b'Volunteers and students participate in a variety of transformative learning experiences through the Conservation Training Partnership.Conservation Training Parterships to enhance community engagement ingrazing management plans, interpretive for Teens and Adults environmental issues. nature trails, wildlife monitoring, and Through the CTP, enthusiastic teensmore.and knowledgeable local conservationThe program is truly one with multiple leaders team up to form intergenerationalbenefits. Local organizations and leaders teams, attend a two day workshop toget help in completing long-delayed build their skills, and then apply thesesomeday projects, both participants skills to address local environmentallearn about smartphone mapping tools issues. Many of the tools that the teamsand other technologies, and youth learn to use in the course of the workshopbecome more engaged in conservation are free and accessible smartphonescience and action. It is so inspiring applications that marry mapping andto see local conservation leaders share ecological field data collection, the oper- their passion for the environment with ation of which are taught by Extensionsthe next generation of leaders and to see Cary Chadwick and Dave Dickson. teens share their enthusiasm and tech-The teams then plan and implementnological skills to solve local challenges, a local conservation project, with thesays Geospatial Extension Educator guidance and help of project facultyChadwick. from NRE, Extension and Neag. IssuesJohn Volin, Vice Provost for Academic Conservation Training Partnerships addressed include water quality,Affairs, NRE Professor and the Principal recreational access, invasive species iden- Investigator of the project, says, Its tification and removal, and biodiversity.gratifying to think about all the local Within these broad categories, local proj- conservation projects weve jump-started Connecting Generations for Conservation ects have spanned a wide range includingthroughout the state. HEstream sampling, green infrastructure, The Cheshire Land Trusts largesteducate the public about the trails andThis is just one of over 64 local conservation property, Ives Farm, isencourage their use. The property is nowconservation projects that have been a working 164-acre farm along theone of the land trusts most popular forundertaken throughout the state by Quinnipiac River that includes pictur- recreational use and education about theintergenerational (adult plus teen)Article by David Dicksonesque public hiking trails through 80value of conservation. teams in the Conservation TrainingContactacres of woodlands with mature standsPartnerships (CTP) Program, a multi-de-of oak, mixed hardwoods, and old fieldpartmental and multi-college effort atExtension Coordinator: Cary Chadwickcedars. In recent years, the trails becameUConn that is funded by the Nationalcary.chadwick@uconn.eduovergrown, impassable in spots andScience Foundation. Extension educatorsclear.uconn.edu/geospatiallargely unused.from the UConn Center for Land Use A Cheshire Land Trust volunteerEducation and Researchs (CLEAR)Program Coordinator: Nicole Freidenfeldssought to restore the trails and enlistedGeospatial Training Program collaboratenicole.freidenfelds@uconn.eduthe help of a Lyman Hall High Schoolwith faculty from the Department ofnrca.uconn.edustudent to get it done. Together theyNatural Resources and the Environment organized trail stewardship days to clear(NRE) and the Neag School of Education and clean the trails, used smartphonesto create a unique intergenerational and a 360-degree camera to map them,learning experience with innovative and created an interactive website totechnology and conservation science 14 2019 HIGHLIGHTS OF EXTENSION 2019 HIGHLIGHTS OF EXTENSION 15'