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HISTORY AND AWARDS National Awards
State and Regional Awards
2005 NRCS Youth Environmental Awards Program Recipient
The 4-H Wildlife Stewards Program was one of three programs selected nationwide for the 2005 NRCS Youth Environmental Awards Program.
The 2005 NRCS Youth Environmental Awards Program recognized three of the best 4-H environmental stewardship and conservation programs. Through the generous support of the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), National 4-H Council recognized three on-going exemplary conservation and environmental stewardship programs with awards of $7,500 each.
National awards winners were selected through a competitive process based on scientific principles, the projects met the standards established by the Programs of Distinction, have strong leadership support from paid and volunteer staff, their programs' incorporate youth-adult partnerships, and provide youth leadership opportunities. The three awarded programs design, implementation, outcomes and evaluation, will be shared in a “promising practices” document and sent to the 4-H system in an effort to continue to develop 4-H professionals in environmental education. The awards will ultimately assist in the development of a knowledge base for youth programs in science, engineering, and technology, and that will serve as a resource for professional development.
OUR HISTORY The Oregon State University Extension 4-H staff began development of the program in 1995 in response to two major issues common throughout the U.S. First, there has been a growing public concern over the deterioration of our environment and the resulting loss of wildlife habitat. It is recognized that to increase the involvement of the American public in our natural environment, youth must become aware of the issues and be actively involved in some of the immediate solutions: Youth must also become involved in natural resource issues because the solutions to these problems are long-term and involve changing the ways that we think and live.
Local citizens were concerned about youth, education and our environment and wanted to do something. While scientists, environmentalists, the agriculture and forestry industry, and lawmakers continued to debate the many issues around the management of our environment, a growing group of enthusiastic and passionate volunteers became actively involved in caring for our environment and educating our youth through the 4-H Wildlife Stewards Program. The 4-H Wildlife Stewards program gave them that opportunity. In 1996 the program was launched with the first group of 4-H Wildlife Stewards who completed their 40-hour training and began working 6 Portland area schools. Families and communities realized that the education of our youth is the responsibility of everyone, not just our schools. In August 2001, the 4-H Wildlife Stewards Program was awarded a $896,000 grant from National Science Foundation to develop the program into a national model and document the educational and scientific impacts of this project on students, teachers, and communities. The program will not only reach more students, teachers and communities but it will also help bridge the urban/rural divide among citizens on how best to manage our natural resources. Students, teachers, and 4-H Wildlife Stewards working together to create wildlife habitats on school grounds and using research based management practices will help bring greater understanding and appreciation for science learning through stewardship of our natural resources. Today, the program brings new wildlife to local communities and has community leaders excited. Parents and teachers feel rejuvenated. Furthermore, through the 4-H Wildlife Stewards Program, parents and community neighbors who traditionally have a hard time connecting with their school or community have joined in the excitement. Entire communities have been mobilized and new 4-H Wildlife Stewards have been recruited when a 4-H wildlife habitat project begins. School vandalism has also decreased. When kids put sweat equity into their school it gives them a sense of ownership of their school.
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The
OSU Extension 4-H Youth Program is committed to improving science learning
for our youth, bringing nature closer to Oregon citizens, educating
future generations about the importance of protecting our natural heritage,
and inspiring citizens to get involved in their communities through
the 4-H Wildlife Stewards Program. Today during lunch breaks, after
school, and on weekends, young people are working side-by-side with
adult 4-H Wildlife Stewards to transform small plots of land into wildlife
habitats and living outdoor classrooms. 
Second,
due to diminishing funds for Oregon schools, nearly all science enrichment
programs and field trip budgets were cut. At the same time schools and
teachers were held accountable to ensure students reached higher education
benchmarks. The National Education Goals adopted by many states has
set ambitious standards for all schools and students. To achieve those
goals collaboration is essential. We must meet a broad range of student's
needs through a wide range of services and agencies. Parent and community
partnerships are vital to the success of meeting student needs. Studies
of individual families show that what the family does is more important
to student success than family income or education. This is true whether
the family is rich or poor, whether the parents finished high school
or not, or whether the child is in preschool or in the upper grades.
The
five-year pilot initiative has assisted 60 schools in transforming their
school grounds into outdoor classrooms and habitat areas. While the program began in the in the Portland Metro area, in 2001 the program
expanded to Benton County, Linn County, and Deschutes County. Today the program is active in 19 Oregon counties. Participating
elementary and secondary schools have completed courtyard ponds and
plantings; woodland, butterfly, and vegetable gardens; bird and wildflower
habitats; and on-site school nurseries. Students have also created interpretive
signs, murals, garden banners, and compost bins. Mosaic pathways and
paving stones, birdhouses, tool sheds and pagodas were built with assistance
from 4-H Wildlife Stewards.