Go Green! Planet 4-H Impacts...

How the Green Squad has made a difference so far...

The 4-H Green Squad recently unveiled their study model for the Go Green! Planet 4-H at an exhibit at the 2010 St. Clair County EarthFair (April 16-17, 2010). The project has been successful in making the following impacts during 2009-2010:

Through the exhibit Sanilac County 4-H youth led a discussion and taught nearly 5,000 other children, youth, and families more about wind energy, green architecture, and 4-H in the thumb region.

Marlette High School applied for “Green School” designation through the State, - and received it! Teachers worked with 4-H staff and mentors to offer Biofuel Blast to 80 youth in the middle school. Aside from the learning, the value of the activity was in the partnerships that were forged. Recently one of the teachers stated that because of the activity entered into by 4-H and the school they were granted “Green School” designation.

More than half of recruited members of the Sanilac County 4-H Green Squad are female.

More than 20 youth have been able to teach others more about alternative energy in our region.

Nearly 100 children, youth, and families from the Marlette region learned about biofuel through Biofuel Blast through the 2009 National Youth Science Experiment!

The Green Squad has initiated a “Renewable Resources for Electricity in our Region” community survey –  which will be compiled and presented to local decision makers.

Members of the Green Squad were one of six 4-H groups from across the state that taught more than 300 children, youth, and families more about wind power on Michigan State University’s campus for Science is a Blast Day.

Sanilac County 4-H worked with a “Dream Team” of science and technology partners from the Michigan Sea Grant, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment, MSU campus, and the NOAA Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary to submit an application to the National 4-H Council for the 2010 National Youth Science Experiment which came in as one of the top three in the nation.

The Sanilac County MSU Extension Educator is currently working with partners on campus on a grant that will incorporate the Go Green! Planet 4-H project, and (if received) will be a model across the country for other 4-H groups.

Through a Michigan State University Extension-wide effort we will develop and deliver programming through a combination of methods including eXtension (partnering with existing and develop new Communities of Practice), expansion of Michigan’s Planet 4-H program, partnering with the state’s SNAP-Ed program to execute a statewide curriculum, statewide and multi-state producer and community meetings, regular webinars with open access, and web-based tools (websites, newsletters, social networking methods). An external advisory board, comprised of Extension staff and administration from around the U.S. that oversee programs in agriculture, communities, nutrition, and youth will provide guidance on development of deliverables and assist in the adoption of deliverables in other areas of the country as a means of ensuring that this is a model program ready for adoption in other states and communities.

Evaluation results will be used to apply for future funding for 4-H science projects.

Underserved audiences were reached in that EarthFair is free - and so accessible to limited-income families. It is open to the general public and promoted throughout Sanilac County.

More than 64 business and/or organizations were able to feature their earth-friendly products and/or services at EarthFair 2010, and nine farms were able to offer their earth-friendly agricultural techniques through EarthFair 2010. Fifteen animal related organizations were at EarthFair to discuss everything from wild-life rehab to wild-life habitat.