September 22, 2006
Topics in today’s issue of Extension Update:
EXTENSION ENGAGED “HORIZONS
PROJECT”
Thanks to a recent grant from the Northwest Area Foundation,
WSU Extension will be able to extend its Horizons program to up
to 25 low income rural communities. The Horizons project gives communities
the skills and tools to help themselves reduce poverty and sustain
the local economy. The next Extension Engaged program will look
at how the Horizons project has already helped communities in Okanogan
and Stevens counties, and how communities can learn more about participating
in the next phase of the program. Our guests will include Jean Burkhardt
from the Northwest Area Foundation in St. Paul, Extension Horizons
project director Doreen Hauser-Lindstrom, and representatives of
two communities that have already participated. The program will
be available by video stream at 9 am on Friday, Sept. 29 at http://caheinfo.wsu.edu/video/stream.html.
Or please join us for the live broadcast in Room T-101 of the Food
Science and Human Nutrition Building.
DIVERSITY SHOWCASE: PLANTS GROW
CHILDREN
Through a series of hands-on workshops in classrooms throughout
Benton and Franklin counties, Master Gardener volunteers have spent
more than fifteen years educating area youth about the basics of
plant science. Since its beginning, the program has grown much like
a beanstalk... from reaching 1,291 children in its first year to
reaching a total of 159,026 children in the years since.
The Plants Grow Children program includes age-appropriate lessons
targeted to each grade level, from kindergarten through fifth grade.
The units are: The Miracle of the Seed for kindergarden; the Mini-Greenhouse
for first grade; the Fantastic Peanut for second grade; Tree-mendous
Trees for third grade: Composting with Worms for fourth grade; and
Everyday Insects for fifth grade
Each of the units involves an action learning activity where students
produce something significant to the lesson to reinforce learning,
such as a seed planted in a cup or a hand-made insect magnet. Students
are encouraged to bring these projects home along with a handout
informing parents about the Plants Grow Children program and providing
any necessary instructions for further action – e.g., how
to care for a seed planted in class. The handout increases awareness
of the Master Gardener program and the Washington State University
Extension office. Because of the high number of Hispanic households
involved, the handout is printed in both English and Spanish.
In 2005, the program was offered to all public and parochial elementary
schools in Benton and Franklin counties. The program was provided
to 10,515 K-5 students in 492 classes from the 38 schools that took
advantage of this educational opportunity. Approximately 38% of
these students were minority or special needs children.
The Plants Grow Children program does more than teach science and
stimulate an interest in gardening. Classroom gardening projects
have been documented to augment an understanding of specific concepts;
increase enthusiasm and an interest in science; build care-taking
and nurturing behavior; increase a sense of pride and accomplishment;
improve self esteem and confidence; and heighten environmental awareness
and concern. Making it available to all the schools, allowed WSU
Extension to reach a large number of minority students that would
not be able to take part in more traditional out-of-school youth
programming.
Classroom teachers consistently have positive reactions to the
program and look forward to its return every year. In evaluations,
more than 90% of teachers indicate that the classes introduce new
topics or reinforce previously taught material. Over 90% also rate
the quality of instruction as excellent.
For more information and downloadable materials, visit: http://benton-franklin.wsu.edu/mg/children/index.htm
EDEN NATIONAL MEETING
The 2006 Annual Meeting of the Extension Disaster Education
Network (EDEN) will be held in Nashville, TN October 31 through
November 3. The annual meeting theme is "Preparing for Disasters."
The University of Tennessee and Tennessee State University are cohosts
and invite everyone to Nashville. The conference will consist of
an optional preconference training on how to conduct tabletop exercises.
This will be presented by Eric Evans and Connie Burnham of the University
of Missouri. There are selected presentations and multiple opportunities
for participants to network and learn from each other. Post conference
tour plans include learning about the Corps of Engineers and Tennessee
Valley Authority disaster mitigation history and plans for high
risk dams.
See the 2006 Annual Meeting on the EDEN Web site at www.eden.lsu.edu
for meeting details and registration information.
Surveys of EDEN delegates have shown that networking and sharing
through this group are valuable to staff who carry out disaster
education, and that EDEN involvement is an efficient investment
of time. All communities eventually have local disasters, and EDEN
helps staff at the county, area and state levels deal with preparation
and recovery education.
