Learn by Camping: Classes for All
Land & Homesite Judging
GOAL: To teach 4-H youth how to evaluate soils and to make proper land use recommendations with
respect to our environment and earn the opportunity to compete for the National Land and Homesite Judging
Championship.
OBJECTIVES:
A.
Overall: To teach 4-H youth how to evaluate soils and to make proper land use
recommendations with respect to our environment.
B.
Youth Development:
1.
To develop personal self-confidence
2.
To develop reasoning skills
3.
To develop verbal communication skills
4.
To develop teamwork among youths
5.
To develop interpersonal skills
C.
Subject Matter:
1.
To aid in the understanding of basic soil differences as they affect crop
production.
2.
To aid in the understanding of different management practices important to
proper use of soil and water.
3.
To aid in the understanding of the effect of different land features on land use
and management.
4.
To aid in the understanding of different soil and water conservation practices.
4-H CAMP LESSON OUTLINE:
Day 1
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Introduction to soil and its importance to all of life.
Introduce and provide history of Land and Homesite Judging (what it is and how it is
important in selecting land for various uses.
Hand out land and homesite judging books and scorecards.
Provide measurement information about the card/clipboard dimensions.
Do a brief exercise helping members to hold clipboards level and explain how they are used
to determine slope. (Don’t make a big deal out of the slope determination at this point. Just
explain how to do it and have fun helping them learn to get their clipboards level! Slope will
be the most difficult factor for them to learn so get ready to learn and practice patience!)
Stephanie Nestor, WVU Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development – Ritchie County
July 16
Page 1 of 3
Learn by Camping: Classes for All
Day 2
1.
Teach about the various soil properties and help participants develop an “informational study
card”:
a.
Texture
b.
Depth
c.
Erosion
d.
Permeability
e.
Internal Drainage
f.
Surface runoff
g.
Slope
h.
Flood Hazards
Day 3
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Explain how some categories within the various soil properties are “limiting factors”
and therefore affect how the land can best be used without harming the soil.
Explain the eight different Land Capability Classes.
Explain how these limiting factors determine what the Land Class will be.
Introduce and explain how the Land Class determines what vegetative, mechanical,
and lime and fertilizer applications would be recommended.
Explain how and when each of the vegetative, mechanical, and lime and fertilizer
recommendations are use.
Explain the use of and importance of the Field Sign that will be at each hole.
Day 4
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Teach what practices “go with” each particular land class and add these to the “informational
study card”.
Do some examples that will cause participants to practice using their “informational study
card”.
Introduce the Homesite Scorecard and explain how the same soil properties are used to
determine the suitability of a soil site for the purposes of building a home on it.
Provide the numbers necessary to develop a Homesite “informational study card”.
(Note: Don’t worry if step 4 is not achieved on Day 4. The homesite judging part is mostly
memorization of a series of numbers. The actual judging part is extremely close to the
judging that is done for the land judging part. Members can do the memorization late; they
need to learn the land judging part first.
Stephanie Nestor, WVU Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development – Ritchie County
July 16
Page 2 of 3
Learn by Camping: Classes for All
Day 5
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Dig a soil pit (hole in the ground) that is large enough to allow members to sit on the edge of
the hole and easily see and study the soil profile.
Allow the members to use their “informational study card”. Teach the members what they
need to do in the hole. Instructor should demonstrate the process on this first hole and explain
what they are doing and why.
a.
clean it out first
b.
measure the depth with their scorecard/clipboard
c.
determine surface soil texture
d.
determine where surface and subsoil interface to help with erosion determination
e.
determine permeability
f.
look for drainage mottles and determine at what depth they occur if they are present
Determine slope (may not get this far if it is the first hole for a beginners class).
Read the Field Signs (Land and Homesite)
Find and observe the “field boundaries.”
Complete Land Judging card and Homesite Judging Card.
Score the cards, and encourage members to continue regardless of their score.
Stephanie Nestor, WVU Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development – Ritchie County
July 16
Page 3 of 3