Transcript Wildlife Habitat Evaluation Program

Wildlife Habitat
Evaluation Program
S. Nicole Frey, Ben C. West,
David Drake
What is the Wildlife Habitat
Evaluation Program
4-H program designed to teach young
people:
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wildlife management
conservation
leadership
communication
stewardship
WHEP
Began in the 1980s as a
state 4-H program in
Tennessee.
One of the most visible 4-H programs
across the Nation
Conducted at local, state, regional and
national levels
Young adults 14-18 years of
age
Involvement
• Won Wildlife Society’s Conservation
Education award in 1996
• 21 states involved
• 100 youth per state
• Teaching our future
leaders
Identifying Common Wildlife
Foods
Practices to Improve Wildlife
Habitat
Interpreting Wildlife Habitat
• aerial photos
• oral explanation
Rural Management Plan
• Interpreting Wildlife
Habitat
Urban Management Plan
• Interpreting Wildlife
Habitat
New Places, New People
The Process
1. Teams
2. Local
3. State
4. Region
5. Nation
Lessons Learned
• 16 states participated in a survey at last
year’s National Competition
• 21 teams per year at National
Competition
• Coaches had been involved for 7.5 years
• Had been coaches for 7 years
Lessons Learned
• 100 participants annually
• Youth pursued NR management careers
• Coaches involved because: important
learning opportunity for youth, their own
children were involved, enjoyed wildlife
and wanted to share this enthusiasm
Impacts
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Teamwork
Improved oral communications
Improved written communications
Interpersonal/social skills
Decision making
Leadership skills
Impacts
• Youth feel it improved their
understanding of
conservation and
management
• Enjoyed meeting new people
from different places
• Improves knowledge of their
country
• Helped understanding of
what happens in the world