Outdoor Education and 4-H Youth Programming

Nancy Noyes
4-H Youth Development
Program Assistant

The National 4-H Program has consistently been a leader in offering projects with research-based project guides and programs such as camps 4-hers in nature on a path with large trees on both sides of it.and events that incorporate outdoor learning education and experiences. Now, more than ever, parents, teachers, and caregivers share concerns about the amount of time young people are spending in front of monitors and on devices. There has been an increase in the amount of research conducted on outdoor education as it relates to mental wellness and beneficial physical activity expressly for our youth. Ten of the top benefits to come out of research are listed below.

  1. Allows a break from screens, in and out of school.
  2. Learning is made relevant through practical experiences.
  3. Young people engage in unstructured play.
  4. Outdoor Education improves physical and mental health.
  5. It increases cooperative learning and social interaction.
  6. Outdoor Education accommodates different learning styles and abilities.
  7. It can improve focus and academics.
  8. Fosters a love and appreciation of the natural world.
  9. It can increase community engagement.
  10. Outdoor Education is fun!

These benefits contribute to the overall mental and physical wellness of young persons. They have better learning retention, improved self-esteem, and increased understanding of their place in the world around them. Sounds like a pretty big deal? It definitely is, so much so, that it’s become a huge industry to provide “outdoor excursions”. However, it’s a pretty inexpensive fee to become a 4-H member in Douglas County and county residents will find our programs, camps, and events to be very affordable and many times supported through our partners and the 4-H Council.

The examples of outdoor programming experiences in Douglas County are, well, numerous! Just about any project can be designed to have an outdoor component. Specifically, our 4-H Summer Camp experience available to all county youth at Rock Springs Ranch is a week of fun- canoeing, kayaking, archery, swimming, campfires, hiking, and more. The Biology & Natural Science SPIN Club has been busy getting members out on the trails. Horticulture Project Club has members in the field identifying plants and trees while the State Geology Field Trip will have some county members kicking (and picking) rocks. Livestock Project participants are outstanding in their field! They spend numerous hours feeding, washing, and walking their animals. Through a reciprocal agreement, we have a handful of members who are involved in the Shooting Sports Project (Archery) in Franklin County. The list goes on! There is a whole world to explore in 4-H.