Outdoor Education Commons^™

An Exploratory Study Of Aquatic Walking On Symptoms And Functional Limitations In Persons With Knee Osteoarthritis: Part 1, John M. Coons, Brandon Grubbs, Vaughn W. Barry, Ryan T. Conners, Sandra Stevens

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

This paper represents Part 1 of a study that explored the effects of an underwater treadmill (UT) walking program on pain and function in adults with knee osteoarthritis (KOA). The Western Ontario & McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), numerical rating scale (NRS), timed up-and-go (TUG), and 10-m walk were assessed in 6 adults (62.7 ±14.2 years) who participated in an 8-week (3x/wk) UT walking intervention based on the Arthritis Foundation’s Walk With Ease (WWE) program. Walking pace was self-selected, and walking duration of each session was increased from 10 to 45 minutes throughout the study. Knee pain and function were …

An Exploratory Study Of The Effects Of Aquatic Walking On Function And Muscle Activity In Knee Osteoarthritis: Part 2, John M. Coons, Brandon Grubbs, Conor Theiss, Vaughn W. Barry, Sandra Stevens

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

This paper presents Part 2 of a study that investigated the effects of an 8-week (3x/week) underwater treadmill (UT) walking intervention on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) outcomes in 6 adults with KOA (62.7 ± 14.2 years). The Knee Outcome Survey (KOS) for activities of daily living and muscle activity during a 10-m walk and a 20 cm step down were measured before and after the intervention. The following KOS measures improved after the UT walking program (p < 0.05; g > 0.8): stiffness, swelling, weakness, walking, going up stairs, going downstairs, kneeling on the front of the knee, squatting, and sitting with the …

Analysis And Installation Of A Demonstration Agroforestry Orchard For Californian Mediterranean Plant Communities, Brandon Hurd

Master of Science in Environmental Sciences and Management Projects

Climate-appropriate agroforestry can provide low-input food security and ecosystem services for local Californian Mediterranean climates, while conserving natural resources (e.g., water, nitrogen, etc.). This project showcases a variety of agroforestry methods for five common plant communities of California and other analogous Mediterranean climates at the CAFES Experimental Farm on the campus of Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Plant community species and their ethnobotanical uses were analyzed to mimic and incorporate aspects of native flora. Agricultural plants were also characterized to represent each of the five selected plant communities. GIS was used to assess the project site for soil, slope, and …

Nebline, March/April 2023

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Youth-Led Photovoice Project Gives Refugees Opportunity to Explore Mental Health by Emily Gratopp

Upcoming Photovoice Exhibits

Recipe of the Month: Baharat (Middle East Spice Blend) by Emily Gratopp

Early Season Disease Control in the Home Orchard by Sarah Browning

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

2023 Chemigation Training

Farm Estate Planning Workshop, March 7

2023 Lincoln Early Childhood Conference, Saturday, March 25

Two Lancaster 4-H’ers Participated in National 4-H Congress

4-H Horse Judging Team at Nationals

Teen Council 4-H’ers Team Up to Lead Lock-In

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Trevor Kauer and Bethany Bettenhausen

4-H Club Gives Youth With …

Nebline, November/December 2023

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Students Engaged in Culinary Experience With Local and Indigenous Foods

Recipes of the Month: Brownie Batter Hummus and Bison Pizza Topping by Alyssa Havlovic

Time to Order Tree Seedlings

Love Gardening? Become a Master Gardener!

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

ProHort Lawn & Landscape Update

Upcoming Green Industry Conferences

Problematic Frozen Pipes Can be Prevented With Routine, Pre-Winter Maintenance by Becky Schuerman

