Transcript Slide 1

Pennsylvania
Supervised Agricultural Experience
Conservation Pages
A Guide to Completing the PA
FFA Conservation Record Book
What is a conservation project SAE?
In a conservation project SAE the student
studies wildlife and the environment and
conducts activities to improve the
environment and provide habitat for
wildlife.
Conservation projects usually include
multiple activities throughout the year.
Complete this
page at the
beginning of the
project year.
1082 East Main Street, Blue Ball, PA. The property is located directly across
the street from the Sunoco gas station.
The information on this page must
be agreed to by everyone
involved in the project.
Page 1 and 2 must be
completed in ink.
Location is the exact site where the
SAE project will take place. Give your
street address and other details that
would help some one locate this site or
sites. See example.
Explanation is the specific SAE
activities you will conduct as part of
your conservation project. See
example. For other ideas see the
“Conservation Ideas List” in the
record book section of the PA FFA
website.
I will build and erect 20 Peterson blue bird boxes by the end of
January. The boxes will be located along the south and west property
lines. I will monitor these boxes from March 1 to September 1.
Wildlife Habitat Improvement
terxt
The Enterprise Name and
Number should be the same on
each page and should agree
with the Common Pages.
Properly planning your project
will help you budget time and
money to ensure success.
3
Now it’s time to put what you plan to
do in writing. Be specific. List each
individual activity you plan to do and
the date you expect to have it done.
Set goals for yourself to complete each activity. Be
realistic. For example, do not plan to plant seedlings in
January.
Monitor bluebird boxes twice each week, beginning April 1
Sept. 1
Fill bird feeders every other day beginning October 15
April 20
Plan, get approval for and plant a butterfly garden at Honey Brook Elem.
June 15
Do border cutting on the local Game Lands, with the Land Crew
March 30
Work with PGC to plant evergreens on local game lands
May 1
Monitor pH and direction of all precipitation
Dec. 31
Plant evergreen trees on our property to provide cover for wildlife
May 1
Plant food species for wildlife on our property – fruit trees & shrubs
July 15
Plant food plots of corn and soybeans for wildlife on our property
August 1
Next you need to have an idea of how much these activities
are going to cost.
Estimate what supplies you are going to need, when you are
going to need these supplies (based on your proposed labor
input goals). List each item, then how many of each item you
will need.
Next determine the cost of each item. You may need some help
in determining the cost of these items.
1-1 to 4-20
Sunflower seed
10 bags
$ 12.00
$120.00
1-15
pH water test kit
1 kit
$ 25.00
$ 25.00
3-15
Fertilizer for food plots
2 bags
$ 5.00
$ 10.00
3-15
Corn seed for food plots
$ 45.00
$ 45.00
4-20
Apple tree seedlings for food
5 trees
$ 15.00
$ 75.00
5-28
White pine trees - containerized
10 trees
$ 17.00
1 bag
$ 170.00
$ 445.00
Finally
determine
your total
estimated
cost. Be
aware that
the total
estimated
cost may be
a major
factor in the
success or
failure of
the project.
Secure signatures, showing that each person involved
in this project is aware of your plans before you
begin the project.
Justin Fox
John Fox
Joe Educator
Steve Wheeler, WCO
Xx/xx/xxxx
Xx/xx/xxxx
Xx/xx/xxxx
Xx/xx/xxxx
Complete this page at
the beginning of the
project year.
Completing this page will be a
big help as you plan your
project. While this example is
acceptable, the more detail you
are able to put onto your map
the more helpful it will be.
As you draw this plan,
get help from others
involved in the project.
Here is another
example of a map
style for your
conservation
record book.
Again, it can be
as plain or as
detailed as you
would like.
Complete this page at the beginning of the project year and
add species as you see them throughout the year. Record
species only once, except for migratory species which you
can record spring and fall.
Make a list of animals you see. Remember that animals
includes mammals, birds, reptiles and amphibians, etc.
1-1
Song sparrows
27
Seen at the sunflower feeders
1-1
2 pairs of cardinals
4
Seen at the sunflower feeders
1-1
Gold finch
15
At the thistle feeders
1-3
Gray squirrels
5
Raiding the feeders
1-18
Stripped skunk
1
Seen digging for grubs in the garden
3-28
Canada geese at the pond
200+
The first flights of migratory geese
4-20
Great blue heron
1
At the pond eating fish
Observe the site of your project and make a list of the
species (plants) available which can be used for food
or shelter (cover) by animals living on your site.
