Youth Seminars

PROBLEM: Youth from age nine and up are interested in insect ecology, but their teachers do not have the knowledge or resources to teach them.

SIGNIFICANCE: Early introduction to biological control, building on children’s natural fascination with "bugs", will make future farmers and consumers more conversant with ecologically based pest management.

STRATEGY: Develop a youth oriented introduction to ecologically based pest management and present two seminars to 4H groups, Future Farmers of America, etc., offer the lesson plan and results on our web site. Organize a sustainable gardener competition for youth as part of the Ventura County Fair.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Cooperative agreement forming with the Sustainable Cotton Project and Rodger and Sandy Sanders as cooperators. A project description, job description for a local coordinator and grower cooperator agreements are drafted, and first year strategy outlined for the Sanders farm.