Confluence: Linking Citizen Science and Extension Education to Inspire Environmental Stewardship

Citizen science has rapidly moved beyond simply crowdsourcing data to become a novel platform for environmental and informal science education. However, few studies document the informal learning outcomes of citizen science, particularly in youth or Extension education. This quantitative study evaluated individual learning outcomes of an environmental education and citizen science experience about water quality at 4-H summer camps. Outcomes of interest, knowledge, and stewardship intentions were evaluated using pre- and post-participation surveys. The results showed an overall success of the program. By understanding these outcomes, we can better plan citizen-science-focused Extension learning experiences to meet strategically targeted outcomes.