Successful Farmer Series Will Dig Into Cropping Systems Hot Topics

Cover Crop Grazing Conference, Nov. 7

Pester the Pests or Leave the Leaves? by Kait Chapman

Promoting Language Development in Young Children by Hayley Jackson

Heart …

Nebline, January/February 2023

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

2022 Extension Highlights

Thank You Volunteers! Valued at $711,217

From the Unit Leader: Global Connections

4-H Programs Engaged 32,332 Youth

Setting Sustainable, Healthy New Year’s Resolutions by Alyssa Havlovic

Recipe of the Month: Berry Good Pancakes by Aylssa Havlovic

Garden Guide: Thing to Do This Month

Extension’s 2023 Master Gardener Volunteer Training Begins Soon

Upcoming Green Industry Conferences

ProHort Lawn & Landscape Update

2023 Pesticide Applicator Trainings

Crop Production Clinics

Upcoming Ag Workshops

Minimizing the Impact of Winter Weather on Water & Wastewater Systems by Becky Schuerman

Bringing Motor Play Indoors for Young Children by Hayley Jackson

Tiny Bugs in …

It Turned Into A Bioblitz: Urban Data Collection For Building Scientific Literacy And Environmental Connection, Kelly O'Donnell, Lisa Brundage

Publications and Research

In 2013, Macaulay Honors College redesigned its required science curriculum to focus on scientific literacy skills rather than content. Central to this shift was inclusion of a data collection event, a BioBlitz, to provide students with the basis for their own semester-long research projects. Students are teamed with naturalists in an urban green space to find as many species as they can in 24 h and to contribute to a global biodiversity database via the app iNaturalist. We have learned two important lessons: (1) developing an interdisciplinary curriculum with a high degree of experiential learning is more successful when both …

Discoverinsects.Com: An Interactive Tool To Introduce Younger Audiences To Entomology, Ian Eldred

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

Early in life, children’s views towards arthropods can be tainted by many things. One major way is through the views held and expressed by those that surround them, especially their caregivers. Tools are needed to reach children during these crucial developmental ages and expose them to all of the wonderful things arthropods do and educate them on how big of a role arthropods play in the lives of every human around the globe. As digital technology in households is becoming more apparent and accessible, new ways to engage these audiences need to be developed and utilized. This creates a unique …

Middle Savannah River: An A/R/Tographic Ecopedagogical Ethnography Experimenting With Rhizomatic Perspectives, Lisa Augustine-Chizmar

College of Graduate Studies: Theses & Dissertations

This research is an experiment in perspective. Using the four commonplaces (Schwab, 1978), I practiced letting the Savannah River teach me what there is to know about the water, the land, the people, and the other entities that depend on ki through artistic, ethnographic, and ecopedagogical lenses. The ethnographic findings describe the social actors that depend on ki and give a voice to the River. The a/r/tographic findings display the River on a canvas map through two hundred years using paint, clay, photography, video, abstract acrylics, and fabric. Together, these methods contribute to a unique ecopedagogical journey. This word cloud …

"Entomology In Citizen Science" Course Materials, Kristen A. Lewis

Department of Entomology: Distance Master of Science Projects

"Entomology in Citizen Science" introduces students to entomology in literature, in science articles and studies, and in inquiry-based field experiences. Students engage in citizen science by surveying arthropods in the local environment and posting pictures on iNaturalist. Arthropod surveys conducted in this course will serve as baseline biodiversity measures and will be continued and added to by future classes. Written, visual, and mathematic expression are taught in this course, and course objectives align with the Benchmarks for Science Literacy Project 2061 (American Association for the Advancement of Science; 1993).

Includes numerous supplemental materials.

Science, Technology, Engineering, And Mathematics (Stem) Project-Based Learning (Pbl) Education: A New Mexico Case Study For Equity And Inclusion, Kimberly A. Scheerer

Teacher Education, Educational Leadership & Policy ETDs

This research addresses how student participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) project-based learning (PBL) education activities encourages underrepresented minority student achievement in STEM career field trajectories. Seven New Mexico high school counselors and 12 STEM organization personnel were interviewed during this study. Their responses represent the nuanced professional voices where New Mexico public education intersects with STEM student interest and cultural influence.

