Buckley youth learn valuable environmental lessons

Buckley Youth Center teaches children importance of the outdoors

BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. – Hunter Skowronski dumps soil into Kyla Barnes terrarium June 19, 2012. The Buckley Youth Center had 26 children participate in their 4-H Jr. Science Explorers Club, in which they learned about the outdoors and the importance of conserving it. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Christopher Gross)

Published June 20, 2012
By Senior Airman Christopher Gross
460th Space Wing

BUCKLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. -- Science is all around us, the grass we walk on and the air we breathe, according to Hunter Skowronski, 12-year-old and soon-to-be seventh grader, who was one of 26 children from the ages of 8-12 participating in the Buckley Youth Center's 4-H Jr. Science Explorers Club from June 18-22.

The youth center is a chapter of the Boys and Girls Club of America and they hold several education programs annually and follow a particular curriculum. This most recent one focused on the outdoors and the importance of conserving it.

"Sometimes we take for granted the things we have around us," said Christina Nelson, BYC education and training technician. "We want them to have a healthy respect for the wildlife that we have around here."

They're doing this by having the children participate in several different activities throughout the week. Such as building terrariums, observing insects and bugs and making journals to track their observations and experiences.

"From this week we hope they learn a little more about nature, how to respect it, stay on trails, grow as a team and learn how to work together," said Nicole Kehn, Science Explorers Club instructor.

The children seem to be having lots of fun and are invested in their projects, she added.
Hunter said he's been having fun and, "you get to learn about stuff that you wouldn't normally know."

To learn more about the youth center and the activities they have scheduled throughout the summer visit their web site at http://www.460fss.com/family-services/youth-programs/ and click on the calendar link at the top of the page to see this month's events.