MAKING WHEP A SUCCESS Experience is the key to success. Experience is what you get when things don’t work!

How We Got Started w We organized a Forestry and Wildlife Club Listened to speakers Poster contest Demonstrations Field trips and tours w Needed a place to do some “hands on stuff” The idea for our own wildlife refuge

Creating a 4-H Wildlife Refuge w Landowner gave a free lease to 46 acres w Property had been neglected for years w Wrote a grant proposal for $2000 w Developed a Management Plan w Put up a sign and went to work

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

We Had Lots of Help w Parents helped supervise projects w Soils Lab helped with soil/water testing w Extension fisheries specialist helped evaluate fish population w Fingerlings from the State Fish Hatchery w Pine seedlings donated by timber industry w Lumber donated for bluebird house project w Forestry Commission helped with burning

Our First WHEP Baby Steps w Our Extension Wildlife Specialists came to the county to introduce us to the event w We started with just 4 senior 4-H club members and started practicing w We used the Tennessee WHEP Manual w Attended the first Regional WHEP Event in Tennessee and placed third (out of 5 teams) w The next year Alabama hosted it’s first WHEP state contest

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

Finding Sponsorship w United Way w Club fund raisers (sell birdhouses, trees) w Sporting goods stores w Organizations Wild Turkey Federation,Wildlife Federation, Buckmasters, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation w Hunting Plantations w Hunting Equipment Suppliers w Local community groups

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

Recruiting Youth w Start a Natural Resources Club w Do some “hands on fun stuff” w Show video or slides w Field trips to interesting sites w Start them off young w Roll over from other teams (forestry, shooting sports, livestock, etc) w Scout clubs

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

Any Questions?