For students, STEM PBL can foster deep integration across educational disciplines and enhance STEM career trajectory interest and readiness. STEM education converged with PBL methodologies has the ability to leverage community support while broadening student networks. …

Nebline, November/December 2022

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Holiday Wellness Tips by Alyssa Havlovic

Holiday Food Safety Quiz by Alyssa Havlovic

Recipe of the Month: Acorn Squash Cranberry Kale Salad by Alyssa Havlovic

Winter Protection for Potted Trees and Shrubs by Sarah Browning

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

What's the Deal With Smelly Well Water? by Becky Schuerman

Cover Crop Grazing Conference, Nov. 1

Pantry Pests by Kait Chapman

Bedtime Blues for Young Children by Hayley Jackson

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Beatrice 77 Livestock and Lon and Carol Bohling

State 4-H Archery Outdoor Results

20 Years of Heart of 4-H Award!

4-H Announcements for Enrolled …

Nebline, October 2022

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

4-H Youth Thrive at Super Fair With Community Support

Apples by Nebraska Extension Staff and Interns

Recipes of the Month: Crunchy Apple Roll and Easy Apple Salad by Kayla Colgrove

Fall Watering Aids Tree & Shrub Health by Sarah Browning

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Maintaining Your Septic System by Becky Schuerman

A Wasp in Disguise: The Velvet Ant by Kait Chapman

4-H’ers Test Family and Consumer Science Skills at Life Challenge

4-H’ers Test Their Knowledge of Animals and Decision-Making Skills at PASE

4-H Announcements for 4-H'ers and Volunteers

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Capital City Horse and …

Proximate And Ultimate Perspectives On Romantic Love

The International Journal of Ecopsychology (IJE)

Romantic love is a phenomenon of immense interest to the general public as well as to scholars in several disciplines. It is known to be present in almost all human societies and has been studied from a number of perspectives. In this integrative review, we bring together what is known about romantic love using Tinbergen’s “four questions” framework originating from evolutionary biology. Under the first question, related to mechanisms, we show that it is caused by social, psychological mate choice, genetic, neural, and endocrine mechanisms. The mechanisms regulating psychopathology, cognitive biases, and animal models provide further insights into the mechanisms …

Nebline, August/September 2022

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Nutrition Security: A New National Focus by Emily Gratopp

Recipe of the Month: Starwberry Smoothie and Freezer Pop by Emily Gratopp

Harvesting & Drying Herbs by Sarah Browning

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Water Play Fun by Hayley Jackson

Controlling Poison Hemlock by Melissa Bartels

Summer Brings Singing Cicadas by Kait Chapman

4-H Announcements for Enrolled 4-H'ers or 4-H Volunteers

Lancaster County Super Fair, July 28-Aug. 6, 2022

4-H Will Livestream from the Fair! YouTube

Join 4-H!

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Sonja Moore and Lancaster County Engineering Department

4-H Teen Council Invites New Members

4-H Council Golf …

Nebline, June/July 2022

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Tick Tips for Tick “Season”

Contribute to Data on Nebraska Statewide Tick Distribution

Tips for Staying Hydrated by Kayla Colgrove

Recipe of the Month: Orange Slushie by Kayla Colgrove

Miniature Gardens: A fun way to get your child interested in gardening by Sarah Browning

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Managing Hard Water by Becky Scheurman

So You’ve Inherited a Farm, Now What?

Listen to CropWatch Podcast

Young Kids Learning in the Kitchen by Hayley Jackson

Free Beg Bug Programs

Next Chapter at Nebraska

Babysitting Training for 5th–10th Graders, June 9

Plant Science Online Contests

4-H Council Golf Tournament …

Sprouting Systems, Abaigeal Aydt, Cassidy Smith

Honors Program: Expanded Learning Clubs

After taking a class at UNL about environmental awareness, two honors students paired up to start a hydroponics club at a local Lincoln school. In reaching out to the LPS director of sustainability, they were paired up with Prescott Elementary School. Over the course of a semester, they developed a club that got a hydroponic grow tower functioning for the school and taught students about nutrition and sustainability. This club is only in its beginning stages, but the impacts that it is making around the school can already be seen.

Nebline, May 2022

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Insect and Disease Control for Organic Vegetable Gardeners by Sarah Browning

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

An Egg-cellent Choice!

