Extension
It Starts With Us
Utilizing, preserving and protecting Harlan County's Natural Resources
Natural Resources and Environmental Education
Lora Davidson, Raymond Cox, Jeremy Williams
Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Natural Resources
Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education
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.
Citizens will embrace the natural resources and environmental stewardship for sustainable use.
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.
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.
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
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:
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
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,
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
