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PATTERNS ON THE LAND

4-H Natural Resources/Environmental Education Initiative

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What is the Patterns on the Land Initiative?

"Patterns on the Land" is a multi-year 4-H initiative funded by a grant from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation to the Michigan 4-H Foundation. The goal of this initiative is to re-orient the 4-H Natural Resources and Environmental Education system (projects, training and support, events) in order to develop stronger, local youth environmental science and stewardship education programs. A key feature of this initiative is to empower local "Service and Action Teams" of teens and adults to work with youth to conduct on-going, environmental science learning activities and community service stewardship projects. Specific objectives are to:

Update 4-H environmental science and stewardship information and materials for youth leaders.

Train local teams on how to coordinate self-supporting, ongoing environmental projects.

Guide youth/leaders to fun with environmental projects (such as Adopt-a-Stream projects).

Connect local teams to other community members, professionals, and organizations committed to environmental science and stewardship.

What Else is Happening as Part of this Initiative?

Another major supporter of the initiative, the Dow Chemical Company, has made a multi-year grant to the Michigan 4-H Foundation called "Youth Environmental Science and Stewardship." The goal of this commitment is to enhance the environmental science literacy of youth and adults who work with youth in schools, clubs, and other settings. The objectives are to:

Help leaders and teachers provide better direct, hands-on experiences in learning about such topics as water and animals.

Provide leaders a better "road map" linking 4-H materials and other supplemental curricula such as Project WILD, Project WET and Project Learning Tree.

Pilot test these new approaches with teams of youth leaders, teachers and teens, particularly in the Saginaw Bay region of Michigan.

Recently, the Michigan 4-H Foundation has received support from ANR Pipeline Company and Gerber Foundation to give grants to pilot counties. With these grants, the pilot counties are working on local stewardship environmental projects. Many other connections are being explored as part of this initiative. One effort includes linking environmental science programming with computer technology. A second effort is to link international programs
(for example, through a program in Poland to bring ecological education to youth).

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Michigan 4-H Mission Statement

Michigan 4-H Youth Programs is a youth development program that involves volunteers in providing positive, experiential, educational opportunities for and with youth. Our mission is to create environments, through collaboration, that build strong, healthy youth who are proactive in a complex and changing world.

Who is 4-H Natural Resources/Environmental Education For?

The 4-H Natural Resources/Environmental Education Program involves a wide number of
enthusiasts. It is designed for:

Youth - in schools, in youth clubs, in clubs, at home
Volunteer leaders
Teachers, curriculum specialists, school administrators
Organization leaders who want to work with youth (e.g., environmental groups, sportsmen's groups, local civic groups or service organizations, etc.)
Nature center or camp staff
Biologists, health officials, conservation professionals, and other science professionals working with agencies, industries and organizations
And many others!!

Contact Information

Shari Dann, Fisheries and Wildlife Extension Specialist
Michigan State University
13 Natural Resources Building
East Lansing, MI 48824
USA
Phone: 517-355-0675
email: sldann@pilot.msu.edu

Andrea Grix, Pilot Site Project Assistant
Kettunen Center
14901 4-H Drive
Tustin, MI 49688
USA
Phone: 616-829-3421
email: ketctr@msue.msu.edu

Rebecca Lincoln, Project Staff
Michigan State University
13 Natural Resources Building
E. Lansing, MI 48824
USA
Phone: 517-353-0308
email: lincolnr@pilot.msu.edu

This sight was designed by Rebecca Lincoln any questions or comments, or updates send to lincolnr@pilot.msu.edu