Complicating the problem is the increasing number of urban dwellers in the state. Only a few decades ago, virtually every Alabamian was connected in some way to rural living. The vast majority of state residents either lived in a rural locality or could point to a parent or grandparent who did. Today, roughly 1 out of 2 Alabamians lives in the city. Through these events, Alabama 4-H hopes to build a new vanguard of young people committed to increasing awareness about the important role environment stewardship plays, and will continue to play, in the state s future.
Subject matter varies from year to year.
This year s conference, held at the Alabama 4-H Youth Development Center near Columbiana, focused on aquatic life and animal habitat. While the main focus is on instilling kids with a deeper appreciation for the environment, organizers hope the conference will inspire some of the youngsters to reach farther, by pursuing environmentally related careers. From there, he got interested in the program s environmental stewardship conferences, which he now attends every summer. From an ecology standpoint, I never knew there were people specializing in marine-animal life even in urban settings. McLoughlin, a senior at Decatur High School, plans to pursue a degree in environmental engineering after graduation.