4-H Youth and AG in the Classroom Community Mapping Leads to Action Tom Tate CSREES, USDA

4-H Youth Tech Teams Learn geospatial skills Learn geospatial skills Do GIS community projects Do GIS community projects Become aware of local resources Become aware of local resources Gain community partners Gain community partners Develop critical thinking skills Develop critical thinking skills Have fun Have fun

4-H Youth Project Examples Geocaching Geocaching Street Tree Inventory Project Street Tree Inventory Project Environmental center trail mapping Environmental center trail mapping

4-H Military Partnership GIS and GPS projects for 4-H Clubs on military posts and local National Guard and Reserve youth and their families GIS and GPS projects for 4-H Clubs on military posts and local National Guard and Reserve youth and their families

Arkansas Gillam Park Project Old neighborhood going through renovation Old neighborhood going through renovation The old park was leased to Audubon The old park was leased to Audubon The Tech Team will help support education and conservation The Tech Team will help support education and conservation Naturemapping the park Naturemapping the park

Arkansas Mapping Gillam Park Teams mapped trails and learned about plants and wildlife Teams mapped trails and learned about plants and wildlife Logged our tracks and waypoints Logged our tracks and waypoints Used GPS Photo Link to link photos with track logs and waypoints Used GPS Photo Link to link photos with track logs and waypoints

Vermont File Eaters 4-H Technology Club Expand use and awareness of GPS and GIS to community neighbors and partners. Expand use and awareness of GPS and GIS to community neighbors and partners. Promote physical activity and encourage healthy lifestyle choices - use GIS to identify a prime location for a new athletic track and skate park in our community. Promote physical activity and encourage healthy lifestyle choices - use GIS to identify a prime location for a new athletic track and skate park in our community.

Vermont Athletic Park project: We want a location that is central and near a more heavily populated area with good roads to get there. We want a location that is central and near a more heavily populated area with good roads to get there. We proposed an unkept area that was once a youth soccer field. With ArcView, we found that this site meets our needs. We’ve shown our project to our elected officials. We proposed an unkept area that was once a youth soccer field. With ArcView, we found that this site meets our needs. We’ve shown our project to our elected officials.

4-H Community Mapping of Forest Park

How do we stimulate Economic Development and Tourism in our counties? Let’s look at an idea the 4-H youth designed…

Sample – Datapoint Photo

Sample Datapoint –Photo and Information

Youth Favorite Places’ VISION Recreational sites/activities preferred by youth and their families will draw tourism spending to small towns and rural areas saving jobs, creating new ones and retaining populations in rural communities.

Youth and Adults learn from each other

MyCOE Youth are invited to work as individuals or teams to: Youth are invited to work as individuals or teams to: Create a project about a sustainable development theme in their local areaCreate a project about a sustainable development theme in their local area Learn more about special issues (e.g. water)Learn more about special issues (e.g. water) Map information, analyze problems, and design solutionsMap information, analyze problems, and design solutions Submit work by March 1, 2008.Submit work by March 1, Earn recognition at national and international exhibitsEarn recognition at national and international exhibits

Geospatial Extension Specialists Status of the Program Pre-2004 Programs added through CSREES solicitation in 2004 Puerto Rico Interested States

Community Geography – GIS in Action GIS BasicsGIS Basics Seven Case Studies and Exercises Seven Case Studies and Exercises Reducing CrimeReducing Crime A War on WeedsA War on Weeds Tracking Water QualityTracking Water Quality Investigating point-source PollutionInvestigating point-source Pollution Getting Kids to SchoolGetting Kids to School Protecting the Community ForestProtecting the Community Forest Selecting a Wildlife Management AreaSelecting a Wildlife Management Area

National GIS/GPS Team Who are we?: Who are we?: A coalition of federal and industry partners, including CSREES, that helps communities map their assets and needs by adopting GIS and GPS technology.A coalition of federal and industry partners, including CSREES, that helps communities map their assets and needs by adopting GIS and GPS technology. For more information, visitFor more information, visit ologyeducation

Conclusion Help us make Community Mapping a success story in your community! Help us make Community Mapping a success story in your community! Build and support successful youth and adult teams! Build and support successful youth and adult teams! Increase successful decision making in your community! Increase successful decision making in your community!

Vision Every county inter-generational partnership annually updates community’s maps displaying critical economic, social and environmental needs.

As Margaret Mead once said, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed people can change the world: indeed it’s the only thing that ever has!”

Contact Information Tom Tate, National Program Leader Tom Tate, National Program Leader Agriculture in the Classroom Agriculture in the Classroom Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service Cooperative State Research, Education and Extension Service U. S. Department of Agriculture U. S. Department of Agriculture , ,