Utilizing, preserving and protecting Harlan County's Natural ResourcesPlan of Work

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Harlan County CES

Title:
Utilizing, preserving and protecting Harlan County's Natural Resources
MAP:
Natural Resources and Environmental Education
Agents Involved:
Lora Davidson, Raymond Cox, Jeremy Williams
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Natural Resources
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education
Situation:
Harlan County's natural resources are one of it's greatest assets. With more than 250,000 acres of forest and miles of rivers and streams, proper utilization and protection is a high priority.

Due to the abundance of Natural Resources, the County Extension Council members, program groups, and advisory groups, view that the management of natural resources and the improvement of environmental quality plays a key role in Harlan County citizens way of life.

Developing programing will demonstrate that citizens can properly utilize and promoting their natural resources while also protecting it at the same time.
Long-Term Outcomes:
Citizens will embrace the natural resources and environmental stewardship for sustainable use.
Intermediate Outcomes:
Citizens will recognize that natural resources area vital part of the county's economic and ecological framework and can produce benefits and enjoyment. Citizens will also initiate practices and adopt solutions to improve environmental quality. Youth will practice environmental stewardship which they have learned in environmental programs.
Initial Outcomes:
Citizens will gain knowledge in the use of recommended practices to better maintain and responsibly utilize our natural resources and their effects on the environment, economy and way of life. They will also gain the knowledge to educate others.
Evaluation:
Initial Outcome: Citizens gain a knowledge of how to utilize, protect, preserve and promote natural resources
Indicator: Number of citizens that participate in workshops and camps
Method: Program and workshop participation
Timeline: Throughout year

Intermediate Outcome: Youth and adults will be able to recognize that natural resources are a vital part of the county
Indicator: Participation in environmental camps, workshops, and programs
Method: Leaf ID projects, workshop participation
Timeline: Throughout year

Long-term Outcome: Citizens will have an increased knowledge of natural resources and environment in Harlan County
Indicator: Number of citizens that indicate they have made changes to responsibly utilize, protect, preserve produce and/or promote Harlan County's natural resources
Method: Participation in trainings and workshops, educating others, observation
Timeline: Throughout year
Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Environmental Camp

Content or Curriculum: Discussion, demonstrations, and hand-on projects

Inputs: Staff, leaders, specialists,

Date: Fall


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Winter Bird Feeding

Content or Curriculum: Hands-on

Inputs: Staff, volunteers

Date: Fall and winter


Audience: Youth and adults

Project or Activity: Bluebird nesting boxes

Content or Curriculum: Hands-on building of nesting boxes

Inputs: Staff, volunteers

Date: Throughout year


Audience: Adults and youth

Project or Activity: Black Bear Education

Content or Curriculum: "Be Bear Aware"

Inputs: Staff

Date: Throughout year


Audience: Adults

Project or Activity: Forest management

Content or Curriculum: Woodland management, non-timber (Shiitake mushrooms), Master Logger

Inputs: Staff, specialists, volunteers

Date: Throughout year


Audience: Adults and Youth

Project or Activity: Energy savings

Content or Curriculum: Moneywise, presentations

Inputs: Staff, specialists

Date: Throughout year


Audience: Adults

Project or Activity: Backyard Maple Syrup Production

Content or Curriculum: Publications, workshops

Inputs: Staff, specialist, speakers

Date: Fall and Winter


Audience: 4th - 12th grade

Project or Activity: Jr./Sr. Forestry

Content or Curriculum: Identification, measuring, leaf ID

Inputs: Staff, specialists, volunteers

Date: Fall & Spring


Audience: 4th - 6th grade

Project or Activity: Rock Sandwich

Content or Curriculum: Geology, Rock ID Booklet

Inputs: Staff, assistants

Date: Throughout year


Audience:

Project or Activity:

Content or Curriculum:

Inputs:

Date:












Success Stories

Kentucky Maple Syrup Continues to Produce

Author: Jeremy Williams

Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization

There are approximately 59 million maple trees within Kentucky’s extremely dense forest.   The availability of these trees are beginning to show signs of a new enterprise across the state to help drive economic growth for farmers, foresters and landowners.  Maple syrup production has a long history, but in 2016, the Harlan and Letcher County Agriculture and Natural Resources agents worked with maple syrup producers to develop a Kentucky Maple Syrup School. The following year, tha

Full Story

Logger Education

Author: Jeremy Williams

Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization

Kentucky’s timber industry depends on Certified Master Loggers to keep the timber economy strong.  Kentucky Master Logger certification allows the loggers to work with landowners and saw mills to get the product to market.  Due to the pandemic, that demand has been higher than usual.  Without the certification, those loggers can’t perform their jobs and meet the objectives of the industry.  The Master Logger must receive six hours of continuing education credits,

Full Story

Harlan County 4-H Virtual Environmental Camp

Author: Raymond Cox

Major Program: Water and Soil Quality and Conservation

Findings from the PRIDE campaign indicated students in Harlan County were unaware of the effects of pollution on the environment and ways of correcting the problem. Upon the recommendation of the 4-H and Extension Councils, the one day program with a couple of schools turned into a three day Environmental Camp targeting every 4th grader in Harlan County public and private schools. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic we presented a Virtual 4-H Environmental Camp. With the cooperation of the UK College o

Full Story
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