 4-H
Activity and Events
Wildlife Habitat Education Program
What Is 4-H WHEP?
Are you interested in learning about wildlife? The 4-H
Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) is a 4-H youth natural
resource program dedicated to teaching wildlife management to
Cloverbud, Junior and Senior level (ages 5-19) youth in Arkansas.
Nationally, WHEP has earned a solid reputation for being a 4-H
program that fosters relationships between youth, professional
wildlife and fisheries biologists, agents, volunteers, parents,
teachers and farmers. Participants learn essential life
skills such as oral and written communication and decision-making.
Youth strengthen their self-concept and character through
interaction with peers and professionals from Arkansas and different
parts of the country.
Arkansas WHEP improves understanding of wildlife and habitat
management, and has led some youth to pursue wildlife careers.
Understanding wildlife and our natural resources is something that
every 4-H’er can benefit from. As one 12-year-old WHEP
participant stated in his 4-H journal,
“Even though I really enjoy sheep… I don’t think I will continue
to raise them in my later life. However, ever since I was
really young, I have enjoyed wildlife and nature. For the past
four years I have competed in the state WHEP contest. I like
competing in WHEP because studying tracks, skins and other animal
signs is interesting. I actually do the management practices that I
study about on our farm, like putting up bird feeders or planting
mast trees. Most of all, I enjoy hiking in our woods.
Every now and then I come across a track or hear a bird song, and
because of what I’ve learned in WHEP, I can identify the animal."
Arkansas WHEP engages youth in learning about wildlife, habitats
and habitat practices through local clubs coached by 4-H leaders.
It is supported by a state-level
practice session (PDF)
in February and a
state contest (PDF)
in April or May. Arkansas WHEP
handbooks and
resources offer guidance
about the Arkansas contest.
Arkansas WHEP is a multi-agency partnership program. It is
coordinated by a steering committee comprised of county extension
agents and specialists from the University of Arkansas Cooperative
Extension Service, wildlife educators and biologists from the
Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, U.S. Forest Service, Plum Creek
and 4-H WHEP volunteer leaders.
Back to Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP)
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