4-H and GIS: Making a Positive Change

Wilkes County 4-H Youth have been very busy this summer learning about community mapping using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software and Global Positioning Systems (GPS) technology.

Nathan West, GIS Educator, worked with youth throughout the summer to continue a community mapping project. For the past four summers, youth have looked at community water systems to determine the level of pollution based on the types of insects found within each river, stream, or creek. The locations were recorded using GPS devices. which were gracious purchased with a grant received by the organization by the ESRI Software Corporation. Using geography information systems software, purchased through a partnership with National 4-H and the ESRI Software Corporation, students created maps to showcase their findings with local leaders. As well as shared their knowledge with local officials the youth were able to add sites that were found to high levels of pollution to the list of sites to be cleaned up during the NC Big Sweep each October. As a result of their project efforts, group was invited to participate in this year’s ESRI Education User Conference in San Diego, California. Pamela Escolero who has participated in the project the past four summers attended the conference along with Nathan West, Megan Caudill and other 4-H Staff, volunteers.

Wilkes County 4-H feels it is important to teach this technology to youth because it introduces students to a new way of seeing, thinking, and interacting with the community around them. Students can explore course content in a way that enhances logical, mathematical, linguistic, spatial, and interpersonal skills.

Learning about GIS is beneficial not only in developing computer literacy but also provides training in the process of research including gathering, preparing, storing, and analyzing data and presenting the results of the analysis using a variety of methods. These are skills valuable in both academic and business settings. GIS has also become a job skill that is in demand. Professionals working in many fields recognize that GIS training is a valuable career asset.


Wilkes County 4-H would like to continue the 4-H Technology Club’s community mapping project into the school year. Youth ages 12 and up along with their parents who are interested in participating are invited to an informational organizational meeting on Monday, October 20th at 6:00pm held at the Cooperative Extension Office. For more information or to sign-up to attend the meeting please contact the 4-H office at 651-7585.