White pine trees – 20 near the pond
25+ arrow wood plants
2 old apple trees
3 acres of oak – hickory forest, mostly white oak
3 acres of mixed grass and clover
8+ shagbark hickory
6 butterfly bushes
5 dogwood trees
2 fence rows of mixed shrubs
2 pyracantha vines
3 crabapple trees – fall fruiting
2 rows of parsley for butterfly larva
40 feet of wild raspberries
Plantings of Milkweed for Monarch butterflies
It’s important to know the kind of soil you have on
the project site. You may need to make
improvements to the soil in order to support the
kinds of plants you plan to plant.
To complete this section you will need to use your county soil survey. If your
agriculture department does not have a CD or hard copy of the county soil
survey you may access soil surveys on line at
http://soils.usda.gov/survey/online_surveys/pennsylvania/index.html
Hagerstown silty clay loam, 8 to 15 percent slope
This is a deep, well drained soil formed from weathered limestone. Soil depth is greater
than 40 inches with few stones of any size.
The only thing that this soil needs to improve it for plants is more organic matter. This can
be accomplished by adding manure and mulch under landscape plantings.
Give some thought to the kinds of wildlife you want to
encourage on your site.
Wildlife you are managing for:
On our suburban property we will manage to attract mixed
species. We would like to have as many songbirds as possible,
especially robins, cardinals, doves, gold finch, blue jays,
woodpeckers, towhees, etc. Using the grass fields we would like
to have more quail and pheasants as well as meadowlark and
bobolink. We have a passion for bluebirds as well. The pond
gives us an opportunity to attract migrating ducks and geese as
well as the occasional heron and red-winged blackbirds.
Our butterfly gardens attract a wide variety of butterflies.
Cottontail rabbits, muskrats and other mammals are also desired.
NOTICE COMPLETE SENTENCES AND PROPER GRAMMAR.
Once you know what wildlife you want to encourage
on your site, do some research to find out what you
need to do to attract these wildlife species. List
what you can do in the space below.
What can be done to attract these wildlife species:
To attract many of the songbirds, we provide feeders
during the winter months and will continue to plant food
species such as apples and crabapples as well as arrow
wood and various viburnums. We mow alternate strips
in the grass and clover to provide summer cover and
food for the quail, pheasants, meadowlark and bobolink.
We will also plant more evergreens for winter cover for
our birds.
NOTICE COMPLETE SENTENCES AND PROPER GRAMMAR.
At the beginning of the project year, make a list of items you own
which will be used to carry out this project. Do not list personal
items on this page. List items in the ‘BEGINNING OF YEAR’
column on this page. Carry information from this page to page S2 – lines 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8.
Thistle feeders
Sunflower feeders
2 feeders
2
feeders
$ 12.00
$ 21.00
2 feeders
$ 42.00
2 feeders
$ 20.00
$ 357.00
1 camera
$ 357.00 $ 357.00
$ 19.00
$ 11.00
$ 11.00 $ 22.00
$ 40.00
Digital Camera
1 camera$
Peterson Guide
1 book $ 19.97
$ 19.97
½ bag
$ 14.00
$ 7.00
1 book $ 19.00
¾ bag $ 16.00
Thistle seed
1 bag
$ 22.00
$ 22.00
½ bag
$ 22.00
shovels
3 shovels
$ 10.00
$ 30.00
2 shovels
1 mower
$ 10.00 $ 20.00
$ 350.00 $ 350.00
1 saw
$ 433.95 $ 433.95
Sunflower seed
mower
Chain saw
357.00
$ 24.00
$ 12.00
At the end of
the project year,
list those items
you obtained
during the year.
Quantities and
dollar values
will probably
NOT agree.
Again carry this
information to
page S-2.
Now list the items that other people own that you will be
using for your project.
It’s important to know the value of these items also. These items
will NOT be recorded on page S-2.
