What Happens in the Environment Stays in the Environment! is a tri-parish 4-H service-learning effort aimed at educating youth to environmental issues and providing them service opportunities that can truly impact the environment, in particular the Louisiana coastline. The REAL 4-H grant involved youth planting 5,000 marsh grass plants, using GPS units to track the progress and impact of the project, propagating plants over the winter months, touring two wetlands research facilities, appearing on TV10 to introduce the project and displaying 3 exhibits explaining the project. Guest speakers presented information on: Impact of Hurricane Rita on Coastline, Nonpoint Source Pollution and Water Runoff Issues, and town beautification. Students researched and wrote six flyers about water-quality issues. They also presented the Enviroscape model and planted 40 trees in City Park.  Supporting the project were 253 4-H youth leaders and 25 adult leaders. 

Collaborations included Rockefeller Refuge, Cameron Parish Police Jury, City of Jennings, Vermilion Parish School Board, Jefferson Davis Parish School Board, Town of Abbeville, Town of Welsh, Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality, Calcasieu Parish School Board and City of Lake Charles.  Rockefeller Refuge donated housing and facilities for two nights, and schools donated teachers' time for guiding students in caring for propagated plants for several months. America’s Wetlands and AmeriaCorp provided volunteers to help execute the project.

[Image: 4-H, Service Learning, Calcasieu] [Image: 4-H, Service Learning, Calcasieu] [Image: 4-H, Service Learning, Calcasieu] [Image: 4-H, Service Learning, Calcasieu] [Image: 4-H, Service Learning, Calcasieu]

[Image: 4-H, Service Learning, Calcasieu] [Image: 4-H, Service Learning, Calcasieu] [Image: 4-H, Service Learning, Calcasieu] [Image: 4-H, Service Learning, Calcasieu] [Image: 4-H, Service Learning, Calcasieu]