Our vision

Connecticut Cooperative Extension System is recognized as a premier educational network. It is a dynamic organization strengthening individuals, families, and communities in partnership with the Federal Extension System.

Family and consumer sciences

Individuals and homeowners can learn ways to manage their property to protect their health, financial investment and the environment through efforts to protect Connecticut’s water resources. Workshops and educational materials provide participants with information to help manage their property and home water systems. Topics include:

• Managing Home Water Systems
  • Wells 
  • Septic Systems
• Sustainable Landscaping for Water Quality
  • Home Lawns     
  • Sustainable Gardens
• Master Gardener Training:  Sustainable Lawns for Connecticut Homes http://www.sustainability.uconn.edu

Environmental landscape management

The program provides information and assistance to residents in understanding and developing sustainable landscapes. Trained extensively in horticulture and diagnostics skills, Master Gardener volunteers distribute educational material and programs to the community. The program provides:

• Master Gardener Training
• Advanced Master Gardener Training
• Community based educational programs
• Tours of the Center’s Sustainable Landscape
• Horticultural diagnostics – by telephone or office visit
• Youth Horticultural Programs
• Commercial agriculture/Dairy-livestock

People can receive technical assistance on a regional basis through:

• Meetings
• Short Courses
• Educational Tours
• Information Letters
• Office Visits and Consultation
• University specialists to assist with specific problems

Forestry and wildlife management

Owners of wooded land from 1/4 acre to several hundred acres can learn about the enhancement of that land for wildlife, clean water, recreation, wood products and other benefits. They can also learn about conservation planning at the neighborhood or municipal level, and about passing their land on to the next generation successfully. Exciting and rewarding volunteer opportunities are available through the Coverts Project, which offers free training in forest and wildlife conservation for those interested in volunteering some time. UConn Cooperative Extension Forestry Web site [http://www.canr.uconn.edu/forest]

4-H/Youth development

The mission of 4-H is to assist youth in developing leadership, citizenship and life skills; enabling them to become self directing, productive and contributing members of society. This mission is carried out through the involvement of 4-H Volunteers and 4-H Program Staff who organize and conduct educational activities including:

• 4-H Camping, Fairs,  Clubs & After-school programs.
• Environmental & Earth Science, Communications, Consumer Science, Plants & Animals, Science & Technology, Workforce Preparation, Citizenship & Leadership programs and much more.

Connecticut 4-H Program Web site [http://www.4-H.uconn.edu]

Ragged Hill Woods Environmental Education Program

Ragged Hill Woods provides environmental education programs for grades K through 6. The program specializes in hands-on, experiential natural science education both in the field and in the classroom. It is a collaborative program co-sponsored by the University of Connecticut

Cooperative Extension System, the CT Audubon Society, Eastern CT State University, and the Windham County 4-H Foundation, Inc.

EFNEP

The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program provides nutritional education to income-eligible families. These are community outreach programs for people from pre-kindergarten to adults.

Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program Web site [http://www.canr.uconn.edu/nusci/outrch/EFNEP.html]

The Green Valley Institute

GVI is an educational resource available to the 35 towns of the Quinebaug-Shetucket National Heritage Corridor (26 towns in CT & 9 towns in MA). GVI is a partnership between the Quinebaug-Shetucket Heritage Corridor, UCONN College of Agriculture & Natural Resources, UMASS Extension and the Nature Conservancy.  Educational programs are available to town land use commissions, private farm and forest owners, realtors and others in:

• Land use & community planning;
• Land use economics;
• Open space and natural resource prioritization and protection;
• Historic district and village center design and planning;
• Conservation development options

The Institute also recruits and trains volunteers who can choose from a variety of conservation volunteer alternatives.

Green Valley Institute Web site [http://www.greenvalleyinstitute.org]

GVI event listing [http://www.greenvalleyinstitute.org/calendar.php]

Nature Conservancy Web site [http://www.tnc.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/connecticut]

If you don’t see what you’re looking for here, check our statewide database