GISCorps volunteers offered cartographic mentorship

Throughout the United States, 4-H clubs are using GIS to prepare the next generation of geospatial professionals to be Beyond Ready by introducing them to data and geographic science. Facilitated by this organization, youth gain technical experience with geospatial tools and apply this technology to understanding today’s and tomorrow’s most pressing problems. By encouraging student interaction within their local and broader communities, this organization is helping build future leaders in Geographic Information Systems.

In partnership with the National 4-H Geospatial Leadership Team, GISCorps brought back two volunteers, Samantha Olivieri of Wisconsin and Meredith Lowden of New Jersey, to assist in mentoring a group of students in the creation of cartographic deliverables to be displayed at the annual Esri User Conference Map Gallery. Samantha and Meredith also helped students in 2024 prepare for this conference. 4-H students diligently researched pressing complex issues and mapped them, practicing analysis and critical thinking skills in service to their communities.

Samantha and Meredith kicked off the project by crafting a presentation outlining cartographic best practices and theory to establish a baseline for the student’s edification. They also provided an overview of interacting with symbology and visualization using both ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online functions. From there, the youth developed their final print and digital maps for review. Once the drafts were complete, the volunteers met one-on-one with the 4-H students to provide guidance and feedback and help inform the final products displayed in the Map Gallery at Esri’s International Users’ Conference in San Diego. The completed work included individual project analyses, methodologies, large-format cartographic deliverables, and digital ArcGIS Online story maps.

The students attended the conference mainly virtually, with a couple having the opportunity to attend in person. Some of the projects included: Evaluating the Impacts of Tobacco Advertising on Young Minds, Mapping Banks & Barriers: Visualizing Financial Disparities In Mecklenburg County, NC, and Business Trends in San Ramon, California, from 2018-2024. To view more of the student maps, check out the virtual map gallery and filter the industry/theme by K-12 (Virtual Map Gallery)

Map from the Story Map “Evaluating the Impacts of Tobacco Advertising on Young Minds”.

This GISCorps partnership with 4-H exemplifies the best of what GIS is not only a tool, but also a legacy that current Geospatial Professionals foster in our future colleagues in all industries.

Fantastic project this year! –Dr Thomas Ray, 4-H Youth Development

Project Complete.