Date

5-2026

Document Type

Capstone Project (Open Access)

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science (B.S.)

Department

Health, Human Services and Public Policy

Major

Collaborative Health and Human Services

First Advisor

Barbara Silverthorne

Second Advisor

Graciela Rodriguez

Abstract

Too many low-income residents of Castroville are not spending enough time in nature, causing negative impacts on both physical and mental health. Ventana Wildlife Society provides programs including after-school programs, Single Day Adventures, and summer camps for youth and families in Monterey County, particularly those from underserved communities. This project focused on the Castroville program. Castroville is a low-income, agricultural, isolated pocket of Monterey County, one of the communities where Ventana allocates its resources. This project implemented an outreach and educational intervention through use of social media by updating the Instagram page for Ventana’s North County Outdoor Program and posting educational content. The short-term goal was to increase participation in the program, contributing to the long-term goal of reducing the number of residents who do not spend enough time in nature. Expected outcomes included achieving at least 100 views per video and a 10% increase in followers. The expected outcomes were partially met, as the average number of views was 383.5; however, follower growth increased by 7.26%. It is recommended that Ventana continue the project and make more video content for its social media platforms. It is also recommended that Ventana evaluate the impact of different forms of outreach by including a section in registration forms asking individuals and families how they heard about the program.

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