When youth value nature they are more likely to participate in conservation efforts now and in the future. As the Burnett County research intern, I researched youth and natural resources education at Crex Meadows, a wildlife refuge in Burnett County. I explored the question, “How do local youths’ knowledge of and opportunities to learn about Crex Meadows relate to their value of natural resources?” Survey results showed that youth who knew more about Crex Meadows valued natural resources more, illustrating the importance of educational nature conservation programs for youth.

Rural communities are struggling to attract and retain residents. We felt that one of the reasons for this in our community is the lack of art. Art can have benefits to mental health, and sends a message that we care about our community. It can teach visitors about our history and what makes our community unique. We conducted a survey throughout middle school and high school, asking what kind of art they would like to see. Results showed more live music and murals. We also asked the elementary school to draw a picture of what they would like to see on a mural in the town.

See video projects created by Iron County Youth Corps interns:

Adolescents are facing a mental health crisis, leading to an increase in risky behaviors. According to data, including the Dane County Youth Assessment, there is a correlation between adolescents’ psychological well-being and family economic stress. When students take on parental roles at home, core childhood experiences, academics, and mental health can suffer. We are gathering data from various school districts within Dane County to better understand trends in risk behaviors associated with family financial stress and to promote an effective solution for individuals battling these struggles alone.

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After touring the Jonathon Delagrave Care Center, we noticed how youth rehabilitative practices were evolving in Racine County. We decided to assess how our community’s youth perceived how a traditional system like Foster Care serves youth in today’s world. We determined through a survey that the youth of Racine County had little to no awareness of the system, yet they were willing to work towards improving the services it provided. The Racine YIG cohort identified one long-lasting action we could take:  we acquired funds to improve the family visitation room and presented our research and renovation proposal to the County.

See video projects created by Youth Corps interns: