2008 Budget Book - Kitsap County Government

Community Service – Other Funds
Cooperative Extension
Purpose:
Mission - Kitsap County Extension engages people, organizations and communities to advance
knowledge, economic well-being and quality of life by fostering inquiry, learning, and the application of
research.
Vision - Kitsap County Extension is the front door to Washington State University. It extends non-credit
education and degree opportunities to people and communities. Extension builds the capacity of
individuals, organizations, businesses and communities, empowering them to find solutions for local
issues and to improve their quality of life. Extension is recognized for its accessible, learner-centered,
relevant, high quality, unbiased educational programs.
Educational programs are provided in the following areas: Sustainable Agriculture; Horticulture; Natural
Resources; Water Quality and Marine Resources; Youth and Family Development; Parent Education;
Nutrition and Food Safety; Clothing and Textiles; Community & Economic Development.
2007 Accomplishments:
• Volunteer Educators and Extension Education Program staff made over 200,000 educational,
informational and technical assistance contacts with county residents over the bi-annual
period.
• Over 900 volunteer educators including WSU Master Gardeners, Weed Advisors; 4-H
Leaders, Food Advisors and Clothing and Textile Advisors provided over 80,000 hours of
educational programming with an in-kind community service value of over $ 1.5 million.
• Increased assess and service in higher education - WSU Distance Degree Program had 70
degree seeking students in Kitsap County representing an annual growth rate of 15 percent.
• 255 sustainable small acreage farmers are applying knowledge gained through the
Cultivating Success educational series designed to improve marketing, cultural/production
techniques and economics.
• 45 resident landowners wrote and are implementing their own Forest Stewardship plans
• Over 40,000 home owners & gardeners learned about IPM, sustainable gardening, native
plants, and shoreline and environmental stewardship.
• Noxious Weed Control – Educational assistance was provided to 1,500 homeowners and
landowners on weed ID, IPM helped gain voluntary compliance with noxious weed control
laws by 70 percent of contacts.
• 35 low income residents learned and applied organic and nutritious gardening skills.
• 25 garden plots were planted and tended by youth at the Youth Garden. All excess produce
was donated to the local food bank Fishline to feed hundreds of families in North Kitsap
County.
• 350 youth successfully made presentations qualifying at a blue ribbon level to demonstrate
their skills at the state fair. 70 youth who had never participated in a contest to demonstrate
their skills successfully made a public presentation.
• 80 youth developed new skills in self-sufficiency and outdoor living by participating in
volunteer and staff managed Twin Lakes 4-H Camp.
• The knowledge and skills of 300+ 4-H members qualified them to exhibit or present their
projects at Washington State 4-H Fair.
• Through the youth gardening programs, over 2000 youth and 550 parents learned how to
grow vegetables in their own gardens, how to compost and applied these skills at home.
• Skills learned by 120 low income families reduced the cost of children's wardrobes.
• Over 200 Summer Sewing School youth participants increased their knowledge, fine motor
skills and learned to express their individuality through their sewing project.
• 24 newly trained Shoreline Stewardship advisors provided science based information on
plant selection and BMP’s to 200+ shoreline property owners.
• 1,800 low-income youth learned and adopted healthy nutritional choices and physical
activity.
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