Youth Wetlands Education and Outreach Program Training Future Leaders to Save America’s Treasure

Goals of the Youth Wetlands Education and Outreach Program To instill within students the complexities and consequences of continued unprecedented loss of wetlands on the citizens of Louisiana, To instill in students that they are ambassadors for responsible environmental stewardship of Louisiana’s natural resources, and To encourage forward thinking, that results in positive actions, in demonstrating that “Louisiana’s wetland loss is the nation’s wetland loss.” To instill within students the complexities and consequences of continued unprecedented loss of wetlands on the citizens of Louisiana, To instill in students that they are ambassadors for responsible environmental stewardship of Louisiana’s natural resources, and To encourage forward thinking, that results in positive actions, in demonstrating that “Louisiana’s wetland loss is the nation’s wetland loss.”

Objectives of the Youth Wetlands Education and Outreach Program Develop hands-on environmental based lesson plans for grades 4-12 Provide opportunities for service-learning wetland restoration activities Provide field-based, hands-on experiences to youth during organized restoration projects held across the state and during participation in overnight camps Conduct trainings for educators and provide in- classroom and field assistance that results in successful program implementation Develop hands-on environmental based lesson plans for grades 4-12 Provide opportunities for service-learning wetland restoration activities Provide field-based, hands-on experiences to youth during organized restoration projects held across the state and during participation in overnight camps Conduct trainings for educators and provide in- classroom and field assistance that results in successful program implementation

Program Sustainability Year 1 22,000 students in 45 of the 64 parishes Year teachers 55,000 students in 55 parishes Year teachers 49,000 students enrolled in 54 parishes Year teachers 55,000 students enrolled in 58 parishes Year 1 22,000 students in 45 of the 64 parishes Year teachers 55,000 students in 55 parishes Year teachers 49,000 students enrolled in 54 parishes Year teachers 55,000 students enrolled in 58 parishes

Program Curriculum what a teacher receives Curriculum Binder –Contains all lessons covering 4 th – 12 th grade Educational supplies to teach lessons Aerial photographs Laboratory supplies Field materials Educational videos “Wet Work” Documentary Curriculum Binder –Contains all lessons covering 4 th – 12 th grade Educational supplies to teach lessons Aerial photographs Laboratory supplies Field materials Educational videos “Wet Work” Documentary

Wet Work Video Production Five-part production modeled after Dirty Jobs Five-part production modeled after Dirty Jobs Teen host profiles wetland professionals in Louisiana Goal is to provide information to students on potential careers in wetland conservation Teen host profiles wetland professionals in Louisiana Goal is to provide information to students on potential careers in wetland conservation Wet Work Segments: Coastal Fisheries Coastal Marsh Restoration Freshwater Wetlands Fish Hatcheries Alligator Gar Wet Work Segments: Coastal Fisheries Coastal Marsh Restoration Freshwater Wetlands Fish Hatcheries Alligator Gar Wet Work was awarded the 2009 Conservation Communicator of the Year by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation Wet Work was awarded the 2009 Conservation Communicator of the Year by the Louisiana Wildlife Federation

Hands-On Activities Vegetative Establishment  15,000 vegetative species utilized  36,000 tree saplings of 37 species delivered  450,000 seeds of upland woody species collected  7 seven greenhouse sections (5,250 ft 2 ) and 6 ponds (~ 2 acres) for year-round plant production Restoration Projects  Vegetative plantings at upland and coastal wetland sites  Tree plantings  Trash clean-up/Beach sweep  Wood duck box construction/installation  Rain garden installation on school grounds Vegetative Establishment  15,000 vegetative species utilized  36,000 tree saplings of 37 species delivered  450,000 seeds of upland woody species collected  7 seven greenhouse sections (5,250 ft 2 ) and 6 ponds (~ 2 acres) for year-round plant production Restoration Projects  Vegetative plantings at upland and coastal wetland sites  Tree plantings  Trash clean-up/Beach sweep  Wood duck box construction/installation  Rain garden installation on school grounds

Summer Education Camps Sponsored by the Youth Wetlands Program Marsh ManeuversMarsh Maneuvers –High school students are immersed in wetland ecology lessons and implement wetland restoration projects at Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge Wild Woods WanderingWild Woods Wandering –Provides high school students with first-hand experiences in a forested wetland ecosystem in Tensas Parish 4-H Camp Grant Walker4-H Camp Grant Walker –Annual camp held for 4th – 6th grade students. The Youth Wetlands Program sponsors the “Wetlands Track” which exposes campers to hands-on wetland education activities LOST CampLOST Camp –Similar to 4H camp but designed for 7th and 8th grade students. The Youth Wetlands Program sponsors the “Wetlands Track” where campers explore wetland-based profession –Similar to 4H camp but designed for 7th and 8th grade students. The Youth Wetlands Program sponsors the “Wetlands Track” where campers explore wetland-based professions Marsh ManeuversMarsh Maneuvers –High school students are immersed in wetland ecology lessons and implement wetland restoration projects at Rockefeller Wildlife Refuge Wild Woods WanderingWild Woods Wandering –Provides high school students with first-hand experiences in a forested wetland ecosystem in Tensas Parish 4-H Camp Grant Walker4-H Camp Grant Walker –Annual camp held for 4th – 6th grade students. The Youth Wetlands Program sponsors the “Wetlands Track” which exposes campers to hands-on wetland education activities LOST CampLOST Camp –Similar to 4H camp but designed for 7th and 8th grade students. The Youth Wetlands Program sponsors the “Wetlands Track” where campers explore wetland-based profession –Similar to 4H camp but designed for 7th and 8th grade students. The Youth Wetlands Program sponsors the “Wetlands Track” where campers explore wetland-based professions

