Author: lleech

Preliminary Analysis

My overall goal with the data Iโ€™ve collected was to get feedback from volunteers at the Heartlands Conservancy event Iโ€™ve attended and put it into a video thatโ€™ll be fun, engaging, and informational to the targeted audience which will be the young adults from 18-25 years old. What Iโ€™ve learned so far from this is that most people do not know much about water conservation and how impactful it is because they werenโ€™t taught it or it was never brought to their attention. Some of the ways you can get young adults โ€œattentionโ€ is via social media. I’ve learned personally that social media platforms are a way that people stay up to date with things going on in the world. So with this information I’ve chosen to come up with a video thatโ€™ll get them engaged. 

To prepare my video, I watched other similar videos. Some videos that I found were videos that showed young adults from the age 18-25doing hands-on learning activities and dealing with plants. In one video it focused on  ways to get young adults engaged about finding ways to save water. I found this video very interesting and helpful because it’s something that any person at any age should know about and not only is it helping us in many ways but also about the environment. This video also highlights common areas where people waste water, like showers, dishwashing, and more. We have to continue to raise awareness about water conservation and encourage people viewing these videos to adapt simple habits that protect water resources. 

After viewing many videos, and analyzing them and coming up with my own, I used the common tactic of bringing topics to young adults from 18-25 years old,about the fact that we use water to drink, shower, wash dishes, and many other things. And if we continue to put something so important to the side it can become  harmful. Speaking of harmful, I also included in my video how not only are humans in need of water but so are plants and animals and it is very important for us to keep the environment safe and clean. 

During my volunteer visit, I also learned about many different plants. Some prairie plants and some native plants. And an important take away that I held onto is how not all plants belong together in one place. One type of plant that I remembered is non-native plants and how it was brought into the United States because of the โ€œlooksโ€ but, little did humans know, it was very invasive, especially towards prairie species. It grows so fast that it blocks the sprout of the prairie plants growing. So during this event I was told this information because I realized I was just volunteering and not knowing what I was doing. So, if there are two things I recommend, it is volunteering and asking questions! You may never know what  lifelong skills or knowledge you could have if you donโ€™t try new things. Especially if itโ€™s something thatโ€™s hands on but also informative at the same time.

Process Description

Laylah Leech

7 October 2025

Dr. Martinez 

CODES221

I am working with my CODES group and Heartlands Conservancy on trying to get more 18-24 year olds to volunteer in conservation activities. My goal is to create a recruitment video. After doing a lot of analyzing and data collecting, some things that Iโ€™ve done to work towards my project, is to analyze YouTube videos, come up with interview questions to ask while recording volunteers, and find a place to interview volunteers. I chose these specific things like videos, interviewing, and going in person to sites because they are a part of how I’ll figure out the answer to my groupโ€™s research question and will help me advertise Heartlands Conservancy programs. First, I analyzed YouTube videos that were centered around getting young adults involved in water conservation. These videos helped me figure out ways I could potentially create my content based video. The output of my videos that I want are that the video would be beneficial to Heartlands, influencing to young adults, and engaging for the public. The interview questions that I came up with also center around how my video will turn out. The questions are based on what influenced them to come out and volunteer for the community to make it a better place and how they can influence others around their age to come out and do similar things theyโ€™ve done. Iโ€™ve chosen to do interviews because the questions will help me deepen my understanding on why there are so many stakeholders on engaging young adults about water conservation. And since I know that technology plays a big part in society right now and how most people get their information, creating this fun but informational video will help others be informed, engaged, and entertained. 

Reflection #2

Since I havenโ€™t been able to go to my on site visit yet, I really cannot give much feedback from it. With that being said, Iโ€™ve been intentionally preparing for the upcoming visits so I can make the most of it. Iโ€™ve been reviewing background materials about the side and the people Iโ€™ll be meeting and interviewing. Iโ€™m focusing more on showing up with curiosity, humility, and a willingness to learn more.

Reflection #1

After talking things over with my team and coming up with questions about what I want to know, Iโ€™ve decided that I will be doing a few content videos for my project. I will be asking at least two boys and two girls questions on why theyโ€™ve come out to the site and what theyโ€™ve gained from being there and if theyโ€™ve gained anything, how can they get others like friends and family to get engaged like them. 

On site, my plans for the semester will be to engage young adults in water conservation using content videos. The reason being is because a lot of young adults nowadays use their phones to get daily โ€œnewsโ€ information. Using these videos and making them interesting and attention grabbing could possibly be a way to get young adults engaged. During this process I donโ€™t think Iโ€™ll have many obstacles and if I do run into any, I know that my partners would be excited to help due to their excitement. I know a possible barrier I could have when trying to build trust with the people who will be included in my videos is getting their consent and letting them know that this is a safe place. I will give the energy that I would like in return to give them that safe space. 

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