MAKING WHEP A SUCCESSExperience is the key to success.

Experience is what you get when things don’t work!

How We Got Started

We organized a Forestry and Wildlife Club• Listened to speakers• Poster contest• Demonstrations• Field trips and tours

Needed a place to do some “hands on stuff”• The idea for our own wildlife refuge

Creating a 4-H Wildlife Refuge

Landowner gave a free lease to 46 acres Property had been neglected for years Wrote a grant proposal for $2000 Developed a Management Plan Put up a sign and went to work

An Outdoor Classroom

planted food plots for wildlife built and put up nesting boxes tested water quality built a nature trail conducted prescribed burning stocked and fertilized a pond labeled trees for identification campouts and field days

We Had Lots of Help

Parents helped supervise projects Soils Lab helped with soil/water testing Extension fisheries specialist helped evaluate

fish population Fingerlings from the State Fish Hatchery Pine seedlings donated by timber industry Lumber donated for bluebird house project Forestry Commission helped with burning

Our First WHEP Baby Steps

Our Extension Wildlife Specialists came to the county to introduce us to the event

We started with just 4 senior 4-H club members and started practicing

We used the Tennessee WHEP Manual Attended the first Regional WHEP Event in

Tennessee and placed third (out of 5 teams) The next year Alabama hosted it’s first WHEP state

contest

Recruiting Volunteer Leaders

Anyone with an interest in wildlife and a concern for young people• Department of Conservation (game warden, wildlife biologist,

etc.)• Hunter Safety Instructors • School science teachers• Conservation groups (Audubon, Wildlife Federation, Isaac

Walton League, etc)• Hunters and fishermen, and wildlife watchers• Civic groups• Foresters

Working With the Volunteers

Must pass screening or background check Must have flexible time schedule Must work with all kids regardless of … Must teach according to the manual Must have enthusiasm

Finding Sponsorship

United Way Club fund raisers (sell birdhouses, trees) Sporting goods stores Organizations

• Wild Turkey Federation,Wildlife Federation, Buckmasters, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Hunting Plantations Hunting Equipment Suppliers Local community groups

Know What You Need

Reference books Team shirts or caps Special project materials Trophies, ribbons, prizes Travel/lodging for State Event Travel/lodging for National Event Recognition or Awards Dinner

Recruiting Youth

Start a Natural Resources Club Do some “hands on fun stuff” Show video or slides Field trips to interesting sites Start them off young Roll over from other teams (forestry, shooting

sports, livestock, etc) Scout clubs

Why Do It?

It’s fun To learn how to manage wildlife habitat Team members learn to work as a team Members learn to pursue a goal Enjoy going places and seeing things Make new friends Build a sense of accomplishment It’s fun

Any Questions?