Youth Wetlands Program 2010/2011 Timeline DateAction July 1 Agents begin recruiting schools for the 2010/2011 Youth Wetlands Program Mid August The online registration form for the 2010/2011 Youth Wetlands Program will be up on the 4-H website October 1 The LAST day schools can be registered March 1 Agents will have received or picked up all Youth Wetland Week supplies and will begin distributing them to teachers April 18 – 22 Official start of the 2011 Youth Wetlands Week Throughout Program Year Organize wetland restoration field trips, educational booths, and activity days across the state

Program Evaluation Teacher Surveys used to assess program content and get feedback from educators participating in the Youth Wetlands Education and Outreach Program Pre and post tests to assess knowledge gained: 11,822 pre and post tests from students participating in the Youth Wetlands Education and Outreach Program 66 pre and posts tests from campers participating in Marsh Maneuvers 38 pre and posts tests from campers participating in Wild Woods Wanderings Teacher Surveys used to assess program content and get feedback from educators participating in the Youth Wetlands Education and Outreach Program Pre and post tests to assess knowledge gained: 11,822 pre and post tests from students participating in the Youth Wetlands Education and Outreach Program 66 pre and posts tests from campers participating in Marsh Maneuvers 38 pre and posts tests from campers participating in Wild Woods Wanderings

Teacher Evaluation Results Approval ratings 1.Handbook aid teaching efforts? 90% 2.Age appropriate? 93% 3.Increase in student knowledge? 95% 4.Fact sheets helpful? 94% 5.Activities stimulating? 89% 6.Enough materials? 82% 7.Materials suitable to lessons? 90% 8.Pre and post tests reflect knowledge? 88% 1.Handbook aid teaching efforts? 90% 2.Age appropriate? 93% 3.Increase in student knowledge? 95% 4.Fact sheets helpful? 94% 5.Activities stimulating? 89% 6.Enough materials? 82% 7.Materials suitable to lessons? 90% 8.Pre and post tests reflect knowledge? 88%

Very Unsatisfied Unsatisfied Neither Satisfied Very Satisfied

Pre and Post Test Scores Youth Wetlands Education and Outreach Program Grade Level # of students Pre Average (%) Post Average (%) PercentChange High School

Pre and Post Test Scores Overnight Camp Participants Marsh Maneuvers Average score increased 22% across grades 7-12 Marsh Maneuvers Average score increased 22% across grades 7-12 Wild Woods Wanderings Average score increased 17% across grades 7-12 Wild Woods Wanderings Average score increased 17% across grades 7-12

Communication/Publicity Public announcementsPublic announcements News articlesNews articles Public television interviewsPublic television interviews Educator workshopsEducator workshops Informational booths at state and national conferencesInformational booths at state and national conferences Displays at public eventsDisplays at public events Electronic newsletterElectronic newsletter Program websiteProgram website Public announcementsPublic announcements News articlesNews articles Public television interviewsPublic television interviews Educator workshopsEducator workshops Informational booths at state and national conferencesInformational booths at state and national conferences Displays at public eventsDisplays at public events Electronic newsletterElectronic newsletter Program websiteProgram website

AwardsAwards LA Wildlife Federation – Governor’s Conservation AwardLA Wildlife Federation – Governor’s Conservation Award –Wet Work DVD Dept. of Agriculture – National 4H Program of Distinction AwardDept. of Agriculture – National 4H Program of Distinction Award Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana’s – Coastal Stewardship AwardCoalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana’s – Coastal Stewardship Award –nominated National Assoc. of Extension 4H Agents – Recognition AwardNational Assoc. of Extension 4H Agents – Recognition Award –nominated LA Wildlife Federation – Governor’s Conservation AwardLA Wildlife Federation – Governor’s Conservation Award –Wet Work DVD Dept. of Agriculture – National 4H Program of Distinction AwardDept. of Agriculture – National 4H Program of Distinction Award Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana’s – Coastal Stewardship AwardCoalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana’s – Coastal Stewardship Award –nominated National Assoc. of Extension 4H Agents – Recognition AwardNational Assoc. of Extension 4H Agents – Recognition Award –nominated

Partnerships and Sponsorships America’s WETLAND Conservation Corps –AmeriCorps program that helps promote the Youth Wetlands program by working with AgCenter personnel to recruit schools, develop lessons, and assist with in-classroom and field activities. Wetland Watchers –School-based service learning Learn and Serve AmeriCorps program that engages students in the New Orleans area in hands-on wetland education. Corporate Sponsors –Pepsi Company –Entergy –Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana Curriculum Assistance – Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP) – Louisiana State University (LSU) College of Education – LSU School of Plant, Soil, and Environmental Science (SPESS) – Louisiana Sea Grant College Program – Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service (CSREES) America’s WETLAND Conservation Corps –AmeriCorps program that helps promote the Youth Wetlands program by working with AgCenter personnel to recruit schools, develop lessons, and assist with in-classroom and field activities. Wetland Watchers –School-based service learning Learn and Serve AmeriCorps program that engages students in the New Orleans area in hands-on wetland education. Corporate Sponsors –Pepsi Company –Entergy –Coastal Conservation Association of Louisiana Curriculum Assistance – Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP) – Louisiana State University (LSU) College of Education – LSU School of Plant, Soil, and Environmental Science (SPESS) – Louisiana Sea Grant College Program – Louisiana Cooperative Extension Service (CSREES)