Due to the pandemic, Boone County public and private schools were unable to attend their annual Environmental Overnight Camp at 4-H North Central.  Students that were unable to attend would lose out on the memorable experience and vital environmental education that inspires behavioral change and understanding of the value of nature.  Towards the end of the school year, Boone County Public School was able to reopen to full-time, in-person instruction for families who wanted to return (instead of learn virtually).  

University of Kentucky Boone County Cooperative Extension Service used this opportunity to create after-school and in-school programming that implement a portion of what students would have received at Environmental Camp.  As a result, nearly 350 students were able to attend, live animal encounters, learn about pond ecology, the importance of decomposers, plants, water cycle and other environmental topics through hands-on learning.  An interactive, online virtual field trip was also developed using the Nearpod platform for virtual students who could not attend in-person.

One memorable moment was during a decomposer lesson, which included large bins of "forest floor" for students to dig though to find decomposers.  In one of the bins was a large, 2-3" millipede that students were able to touch, hold and observe.  One student, terrified of the millipede resisted touching it but you could tell she was interested.  Just as the Environmental Agent went to put the millipede away the student approached and asked if she could hold it... that she wanted to face her fears now that she knew the millipede could not hurt her.  With tears in their eyes, this student bravely held the millipede and watched it walk across her hand until it had to be put back into the bin.  It was an incredible moment, watching a student embrace nature in new ways based on information they had just learned.  

Teachers were appreciative that UK Boone County Cooperative Extension Service was willing to go the extra mile to make sure students were still being reach during such a difficult time and that students really got to experience part of what camp would have been like by bring the forest and ponds to them in a safe environment.