Institutions Involved
CCS projects may involve one or more institutions in their funding, design and implementation. Many CCS projects are affiliated with research institutions or universities and colleges which store and utilize data. For example, Cornell Lab of Ornithology stores data for both BirthSleuth K-12 and the Lost Ladybug Project.
Sometimes multiple institutions collaborate to support one project. The Lost Ladybug Project, for example, has received funding from the National Science Foundation, a federal government agency, and is a collaboration with 4-H Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners, a state government agency program that partners with volunteers, often through conservation organizationsor community-based organizations. Such partnerships are essential for supporting youth in projects focused on community issues (Monroe et al., 2015; also Andolina, Jenkins, Zukin & Keeter, 2003; Gallant, Smale & Arai, 2010). The sharing of expertise and resources sustains these projects and can also enrich youth learning experiences.
In selecting or designing a project to support learning for youth, there are questions you can ask about institutional involvement:
Do your learning goals point to the need for a locally-based partner?
What resources do you need, and what kinds of institutions could help with that?
Community-Based Organization
Project BudBurst
Vital Signs
Celebrate Urban Birds
(CUBS)
CoralWatch
Tracking Climate
in Your Backyard
Lost Ladybug Project
Conservation Organization
Project BudBurst
LiMPETS
Christmas Bird Count
for Kids
CoralWatch
American Eel
Research
Washington
NatureMapping
Project FeederWatch
Government Agency
Project BudBurst
California Phenology
Project
Students’
Cloud Observations Online
ZooTeach
LiMPETS
GLOBE
American Eel
Research
Washington
NatureMapping
Lost Ladybug Project
K-12 Schools
Museum or Science Center
Project BudBurst
EBAYS
ZooTeach
LiMPETS
BioSITE
Science Action Club
Monarch Larva
Monitoring Project
Other Research Institution
Vital Signs
ZooTeach
Nature’s Notebook
GLOBE
BioSITE
YardMap
CoralWatch
Washington
NatureMapping
Tracking Climate
in Your Backyard
GLOBE at Night
Project Squirrel
University or College
Project BudBurst
California Phenology
Project
EBAYS
BirdSleuth K-12
LiMPETS
Monarch Larva
Monitoring Project
Celebrate Urban Birds
(CUBS)
YardMap
CoralWatch
BeeSpotter
Tracking Climate
in Your Backyard
Project FeederWatch
Monarchs in the Classroom
Web-based Platform
ZooTeach
Nature’s Notebook
iNaturalist
Whales As
Individuals (Zooniverse)
References
Andolina, M. W., Jenkins, K., Zukin, C., & Keeter, S. (2003). Habits from home, lessons from school: Influences on youth civic engagement. PS: Political Science and Politics, 36(2), 275-280.
Gallant, K., Smale, B., & Arai, S. (2010). Civic engagement through mandatory community service: Implications of serious leisure. Journal of Leisure Research, 42(2), 181.
Monroe, Ballard, Oxarart, Sturtevant, Jakes & Evans (2015): Agencies, educators, communities and wildfire: partnerships to enhance environmental education for youth, Environmental Education Research, DOI: 10.1080/13504622.2015.1057555
