October 27 – This year Prairie View A&M University’s College of Agriculture & Human Sciences, the Black United Fund of Texas, and Nature Heritage Society partnered to host a virtual Agriculture Science Conservation Camp. There were 57 participants primarily of elementary school age from Harris County, in addition to some middle school aged youth and others from around the State of Texas. Funding for this three day program came from the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (Game Wardens), State Representative Jarvis Johnson and Drug Abuse Resistance Education + Play and Learn Under Supervision (D.A.R.E. PLUS).
What makes this program stand out is not only the diversity of partnerships and funders, but also the many firsts it represents for the College’s Careers in Agriculture program! It is the first summer day camp where elementary aged participants were targeted and certainly the first time offering such a program to that audience virtually! The camp utilized the Zoom platform to bring this educational experience into their home. Participants received kits with a camp shirt, wild flowers, trail mix ingredients, Game Warden wrist bands and souvenirs from The American Cowboy Museum.
This junior camp’s mission was to raise awareness among inner city youth about careers related to agriculture and natural resources. Two days focused on agriculture and conservation content. The last day campers participated in virtual field trips where they toured Prairie View A&M University and learned about Black Western Culture & Heritage from The American Cowboy Museum. The conservation and American Cowboy Museum videos are hosted at www.buftx.org. The camp closed with a conversation with State Representative Jarvis Johnson about the importance of college and vocational training and the career opportunities in agriculture and conservation. Participants (n=25) took a survey that asked them would they apply for careers in Agriculture and STEM. The results showed 85% responded favorably, 65 % of youth stated yes and 20% indicated they may.
By Jeremy Peaches, extension agent-CEP and Marcus Glenn on behalf of the Black United Fund of Texas
Jeremy Peaches
4-H and Youth Development Extension Agent
jjpeaches@pvamu.edu
(713) 790-7215