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What We Do

Education Programs & Services

Education and outreach are key to teaching present and future generations about our unique resources and why it is important to conserve them.  Licking Soil & Water offers many education opportunities including school- and community-based programs. 


Free Trees for Students

Thanks to our generous supporters, Licking Soil & Water offers free seedling trees to elementary and middle schools that serve Licking County students. The free seedling trees program is an opportunity to show students how important trees are to their health, their community, and their environment. Choose from two options:

Option 1: Each student receives a tree to take home. This option is ideal for schools where students have a place at home to plant a tree. Schools receive tree planting guides for each student and educational resources to use in the classroom.

Option 2:  Request trees to plant on school grounds.   This option is perfect for enhancing an outdoor classroom. Students take ownership and responsibility for the trees planted. Schools receive a tree planting guide and educational resources to use in the classroom.

In addition to the seedling trees, your school will receive tree planting guides, tree education resources for the classroom, and the company name of a Licking Soil & Water Annual Giving Campaign contributor. Please have your students write a thank you to the generous contributor that helps make the annual free seedling tree program possible.   

Complete this order form by Friday, March 22, 2024 to reserve seedling trees for your students. The seedling trees will be available for pick-up on Friday, April 19, 2024 between 8:30 am and 7:00 pm. 


2024 Camp Canopy Scholarship

Licking Soil and Water is offering a Scholarship opportunity for one High School student in Licking County to attend Camp Canopy!

Camp Canopy is a one of a kind summer camp for students interested in forestry, wildlife, conservation, ecology, and other natural resource fields. It is a week-long, co-ed residential camp open to high school students entering their freshman year up through graduating seniors. Camp Canopy is one of the most popular summer camps in Ohio and is the only summer camp where future foresters, wildlife specialists, and conservationists can get their hands dirty and put their knowledge to the test.

Supported by the Ohio Forestry Association (OFA), the camp offers a mixture of educational sessions with traditional camp activities and adventures. All educational sessions are taught by instructors from Ohio’s top natural resource organizations and industry experts from the state’s top educational institutions. Together, the OFA and Camp Canopy provide a curriculum that gives a comprehensive overview of the forestry and wildlife disciplines through lessons that incorporate both adventure and education.

At the end of camp, campers are able to take a test to qualify for a scholarship to The Ohio State University’s School of Environment and Natural Resources, Hocking College’s School of Natural Resources, Zane State College, or a scholarship for the student to use at a natural resource school of their choice. 

For more information on Camp Canopy or to download or submit a scholarship application, please follow the link below.


What is the Envirothon?

The Envirothon is a high school competition designed to stimulate, reinforce and enhance interest in the environment and natural resources.  Students are tested on their knowledge of soils, forestry, wildlife, aquatic ecology, and current environmental issues. In addition, the Envirothon encourages cooperative decision-making and team building. While each student on a team is challenged individually to contribute his or her personal best, the score that counts at the end of the competition is the team score. A team consists of five students, all from the same high school. An adult advisor (or advisors) must accompany the team, but is not permitted to assist the team during the competition.

High School students across the state compete on the local level at one of the five Area Envirothons. The top four teams from each Area Envirothon then go on to compete at the state competition held each year in June for the title of State Envirothon Champion. The winning team will then compete at the national competition, the NCF Envirothon, held annually in July in a different location in North America.

This year, the Tri-County Envirothon will be held on April 9th at Taft Reserve South in Licking County. This is a practice competition for high school students with middle school students welcome to join. Registration for the Tri-County Envirothon will happen the day of the event, but please let us know your intentions beforehand so that we can plan accordingly. 

This year’s Area 3 Envirothon will be held on April 24th at Glenford Fort Preserve in Perry County. We are looking for Licking County high school teams interested in participating! Up to four teams per school are welcome to join. Registration for the 2024 Area 3 Envirothon is due by March 14th.

Study materials for the Envirothon competition are available from Soil & Water upon request. 

If you have any questions about the Area 3 or Tri-County Envirothon, registration for either event, or would like to be sent study materials, please contact Deirdre Wise at DeirdreWise@LickingSWCD.com or 740-670-5333.

Competition Dates:

Tri-County Envirothon- April 9, 2024 at Taft Reserve in Licking County

Area 3 Envirothon- April 24, 2024 at Glenford Fort Preserve in Perry County

Ohio State Envirothon- June 3 - 5, 2024 at Hocking College

National Envirothon- July 28 - August 3, 2024 at Hobart and William Smith Colleges, Geneva, New York 


School-aged Educational Programs and Teacher Resources

We offer Education Programs in the classroom or educational setting that are taught by a member of our staff. We also offer Loaner Kits that can be borrowed for use in your classroom or educational setting. Information on our Education Programs and Loaner Kits can be found by clicking the links below. All programming and kits are offered by Licking Soil & Water free of charge. For more information, please contact Licking Soil & Water at 740-670-5330.  

Education Programs: 

We offer Education Programs in the classroom, on your school grounds, or at a nearby park. For these programs, our Conservation Educator will come to you or a secondary location and teach the lesson to your students or group.

Loaner Kits:

Our Loaner Kits can be borrowed, upon request, for up to two weeks to fit into your lesson plans. We have tote ready kits with supplies, background notes, activities, resources, and more! The content in all Loaner Kits can be tailored to fit your age, grade, group, and standards. Choose from the list below or mix and match programs to fit your needs and time limitations.


Adult Education Workshops/Field Days

We regularly hold a variety of workshops and field days. We hope you will join us in learning more about conservation of our natural resources. To review our current scheduled workshops and field days click here.