Soil Science Simplified: Fun on the Horizon.

The Crop, Soil and Environmental Science Club at the University of Tennessee strives to continually promote soil's importance through education and outreach. This year we expanded that goal through our creation of a newly developed University of Tennessee Soil Outreach Program (SOP).  This outlet became an ever expanding forum to teach the local Knoxville area youth about soil and its environmental and agricultural importance.  The SOP developed a number of activities tailored for kids grades K-12 meant to inform and stimulate creativity.  These include exercises such as soil texturing and trivia games for those attending local farmers markets along with visiting a children’s museum and Montessori school to discuss soil formation and proper land use The members also assisted with a soil judging competition for FFA and 4H students in Clay County, TN, and developed an erosional control demonstration model for UT’s Ag Day celebration.  Along with education, our club is active in our local farming community.  Our members volunteer at outdoor organizations such as Beardsley Community Farm, a CAC AmeriCorp foundation, and UT’s Organic Farm.  Through our involvement with schools, farms, and the local community we have raised awareness of soil and its significant role as one of our most valuable natural resources.