4-H State Marine Ecology Event

LIST OF WINNERS FOR 2009 MEE!


What is the 4-H State Marine Ecology Event?

The 4-H State Marine Ecology Event (MEE) is a competitive event that provides 4-H youth with an opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge of the marine and aquatic worlds. To prepare for the MEE, 4-H Leaders and club members go on marine field trips, visit museums and aquariums, have group study sessions, conduct internet research, and develop their own "mock contests". In the process, youth learn important life skills.

The contest is divided into 5 sections. They are:

• 1. Marine and coastal plant identification
• 2. Marine invertebrate animal identification
• 3. Marine vertebrate animal identification
• 4. Natural History Scavenger Hunt
• 5. Knowledge of marine concepts and issues

The next State Marine Ecology Event will be held Saturday, November 14, 2009 at the Osceola County Extension Office (in Osceola Heritage Park) in Kissimmee, FL.

The State Marine Ecology Event is open to three groups of
4-Hers:

• 1. Juniors (8-10)
• 2. Intermediates (11-13)
• 3. Seniors (14-18)

2009 Study Materials, Guidelines & Forms

• 09 Event Description and Guidelines (pdf)
• 09 MEE Registration Form (pdf)
  
  09 Answer Key to all MC Questions (pdf)
  

Junior Specific Materials

• 09 Junior MC Questions (pdf)
• Junior MEE Species List (pdf)
• Junior Species Identification Guide (pdf)
• 09 Junior Companion Guide (pdf)
• Section 4 Junior Sample Clue Sheet (pdf)

Intermediate/Senior Specific Materials

• 09 Intermediate MC Questions (pdf)
• 09 Senior MC Questions (pdf)
• Intermediate and Senior MEE Species List (pdf)
• Intermediate and Senior Species Identification Guide (pdf)
• 09 Intermediate and Senior Companion Guide (pdf)
• Lesson 4 (for 2009) - Coastal Ecosystems
  
  Special 2009 Topic: Marvelous Marine Arthropods (pdf)
• Section 4 Intermediate and Senior Clue Sheet (pdf)

MEE Study Aides

The following links provide additional materials that may be helpful in preparing youth for the State Marine Ecology Event!

• Preparing 4-H Youth for the MEE (pdf)
• Preparation Strategies for leaders and youth (pdf)
• List of Marine Education centers/facilities in S FL
• Crab Correction Sheet (.doc)
• Grey vs red snapper (pdf)

Picture Flash Cards

These smaller "card-size" photos may be used in "mock MEE contests" by arranging them (or real specimens!) on a table. Youth identify the organisms by name and/or number from a given list (see next section). These cards may also be used in developing a "mock" scavenger hunts.

• Plant cards with no names
  OR Plant cards with names
• Invertebrate cards with no names
  OR Invertebrate cards with names
• Vertebrate cards with no names
  OR Vertebrate cards with names

Organism Lists

These lists may be used for setting up mock contests. Youth identify the organism by looking for its name on the appropriate list. Once they see its name they should write down the corresponding number on the answer sheet (see next section). Note: Names are arranged alphabetically in groups so they do not follow the same order as in the slides on the CD.
NOTE: Although they may say 2007, they are for 2009 as well!

• Plant list for Seniors and Intermediates
  AND/OR Plant list for Juniors
• Invertebrate list for Seniors and Intermediates
  AND/OR Invertebrate list for Juniors
• Vertebrate list for Seniors and Intermediates
  AND/OR Vertebrate list for Juniors

Practice Answer Sheets

These "mimic" the real answer sheets used in each section of the contest.

Section 1 - Plant Answer Sheet (any level)

Section 2 - Invertebrate Answer Sheet (any level)

Section 3 - Vertebrate Answer Sheet (any level)

Section 4 - Sample Scavenger Hunt Clue/Answer Sheet

• Junior clue sheet
• Intermediate/Senior clue sheet

Section 5 - Multiple Choice Answer Sheet (any level)

• Back to Florida 4-H Marine & Aquatic Education