1 saw
$ 1000
$ 1000
12 acres
$ 5000
$ 60,000
12 acres $ 5500
1 tractor
1 trctr
$ 1275
$ 1275
Chain saw chaps
1 set
1 trctr
1 set
Table saw
12 acres of land
Chain saw shirt
Commercial mower
$ 85
$ 85
1 saw
1 shirt
1 mower
$ 1000
$ 1250
$ 1000
$ 66,000
$ 1250
$ 85
$ 85
$ 65
$ 65
$ 2500 $ 2500
Remember that the values will most likely change at the end of the
year.
Record everything you do that in any way relates to your
conservation project.
Be sure to circle HOURS or MINUTES and then be consistent with your entries. Do
NOT use minutes for one entry and hours for the next.
Use complete
sentences and
proper grammar
for these entries.
DIARY AND LABOR RECORD
I went for a walk in the snow and saw five deer bedded down in the
pines. I also saw evening grosbeaks.
I saw red fox tracks in the snow in the field , it was hunting for mice.
Good diary entry.
Use more
than one
line if
necessary,
to give a
complete
description.
1-1
Poor diary entry.1-1
60
It is New Year’s Day so we filled all bird feeders and gave the birds
some extra special treats. We hung apples and oranges from a few
of the trees. We also rolled pine cones in peanut butter and then in
nuts and cranberries and hung them from several trees.
3-28
120
Today the first flights of geese arrived from the south and 2 groups
stopped at the pond. It was a noisy night.
Fed birds
45 min.
0
5 min.
IMPORTANT. If you are using the computer version do not enter minutes or
hours in the time worked column. The computer will not add your time if
you enter a unit in this column.
EXPENSES
1-12
1 bag of sunflower seed
3-12
Ordered 20 pine trees in containers
1 bag
$ 12.50
$ 12.50
20 trees
$ 15.25
$ $305.00
On this page, record everything you spend on this project.
Record animals you see. These animals should also be
included in your diary.
IDENTIFICATION OF MAMMALS
1-14
porcupine
1-27
Gray squirrels
Sciurus carolinensis
4-22
Red fox
Vulpes vulpes
4-23
Red fox
Vulpes vulpes
Only 4 pups with vixen today
Sciurus carolinensis
Several females with young squirrels
4-23
Gray squirrels
Erethizon dorsatum
Seen feeding on aspen at our cabin
8 seen at our bird feeders
A vixen and 5 pups at wood pile
Do not record a species every time you see it, rather
record weekly or when special circumstances occur.
Of course you would have many more entries between January and April !!!
Record birds you see during the year. These animals should
also be included in your diary. Do not record a species every
time you see it, rather record weekly
or when special circumstances occur.
IDENTIFICATION OF BIRDS
1-1
Bald Eagle
1-1
1-1
Goldfinch
1-3
American kestrel
3-22
European starlings
3-23
Killdeer
Bald eagles
9-20
Killdeer
Haliaeetus leucocephalus
Arduelis tristis
Sturnus vulgaris
At Kyle’s house, working on nest
17 on thistle feeders at Maddy’s
Eating suet at our feeders
Falco sparverius
Charadrius vociferus
Hunting mice by the pond
Charadrius vociferus
Back at school, fall is here
On school roof. A sign of spring.
Haliaeetus leucocephalus Chicks appearing over the nest rim
Of course you would have many additional entries between
March and September !!!
IDENTIFICATION OF PLANTS (TREES, SHRUBS, WILDFLOWERS, ETC)
Record species as you see
them.
Remember to include
shrubs and wildflowers.
1-1
White oak
Quercus alba
At Boe’s pond, 43” dbh
1-1
Red oak
Quercus borealis
Supports Aaron’s tree stand
1-5
Wild raisin
Viburnum cassinoides
Among Mitch’s native plantings
4-5
7-12
Red clover
Milkweed
Trifolium repens
Sclepias syriaca
Growing in the grass field near pond
Already has Monarch larva feeding
Of course you would have many entries between January, April and July !!!
Record all species as seen. Remember to include aquatic
species of insects.
IDENTIFICATION OF REPTILES, AMPHIBIANS, FISH AND INSECTS
1-2
Brook trout
Salvelinus fontinalis
In spring house at grandparent’s
1-10
Golden shiner
Notemigonus crysoleucas
Purchased for ice fishing bait
2-2
Stonefly larva
2-2
Dragonfly larva
Plecoptera
Odonata
2-18
Black rat snake
Elaphe obsoleta
2-18
E. Milk snake
2-18
Garter snake
Lampropeltis triangulum
Thamnopnis sirtalis
2-20
Spotted Salamander
Ambystoma maculatum
In Hay Creek while doing biotic index
In Hay Creek while doing biotic index
In the aquaculture room at school
In the aquaculture room at school
At the school pond - mating
In the aquaculture room at school
Record all evidence of wildlife seen throughout the year. Sign
includes tracks, scat, road kill, feathers, deer rubs, tooth marks,etc.
