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The 4-H Youth Coastal Club

Extension Education

Ray Bodrey
Agent III-(CED)
UF/IFAS Extension Gulf County
Wewahitchka

Abstract

Objectives: Coastal and upland habitats are plentiful in Gulf county. The historical focus of 4-H youth development programming has been in the upland region. The 4-H horse club has been a fixture for forty years of existence and the recently created livestock club has flourished. Gulf county is also home to St. Joseph Bay, a pristine bay system with miles of beaches and a network of sand dune habitat. The objective of this programing endeavor was to create a well-rounded youth education experience.

Methods: Needs assessment feedback was provided by the advisory committee and both local/state organizations. Based on response, a plan was formed to offer an after school, special interest club as a pilot program to educate 3rd – 5th grade youth about sustainability and conservation of the Gulf Coast. Eight after school club meetings were held for an hour and a half each and were formatted to have a short presentation, hands on activity and time to reflect and journal on the day’s topic. Curriculum included lessons on coastal habitats, coastal animals, living on the coast and the importance of sand dunes and sea oats. A community service activity was organized and implemented where club youth and their family, as well as instructors and volunteers planted five hundred sea oat seedlings at a sand dune restoration project located at St. Joesph Beach.

Results: Twenty-two members enrolled in the club and twenty-seven participants helped with the field day activity. The goal of this pilot program was two part: (1) to gauge interest and build enthusiasm for coastal education; and (2) to evaluate and convert the short-term special interest coastal club into a full 4-H Youth Naturalist Program for the next school year.

Conclusion: Special interest clubs, like the Coastal Club, can kickstart engagement of environmental awareness and result in a better understanding of coastal sustainability and conservation. Experiences such as this can lead to long-term youth education opportunities.

Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC

This poster is being submitted only for display at AM/PIC. Poster is not to be judged, but the abstract will be published in the proceedings.

A poster file has not been provided

Authors: Ray Bodrey, Anitra Mayhann, Erik Lovestrand
  1. Bodrey, R. Agent III-(CED), UF/IFAS Extension Gulf County, Florida, 32465
  2. Mayhann, A. 4-H Youth Develoment and FCS Extension Agent I, UF/IFAS Extension Gulf County, Florida, 32465
  3. Lovestrand, E. CED/Sea Grant RSA III, UF/IFAS Extension Franklin County, Florida, 32320