Describe the Issue or Situation.

According to the Kentucky Energy & Environment Cabinet, Kentucky is second in the United States for the most diverse hardwood species mix.  Forty-eight percent or 12.4 million acres of Kentucky is forestland and eighty-eight percent of Kentucky's forestland is owned by private landowners.   The 2022 Census of Agriculture shows that 33% of the farmland in Carter County is woodlands.  The county seat of Carter County, Grayson, is known as the “heart of the parks” because of its proximity to three state parks.  These statistics led to the development of this project to meet the following objectives:

1. Allow city and state park visitors to be able to identify and learn more about native trees.
2. Provide park staff with a resource for forestry educational programs.  
3. Provide a resource for 4^th grade students who are completing our county wide 4-H leaf collection project.

Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).

• Tree Identification tags were hung along popular trails and near picnic shelters and playgrounds at Carter County parks.  Site locations were determined by park staff and/or the ANR Agent.  On a few of the trees that the ANR Agent was not fully confident on the correct species, UK Extension Foresters were contacted to help with the identification.   
• Most tags were hung by the extension agent and/or park staff.  As a joint effort with the Elliott County Extension Office, some tags were hung at the Grayson Lake US Army Corp of Engineers property by Elliott County FFA members.  
• The tree tags include the common and scientific names of the tree along with a QR code that links to the UK Extension Forestry Tree of the Week video or Extension factsheet.   

Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience.

• Since 2022, over 175 tags have been hung at six parks including the Grayson Walking Track, Grayson Sports Park, Grayson Lake State Park, Grayson Lake US Army Corp of Engineers, Olive Hill City Park, and Carter Caves State Resort Park.   
• On the first day that tags were hung at Carter Caves State Resort Park, park staff observed visitors scanning QR codes almost immediately.  
• This project has spread to at least one other adjacent county.  Resources have also been shared with several other counties across the state as well as a school in West Virginia.   

Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. Please note that the outcomes statement must use evaluation data to describe the change(s) that occurred in individuals, groups, families, businesses, or in the community because of the program/outreach.

• Although, primarily used as a self-guided activity, the tags have also been used by Extension Agents on our monthly Hike & Learn programs.  Park staff also use them for their outreach programs.  
• The Extension Office has received several compliments from residents and park staff about the benefit of the markers.  Statements from park staff include:
  • “I think it’s been very beneficial to our park. I’ve witnessed many visitors to the welcome center reading the tags and some even keeping a log. I think it’s great!   We have had several school groups and even done some programming at the park with tree identification. So, it has become part of our programming.  When I was very young, many of the trees at most state parks were identified with tags for park visitors. I really appreciate the efforts for this kind of project, because it’s great to be able to educate our visitors and hopefully leave them with a sense of appreciation for their parks.”  -- Carter Caves State Resort Park Manager
  • “Since we do not have a Naturalist on our Park, this has been helpful since we do get questions from campers and hikers regarding the types of trees we have around the Park.” -- Grayson Lake State Park Manager
  • “I use them when I do my guided hikes with kids, and I think them being out for the general public is great. Aside from questions about the dam, tree id questions are my most asked questions. I wish we had better cell service to be able to use the QR codes but that will come with time.”  -- Grayson Lake US Army Corp of Engineers Ranger
• Parents and teachers have also expressed gratitude for the markers in helping with the leaf collections.   
  • “I think that the labels have helped tremendously. I have more students submitting [leaf collections] and the quality is better.”   -- 4^th grade teacher