NATURAL RESOURCE EDUCATION FOR YOUTH
4-H & Youth
Stephen Sagers
4-H Agent
UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY
TOOELE
Abstract
Utah is the second driest but one of the fastest growing states in the United States. In 2010 the state's population was more than 2.7 million people and it is estimated that by 2045 the state's population will double. Natural resource management and water conservation will continue to be key issues in the coming decades. Only 21% of Utah is privately owned, while 64% is owned by the federal government. In Tooele County the federal government owns 81% of the land. This has led to a very complex relationship between the federal, state, and county governments. Last year a conservation program designed to educate youth about natural resources and new technologies was implemented in Tooele County. This helped the participants better understand the topography of the state and some of its pertinent issues. In this program youth learned conservation, orienteering and survival skills. Through this training curriculum they gained an understanding of human physiology, plant and animal identification and topography. They also gained additional knowledge regarding technologies such as GPS and GIS, geometry, and land management issues. Through this program youth gained a greater understanding about the availability and importance of proper conservation in Utah.
Authors: Sagers, S.
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Sagers, S. 4-HAgent, Utah State University, Utah, 84074