Oconee WHEP training 2026

While these are free trainings, REGISTRATION FOR EACH DAY IS REQUIRED as space is limited.

In addition, youth MUST submit emergency contact, photo consent, and health information to participate through 4-H membership or the Oconee Co. Parks form. 4-H or FFA Membership is required for participation in the state competition - so please complete one of the following:

• Enroll or renew as a South Carolina 4-H member. 4-H membership is REQUIRED for participation in the competition (make sure you choose WHEP as a club). The $15 annual fee is covered by a grant just obtained by Oconee County Parks (thank you Gina!), so mark "pay by check" in the payment option.
• If you are not a current 4-H member and do not plan to participate in the competition, or are a FFA member, please fill out a participant form for each trainee (fillable PDF or Google Form). This form only needs to be completed once for each participant.

The Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP) is a hands-on environmental education program that provides participants an opportunity to test their wildlife knowledge in a friendly competition, as each state supporting WHEP conducts an annual contest where teams of 3-4 similarly aged individuals gather. Participants in this training are not required to compete - but if interested, additional information is at the end of this description. (Competitors MUST be 4-H or FFA members in good standing)- more information will be shared during the training.

WHEP is a 4-H and FFA youth natural resource program dedicated to teaching wildlife and fisheries habitat management to junior and senior-level (Jrs 9-13, srs14 -18, unless otherwise approved) youth in the United States.

What do Participants Study? (Download or order the WHEP manual at the National WHEP page)

• Learn to identify wildlife visually, by sound, and by remains, tracks, scat, etc (Animals not covered in this years training listed at the end of the description)
• Learn wildlife terms and concepts
• Learn about wildlife habitat
• Learn how to judge the quality of wildlife habitat
• Learn about wildlife habitat management practices
• Learn about wildlife damage management

This training is hands-on learning for youth (ages 9-18) to gain knowledge and skills related to South Carolina wildlife and habitat management. Planned topics are as follows:

NOTE - January is mostly for folks new to WHEP or those who want a refresher of the basics.

Monday, January 12 4:30-5:30ish (for New Students or anyone who wants a refresher): Paperwork, What is WHEP?, go over how classes will run, Management Plan Overview

Wednesday, January 14 4:30-5:30ish (Seniors only)

Monday, January 19: No Class

Monday, January 26 4:30-5:30ish (for New Students or anyone who wants a refresher) Management Plan Overview

Monday, February 2 4:30-5:30ish:

• Animals covered: coyote, bluegill, wild turkey, Canada goose, mallard, mink
• Concepts covered: *setback succession, *conservation easement

Monday, February 9 4:30-5:30ish:

• Animals covered: rock pigeon, ruby-throated hummingbird, song sparrow, spotted sandpiper, Wilsons snipe, big brown bat, eastern indigo snake, eastern snapping turtle, gopher tortoise, crawfish frog

Wednesday, February 11 4:30-5:30ish: (Seniors only)

February 16: No Class

Monday, February 23 4:30-5:30ish:

• Animals covered: northern bobwhite, eastern fox squirrel, eastern cottontail, wood duck, northern pintail, common muskrat, channel catfish
• Concepts covered: *turbidity, *lime pond, *livestock management, *construct pond, *stock fish pond, *repair spillway/ levee

Monday, March 2 4:30-5:30ish:

• Animals covered: mourning dove, redhead, wild pig, raccoon, largemouth bass
• Concepts covered: *plant trees/ shrubs, *damage management

Monday, March 9 4:30-5:30ish: Practice Identification

Wednesday, March 11 4:30-5:30ish: (Seniors only)

Monday, March 16 4:30-5:30ish:

• white-tailed deer, river otter, eastern gray squirrel, Virginia rail
• Concepts covered: *forest management, *field borders, *edge feathering

Monday, March 23 4:30-5:30ish:

• Animals Covered: American beaver, American bullfrog, Virginia rail
• Concepts covered: *delay crop harvest

Monday, March 30 4:30-5:30ish: Management Plan Practice

Monday, April 6 4:30-5:30ish: Topic TBD based on need

Monday, April 13 4:30-5:30ish: Practice Identification

Wednesday, April 15 4:30-5:30ish: (Seniors only)

FIELD DAY!!! Saturday, April 18 9AM-12PM: Off-Site Management Plan Practice

Monday, April 20: No Class

April 24 or May 1: State contest, Sandhill Research and Education Center, Columbia SC (Plan on a little over ½ day for Jr., Full day for Sr.)

July 26-29: National Contest

For questions and information about this training, please reach out to Gina Spear, South Cove County Park at gspear@oconeesc.com

The South Carolina WHEP State Contest will be held at the Baruch Institute(Georgetown, SC) on Saturday April 12. Lunch and an event t-shirt will be provided to registered participants. Additional lunches and t-shirts can be purchased for $15each with registration as needed.

(Plan on a little over ½ day for Jr., Full day for Sr.)

Youth may register as a team (3 or 4 people per team, $45/team) or as an individual ($15). The contest is set up for:

• Junior Division (9-13 years of age)
• Senior Division (14-18 years of age)

Ages are calculated as of January 1, 2025

The registration deadline for the WHEP State Contest is Friday, March 21st, 2025

For WHEP questions related to 4-H, please contact Mallory Maher at mallord@clemson.edu; for WHEP questions related to FFA, please contact Jason Gore at jdgore@clemson.edu.

The 2026 National WHEP Competition will be held July 26-29, 2026 at the Future Farmers of America Leadership Center in North Myrtle Beach, marking the first time South Carolina has hosted the event since 1992!!!!

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Membership requirement: Current 4-H membership in 4HOnline is required for participation in the state competition. Membership is not required to participate in training, but for non-members an Oconee County Parks participant form must be completed (fillable PDF or Google Form).

Custodial Care: Please note that 4-H and Clemson Extension do not assume custodial care of youth in attendance. Adults (parents, guardians, volunteers, coaches, teachers, or other chaperones) presence is determined by Oconee County Parks, Recreation, and Tourism regulations.

Civil Rights Statement

Animals not covered in this years training (this does NOT mean they will not be in the competition! Individuals are responsible for learning about these organisms on their own)

• American bittern
• American robin
• barred owl
• common nighthawk
• European starling
• house finch
• house sparrow
• house wren
• loggerhead shrike
• northern flicker
• peregrine falcon
• prothonotary warbler
• red-cockaded woodpecker
• red-eyed vireo
• tiger salamander