Redlands, CA - The 2009 ESRI geographic information system
(GIS) technology grants for the U.S. 4-H Youth Development Program are open for
application until December 1, 2008. GIS greatly improves the ability of
educators, students, and their institutions to answer personal and community
questions with local and global implications.
With its annual grant
program, ESRI has awarded 4-H clubs in more than 600 counties with ArcView and
ArcPad software and Virtual Campus training. Three different types of grants are
offered: Getting Started with GIS and GPS; Introduction to GIS for 4-H; and
Intermediate GIS for 4-H. For 2009, ESRI has again joined with American Forests,
a nonprofit citizens’ conservation group, to provide 4-H clubs with a grant
opportunity. Clubs that have successfully fulfilled the requirements of the
Introduction to GIS for 4-H grant can acquire advanced functionality for their
community service projects through the Intermediate GIS for 4-H grant. ESRI will
equip these clubs with Youth Club Licenses for ArcGIS 3D Analyst or ArcGIS
Geostatistical Analyst extensions. American Forests will provide clubs that are
working on a forestry project with the CITYgreen extension to ArcGIS.
“This grant program is an excellent way for 4-H clubs in the United
States to access the latest geospatial technology,” said Esther Worker, youth
and community mapping manager, ESRI. “GIS will help further the 4-H mission of
integrating science, engineering, and technology into youth programs as well as
provide an excellent way for youth to investigate and understand their
communities and their world. We encourage 4-H clubs to apply for this
opportunity to advance their projects in a creative and telling way.”
“It
is amazing what kids learn from the environment when they use GIS,” said Mike
Lehman, CITYgreen software director, American Forests. “CITYgreen fosters a
higher level of thinking and helps kids understand what is happening to the
environment around them.”
The American Forests environmental education
program provides students with a real-world learning experience while offering
teachers an innovative and organized program for teaching science, math, and
GIS. American Forests’ CITYgreen software conducts complex analyses of ecosystem
services and creates easy-to-understand reports. The software calculates dollar
benefits for the services provided by the trees and other green space in a
specific area.
4-H geospatial research and community mapping projects
help young people build on their science and technology knowledge and skills as
well as their personal outlook and career aspirations. These projects also help
both youth and adults improve decision making in their communities and help
strengthen local economic, social, and environmental well being.
The
software and training materials for grant recipients will be delivered to the
4-H clubs in early 2009. More information about the ESRI GIS for 4-H (U.S.)
program, grants, and application process can be found atwww.esri.com/4-H.
Questions can be directed to Esther Worker ateworker@esrior by calling
303-449-7779, extension 8216.
2009 ESRI Geospatial Technology Grants Available for U.S. 4-H Clubs
December 9, 2008
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