Institute of Soil and Environmental Quality

To find out which 4-H camps are currently being offered, click 4-H Camps offered through the University of Delaware

Summer Environmental Camp

The Summer Environmental Camp, co-sponsored by the University of Delaware Institute of Soil and Environmental Quality (ISEQ) and Delaware 4-H, has been held in June at Camp Barnes near Frankford, Delaware for the past four years. Two hundred Delaware youth, ages eight to eleven, and 30 high school 4-H teen leaders and college counselors attended the camp which had the following goals:

To expose young people at an early age to basic soil and environmental science information that can be shared with all family members.

To encourage the application of environmentally sound practices around the home.

To promote career opportunities in sciences to young people.

Twenty-two graduate students and postdoctoral researchers from the ISEQ worked with Delaware 4-H counselors and staff to teach classes on subjects such as "Colors of the Earth," "Super Stream Keepers," and "Digging up the Dirt on Soil Microbes." A final assembly brought together the students, teachers, and their families for a fun-filled "quiz bowl" where the youth had a chance to show what they had learned. Lesson plans from the classes taught at the camp are being developed for distribution to the teachers of the campers.

Click here for the currently available lesson plans for grades K-8.

Scenes from the ISEQ - 4H Summer Environmental Camp

Summer Environmental Camp - 2002

Professor Profile - David McNear, Ph.D.

Something's Smelly in Lewes - Mike Borda, Postdoc

Tricky Turf Trivia - Laura Boyer, M.S.

Colors of our Earth - Markus Grafe, Ph.D.

Colors of our Earth - Ted Peltier, Postdoc

"The partnership with the ISEQ in conducting the 4-H Environmental Camp is ideal. The 4-Hers have participated in a terrific educational experience led by enthusiastic, talented UD students. All the students have the opportunity to hone their teaching skills with an audience much younger than they teach in labs on campus. The 4-Hers are excited about participating in the hands-on science activities. It's a win-win situation for everyone."
- Joy Sparks, State Program Coordinator
4-H Youth Development

Rainfall & Runoff - Keeping Our Water Clean

Rainfall Simulation in Action - Josh McGrath, Ph.D.

Changing the Soil Surface to Study Runoff

Assessing the Rainfall Simulation - Dr. Rory Maguire

Designing Buffer Strips to Protect Water Quality

Super Stream Keepers - Amy Sprinkle, M.S.

Stream Watch - Ecosystems & Biodiversity

Discerning Water Quality with a Test Kit

"Our goal is to provide a science-based educational experience that teaches Delaware youth about their natural environment. The enthusiasm, excitement, and knowledge of soils and natural ecosystems that our graduate student volunteer teachers bring to the camp provide a wonderful learning experience for the children. It's been very rewarding to see the campers having so much fun while they're learning about environmental issues that are important to all of us."
- Dr. J. Thomas Sims
Director of the ISEQ

Where is Hydra Electron? - James Hyde, Ph.D.

Soil Testing - Healthy Soils Mean Healthy Plants

Soil Chemistry - Stefan Hunger, Ph.D.

Soil Detectives - Kristin Staats, M.S.

Digging up the Dirt on Soil Microbes -
Kurt Williamson, Ph.D.

Science Magic Show -
Dr. George Luther

Some Happy Campers!

"I am lucky to have been able to participate in the 4-H summer program over the past two years, discussing and demonstrating the impacts of nutrient and soil management on water quality. It is exciting to see how engaged and informed the students are in the issues associated with environmental quality. Their enthusiasm is contagious, especially when they are involved with the hands-on experiments."
- Josh McGrath, Ph.D. Candidate
Environmental Soil Management

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Last updated March 4, 2008