Recipe of the Month: Sweet Potatoes and Black Bean Hash by Alyssa Havlovic

It’s Time for Private Well Maintenance by Becky Scheurman

Cash Rent Survey

Composting Demonstrations

Monarchs, Migration & Milkweed by Kait Chapman

Getting Outside to Play by Hayley Jackson

4th Graders Learn About “Farm to Fork” at Ag Festival

4-H Clubs Helped at Kiwanis Karnival

Support Local 4-H Youth During “Give to Lincoln Day”

4-H Achievement Celebration

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Rick Waldron

3 Lancaster County …

Shew Family Farms Shares Their Story In Honor Of Athen's Farmers Market 50th Anniversary, Marjorie Shew, Kassidy Rock

Spring 2022 Oral Histories: Athens Farmers Market and The Ridges

Member of the Athens Farmers Market since1984, Marjie Shew of Shew Family Farms, now known as Shew's Grassfed Beef, shares her story. From beginning in upstate New York to living on a commune in West Virginia, to owning an orchard with her husband in Morgan County, Ohio and every step in between.

Employment With The Northwest Territories Aquatics Program: A Significant Life Event?, Sebastien Denize, Audrey R. Giles

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

For over 60 years, the Northwest Territories Aquatics Program (NWTAP) has employed university students from southern Canada with little to no exposure to northern Canada to run seasonal swimming pools and waterfronts in isolated northern communities. In this article, we examine the impact that working for this program had on nine former employees’ lives and whether or not working for the NWTAP could be categorized as a significant life experience. We used thematic analysis of the data from retrospective semi-structured interviews and open-ended questionnaires and identified four themes: (1) employment by the NWTAP enhanced the employees’ self-confidence, independence, and self-efficacy; …

Nebline, March/April 2022

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Become a Groundwater Steward

4 Ways to Celebrate National Nutrition Month

Recipe of the Month

Selecting Fruit Trees for Eastern Nebraska

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

2022 Chemigation Trainings

Lancaster County Ag VIP Awards

Upcoming Early Childhood Trainings

Aleyna Cuttlers Participated in National 4-H Congress

4-H Horse Judging Team at Nationals

Meet 2021–22 4-H Council

Meet 2021–22 4-H Teen Council

Hear of 4-H Volunteer Award: Sherry Kubicek

Hear of 4-H Volunteer Award: Angie Root

4th & 5th Grade Fun Night, March 4

Rabbit Show, March 19

UNL Chick Days, March 26

Bucket Calf Workshop, March 27

Dressage Schooling …

Nebline, January/February 2022

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

2021 Extension Highlights

Your Trusted Educational Resource

4-H Programs Engaged 24,313 Youth

A New Year, A New You, A Renewed Community by Emily Gratopp

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

Extension’s 2022 Master Gardener Training, Two Sites Available

Upcoming Green Industry Conferences

ProHort Lawn & Landscape Update

2022 Pesticide Applicator Trainings

Crop Production Clinics In-Person and Zoom

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award: Phil Wharton and Jenny DeBuhr

Watch Chicks Hatch on Egg Cam

4-H Rabbit Show, March 19

Dog Club Accepting New Members, Starts Jan. 10

4-H Club Gives Youth With Special Needs Opportunity to Show Lambs

4-H Announcements …

A Stillness In The Desert? Engaging The Public Through An Immersive Exploration Of Southwest Soundscapes, Julian Kilker, Thomas Bjelic

Creative Collaborations

The pandemic highlighted the anthropocentric nature of soundscapes, while the recent popularity of electric cars, quadcopters, and “noise cancellation” earbuds demonstrated how consumer products can rapidly change our awareness of sound. While light pollution is already extensively addressed in scholarly research, popular works such as The End of Night, and public engagement such as The International Dark Sky Association, the complex interplay of sound, natural resources, and public engagement is still emerging, particularly in creative fields.

Two UNLV scholars and artists are collaborating on this project: Julian Kilker, who specializes in visual and emerging technology research, and Tom Bjelic, who …

Winter Wings: An Introduction To Environmental Education, Samuel G. Mothner

Undergraduate Theses, Professional Papers, and Capstone Artifacts

No abstract provided.

