Natural Resources

Licking County River Round Up!

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The Licking County River Round Up will be held on Saturday, September 9. This annual river clean up brings out hundreds of volunteers who pull tires, shopping carts and mountains of trash from 30 miles of rivers and streams. Through this amazing community-based conservation effort, a river system that had all but been abandoned, has seen a beautiful rebirth of aquatic and bird life. A Special Event for Everyone! You don’t have to get wet or pick up garbage to participate! Want to participate? Register HERE.

Where is the event held?

There are multiple locations across the county: Newark, Heath, Pataskala, Granville, Hebron, Buckeye Lake, and Hanover

Is there an age limit to participate in the event?

Depending on the location, there may be an age limit. See specific clean up locations for more information about age requirements. Have a youth group who wants to participate? Some sites are better suited for younger participants. All minors must have a liability waiver signed by a parent or guardian. To canoe or kayak, participants must have experience paddling on moving water and be at least 16 years of age.

What can I expect during the clean up?

The committee will provide trash bags, buckets, grabbers, high visibility vests, bottles of water and snacks. Pre-registrants will get a t-shirt and volunteer gift.

What should I wear?

Expect to get wet and muddy. Wear old, grubby clothes and close-toed shoes.

What can’t I bring to the event?

Do not bring pets to the event.

Can I register my club/team for the event?

Yes, the River Round Up is a great event for scouts, clubs and businesses.  One person can do the registration, but each participant’s name, email and contact info is required to complete registration.

Are there opportunities to participate without getting in the water?

Yes, there are many on-land tasks including helping with registration, transporting equipment and people, picking up trash from drop offs and getting it to dumpsters, and helping clean up after everyone is off the water.  Look for these options on the registration page.

What should I do when I arrive the day of the event?

Those that registered individually must check in at the registration site.  Only one person, preferably a group leader, should check in a group or family.  If you are part of a group, check in with your group leader.

Where can I contact the organizer with any questions?

Call 740-670-5330 or email ContactUs@LickingSWCD.com

Can I update my registration information?

Yes, call 740 670-5330 or email information@LickingSWCD.com with changes/updates.

Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?

No

Ohio State Beekeepers Association Scholarship Application

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Scholarship Information for 2024 Applicants

Ohio State Beekeepers Association supports new young beekeepers through our Youth Scholarship Program. We realize that the success of a new beekeeper is not reliant on the student’s work and money alone but on the partnership’s effort. Thus, the Youth Scholarship Program encourages the participation of parents/guardians, 4-H/FFA Ohio advisers, local Ohio associations, and mentors. For 2024 there will be 10 scholarships available: 5 designated for 4-H and 5 designated for FFA.

While the document below explains the program guidelines in detail, here is a quick overview:

Selection Criteria

  1. Students must be between the ages of 12 and 18 by January 1st of the scholarship year (2024), be a member of 4-H / FFA, and be enrolled in public, private, or home school.
  2. The applicants must complete and return the application by Saturday, September 16th, 2023.

Selection Process

  1. The selection committee will carefully consider each candidate and select the finalists on the completion of their application.
  2. The OSBA Youth Scholarship winners will be announced on Saturday, October 7th, 2023.

The selected Partnership Program Scholars will receive:

  1. Woodenware and tools for two hives (see attached document)
  2. 1 – year free membership to the OSBA, with an electronic newsletter
  3. 1 – year subscription to American Bee Journal
  4. 1 – year subscription to Bee Culture
  5. Free attendance at the OSBA Fall Convention (including 2 guests)

Download the 2024 Program Documents and Application. If you have any questions, please contact the OSBA Youth Scholarship Program by email at youth-scholarship@ohiostatebeekeepers.org or call 419.438.7335. Completed applications are due by Saturday, September 16th, 2023.

To download the application, please visit https://ohiostatebeekeepers.org/youth-scholarship-program/

4-H Project Day with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources

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4-H Project Day – will be held June 17 from 10AM – 4PM at Alum Creek State Park.

The event is being hosted by the Ohio Department of Natural Resources and is open to all 4-H members across Ohio!

Best of all the event is FREE!

The day will be filled with fun, hands-on educational activities that are designed to fulfill 4-H project book requirements. Each workshop event will be taught by experts from ODNR and/or Army Corps Volunteers.  

The 4-H projects that are the focus of this even include: Geology Can You Dig It? Why Trees Matter,  Beginning Fishing, Ohio Birds, Insect Adventures, Explore the Outdoors, Photography Basics, and Get Started in Art.

Any youth under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times.

4-H Volunteers!

ODNR is also looking for Volunteer Chaperones for this event! So you can get in on the fun! Chaperones will help supervise 4-H members and provide guidance and assistance completing project activities.

