Environmental Awareness, Improvements and EducationPlan of Work

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Boone County CES

Title:
Environmental Awareness, Improvements and Education
MAP:
Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Awareness
Agents Involved:
David Koester, Lacey Kessell
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Pollinators
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Situation:

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).   

 

Long-Term Outcomes:

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.

Intermediate Outcomes:

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.

Initial Outcomes:

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. 

Evaluation:

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

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Homeowners

Project or Activity: Pollinators

Content or Curriculum: Pollinator habitat, planting native, pollinators in the garden; Mason Bees, Monarch Mania

Inputs: Agents, assistants

Date: May, July, August


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 other 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 2023


Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Wildlife Habitat Improvement/Management Assistance; Guided Bird Hikes

Content or Curriculum: Planting native to attract wildlife, wildlife management, pollinators, bird ID

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, Hook and Cook, Kayak Fishing, Explore Gunpowder Creek

Inputs: County staff

Date: Summer and Fall of 2023

 

Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Master Naturalist

Content or Curriculum: Master Naturalist

Inputs: County Staff and other Environmental professionals

Date: Fall-Spring 2022-2023

 

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

Date: Jan-March 2023



Success Stories

Environmental Field Trip Serves over 1300 Youth

Author: Lacey Kessell

Major Program: Natural Resources

Environmental Field Trip Serves over 1300 Youth

The problemAccording to Child Mind Institute and Richard Louv, author of Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-deficit Disorder, kids are spending significantly more time indoors than outdoors.  On average the American child spends 4-7 minutes a day outside in unstructured outdoor play but 7+ hours in front of a screen.  Many studies have proven a wide-range of benefits from children spending times outdoors, ranging from academic improvement to better physical and me

Full Story

Cook Wild Fishing

Author: Lacey Kessell

Major Program: Cook Wild Kentucky

Cook Wild Fishing

The problemKentucky has the third most navigable miles of water in the USA with over 90,000 miles of streams.  It also has 45 major lakes and is the only state bordered on three sides by rivers.  Despite the amount of opportunity in the state, there is still many adults who do not know how to fish, where they can fish, or the laws surrounding fishing, with an even bigger number who have never harvested their catch and cooked it for a meal.  Utilizing outdoor resources is also an e

Full Story
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