4-H WILDERNESS EXPLORATION PROGRAM

Need
Youth must develop the knowledge of basic biological principles, the awareness of environmental issues, the understanding of the decision process and potential consequences of actions to enable them to reach decisions affecting the quality of life for themselves and others.

National studies and reports, on the transition of youth to adulthood, indicate that youth need positive experiences, useful life skills, and increased self-esteem to develop their full potential, and to contribute to society.

The future of the Adirondacks will be determined by the youth of today, who will be the upstate and downstate voting adults in several years. To ensure a caring, knowledgeable public support for Adirondack residents, forests and wildlife, youth need to have positive, first hand experiences within the Adirondacks.

Response
4-H Wilderness Exploration Trips are conducted each summer for each of two age groups - 9-11year olds (3 day trip) and 12-14 year olds (3 day trip).

Activities on the trips are designed to
help youth gain basic knowledge in natural resource related topics, and to assist youth in
developing important life skills. The natural
resource related topics covered include:
forestry, wildlife, woods safety, low impact camping, and environmental ethics. Three life skills are emphasized including: relating to others, learning how to learn, and acquiring a positive self concept.

The 4-H Wilderness Exploration Program is highly dependent on adult volunteer advisors who assist the boys and girls. In 1997, seven adult volunteers contributed a total of 247 hours to this program effort. This time commitment by adults also has the added benefit of enhancing intergenerational experiences, which strengthen understanding between youth and adults.

Results
Since 1973, more than 1,145 youth have participated in the 4-H Wilderness Exploration Program. A third teen group (14 - 18 years of age) was active until 1995 when restrictions on camping group sizes were implemented by the New York Sate Department of Enviornmental Conservation. Presently, the average number of youth participating each year is 30.

The value of introducing basic natural resource related subject matter in an outdoor, hands-on, situation is reflected by requests, each year, by some of the older participants for additional information in the areas of forestry, wildlife/fisheries, woods lore, and environmental careers. As a result of such requests, the 4-H Adirondack Guide Program was developed. Since its implementation in

1985, the 4-H Adirondack Guide Program gives approximately 25 youth, each year, the opportunity for advanced level experiences within the environment.

It is difficult to quantify the impact of the 4-H Wilderness Exploration Program on the development of life skills within the participants. However, numerous comments from parents, former participants, and the volunteer advisors have indicated that the trips have had direct, positive impact on the growth and development of the boys and girls who participated.

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