Environmental Sciences and Natural Resources are topics that align with the Disciplinary Core Ideas (DCIs) for 4^th graders in the KY public school systems. As has long been tradition in Clark County, Cooperative Extension partners with the 4^th grader teachers of the county to offer a day long camp dedicated to educating youth in areas of these core standards in a non-formal, outdoor, hands-on experience. This year, near over 450 4^th graders from the 4 public schools in Clark County engaged in the 6 hour educational 4-H Environmental Camp. Topics attended included: Rockets, Stream Study, Forestry, Mammal Skins, Tracks and Scat, GPS, and Reptiles and Amphibians. This event is a community effort involving experts from the USDA Service, GIS/GPS office, East KY Power, long time Extension volunteers, past Extension agent, current Extension staff, trained teen leaders, camp site manager, and school administration and staff.

64 of the day camp participants were surveyed 2 months following the 4-H Environmental Day Camp. When asked how many times they used an idea or fact learned from 4-H Environmental Camp in school since the trip; 23 marked 1-2 times, 14 marked 3-5 times, and 8 marked more than 5 times. When asked how many times they used an idea or fact learned from 4-H Environmental Camp outside of school since that trip; 28 marked 1-2 times, 11 marked 3-5 times, and 8 marked more than 5 times. In regards to their participation in the day camp, 6 marked that they have become more involved in 4-H as a result and 40 marked that they plan to become more involved in 4-H as a result.

50 additional private school students participated in a similar education program in an overnight Environmental Camp. These students also gained skills in fishing and outdoor cooking (brought specifically from school staff). Night hike and nature walk were also included in the overnight experience, led by trained 4-H Camp staff. 

Results from a follow up study with 28 of the participating students who participated in the study 2 months following the camp included:

2 indicated that this was their first time away from home without parents/guardians.

12 marked that they have used an idea or fact learned from 4-H Environmental Camp in school 1-2 times since the camp. 2 marked 3-5 times in response to this question.

When asked how many times they have used an idea or fact learned from 4-H Environmental Camp outside of school since that trip, responses marked were: 8 said 1-2 times, 3 said 3-5 times, and 11 said more than 5 times.

When asked how 4-H Environmental Camp relates to their additional 4-H experience the following were recorded:

• 8 indicated that the 4-H Environmental Camp experience resulted in them becoming more involved in 4-H
• An additional 8 marked that they plan to become more involved in 4-H because of their experience with 4-H Environmental Camp