Extension
It Starts With Us
Environmental Awareness, Improvements and Education
Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Awareness
Robert Brockman, Lacey Kessell
Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education
Pollinators
Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Approximately half of Boone County has become urbanized or "suburanized" with development expected to continue at high levels for many years. With less rural environments in the area, more community members want to utilize safe green spaces or convert well-manicured lawns into wildlife friendly habitat. Development also has caused many concerns for water quality and loss of trees/forests in the area. As the population in Boone County continues to grow, and urban areas become more prominent our community has fewer opportunities to explore our natural environment. Homeowners have also shown significant interest in keeping/creating habitat for wildlife on their properties no matter how small or large.
The community (via the Community Assessment), as well as Boone County School systems have identified a need for hands-on experiences that make connections to our natural resources and the State Education Core Standards (for schools).
Habitat improvement practices will increase the biodiversity of native flora and fauna within communities, promoting further positive environmental change.
Environmentally friendly practices will be adopted within schools and our communities, preserving our natural resources.
An increase in the community utilizing local green spaces and natural areas for learning and well-being.
Increase understanding and appreciation for nature and environmental issues within the community.
Participants will implement habitat improvements on their properties.
Community members will choose to become more environmentally friendly practices by recycling more, polluting less, planting more native plants and decreasing negative impact on our environment.
More community members are utilizing the environment and teachers are using environmentally focused curricula in their classrooms.
Participants will learn habitat management and improvement methods for landscaping in their lawns.
Participants will learn ways to improve and conserve natural growing areas such as woodlots and former farmlands.
The community and the youth within it, will better understand ecosystems and our relationship and impact on natural systems. Program engagement will increase community appreciation for their environmental and strive to decrease negative impacts.
Initial Outcome: Participants will learn ways to improve and conserve natural growing areas such as woodlots, aquatic systems, meadows
Indicator: improved knowledge of habitat management for various uses
Method: survey
Timeline: as program opportunities occur
Initial Outcome: Participants will learn of locations and ways to enjoy green spaces throughout their community
Indicator: Enjoyment and increase of outdoor activities engaging in the environment
Method: Oral evaluation during and after program
Timeline: as program opportunities occur
Intermediate Outcome: Participants will implement habitat improvements on their properties.
Indicator: number of improvements made
Method: post-survey
Timeline: as program opportunities occur
Intermediate Outcome:
More educators are utilizing the environment and environmentally focused curricula to teach their students and the community. Participant engagement for environmentally friendly programs will increase.
Indicator: More participants in Environmental related programs/volunteer activities
Method: Registrations
Timeline: yearly
Long-term Outcome: Habitat improvement practices will increase the biodiversity of native flora and fauna within communities, promoting further positive environmental change.
Indicator: landowners improving habitats
Method: landowner initiated assessment by wildlife and forestry specialists
Timeline: yearly
Long-term Outcome: The community will utilize local natural spaces to promote learning.
Indicator: Extension program participants will have/utilize natural resources, utilize wildlife habitat practices, and promote environmentally safe practices.
Method: Verbal/written surveys
Timeline: On-going
Audience: Homeowners
Project or Activity: Pollinators
Content or Curriculum: Monarch Mania (August, 2024), Planting Native (May, 2025), Mason Bee Program (May/June, 2025), Planting for Pollinators (April 2025)
Inputs: Agents, assistants
Date: August, April, May, June
Audience: Homeowners, Community Members
Project or Activity: Hike the Trails; Guided Tours
Content or Curriculum: Self-guided tour on the nature trails with native plant identification.
Inputs: Agents, assistants, volunteers
Date: Every Wednesday (self-guided) July-October (2024), May-June (2025) / guided tours on request, Learn the Trails (May & June 2025)
Audience: Homeowners
Project or Activity: Composting
Content or Curriculum: Composting program to educate homeowners how to use yard waste and food scrapes to create soil for their garden.
Inputs: Agents, Hort Tech
Date: Fall 2024
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Wildlife Habitat Improvement/Management Assistance; Guided Bird Hikes
Content or Curriculum: Planting native to attract wildlife, wildlife management, bird ID (Jan. 2025), Wildlife ID (March 2025), Guided Bird Hikes (Sept., 2024 & May, 2025)
Inputs: County staff
Date: Monthly
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Water Ecology/Improvement
Content or Curriculum: Stream management, aquatic wildlife, water ecology, Hook and Cook, Explore Gunpowder Creek, Guided Kayak Trips
Inputs: County staff, Boone County Conservation, Boone County Parks
Date: Summer (2024), Spring (2025)
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Master Naturalist
Content or Curriculum: Master Naturalist
Inputs: County Staff and other Environmental professionals
Date: Summer 2025
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: KY Maple Day, Guided Tours, Youth Field Trips
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Maple, Forestry
Inputs: Agents, Boone County Arboretum, Kentucky Maple Syrup Association, Girl scouts, FFA
Date: Jan-March 2025
Author: Lacey Kessell
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Describe the Issue or Situation.During the Pandemic, National and State Parks such as the Great Smokey Mountain National Park, Daniel Boone National Forest, Red River Gorge all experienced record numbers of visitors at their parks which led to a major increase in Search and Rescue calls due to lost or injured visitors. The demand put tremendous pressure an agencies responsible for visitor safety, to the point that they requested individuals not prepared or unfamiliar with the area stay hom
