Author: Heather Cassill
Planning Unit: Clark County CES
Major Program: Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
Plan of Work: Environmental and Technology Education
Outcome: Initial Outcome
The Clark County Cooperative Extension Service 4-H Youth Development Program and Clark County Public Schools realized there was a need to supplement the 4th grade science curriculum while allowing students to experience hands on activities in their outdoor environment. The program reaches every 4th grade student (410 youth) in Clark County in an extended school day camp format (eight hour s at camp) and one overnight camp. During Day Camps, students rotated through seven, 50 minute classes. Overnight Camp activities included nine, 50 minute classes, special Amphibian and Reptile program, rocket launch, campfire and Night Hike. Camp classes include activities in water quality, soils, forestry, entomology, GPS, KY wildlife, archery, bees, air quality and physical activity. The classes and activities are offered through a collaboration of individuals from the Clark County Cooperative Extension Service, Clark County Public Schools, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension, US Department of Forestry, Clark County Geographic Information System (GIS), USDA Natural Resource Conservation, Parks and Recreation, Kentucky Division of Water and many other qualified community adult volunteers. The camps were held at North Central 4-H Camp and at the Blue Grass Christian Camp (a local camp) on the border of Clark and Fayette County. In a post evaluation, teachers indicated that they have the ability to build off the activities that the students experience at camp in the classroom throughout the year. 34% of students indicated that 4-H Environmental Camp was the first time they had gotten in a stream and looked at the things that lived there. 50% indicated they could now identify sources of pollution and how activities affect our watersheds. 75% indicated that they could now identify at least eight Kentucky Mammals and at least six mammal tracks. 81% of youth learned how to make a rocket out of paper and tape and could name the 3 parts of a rocket. 16% indicated they were interested in a career in Natural Resources.
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