Success StoryHarlan County 4-H Virtual Environmental Camp



Harlan County 4-H Virtual Environmental Camp

Author: Raymond Cox

Planning Unit: Harlan County CES

Major Program: Water and Soil Quality and Conservation

Plan of Work: Utilizing, preserving and protecting Harlan County's Natural Resources

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

Findings from the PRIDE campaign indicated students in Harlan County were unaware of the effects of pollution on the environment and ways of correcting the problem. Upon the recommendation of the 4-H and Extension Councils, the one day program with a couple of schools turned into a three day Environmental Camp targeting every 4th grader in Harlan County public and private schools. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic we presented a Virtual 4-H Environmental Camp. With the cooperation of the UK College of Agriculture-Forestry, Department of Water Quality, Kentucky Division of Forestry, and Department of Soil Conservation and Whitley County Agriculture Agent , Stacy White. Approximately 550 4th grade students and teachers were involved in the virtual program through the Google Classroom.  For the past 23 years, the Harlan County 4-H Environmental Camp has been a driving force in our district for counties establishing their own Environmental Camps. Students learned the impact of Martins Fork Lake for tourism, recreation and flood control. They were taught the importance of clean water and air, natural habitats for wildlife, soil conservation practices, farming techniques, forestry practices and a clean community. The students demonstrated the knowledge they gained by offering suggestions of practices they could engage to conserve natural resources and protect the environment. Follow up surveys indicated that 90 percent of students responded positively to improving the environment and using sound environmental practices learned in camp. Several teachers this year were former 4-Hers who attended Environmental Camp as 4th graders and were excited to offer a virtual Environmental Camp. .  Several teachers commented they would be glad to be back to the event held at Martin's Fork Lake.






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