The Kentucky 4-H Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Academy (NRESci) strives to increase environmental literacy among youth in Kentucky. Every five years (since 1999) the Kentucky Environmental Education Council (KEEC) conducts a survey to assess Kentuckian’s environmental knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors. According to KEEC’s 2020-2025 Environmental Education Master Plan (2020), “… the average Kentuckian is able to answer correctly slightly less than half of the environmental knowledge questions included on the survey.” The KEEC (2018) defines environmental literacy as “…the ability to recognize the components of healthy natural and man-made systems and the actions necessary to maintain, restore, or improve them” (p. 4) and states that environmental education is a pathway to environmental literacy (KEEC, 2018).?  

The Kentucky 4-H Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences Academy (NRESci) is aimed at increasing environmental literacy among youth in Kentucky. The academy is a three-year program designed to teach middle-school age youth about Kentucky’s natural resources. Members who graduate from the program in good standing can apply to be ambassadors. As an ambassador, a young person has the opportunity to practice what they learned in NRESci while further developing leadership skills. NRESci began in 2011 as a pilot program with 18 scholars from eight eastern counties. As of 2024, the Academy has grown to a statewide program with 67 members representing 27 counties. 

The objectives of NRESci are that 4-H participants will:

•    Have a greater understanding of and appreciation for natural resources and environmental sciences in Kentucky.

•    Develop skills based on observation, evaluation, and action.

•    Make connections between environmental sciences and career opportunities in the state. 

NRESci meets quarterly each year. 4-H members participate in a three-day residential retreat at Felter 4-H Camp in London, Kentucky in September and attend three 1-day events annually. At the retreat, 4-Hers engage in a variety of field exercises, including water quality testing, tree identification, forest measurement data collection, wildlife observation and trapping, and insect collection and identification. During the 1-day events, participants visit natural areas throughout Kentucky, and have the opportunity to interact with natural resources professionals (e.g., wildlife biologist, soil scientist, hydrologists, foresters, entomologists) in different venues (e.g., research and educational forests, environmental education centers, fish hatcheries, cave systems). 

On even number years, second- and third-year members and ambassadors have the opportunity to take part in an out-of-state trip to Georgia. In April of 2024, nineteen 4-H members representing 11 counties in Kentucky traveled to Jekyll Island 4-H Camp and took part in classes that used the salt marsh, maritime forest, ocean, and beach as their outdoor classroom. Classes included beach ecology, maritime forest ecology, salt marsh ecology, shark dissection, ornithology, saltwater fishing, and seining.

In addition, second-year members and ambassadors are required to complete a service project. This year, twelve members assisted in measuring and recording the height of white oak trees planted at a progeny test site at the Blue Grass Army Depot in Richmond, Kentucky. The progeny test is part of the White Oak Genetics and Tree Improvement Project that is focused on white oak sustainability efforts. Examples of other service projects conducted included trash cleanup events, bird house build/installation (in process), and garden plantings. 

At the last event of the program year, participants were asked to complete an evaluation. Of the fifty-one members present at the event, thirty-three members turned in an evaluation. Results from the evaluation included:

•    Thirty-two 4-Hers stated that during their participation in the NRESci Academy, they learned or improved upon a skill in natural resources. 

•    Twenty-six stated that they practiced skills gained from the NRESci Academy in other areas of my life. 

•    Thirty stated that because of their participation in NRESci Academy, they have a better understanding of how their choices impact natural resources and the environment.  

•    Twenty-seven stated that because of their participation in NRESci Academy, they have taken steps to conserve natural resources in their life. 

•    Twenty-nine stated that because of their participation in NRESci Academy, they are committed to taking steps to be a good steward of the environment. 

•    Eighteen stated that because of my participation in NRESci Academy, they are considering a career in natural resources/environmental sciences. 

References:  

Kentucky Environmental Education Council (KEEC). (2018). Kentucky Environmental Literacy Plan. KEEC. https://keec.ky.gov/Publications/Documents/Kentucky%20Environmental%20Literacy%20Plan%20-%20Revised%20June%202018%20(reduced%20size).pdf  

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KEEC. (2020). 2020-2025 Environmental Education Master Plan. KEEC. https://keec.ky.gov/Publications/Documents/Land,%20Legacy%20and%20Learning%20V%20(2020).pdf