Plaster Creek Stewards - Urban Habitat Restoration With Green Team, Jia Luchs, Clare Doss, Rachel Warners, Dave Warners, Deanna Geelhoed

Student Papers and Reports

Plaster Creek, though its watershed is home to many potential stewards in Grand Rapids, is the most polluted creek in West Michigan. The Green Team, a branch of Plaster Creek Stewards, is a group of students that work during the summer with a focus on research, education, and working directly to restore the Plaster Creek Watershed. The Green Team works toward this goal through urban green infrastructure, utilizing native plants to manage stormwater. Two Calvin students, Jia Luchs and Clare Doss, and twenty high school students living in the Plaster Creek watershed were hired by Plaster Creek Stewards this summer …

Greta Thunberg: A Small But Mighty Voice For The Environment, Madilyn Mortelliti

Faculty Curated Undergraduate Works

Abstract

This research paper discusses Greta Thunberg and the impact she has as a climate change activist. Thunberg faces many challenges as a young woman, but overcomes these difficulties while encouraging others to follow in her footsteps. She presents herself as a positive role model for younger generations. Thunberg has many accomplishments as an extremely young woman that leads to her global iconicity. She makes her power known in front of the highest ranked men in the world which forces legislation to make a change. Thunberg motivates others to make a difference before all hope is lost.

Wrack Lines Volume 21, Number 2, Fall/Winter 2021-22, Nancy C. Balcom, Judy Benson, Syma A. Ebbin, Kira Goldenberg, Judy Preston, Howard "Mickey" Weiss

Wrack Lines

"Discovery, Rediscovery and Rebirth: new eyes, new understanding of familiar places" is the theme for the Fall-Winter 2021-22 issue. The main article package consists of five stories about the lands and waters that will comprise the Connecticut National Estuarine Research Reserve (CT NERR). These are: overview and introduction; Great Island; lower Thames River; Bluff Point State Park; and Haley Farm State Park. Other articles include one on research into the cause of invasive Cladophora seaweed dominating Little Narragansett Bay; and another on the transformation of the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History.

Nebline, Nov./Dec.2021

NEBLINE Newsletter Archive from Nebraska Extension in Lancaster County

Holiday Food Tips

Recipes of the Month

Traditions Rituals and Routines During a COVID-19 Holiday Season

Wise Use of Private Water and Wastewater Systems Can Make the Holidays More Peaceful

Dormant Lawn Seeding

Garden Guide: Things to Do This Month

4-H Thanks 2021 Sponsors

Farmland Trends and Lease Considerations for 2022 Workshop

Upcoming Early Childhood Trainings

Ag Society Annual Election & Meeting

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award, Jamie Wood

Heart of 4-H Volunteer Award, Julia Plugge

Slime, Jelly Worms & Goo: Food Science 4-H Workshop, Dec. 4

Finger Knit 4-H Workshop, Dec. 11

2021 4-H Horse Awards Night

4-H Announcements …

Geocaching: A New Instructional Tool For Natural Resources Extension And Outreach, Jacob Smith, Dave Coyle, John Thomason, Todd Matthews, John J. Riggins

Journal of Extension

Nonnative pests and pathogens severely affect forest health and are often spread in firewood. Our objectives were to create an extension education program using “Don’t Move Firewood”-themed geocaches and travel bugs which were placed near campgrounds across Mississippi, and to assess the efficiency and effectiveness of this outreach method. Interactions with caches and travel bugs were monitored over nearly one year and summarized to provide a measure of outreach success. With a one-time per-unit cost of $45.95 for caches and $6.75 for travel bugs, these tools provide ongoing, cost-effective educational approaches well suited to augment existing or launch new outreach …

Post Pandemic Aquatics: Professionals On Deck, Susan J. Grosse

International Journal of Aquatic Research and Education

As aquatic programs re-open and/or expand as COVID restrictions lift, avoiding virus transmission is a top health and safety concern. This article presents options for safe social distancing for professionals and participants during teaching of swim lessons, coaching sessions, and aquatic exercise classes. Emphasis is on practical, session-to-session issues. Suggestions are applicable to all ages of participants in aquatic programs. Focus is on information for aquatic professionals providing direct participant service. Guidelines for program management are also included.