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Exploring Your Environment 4-H Project Area

The “Exploring Your Environment” curriculum is part of the National 4-H Curriculum Collection and is designed for middle school-aged youth to learn about the environment. Each section of the curriculum focuses on an environmental question or issue and has a corresponding activity that allows you to jump right into real-world issues that affect your life. With this curriculum, you will complete investigations and explorations of the natural world.

Earth’s Capacity focuses on environmental stewardship and issues, such as transportation choices, waste management, composting, recycling and natural resources. This is a two-year project.

Ecosystems Services provides you with the opportunity to engage in hands-on activities that focus on our ecosystems, climate change, life cycles, ecological footprints and living a sustainable life. This is a two- year project.

Scoresheets

Contact your local Extension Office

  • Extension Offices
  • Year 1: Exploring Your Environment - Earth's Capacity: Complete your planning guide, five required learning activities, three “Dig In Deeper” activities and two leadership experiences along with your project exhibit each year. Complete the program in two years. If you do additional activities, please check the activities you want to be graded
  • Year 2: Exploring Your Environment - Ecosystem Services: Complete your planning guide, five required learning activities, three “Dig In Deeper” activities and two leadership experiences along with your project exhibit each year. Complete the program in two years. If you do additional activities, please check the activities you want to be graded.

Exhibit Ideas

  • Year 1: Exploring Your Environment - Earth's Capacity: 
    • Year 1: Develop a poster that illustrates one of your leadership activities for the year and at least 1 important fact that you have learned through completing this project. 
    • Year 2: Develop a poster that illustrates one of your leadership activities for the year and at least 1 important action that you have taken while completing this project.
  • Year 2: Exploring Your Environment - Ecosystem Services: 
    • Year 1: Develop a poster that illustrates one of your leadership activities for the year and at least 1 important fact that you have learned through completing this project. 
    • Year 2: Develop a poster that illustrates one of your leadership activities for the year and at least 1 important action that you have taken while completing this project.
  • Examples of Blue Ribbon Exhibits 
  • How Do I Sign Up?

    Screenshot of 4-H ZSuite enrollment page to select project
    The first step is to create an enrollment in our ZSuite website.

    Enroll in 4-H ZSuite

    When you get to the CLUBS tab of the enrollment, you will want to ADD PROJECT.

    For Exploring Your Environment, you should search for:
      • ENVIRONMENT/YEAR 1 (EXPLORING YOUR ENVIRONMENT- ECOSYSTEM SERVICES)
      • ENVIRONMENT/YEAR 2 (EXPLORING YOUR ENVIRONMENT- EARTH'S CAPACITY)

      Project Videos

      Learn some tips for starting your own compost pile from Emily Morrow, our Agriculture & Natural Resources Extension Agent in Jefferson County.

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