UMass Envirothon Collaborative

Project Leader: Will Snyder

Project Year: 2009

Participating Extension Staff and Faculty:

• Will Snyder

Brief Description

The state is fragmented into 351 local units (towns and cities) with full governance responsibility, but whose borders make a rational approach to environmental problems difficult.   Almost half of the municipalities do not have professional planning staff; their volunteer boards struggle with increasing levels of responsibility, liability and public pressure.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst possesses a strong academic and research base for addressing many elements of land use planning.  UMass Extension has also built strong collaborative relationships off campus with state environmental agencies and environmental NGOs which also offer important expertise and outreach capacity. This plan addresses both youth development and community development issues.

Activities

• Massachusetts Envirothon Current Issue Questions & Resources for Teams
• Massachusetts Envirothon Community Awards Information for Teams
• Fall Envirothon Coaches Workshop
• Fall Envirothon team workshop at UMass
• Mass Envirothon winter workshop
• Judges training for Envirothon current issue
• Massachusetts Envirothon Final Competition

Inputs: Time and Effort

Outcomes:

• Youth are effective team members, communicators, and leaders
• Youth engage in community service learning
• Participants develop the knowledge and skills to adhere to principles of sustainability and smart growth
• Youth acquire knowledge and skill to practice competent, applied science