NATURAL RESOURCE YOUTH CAMP BOARD
MEMBERS NEEDED
For nearly half a century, the Inland Empire Natural Resources Youth
Camp (IENRYC) has provided an opportunity for 13 to 16-year olds
to learn about stewardship of the Pacific Northwest’s natural
resources. The IENRYC has a strong record of providing quality training
and camping experiences and is one of the oldest natural resource
camps in operation. Many of the campers have gone on to natural
resource professions. Presently Washington State University is under-represented
on the Board and we are in need of additional hands – individuals
interested in helping kids who are interested in natural resources.
Serving on the board involves a monthly conference call and your
willingness to advise, promote, and organize the camp, not to help
teach or administer the actual event. Please contact Tip Hudson
(509-962-7507 or hudsont@wsu.edu)
if you are interested.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
National Association of Community Development Extension Professionals
Conference "Declaration of Interdependence: The Fabric of Community”
is the theme for the third annual National Association of Community
Development Extension Professionals (NACDEP) conference, April 16-19,
2007, in Philadelphia, PA. The conference will feature 10 tracks,
some with sub-tracks. Tracks include economic development, community
decision-making, and evaluation and research, There will be a pre-conference
session titled “We the People: Building Inclusive Communities.”
The conference theme and the pre-conference reflect NACDEP's commitment
to building a scientific understanding of the changes impacting
communities and applying that knowledge through Cooperative Extension
education and outreach programs to help people prepare for today's
and future challenges.
Conference presentations are encouraged to explore community development
from the multiple perspectives and demonstrate tools of applied
field work, program materials, and research efforts.
Presentation proposals are due September 29, 2006. Visit the NACEP
web site http://nacdep.net/confs/2007/Conference.htm
for proposal submission or registration information.
PERSONNEL
New Hires:
Margaret Benson, Ph.D., Chair, Department of Animal Sciences
Effective: February 1, 2007, 33% Teaching/50% Research/17% Extension
Employee Type: Faculty
Candace Jagel, Extension Coordinator, San Juan County
Effective: August 30, 2006, 50% Extension Employee Type: AP
Vern Jenkins, Manger, Center to Bridge the Digital Divide, Spokane
Effective: August 7, 2006, 100% Extension Grant Employee Type: AP
Matthew K. Mayer, Information Systems Coordinator, Information
Dept.
Effective: July 17, 2006, 100% Extension Employee Type: AP
Jodee Nickel, Extension Coordinator, Clark County
Effective: August 7, 2006, 100% Extension Grants Employee Type:
AP
Irene “Renee” Overath, County Extension Educator, Kitsap
County
Effective: September 1, 2006, 100% Extension Employee Type: Faculty
Matthew Ziegler, Multimedia Service Coordinator, Information Dept.
Effective: August 7, 2006, 100% Extension Employee Type: AP
Geneva N. Drouin, Manager, Center to Bridge the Digital Divide,
Spokane
Effective: July 1, 2006, 100% Extension Grants Employee Type: AP
Jeannie M. Kiehn, Extension Coordinator, Grant County
Effective: July 1, 2006, 100% Extension Grant Employee Type: AP
Separations:
Dana E. Faubion, County Extension Educator, Yakima County
Effective: September 1, 2006, 100% Extension Employee Type: Faculty
Resignation
Rochelle Hohlfeld, Extension Coordinator, Clark County
Effective: August 4, 2006, 100% Extension Grants Employee Type:
AP Resignation
Igor Borishkevich, Extension Coordinator, Pierce County at Salishan
Learning Center
Effective: August 31, 2006, 100% Extension Grant Employee Type:
AP Appointment Complete
James P. Dobrowolski, Extension Specialist, Associate Scientist,
Natural Resource Sciences
Effective: September 2, 2006, 86% Extension/14% Research Employee
Type: Faculty Resignation
Sandra M. Anderson, Extension Coordinator, Pierce County
Effective: August 1, 2006, 100% Extension Employee Type: AP Resignation
Elizabeth Blessing, Extension Coordinator, King County
Effective: September 30, 2006, 100% Extension Grant Employee Type:
AP Resignation
Charlotte Hardt, Interim Director Area Health Education Center
(AHEC), Spokane
Effective: December 31, 2006
Retirement
SCHEDULE
Next week Linda and John will be in Spokane at the County
Directors Affiliate meeting at the Washington State Association
of Counties (WSAC) conference Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Both
Linda and John will be in Pullman Monday and Tuesday.
******************************
Linda Kirk Fox, PhD
Dean and Director
Washington State University Extension
PO Box 646248, 411 Hulbert Hall
Pullman WA 99164-6248
(509) 335-2933 Office
(509) 335-9223 Desk/Voicemail
FAX (509) 335-2926
lkfox@wsu.edu
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