Extension
It Starts With Us
Environmental Awareness, Improvements and Education
Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Awareness
David Koester, Gina Ligon, Lacey Kessell
Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education
Natural Resources
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
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.
Environmental Sciences scores will increase in Boone County Schools during State Core Standard Testing.
Environmentally friendly practices will be adopted within schools and our communities, preserving our natural resources.
An increase in schools and 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 and former farmlands.
Indicator: improved knowledge of woodlot management for various uses
Method: survey
Timeline: as program opportunities occur
Initial Outcome: Youth will understand ecosystems and our relationship and impact on natural systems.
Indicator: Participants can correctly answer assessment questions after programming
Method: pre/post assessment
Timeline: as programming occurs
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: Pollinator habitat, planting native, pollinators in the garden
Inputs: ANR agents, assistants
Date: May, July, August
Audience: Homeowners, Community Members
Project or Activity: Hike the Trails
Content or Curriculum: Self-guided tour on the nature trails with native plant identification.
Inputs: ANR agents, assistants, volunteers
Date: Every Wednesday May through October
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: April 2022
Audience: 3rd-4th Grade students
Project or Activity: Spring Environmental Camp
Content or Curriculum: state supported
Inputs: staff, curriculum, volunteers, etc.
Date: March-May
Audience: 4th-5th Grade Students
Project or Activity: Overnight Environmental Camp
Content or Curriculum: state supported
Inputs: staff, curriculum, volunteers, outside resources, etc.
Date: September-October
Audience: 4-H Members
Project or Activity: 4-H Summer Projects
Content or Curriculum: State 4-H fair exhibits
Inputs: Agents, Nature Center
Date: June, July
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Wildlife Habitat Improvement/Management Assistance
Content or Curriculum: Planting native to attract wildlife, wildlife management, pollinators
Inputs: County staff
Date: Monthly, with expected higher focus during spring, summer, and fall months
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Water Ecology/Improvement
Content or Curriculum: Stream management, aquatic wildlife, water ecology
Inputs: County staff
Date: June, July
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Master Naturalist
Content or Curriculum: Master Naturalist
Inputs: County Staff and other Environmental professionals
Date: May, June, July 2022
Author: Lacey Kessell
Major Program: Cook Wild Kentucky
According to Kentucky Fish and Wildlife's Kentucky Deer Report, there is over 933,000 deer in the state of Kentucky. Boone County has some of the highest densities of deer in the state and hunters are able to take as many antlerless deer as needed with 1,827 deer being harvested within the county in 2020. In order to promote sustainable populations of deer and healthy living for local families, Boone County Extension partnered with KY Fish and Wildlife to present a 3-part F
Author: David Koester
Major Program: Horticulture, Commercial
Every growing season brings about landscape problems. Boone County experienced a cool wet spring in 2021 which brought on a wide array of landscape problems on ornamental plants,turfgrass, and fruits and vegetables by mid summer. The usually reliable landscape staple blue spruce was devastated by Rhizophaera Needle Cast disease. Throughout the tri-state area this valuable plant was no longer adding value to landscapes. Over 30 specimens were brought to our office for diagnosis. Homeowners, nurse
Author: Christy Eastwood
Major Program: Natural Resources
Growing your own herbs can provide you fresher herbs that you could ever purchase at the store. And growing your own herbs will provide you a constant supply to add flavor to your dishes. Having multiple fresh herbs to choose from will add variety to your diet that doesn't take the fun out of eating healthy. The Boone County Extension Horticulture Advisory Council requested a class be taught on growing herbs. To meet this need the agriculture and natural resources agent, the 4-H youth d
Author: Lacey Kessell
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Maple syrup production has existed in Kentucky for hundreds of years. However, over generations the production of maple syrup on farms and homesteads seems to have been lost throughout the Kentucky, as very few woodland owners in Boone County still practice it today. Although only 36% of Boone County is wooded, maple trees are a fairly common street tree and are regularly used in suburban landscapes across the county, giving maple tapping opportunities for homeowners on even small ac
Author: Lacey Kessell
Major Program: Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education
The American Kestrel used to be a common sight perched on power lines and fence post along roads and open fields. With each year, less and less of these small falcons are being observed across the country. Since the 60’s their populations are declining by an average of 1% annually across the country (over a 50% population decline since 1966). Although there is speculation among scientist and wildlife biologist as to the reason of this decline, without a more widespread da
