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4-H Youth Development

Credit: Amanda Loman (Cropped from original)
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Natural science projects

4-H Natural Science Projects help youth become better acquainted with the outdoors by providing opportunities to see and learn about the physical and biological environment. Youth can explore bugs, critters, plants and rocks; that’s just the beginning. The Junior Master Naturalist program is a good place to start, providing a sample of many activities across the project areas.

Young people enjoying an outdoor experience

Cascade Wilds overnight experience

Photo: Oregon State University

Resources for All Natural Science Projects

4-H Natural Science materials that youth may use as part of any project are the 4-H Natural Science Project Record (4-H 303LR, online only). These data sheets give young natural scientists a place to record their observations about wildlife, soils, forests, habitats, marine/tidal areas, rangelands, and water. There also are sheets for photo monitoring and issue investigation.

Member Materials

Backyards and Beyond Neighborhood Nature Clubs

The Backyards & Beyond Neighborhood Nature Clubs Community Organizational Guide and Tool Kit is intended for Club Leaders or others who would like to organize and start a club in their neighborhood. It includes A Club Leader Welcome, Five Steps to Start a Neighborhood Nature Club, Go Outside Tips, Club Explorers’ Commitment Pledge, Nature Event Calendar and Club Leader Forms.

The Backyards & Beyond Club Leader Curriculum is designed as a network of neighborhood “nature trails” with outdoor activities that are led by the Neighborhood Nature Club Leader. It includes four units with eight trails that progressively advance the connections youth make with the outdoors.

Member Materials

Entomology

This 4-H Project area has an array of ways to engage youth in learning about insects. There are two complete curricula:

Member and Leader Materials

4-H Entomology Project Units and Resources

NOTE: Use of the browser Chrome is required for the e-learning modules linked in the units below.

Forestry

The Oregon 4-H Forestry Member Guide is designed to introduce learners to Oregon’s unique forest resources and their management. The manual provides basic information on tree parts, growth requirements and characteristics, tree identification, succession, dendrology, and the locations and species composition of Oregon’s forests. Then, learners put their knowledge to use by focusing on forest management. They gain skills in map reading, compass use, measuring trees, and taking an inventory. They also explore forestry-related career options. The Oregon 4-H Forestry Leader Guide provides specific ideas for extending the learning based on learners’ specials needs and interests and for creating educational displays for fair exhibits.

Member Materials

For Volunteers, in Addition to Member Materials

Geology

Geology is the science of earth materials and their features. It includes the study of rocks, minerals, and the fossils of animals and plants. The 4-H Geology Member Guide supports the traditional 4-H Geology project including a four-level advancement program for self-directed study and information about preparing rock and mineral collections and displays.

The Oregon 4-H Earth Science Leader Guide provides activities for both junior (grades 4–6) and intermediate (grades 7–9) youth. The leader guide is designed for use in traditional 4-H clubs and camps and also for school enrichment delivery. Activities are keyed to 4-H Life Skills and Oregon Department of Education Benchmarks for grades 5 and 8.

Chapters are designed to be presented sequentially beginning with the “birth” of the eastern Blue Mountains as Mesozoic Island Arc Volcanoes and traveling over geologic time to recent events affecting today’s Oregonians. Each chapter develops key concepts in earth science with lessons that encourage inquiry. Suggested field trip locations are provided to enrich the learning experience.

Member and Leader Materials

Junior Master Naturalist

The Oregon 4-H Junior Master Naturalist Program invites you to share your love of the outdoors with your students! This new Oregon 4-H program is designed to provide teachers and students an engaging introduction to Oregon’s diverse ecoregions, ecosystems, and natural resources. Using the resources gathered in this program schools will easily provide students with the program characteristics and outcomes they need to meet the reporting requirements of the OSU Extension Service Outdoor School funding.

The program is divided into six units, each containing four or five lessons. All the lessons are provided on-line and can be downloaded at no cost. Some lessons are best done in the classroom, others in the field. Data collection sheets are provided for each unit’s field experience. There are even cool interactive tutorials featuring Ranger Jenny!

  • Unit 1) The Place we call Home- An Introduction to Ecoregions
  • Unit 2) Geology and soils
  • Unit 3) Watersheds & Water Resources
  • Unit 4) Forests
  • Unit 5) Fish, Wildlife and Insects
  • Unit 6) Marine Habitats and Science

Questions: Virginia Bourdeau

Of People and Fish: 4-H Natural Science and Cultural Discovery Program

The goals of this program are for youth (grades 4–8) and adults to understand the complex cultural and scientific history that has led to the “salmon crisis” and to become active citizens in the search for solutions within their communities.

Of People and Fish (4-H 3811L) is designed for school enrichment delivery. The seven teaching units are keyed to Oregon Grade 5 and Grade 8 Benchmarks for science, social science, and English. The program may be used in traditional 4-H clubs and 4-H camp programs as a stand-alone project or as an enrichment component with the 4-H Wetland Wonders, marine science, or sport fishing materials.

Member Materials

Reptiles and Amphibians

AKA - Herptiles - This term is used to encompass both reptiles and amphibians, especially in situations where a member of either group of animals is meant without excluding the other.

Reptiles

Reference Books

  • Reptiles of the Northwest, Alan St. John, Lone Pine Publishing
  • Peterson Field Guide: Western Reptiles and Amphibians, Robert C. Stebbins
  • Reptiles of Washington and Oregon, Seattle Audubon Society, the Trailside Series, coordinating editors Storm and Leonard.

Web site references

Amphibians

Encourage youth in your community to discover native amphibians and their value to the ecosystem. Students will learn how to identify native amphibians and conduct field research. Youth will feel a sense of accomplishment and pride knowing that they are contributing data to local herpetologists that will aid in the conservation of these magnificent creatures.

Water Resources

Water resource issues are a primary concern for many Oregon communities. Youth who under-stand how to maintain water quality and quantity can provide leadership on ways to keep Oregon’s water resources vital and healthy. Adults leading youth in the water resources track may choose to use the general community investigations of Give Water a Hand to focus on watersheds or wetlands, or to combine all the resources avail-able to develop a more comprehensive water resource 4-H program. Each of the leader materials may be used alone or in combination with other materials from this or any other Environ-mental Stewardship track.

Member Materials

For Volunteers, in Addition to Member Materials

Weather and Climate

The 4-H Weather and Climate Science curriculum is for youth who enjoy learning about science, especially weather and climate.

  • Facilitators Guide - The Facilitator’s Guide is for all three levels. This guide contains activity facilitation and answers as well as a listing of the Next Generation Science Standards by activity.
  • Level 1 - Introduces basic weather words and ideas. Activities focus on understanding the signs of weather, and youth will also begin to learn the difference between weather and climate and how these ideas are related.
  • Level 2 - Discusses complex weather topics, understanding climate, and making and using weather instruments.
  • Level 3 - Delves deeper into weather and climate science concepts, such as air masses, windchill and heat index, drought monitoring, and the sun-earth relationship.
  • Complete set - all three levels and Facilitators Guide

Wildlife Science

The Wildlife Science curriculum is for youth who enjoy learning about wildlife and exploring their habitats. Learn about mammals, birds, fish, and herptiles and the role humans play in conservation and wildlife management.

This set includes

  • Level 1 Youth Guide
  • Level 2 Youth Guide
  • Level 3 Youth Guide
  • Level 1-3 Facilitator’s Guide

This item is a digital download; you will download the book after purchase. You will not receive a print copy.

Purchasing this product gives you one download of this book. Purchase multiple quantities to receive the corresponding number of downloads.

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