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Summary

As COVID-19 began to spread across the US, extension faculty and staff had to find new and impactful ways to reach and serve clientele. The Camden County Extension Office’s Agriculture and Natural Resources program began an ongoing virtual lunch and learn program that increased program participation numbers – reaching greater numbers of clientele over a larger geographic area than previously accomplished with traditional programming.

Situation

COVID-19 created a need for a new way to do business and serve clientele for extension programs whose primary focus has always been in person programming. Agents needed to find creative new ways to meet clientele needs such as lab samples, educational classes and workshops, and consultations. In addition to meeting these needs, agents needed a way to sustain relationships with established clientele and stakeholders while also continuing to recruit new clients to extension.

Response

The Camden County Agriculture and Natural Resources Program created an ongoing series of virtual lunch and learn programs to stay connected to current clientele, increase new clientele, and to continue impactful educational programming through a time when in person programming was not possible or safe. The program began in mid-April with programs weekly through the end of May. Due to the popularity of the programs (and continued pandemic) a second set of programs was scheduled. Programs were moved to once a month to allow for other programmatic obligations, and were scheduled through the end of 2020. If popularity continues and enrollment stays up, this program will continue indefinitely. Programs are held on Fridays from 12pm to 1pm. Topics included Gardening in a Sub-Tropical Swamp, Welcoming Pollinators to Your Landscape, Composting Basics, Watering in the Landscape, Native Plants and Low Maintenance Landscapes, Encouraging Biodiversity at Home, Welcoming Wildlife, Hurricane Preparation – Making a Plan, Invasive Plants in the Home Landscape, Snakes of Georgia, Seed Saving, Misunderstood Species, Citrus Issues in the Home Landscape, Pruning Basics.

Impact

All end of course evaluations submitted (100%) stated that the course(s) they attended had increased their knowledge in the subject area, while 95% stated that they had experienced a behavior change as a result of the webinar(s) that they attended. Behavior changes shared by participants included beginning to compost waste, reduction or elimination of pesticide use, adding habitat needs for wildlife and pollinators to the landscape, creating a hurricane preparedness kit, sharing information learned with others, utilizing IPM strategies, removing invasive plants from the landscape, greater appreciation of and more time spent in natural areas, and adding native plants to the landscape. Through this virtual platform the agent was able to connect with many more clients than usual, and over a greater geographic area. Attendees lived throughout the state of Georgia, and there were several attendees from states across the US. Through the virtual platform the agent had up to 170 attendees per session. In person the most she is able to accommodate is 20 attendees per session. The timing and virtual platform allowed busy working clientele to attend who often can’t commit to in person programming. One participant commented, “I have thoroughly enjoyed these classes as well as the instructor. Great info put out in an easy to understand way with access to more fabulous info by links provided. Thank you so much! I hope these courses continue as they have made a huge impact on our lives as I am able to pass this info on to my children and friends!” Another shared, “Jessica is right on spot with her knowledge and comprehension of our more specific issues in Camden County. This helps so much.” One participant shared, “The zoom meetings are really great and I’d love to see them continue after the pandemic because they are very accessible.”

State Issue

Sustainability, Conservation, & the Environment

Details

  • Year: 2020
  • Geographic Scope: State
  • County: Camden
  • Location: College Station, Athens
  • Program Areas:
    • Agriculture & Natural Resources
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Author

  • Warren, Jessica
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Extension Impact