introduction to youth community mapping

YC Mapping: Supporting Youth Community Mapping Projects
University Park, MD

Youth Community Mapping is the most exciting application of technology in the 21st Century.

Our young people, always the first to embrace the benefits of technology, are increasingly exploring their rural areas, towns and cities using Global Positioning Systems (GPS) and the data from those devices, and using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - the hardware, software, and data to manage and analyze geographic information.

In recent years, over 1,000 U.S. counties are building mapping systems that represent their community.

These visualizations, are often of conditions that need improvement and then presented to government officials, public meetings, local fairs and other events.

In many instances, these presentations have led government and civic community leaders to improve conditions and expand services.

Here are just a few benefits to the youth:

	Improved school attendence	Presentation & communication skills
	Understanding of communities	Building values that support others
	Building teamwork skills	Appreciation of their environment
	Critical thinking skills	Improved school performance
	Improved physical fitness	Learning employable skills
	Improved graduation rates	College preparedness

Here are just a few benefits to the communities:

	Improved saftey - fire resource mapping; street maps; studies on routes to school
	Studies of recreation areas - trails, park facilities, and managing the environment
	Studies of farms, farmers markets, and local growers
	Maps and data about historic sites, tourist attractions, and cultural landmarks
	Emergency services studies - evacuation routes, and disaster services
	Animal habitat studies - improving the ecological niches of wildlife
	Fish and game studies - helping improve hunting and fishing opportunities