2005 NRCS Youth Environmental Awards
2006 Lessons Learned
This program is no longer available. This information is for educational purposes only.
The NRCS Youth Environmental Awards encourages outreach and replication during the NAE4-HA conference. Award recipients will manage an exhibit that will display the three Programs' materials, and will allow award recipients to discuss their program with interested individuals. Applicants must have conducted the program that they are applying to receive the award for between June 1, 2004-August 19, 2005, and have undergone at least one cycle of outcome measurement (evaluation cycle).
In addition to national recognition and monetary support, award recipients must also conduct two additional workshops to disseminate program information at conferences and/or symposiums - at the state, regional, and/or national level. This enables 4-H's most successful programs to share and promote best practices, furthering their reach. The remaining $2,500 will be distributed when the recipients have successfully conducted the required seminars and workshops, and have turned in their document of best practices of the program and lessons learned in an educational format. The primary requirement of award recipients is to be available and willing to educate others about their successful programs.
Projects will be selected through a competitive process and must: be based on scientific principles; meets the standards established by the Programs of Distinction (Visit for full information); has strong leadership support from paid and volunteer staff; incorporates youth-adult partnerships; provides youth leadership opportunities.
To be eligible for awards, programs must address one of the following issues:
Programs must demonstrate achievement of short and medium outcomes and impacts which lead to long term outcomes and impacts. They must support the uniqueness of the 4-H system, including a connection with a land-grant university system and a youth/adult partnership in implementing the program. Only programs that are authorized to use the 4-H name and emblem by National 4-H Headquarters, U.S. Department of Agriculture are eligible to apply for this award.
Each project will be evaluated to help cultivate best practices for youth programs in science, engineering, and technology. These best practices and lessons learned will be shared throughout the system in an effort to continue to develop 4-H professionals in environmental education. The awards will ultimately assist in the development of a knowledge base for youth programs in science, engineering, and technology that will serve as a resource for professional development.
October 30-November 3, 2005
Through the generous support of the NRCS, National 4-H Council will recognize three on-going (not new) exemplary programs through the NRCS Youth Environmental Awards Program with awards of $7,500 each. One staff member from each of the three programs chosen will be sponsored to attend the 2005 National Association of Extension 4-H Agents (NAE4-HA) Conference in Seattle, WA, October 30-November 3 (http://nae4ha.wsu.edu/). If attending NAE4-HA is absolutely not possible, attending one of the 4-H Regional Volunteer Leader Forums to conduct a program workshop/seminar will be the alternative choice. Recipients will receive a $5,000 check at NAE4-HA.
Related Links
2005 NRCS Program Summaries