The University of Georgia - Wahsega 4-H Center - About Georgia 4-H Environmental Education Program Field Studies

About Georgia 4-H Environmental Education Field Studies at Wahsega 4-H Center

To develop an awareness, knowledge and appreciation for the environment

To cultivate curiosity, critical reasoning and evaluation

To develop positive relationships among students and their teachers

To make the school program more meaningful by applying knowledge and skills acquired in the classroom to real life situations

To provide experiences in using scientific processes, such as observing, measuring and classifying

To develop self-confidence and physical fitness

To develop appreciation for the local and natural history of an area

Status Report

The nation’s largest residential environmental education program
Fully endorsed by the Georgia Department of Education and in compliance with the Quality Basic Education Act and the Time on Task ruling.
Designated an exemplary state model in environmental education by Georgia members of the National Science Teacher’s Association and winner of an Environmental Achievement Award from the National Environmental Awards Council.
Residential and Day use programming is based on hands-on teaching methods shown to improve test scores and student motivation. Classroom relationships and interpersonal skills are also improved through team building and group initiative activities.
Part of the Georgia 4-H and Youth Program under the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension Service, it was first implemented at Rock Eagle 4-H center in 1979. Over 375,000 students have participated in the program from 500 different schools, representing six Southeastern states.
Program now established at four 4-H state facilities representing "living laboratories" in the mountain, coastal, and piedmont habitats of Georgia.
Forty to forty-five seasonal staff are hired annually as 4-H Environmental Educators to assist the visiting classroom teachers. Classes at each center are taught cooperatively by on site staff and teachers from the school.
The 4-H Environmental Education Program serves more than 41,000 students each school year.
Environmental Education teacher training workshops, established at the program’s inception, serve hundreds of teachers annually.

Would you like more information?
Contact Jenny Kvapil, Program Coordinator at Wahsega.

Jenny Kvapil
Wahsega 4-H Center
77 Cloverleaf Trail
Dahlonega, GA 30533
Phone: 706-864-2050
Email: jennyk at uga.edu

Georgia4H.org

The University of Georgia
College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences
Cooperative Extension Service

The University of Georgia and Ft. Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and counties of the state cooperating
The Cooperative Extension Service offers educational programs, assistance and materials to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, age, sex or disability. An equal opportunity/affirmative action organization committed to a diverse work force