Highlights of the Maryland 4-H Environmental Sciences Program

Last year over 25,000 youth journeyed through fields, forests, wetlands and urban areas to discover the wonders and mysteries of Maryland’s natural environment. Through their 4-H environmental and outdoor education projects young people learn about the interconnection of people and nature. They also develop respect and appreciation for and a sense of stewardship toward our natural resources. This 4-H programming area provides educational opportunities that help young people enjoy time outdoors and develop an understanding and appreciation of the environment through three core theme areas: Basic science and ecology; interrelationships and impacts; and health, wellness and positive outdoor experiences.

Highlights of the Maryland 4-H Environmental Sciences Program in 2008 Include:

Calvert County Oyster Cultivation Program

4-H members are researching both triploid and diploid oysters in their project. Research includes comparing and contrasting culched (spat growing on shell) and culchless oysters’ growth rates. Water quality parameters affect oyster growth and they are readily seeing the impacts of water quality on their growth rates. There are three project groups with oyster floats located at Jefferson Patterson Park, Calvert Marine Museum, and at Wells Cove Shellfish Nursery. The floats had to be specially designed for young people to be able to handle since typical floats are too large and cumbersome. There are three objectives to this project: 1) to teach youth about the scientific method, with them assuming the role of “young scientists;” 2) to have youth appreciate the role of oysters in keeping the Chesapeake Bay clean; and 3) showing youth how different methods of cultivating the same organism can yield various results. This program is being funded by the Calvert Environmental Trust for Youth and technically supported by Ms. Jackie Takacs, of the MD Sea Grant Extension Program at The Chesapeake Biological Laboratory.

Junior Master Gardener Program

The Junior Master Gardener (JMG) program engages children in novel, “hands-on” group and individual learning experiences that promote a love of gardening, develop an appreciation for the environment, and cultivate the mind. JMG encourages youths to be of service to others through service learning and leadership development projects. JMG provides an opportunity for youth to interact and bond with nature. As they go through the JMG program, they can learn how to conserve our natural resources and make knowledgeable decisions about the environment. In 2007 Maryland Cooperative Extension became State Partners with the National Junior Master Gardener Program. Both 4-H Youth Development Educators and Master Gardener Coordinators throughout Maryland have joined the effort to implement the Junior Master Gardener Program to youth in Maryland. JMG educational programs may be utilized as an enrichment opportunity, in an after-school setting or as a club. JMG curriculum correlates with Maryland Science Standards in grades 1-5. Since the Junior Master Gardener program has been implemented in 2006, 298 youth in Washington County have participated in some aspect of the curriculum.

Kent County Environmental Stewardship–Entomology

The environment plays a vital role in our community and has been increasingly so with “going green” initiatives and getting back to nature ideals. School teachers use entomology as a way for children to understand the environment, life systems and habitats but hesitate to tackle this subject in depth. Insects are key players in the home landscape affecting gardening, landscapes, homes and health. MD State Department of Education (MSDE) science content standards require children by the 3rd grade to classify objects based on similarities and differences, identify patterns with the senses, know the special parts of organisms and how they function, and compare living things based on similarities and differences.

Patuxent River 4-H Center

The Patuxent River 4-H Center is a cooperative partnership between MNCPPC, University of Maryland Extension - 4-H Youth Development, and the Patuxent River 4-H Center Foundation, Inc. The mission of the Patuxent River 4-H Center is to deliver a broad range of environmental education programs to a diverse audience of school and youth groups. Last year, 490 programs reached over 20,000 participants. These programs range from Water Safari to Wetland Critters and Watersheds. Last year, the 4-H Center also conducted a “Wilderness Adventure Camp” for pre-teens and teens that have limited exposure to nature in their past. They experienced sleeping “under the stars”, kayaking down the Patuxent River along with many other environmental education and camp activities.

Talbot County- Exploring Your Environment and Conserving Natural Resources

This is a series of five hands-on lessons developed for elementary school children. This program allows students to explore basic environmental concepts such as terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, food webs, and soils. Conserving Natural Resources is a series of six lessons to promote sustainable living practices. Its target audience is middle to high school students and volunteers who work with youth. Topics explored by this curriculum include managing shared resources, calculating your ecological footprint, population growth, reducing solid waste, and recycling. This curriculum has been taught at the county, state, and national level. During 2008, a total of 349 youth and adults participated in these environmental science programs. Student participants rated the Exploring Your Environment program as highly hands-on, fun, and educational based on an end-of-course reaction form. Mean knowledge assessment scores for elementary participants increased from 64% (pre-assessment) to 89% (post-assessment), a 25% increase. Youth and adult participants rated the Conserving Natural Resources program as highly interactive, relevant to real life, and useful based on an end-of-class reaction form. Post-assessment data indicated a mean 32% increase in participants’ perceived understanding of natural resource concepts and ability to teach concepts to others as compared to pre-assessment data.

Washington County 4-H Goods From the Woods

As an addition to the Washington County Kindergarten Science Curriculum, the Washington County 4-H Youth Development Program has adapted a program called Goods from the Woods to enrich a students learning experience. During this one hour program students review the parts of a tree, discover the endless products that derive from trees, determine which parts of the tree produce the products, and develop an appreciation for how trees affect our lives daily. Since 2006 when this program was implemented 1,041 kindergarten youth have participated in Goods from the Woods. Beginning in the 2008-2009 school year, participants were given a pre and post assessment. Responses indicate an average of 55.3% gain in knowledge. This knowledge gain results in students increased awareness of how trees are directly related to products used in their daily lives.

4-H Forestry and Wildlife Programs

These programs teach youth basic concepts and principles of both forest and wildlife management and ecology through the 4-H Forestry Judging Contest and the 4-H Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Judging Contest.

For more information, contact Dr. Jeff Howard, State 4-H Program Leader

Last updated: 04/8/2009

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