RSVP or sign up to volunteer at: ohiodnr.gov/4HDay

4-H TLC Earth Day Challenge

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Calling all 4-H Clubs! The Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council has a community service challenge for you in honor of Earth Day this month! We challenge you to complete one or more of these community service projects related to environmental stewardship listed on the attached flyer. If your club completes one of these activities, follow the link/ QR code listed to add your club’s name (go.osu.edu/4HClubEarthDay). You might be featured on our social media, AND you are automatically entered into a drawing to win a prize from the 4-H mall for your club! Entries are due by June 1st, 2023. Happy Earth Day, from The Ohio 4-H Teen Leadership Council!

Ohio Victory Garden Seed Packets Available

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Do you need some seeds to get your garden started? We’ve got you covered! Several OSU Extension offices have individually packaged sample seed starter packets to get your garden going. You can pick up seed packets from the Licking County Extension Office during normal business hours, while supplies last. Visit the Ohio Victory Gardens blog to learn more about the seeds included and tips for getting your seeds off to a good start!

We want to give a shout out to Ohio Heirloom Seeds, Walnut Creek Seeds and Holmes Seed Company. These amazing companies saw the value in Victory Gardens and donated seeds to the cause. Thank you!

2023 Licking County River Round Up Poster Contest

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Calling all student artists – The 2023 Licking County River Round Up Poster Contest is now open and accepting submissions through April 7!

The River Round Up is an annual, county-wide, waterway cleanup event of the Licking River Watershed. Hundreds of volunteers assist in the removal of thousands of pounds of trash, metals, and recyclables from the Licking River and its tributaries. The River Round Up is co-hosted by local government agencies and community organizations.

Poster Awards: We invite all school-aged youth (public, private, and home school; K–12) living in Licking County to participate in our poster contest. One winning poster will be chosen from each of the three categories below. $100 will be awarded to each of the winning student artists, and $500 will be awarded to each of the students’ schools for advancing science and art programming.

Categories: Elementary (K-5), Middle School (6-8), and High School (9-12). One winner will be chosen from each grade category.

Winning posters will be used as the primary electronic marketing pictures for the 2023 River Round Up and will be displayed at River Round Up Event sites on September 9, 2023, and in promotional displays around Licking County throughout the year.

Winners will be announced on the River Round Up Facebook Page on Earth Day, April 22, 2023. Prizes then will be awarded to students and their respective schools.

For contest rules and to submit your artwork, please visit: https://lickingswcd.com/how-to-help/river-round-up-2023.html

OSU Extension to host Mid-Ohio Small Farm Conference

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Ohio State Extension announced plans to host a Small Farm Conference in Mansfield Ohio on March 11, 2023.  The theme for this year’s Mid-Ohio Small Farm Conference is “Sowing Seeds for Success.”

Conference session topics are geared to beginning and small farm owners as well as to farms looking to diversify their operation.  There will be five different conference tracks including: Farm Office, Horticulture and Produce Production, Livestock, Agritourism/ Marketing, Natural Resources.

Some conference topic highlights include: How to purchase our family farm, food animal processing, bee keeping, sweet corn, blueberry and pumpkin production, small ruminant nutrition, agritourism laws, fruit tree pruning and cut flower diseases.

Anyone interested in developing, growing or diversifying their small farm is invited to attend including market gardeners, farmers market vendors, and anyone interested in small farm living.

Attendees will have the opportunity to browse a trade show featuring the newest and most innovative ideas and services for their farming operation. The conference provides an opportunity to talk with the vendors and network with others.

The Conference will take place from 8:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. at the Mansfield OSU Campus in Ovalwood Hall, just minutes from I-71 and US Rt 30.

For conference and registration call OSU Extension Morrow County 419-947-1070, or OSU Extension Knox County 740-397-0401. Please follow this link to register for the conference: https://go.osu.edu/2023osusmallfarmconf

Maple Syrup SPIN Club

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Are you interested in learning how to make maple syrup? Then you are in luck! The Patriot Kids 4-H Club will be facilitating a Maple Syrup SPIN Club! SPIN club stands for SPecial INterest club and only meets for a short time to focus on a single topic. The Maple Syrup SPIN Club will teach you all you need to get started making your own syrup.

Participants will learn how to:

  • Identify Trees
  • Tap Trees
  • Gather Sap
  • Test for Sugar Content
  • Make Maple Syrup!

The first meeting will be held at 6:30pm on Wednesday, February 15, 2023 at the Warner Sugar Shack located at 1616 Loudon St., Granville, OH 43023.

Must be a Licking County 4-H member to participate.