TEACHING AG SCIENCE PRINCIPALS TO YOUTH IN INDIANA COUNTY AND SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA
4-H & Youth
Carol Schurman
Extension Educator - 4-H/Youth
Penn State Extension
Clymer
Abstract
EXCELLENCE IN 4-H AND YOUTH PRESENTATION – TEACHING AG SCIENCE PRINCIPALS TO YOUTH IN INDIANA COUNTY AND SOUTHWEST PENNSYLVANIA\r\n\r\nSchurman, C. J. *\r\n\r\nExtension Educator - 4-H Youth, Indiana County Extension, 827 Water St., Indiana, PA 15701\r\n\r\n\r\nAlmost 3,000 youth have been reached in 15 years of agricultural science programming by this educator. Camping programs with an ag science topic started in 1994. The audiences have been youth in county 4-H day camp settings (three per year) and regional camp settings. Evaluation methods have consistently shown that campers learn more about agriculture and selected topics of the camps (animal science, plant science, entomology, food science). Evaluation methods include pre/post tests, camper reports, and daily topic evaluations. Over $45,000 in grants from the PA Department of Agriculture have been used to support camps. \r\n This presentation will share the camp themes, hands-on activities, how camps are managed, and more detailed evaluation results. \r\n Example 2009 results - staff conducted programming with 79 youth at day camps. Theme was "Acres of Adventure – An Agricultural Safari". Increase in knowledge on a 10 point pre/post test was 3.2 points, increase of 30%. 92% of the campers showed an increase. Results indicate that youth did learn more, including products that come from trees, corn is found in many products, potatoes have potassium, and soil is important for growing food. When asked to list county agricultural commodities, campers increased 3.4 commodities, indicating they knew more about county agriculture at the end of camp. 80% of the campers indicated they had learned more about Indiana County agriculture, and 99% listed a farm product they learned more about.
Authors: Schurman, C.
-
Schurman, C. Extension Educator - 4-H Youth, Penn State Cooperative Extension, Pennsylvania, 15701