IDENTIFICATION OF WILDLIFE SIGN
1-8
Eastern coyote
Canis latrans
Dead on Route 80
1-19
Cardinal feathers
Cardinalis cardinalis
Killed by cat at feeders
2-3
Otter slide
Lutra canadensis
Along Juniata River
Record skills you have
learned throughout the year.
These skills will summarize
what you have accomplished
during the year.
Record your skills throughout
the year. Do NOT wait until
the end of the year to do this
Example of skill: I learned to ID
15 song birds.
1-29
I learned to ID 15 songbirds
X
X
Rank your
skill level
using the
evaluation
at the top of
the page.
Ask your teacher to evaluate your skill level. Remember that your teacher’s
evaluation may not agree with your evaluation.
Justin has done an outstanding job improving the
habitat for wildlife at home. He has planted trees and
shrubs for wildlife food and a group of pines for cover.
Mrs. Fox
Ask someone who is
familiar with your project to
write a paragraph
explaining what you have
accomplished and learned.
More than 1 person
may do an evaluation
of your project.
Justin has helped check the bird nest boxes at Struble Lake, helped with
border cutting on gamelands 55 and helped to plant trees at the Barnston Dry
Dam. When ever we needed help, we knew we could count on Justin.
Bill Smith, PGC Land Management
Foreman
Justin has done an outstanding job working with our land
management crew and improving wildlife habitat at his home. He
has made a difference for wildlife and the environment. His
Christmas tree recycling project not only kept 415 trees out of
landfills, but also helped to prevent erosion and provided cover
through the brush piles he built.
Sharon Martin, PGC WCO
Don’t forget to have your
WCO evaluate your project
and affix his / her seal.
Sharon Martin
Insert pictures here
that document your
conservation
projects.
Insert a
picture no
larger than 4
inches by 6
inches.
Make sure the
picture is well
focused.
Justin Fox
It’s important
to keep a
photographic
record of your
conservation
project.
1/6/XX
Struble Lake
Enter the date
the picture
was taken and
the location.
Finally describe the
photo in fifty words
or less.
In this example,
the trip to Struble
Lake should also
be documented in
the student’s diary
entries
Here I am working with the Game Commission land
management crew to check and clean bird nest boxes at
Struble Lake. This allowed me to explore this career as I
worked with the crew.
The scorecard will help you
understand what we are
looking for when
conservation records are
judged at the state FFA
record book competition.
In addition to entering your conservation records in the state competition, you
may be eligible for awards from the Pennsylvania Game Commission. PGC
awards are based upon permanent habitat improvements. For example
planting trees which will provide food and or cover for wildlife.
Please remember that you might
receive a gold medal in the FFA
competition for your record
keeping ability, but not receive a
Game Commission award.
You might also receive a
Game Commission
award, but not receive a
gold medal based on the
FFA scorecard.
You must receive a medal in the FFA scoring for your records to be
submitted to the Game Commission for their evaluation.
Game Commission awards are presented in each of the 6 Game
Commission regions as well as on the state level. You may receive
only 1 Game Commission award per year. These awards include a
framed certificate and a monetary award.
We look forward to seeing your conservation record book in the state FFA
record book competition in February. With your interest in this area you
may also want to explore the Wildlife, Aquatic Resources, Forestry and
Environmental and Natural Resources Career Development Events.
You will also want to consider
applying for an FFA proficiency
award. Your records will be
most likely to fit into the Wildlife
Production and Management or
Environmental Science and Natural
Resources Management proficiency
area.
When applying for your
Keystone FFA degree,
enter your conservation
records on page 6. You will
need at least 300 hours
outside of class time to
qualify for the Keystone
degree.
A Conservation SAE will allow you to apply for the Agriscience Star
category when you apply for your Keystone degree.
This concludes the presentation on
the Conservation record book. You
may want to go back and review this
presentation at the end of the project
year for help in closing out your
record book.