Author: lleech

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 I’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 group’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 they’ve done. I’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. 

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

After talking things over with my team and coming up with questions about what I want to know, I’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 they’ve come out to the site and what they’ve gained from being there and if they’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 “news” 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 don’t think I’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.