Collaborative Youth Engagement for the Protection of Cultural Heritage

A Partnership Advancing Sustainable Development Goals

A recent partnership between the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Canyon Country District and Scouting America’s Troop 8 exemplifies a successful model for achieving key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). This initiative focused on the protection of cultural heritage and environmental education, directly contributing to SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) and SDG 4 (Quality Education) through a framework of multi-stakeholder collaboration, as outlined in SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Project Implementation and Contribution to SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

Target 11.4: Safeguarding Cultural Heritage

A primary objective of the week-long project was the physical protection of a significant archaeological site. This directly addresses SDG Target 11.4, which calls for strengthening efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage. The scouts, aged 11 to 15, undertook the following actions:

1. Transported fourteen 12-foot logs over a quarter-mile distance to the project site.
2. Constructed a protective fence to prevent damage to prehistoric structures from cattle, a known threat to site integrity.
3. Participated in the monitoring and condition assessment of archaeological sites that had not been professionally surveyed in over a decade.

This hands-on conservation work provided a tangible contribution to the long-term preservation of invaluable cultural assets for future generations.

Educational Framework and Alignment with SDG 4: Quality Education

Target 4.7: Education for Sustainable Development

The project was structured to provide high-quality, experiential learning, aligning with SDG Target 4.7, which aims to ensure all learners acquire the knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development. Under the guidance of BLM Archaeologist Chris Shaw, the scouts received comprehensive instruction on several key topics, thereby earning merit badges in archaeology and geology.

Key Learning Outcomes

• Archaeological Site Documentation: Scouts learned professional methods for documenting archaeological sites and assessing their condition.
• Respectful Site Etiquette: The curriculum emphasized principles of responsible visitation and conservation, preparing the scouts to act as ambassadors for heritage protection. Core principles included:
  • Leaving all artifacts in situ.
  • Maintaining a safe and respectful distance from rock imagery and structures.
  • Minimizing physical impact by treading lightly and avoiding contact with fragile features.
• Landscape Interpretation: Participants developed skills in locating and identifying archaeological features within the natural landscape.

Scoutmaster Kevin Ingram noted the project gave the scouts “a better understanding of how important it is to keep these sites safe,” highlighting the program’s success in fostering an appreciation for sustainable practices.

Conclusion: A Model for Youth-Led SDG Action

The collaboration between the BLM and Scouting America’s Troop 8 serves as a powerful case study in leveraging partnerships (SDG 17) to advance sustainability. By engaging youth directly in the protection of cultural resources (SDG 11) through a robust educational framework (SDG 4), the initiative not only accomplished critical conservation work but also cultivated a new generation of stewards for cultural and natural heritage. As stated by the BLM archaeologist, engaging younger groups through experiential learning is critical to ensuring the long-term success of conservation efforts and leaving “the issue of vandalism in the past.”

SDGs Addressed in the Article

SDG 4: Quality Education

• The article highlights an educational initiative where scouts aged 11 to 15 engaged in experiential learning. They worked towards completing merit badges in archaeology and geology, which involved both practical fieldwork and presentations from a professional archaeologist. This directly relates to providing inclusive and equitable quality education and promoting lifelong learning opportunities.
• The program focused on teaching the scouts about “respectful site etiquette” and how to “document archeological sites and assess their condition.” This educational component aims to instill values and knowledge for sustainable development, specifically the appreciation and preservation of cultural heritage.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The core activity described in the article is the protection of cultural heritage. The scouts built a fence to protect an archaeological site from damage by cattle and helped monitor other sites. This directly addresses the goal of making human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable by safeguarding cultural heritage.
• The article emphasizes that the project’s purpose was to “help preserve this site for future generations,” which is a key principle of sustainability and central to SDG 11’s focus on cultural preservation.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The project was a collaboration between Scouting America’s Troop 8 (a civil society organization) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), a government agency. This partnership is a clear example of strengthening the means of implementation for sustainable development.
• The article notes that the National Historic Preservation Act requires federal cultural resource programs to engage with the community, and BLM Archaeologist Chris Shaw finds this engagement “the most rewarding” part of his role. This demonstrates a successful public-civil society partnership working towards a common goal.

Specific SDG Targets Identified

Target 4.7: Ensure all learners acquire knowledge and skills needed to promote sustainable development

• The article details how the scouts acquired knowledge and skills related to sustainable development. They learned about archaeology, geology, and the importance of preserving cultural sites. The presentation by the BLM archaeologist and the hands-on fieldwork provided them with the skills to “educate others on site visit principles,” directly contributing to the promotion of sustainable lifestyles and the appreciation of culture’s contribution to sustainable development.

Target 11.4: Strengthen efforts to protect and safeguard the world’s cultural and natural heritage

• The project is a direct effort to protect and safeguard cultural heritage. The scouts transported “14, 12-foot logs” to construct a fence specifically “protecting an archaeological site from bovine intrusion.” Furthermore, they helped “re-locate and monitor the condition of sites that haven’t been visited by archaeologists for over a decade,” which is a crucial part of safeguarding these resources.

Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships

• The entire initiative is built on a partnership between the BLM (public sector) and Scouting America (civil society). The article describes how the scout troop approached the BLM for an opportunity, and the BLM archaeologist designed and facilitated the project. This collaboration exemplifies the effective partnership model that SDG 17 seeks to promote.

Indicators for Measuring Progress

Indicators for Target 4.7

• Number of youth engaged in education for sustainable development: The article mentions “scouts ranging from 11 to 15 years old” from “Troop 8” participating in the program. This provides a quantifiable measure of youth engagement.
• Acquisition of knowledge: The article implies progress through qualitative descriptions, noting the scouts “raved about everything they did and learned” and asked “very thoughtful and advanced questions.” Their new ability to “educate others on site visit principles” serves as an indicator of knowledge acquisition.

Indicators for Target 11.4

• Number of cultural sites protected or conserved: The article describes the construction of a fence to protect one specific archaeological site and the monitoring of several other sites (“re-locate and monitor the condition of sites”). The number of sites actively managed or protected can be used as an indicator.
• In-kind contributions to heritage preservation: While not monetized, the labor provided by the scouts to “transport 14, 12-foot logs” and “construct the fence” represents a significant in-kind contribution from the private non-profit sector towards the preservation of cultural heritage, which aligns with the spirit of Indicator 11.4.1.

Indicators for Target 17.17

• Number of multi-stakeholder partnerships: The article describes one specific partnership between a government agency (BLM) and a civil society organization (Scouting America). The existence and successful execution of this project serve as a qualitative and quantitative (one partnership) indicator of progress towards this target.

SDGs, Targets, and Indicators Analysis

Source: blm.gov