Environmental education promotes critical and creative thinking skills and inspires kids to become more engaged with their communities. It helps kids understand why the environment is important and provides them with the building blocks they need to live eco-friendly and sustainable lives. (https://www.rubicon.com/blog/environmental-education-for-kids)  Many times youth do not have or take advantage of education opportunities in their own communities, let alone get to experience a diverse opportunity of ecosystems and environmental education that is different than their own. Over spring break 42 youth from 9 Western Kentucky counties were able to experience many facets of environmental education at Camp Jekyll 4-H Environmental Camp situated on the Georgia coastline.  This camp focuses on educating youth about marine ecosystems, marine conservation, and the environment. Classes youth took part in are: Beach Ecology, Maritime Forest Ecology, Salt Marsh Ecology, Shark and Fish Dissection, Environmental Issues, Sloughing, and Comparing the North and South End Beaches.

Objectives and goals of the program included:

•    Apply knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom to real life situations and learn about global impacts and how actions, even in their local area, can impact the environment. 

•    Provide experiences in using scientific processes, such as observing, measuring, and classifying while developing an awareness, curiosity, and appreciation for the environment.

•    Learn about best management practices in relation to watershed management and water quality and understand that better management of our oceans resources is important to ensuring global food security. 

•    Provide unique leadership opportunities for youth. 

•    Travel to other states and learn about the world we live in. 

•    Exposure youth to occupations in the field of Marine Biology/Ecology. 

Results of a written survey revealed: 

88.57%  have a better understanding of ecosystems. 

97.14% have a deeper understanding of how to conserve natural resources.

88.57%  will participate in more 4-H activities because of this trip.

65.71% will use the skills or knowledge they learned to conserve natural resources.

100% met new people from a different county or state.

31.43% is the first 4-H overnight trip that I have attended.    

86.11% feel that they gained more independence as a result of this trip.

85.71% feel 4-H a place where you have a chance to be a leader.

65.71% feel 4-H A place where you get to figure out things for yourself.

As you can see, this trip made a huge impact on our youth and even some life changing experiences. Some comments to the question, “the most important thing I learned:” 

*That marshes are important to animals because it’s a safe place for birds to stop when their flying.            

*How to take care of our eco systems and the stages of an eco-system.             

*How to conserve natural resources.             

*How to activate the bioluminescent things in the sand.

*If we are stranded out in the wild, we can find plants that taste like sea salt, and they will save our lives when needed.