-in lives are often devoid of exploring the natural world. Consider these facts:
• American children ages 3 -12 spend 27 percent of their time each week watching television, and only 1 percent outdoors (Hofferth & Sadberg, 2001)
• Children ages 8 – 18 engaged in over seven hours of media time (e.g., watching TV, listening to music, using the Internet/computer, playing video games) each day (Rideout, Foehr & Roberts, 2010)
• Approximately 17% (or 12.5 million) of U.S. children and adolescents aged 2—19 years were obese in 2008 (Ogden & Carroll, 2010)
• In 2000, two-thirds of the public failed a basic environmental quiz and 88 percent failed a basic energy quiz (Coyle, 2005)
This movement indoors is not benign; there are costs to the health of our children: attention difficulties, hyperactivity, childhood obesity, diminished use of senses, disconnect from things that are real. Children need to learn about, understand, and value nature. The next generation will need to care about the land and be stewards of its resources.
Raising an environmentally literate generation of problem solvers will help ensure that tomorrow’s decision-makers are prepared for the challenges they will likely face. Studies have shown environmental education engages students in learning, raising test scores, and encouraging youth to pursue careers in environmental and natural resources.
(Source: Project Learning Tree)
Surveys with the Campbell County Extension Environmental Advisory Council and requests for services also verify this situation and the specific need for youth environmental education.

Long-Term Outcomes:

The quality of the environment will be improved by the youth of the county through their environmental awareness, education, and action.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Youth will be involved in activities that demonstrate their stewardship of the environment. They will continue this stewardship.

Initial Outcomes:

Youth will become more knowledgeable of natural processes and biological functions that sustain the environment. Youth will become more knowledgeable of human impact on the environment and use of natural resources. Specific focus will be placed on KY core content for science and practical living assessment including ecosystems, water, and solid waste.

Evaluation:

Long-Term Outcome: Improvement of the environment by implementing knowledge and practices
Indicator: Number of trees/wildflowers planted, amount of non-native plants eradicated, number of shiitake logs produced, number of birdhouses, feeders, bat houses, and nesting wreaths constructed
Method: written evaluations and testimonials
Timeline: follow up surveys with participants to inquire about implemented practices

Intermediate Outcome: demonstration of environmental knowledge
Indicator: responses on evaluations and surveys, testimonials
Method: eye witness accounts, responses on follow up surveys
Timeline: during programs

Initial Outcome: acquisition of environmental knowledge
Indicator: responses on environmental surveys, testimonials
Method: written evaluations by program participants and verbal comments
Timeline: immediately following class or program

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: general public and youth Project or Activity: Jolly Thursdays with Campbell County Public Library and   Parks and Recreation Department Content or Curriculum: Science and   Arts Inputs: paid staff Date: Thursdays on June-July 2017/2018 Audience: general public Project or Activity: Aquatic Ecology Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental   awareness Inputs: paid staff Date: July 2017, May, June 2018 Audience: general public Project or Activity: Wilderness Walks Content or Curriculum: Flower ID, environmental awareness and education Inputs: paid staff Date: August 2017, January, March, May 2018 Audience: general public Project or Activity: Night Hikes Content or Curriculum: Nocturnal Education, environmental awareness and   education Inputs: paid staff Date: August, October 2017, April, June 2018 Audience: general public Project or Activity: Hunting Basics Content or Curriculum: Wildlife awareness and education Inputs: paid staff Date: October 2017 Audience: general public Project or Activity: Afternoon of Birding Content or Curriculum: Bird ID, ecological education, environmental awareness Inputs: paid staff Date: August, September 2017, February, May, June 2018 Audience: general public Project or Activity: Snakes Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, wildlife education, environmental   awareness Inputs: paid staff Date: August 2017, May 2018 Audience: general public Project or Activity: Campbell County Animals Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental   awareness Inputs: paid staff Date: January, February 2018 Audience: general public Project or Activity: Nature Crafts Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental   awareness Inputs: paid staff Date: September 2017, February 2018 Audience: general public Project or Activity: Wreath Making Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental   awareness Inputs: paid staff Date: December 2017, February 2018 Audience: general public Project or Activity: Nature Scavenger Hunt Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental   awareness Inputs: paid staff Date: February, March 2018 Audience: general public Project or Activity: Animal Habitat Content or Curriculum: Wildlife awareness and education Inputs: paid staff Date: October, December 2017 Audience: general public Project or Activity: Animal Tracking Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental   awareness Inputs: paid staff Date: October 2017, January, March 2018 Audience: 4-H members, various scouts Project or Activity: 4-H Clubs and Scouts Environmental volunteer projects Content or Curriculum: Wildflower, Trees, and Grassland planting, as well as   non-native control, to improve the environment Inputs: paid staff and volunteers Date: throughout the year, July 2017 - June 2018 Audience: general public Project or Activity: Build a Birdhouse Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental   awareness Inputs: paid staff Date: December 2017, February, March 2018 Audience: general public Project or Activity: Build a Bat house Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental   awareness Inputs: paid staff Date: April 2018 Audience: general public Project or Activity: Build a Birdfeeder Content or Curriculum: Hands-on workshop, ecological education, environmental   awareness Inputs: paid staff Date: August 2017 Audience: public and private elementary students Project or Activity: Fall Environmental Day Camp Content or Curriculum: soils, wetlands, reptiles and amphibians, solar energy Inputs: paid staff, KY Reptile Zoo employees Date: September - October 2017 Audience: public and private elementary, middle and high school students Project or Activity: Spring Field Trips Content or Curriculum: Kentucky's Plants and Animals, Ecosystems and Ecology Inputs: paid staff Date: March - May 2018 Audience: general public Project or Activity: Shiitake Mushroom Production Workshop Content or Curriculum: growing, harvesting, marketing and cooking Inputs: paid staff Date: February 2018 Audience: general public, NKU students Project or Activity: Tree Identification Walk Content or Curriculum: How to identify trees by leaf features Inputs: paid staff, NKU professor Date: July/August 2017 Audience: general public Project or Activity: Environmental/Land Management Assistance Content or Curriculum: wildlife management, forestry, etc. Inputs: paid staff Date: throughout the year 2017-2018

 

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