Extension
It Starts With Us
Environmental education
Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Awareness
Rex McBride
Forestry Industry Education
Environmental Sustainability & Responsibility
Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
As the population in Boone County continues to grow, and urban areas become more prominent our youth have fewer opportunities to explore our natural environment. Boone County School systems have identified a need for hands on experiences that make connections to our natural resources and the State Education Core Standards. Teachers can also benefit in the classroom from environmental focused curriculum guides such as Project WILD, Project Learning Tree, and Project WET.
Environmental Sciences scores will increase in Boone County Schools during State Core Standard Testing.
Environmentally friendly practices will be adopted within schools and our communities, preserving our natural resources.
Schools utilize local natural spaces to promote learning.
Youth will choose to become more environmentally friendly by recycling more, polluting less, and decreasing negative impact on our environment.
More teachers are utilizing the environment and environmentally focused curricula in their classrooms.
Youth will understand ecosystems and our relationship and impact on natural systems.
Youth will appreciate the environment and strive to decrease negative impacts.
Increased participation in curricula trainings.
Initial Outcome: Youth will understand ecosystems and our relationship and impact on natural systems.
Indicator: Participants can correctly answer assessment questions after programming
Method: pre/post assessment
Timeline: as programming occurs
Initial outcome:Increased participation in curricula training.
Indicator: More trained teachers
Method: attendance records
Timeline: yearly
Intermediate Outcome:
More teachers are utilizing the environment and environmentally focused curricula in their classrooms.
Indicator: More curricula being used in the classrooms
Method: survey of training participants
Timeline: end of school year
Long-term Outcome: Schools utilize local natural spaces to promote learning.
Indicator: More schools will have/utilize outdoor classrooms and other outdoors areas utilized for learning
Method: Verbal survey of teachers
Timeline: As areas are identified and managed for use
Audience: 4thGrade students
Project or Activity: Spring Environmental Camp
Content or Curriculum: state supported
Inputs: staff, curriculum, volunteers, etc.
Date: March-May
Audience: 4th-5th Grade Students
Project or Activity: Overnight Environmental Camp
Content or Curriculum: state supported
Inputs: staff, curriculum, volunteers, outside resources, etc.
Date: September-October
Audience: 4th-12 Grade Students
Project or Activity: Natural Resource programming within schools
Content or Curriculum: state supported
Inputs: volunteers, staff, curriculum
Date: throughout the school year
Audience: 4-H Members
Project or Activity: 4-H Summer Projects
Content or Curriculum: State 4-H fair exhibits
Inputs: Agents, Nature Center
Date: Summer
Audience: Local educators
Project or Activity: curricula training
Content or Curriculum: state and nationally recognized EE curricula
Inputs: Agents, KAEE facilitators
Date: June
Audience: 4-H summer staff and environmental camp interns
Project or Activity: Nature/environmental training
Content or Curriculum: State supported
Inputs: Agents, Camp Directors, UK Specialists
Date: August & March
Author: Rex McBride
Major Program: Youth Forestry and Natural Resource Education
From September 12- November 10, Boone County schools, in partnership with the Extension Service, had 1,225 participants in our overnight environmental camp experience. Students, chaperones, and teachers went through program classes including nature hikes, pond studies, night hikes, live animal programs and more. Students learned the importance of healthy ecosystems and our place within them. Youth were also engaged in life skills as they were responsible for their own belongings, meal cleanups,
Author: Rex McBride
Major Program: Youth Forestry and Natural Resource Education
Spring 2018 Environmental Camps brought over 1,300 youth to the Boone County Environmental and Nature Center to enrich their science lessons from the classroom with hands on activities and classes aligned to NGSS and KY Core Academic Standards. Teachers provided feedback stating that the day trip is one of the best experiences in the environment they have found, and that many of our youth living in more urbanizing areas do not haeve these important connections to the outdoors. This season was th
Author: Rex McBride
Major Program: Youth Forestry and Natural Resource Education
The Boone County Extension Service observed the University of Kentucky "water Awareness Month" in May, 2018. As an office we planned programming in each program area based on increasing understanding of water systems such as pond and stream management, home water health, and lawn and garden watering techniques. Over a dozen programs were held, with a water based scavenger hunt as our culminating experience. Participants evaluated said they felt more aware of water concerns and plan to
