Outreach Education in the time of Covid-19
By: Kaitlyn Deskins
My service with the West Virginia Division of Forestry Outreach group has been a great experience. I want to share my knowledge about the natural world and how our actions impact the world around us. This has been a very challenging task in the time of Covid-19. Without being able to go to all the schools and festivals, I have found new ways to communicate and educate kids and the public about our impacts on the forest. Most days are about thinking and creating new ways to educate without being there in person. This gives me the opportunity to use my online knowledge and continue to gain more insight about new online platforms.
I started this forestry position with a geology background. I am familiar with some forestry topics however; I still have a lot to learn. From day one I have studied leaves and bark so that I am able to teach children what trees they are looking at using Project learning Tree (PLT- Uses the forest and trees to increase a student’s appreciation and knowledge of the environment.) activities. I love that I am able to continue my education while still educating others. We are hoping that we can educate face to face and perform these activities in person. In a few cases we have been able to do this even in the time of Covid-19.
One of the first events I participated in was at Slanesville Elementary by the community garden. We were asked to come to this event by the local Slanesville Garden Community. They were having an open house just before school opened for in person classes. While here, I was able to teach kids how to plant a flower. I was also able to inform the kids and adults alike about pollinators and why they are so great for our local environment.
Another event I had in Slanesville was with a third-grade class. We were asked by the teacher of this class to come and teach the kids about trees, leaves, and fire. We taught them how to identify simple and compound leaves. We then had the kids show us some leaves they had collected, and we were able to name each of those leaves. We talked about trees and their roots and why certain trees live in some areas and not in others. West Virginia is very unique because it has 100 different types of trees whereas other states may only have 10 different types. Then we talked about tree rings and why they are important. Additionally, we discussed fires and what three elements are needed for a fire to grow. We showed them that in order for a fire to exist, you need to have oxygen, fuel, and heat (the fire triangle). Without all three of these elements, a fire will not light or grow. We created a demonstration of a candle in a jar. We lit the candle outside of the jar then put the candle in the jar and twisted the lid on. The flame went out showing that oxygen was absent. Once the lesson was over, we were able to do a Project Learning Tree (PLT) activity with the kids. We played “Every Tree for Itself”. In this game the kids become trees and create a forest. Then we tossed color coins out on the ground. The colors of the coins all have a meaning, the blue is water, the green is nutrients, the yellow is the sunlight, and red is some sort of disaster to the forest. Each time the blue, green, and yellow coins are reduced in amount while the red increases. The kids didn’t know that red was a bad color, once it is introduced the red coin represents a forest fire or a bug contamination like the Emerald Ash Borer. That could represent half of the forest being dead and can’t live or grow anymore. This is a great game for kids to realize and understand the effects of disasters on the forest.
Due to Covid-19, we have found new ways to educate the public since we are unable to meet face to face. One way is being invited to a class and sharing our knowledge over a zoom call. Another way we found to educate the public is by creating online materials and supplies for teachers to download from a website. I have also created PowerPoint voice over slides. This creates a presentation that teachers can download and share with their class without us meeting face to face. We also have online packets and games that teachers can download. If the teachers have any questions about the games or packets, they are welcome to contact us. This is an ongoing process of creating new ways to improve public education about West Virginia’s Forest and state lands.
Being a part of the West Virginia Division of Forestry, I am able to see the ins and outs of the Envirothon competition. Every year, teams from all over the state compete with each other to go to nationals. This competition is based on the topics of Soils, Aquatics, Wildlife, and Forestry. This year we have been trying to decide if the competition should be in-person or virtual. If online, we need to be able to determine how to implement the exam in a way that is fair for all teams involved. There are many platforms available to create an exam, however it has not been decided which is the best for our needs. We are not able to allow teams to look up the answers online, so a timed test is preferred. We also need to decide on a location for either meeting in a public building with a proctored test, or utilize a link to take the exam. The Envirothon committee also does not want the test to be public or saved in order to protect the integrity of the exam. Another question is how can we create 3D sections of the exam on a 2D screen? How can teams measure and report back the size of a tree that can be graded fairly for all teams involved? These are all questions we have to ask when trying to find the best platform to house the Envirothon exam. We are looking into various platforms and considering what other institutions are utilizing.
Everything I have been a part of so far this service year has been an amazing experience. The current circumstances have changed the scope of service to an extent, in which it requires me to be creative and flexible. I believe that makes education outreach unique during this difficult time. Everything I am currently learning gives me more experiences and skills that past AmeriCorps members were unable to see or experience because of the pandemic. I am grateful for this opportunity even though Covid-19 has put up many roadblocks for education outreach. I am glad that I am a part of the process that will eliminate barriers for future use of online education outreach programs.
