Wildlife Habitat Education Program (WHEP)

WHEP 2023 State Competition

The Iowa 2023 WHEP State Competition will focus on the tallgrass prairie, urban, and wetland ecoregions. All youth teams will be provided with a WHEP manual to use while creating their written Wildlife Management Plan (WMP) at the Iowa State WHEP Competition. However, this is not permitted at the National WHEP Competition.

The Iowa WHEP 2023 State Competition will include only Activity I (Individual Wildlife Challenge) and Activity III A (Team Written Management Plan).

WHO: Youth teams of 3-4 individuals. Youth may register in the Junior or Senior age divisions. Awards will be given to youth teams and individuals for Junior and Senior age divisions. Youth do not need to be 4-H members to participate.

•Junior Division: 8-13 years old
•Senior Division 14-19 years old.

WHEN: May 20, 2023. Check-in starts at 8:30 AM. The competition will run approximately from 8:30 AM-4:30 PM.

WHERE: Jester County Park in Granger, Iowa.

REGISTRATION: $15 per person. Registration opens through 4-H Online on March 1, 2023, and closes on April 17.

2023 WHEP State Competition Rules

What is WHEP?

The WHEP (National Wildlife Habitat Education Program) is a hands-on environmental education program. WHEP also 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. The winning senior (14-19 years of age) WHEP team from each state earns the right to attend the annual National WHEP Contest, typically held the last full week of July. The national contest moves to a different state each year.

What do Participants Study?

  • Learn about wildlife
  • Learn about wildlife habitat
  • Learn how to judge the quality of wildlife habitat
  • Learn about wildlife habitat management practices
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Wildlife Habitat Education Program

 

Preparing for the WHEP State Competition

Youth WHEP Games and Activities

*The information in the following activities has been adapted, and with permission, directly from The National 4-H WHEP Manual, 5th Edition. The Flippity game show quizzes are intended for group audiences. Flippity game facilitators should have someone in the group read the text out loud during the game. Facilitators should describe any images and consider other access issues to best support the youth involved.

Information on Becoming a Coach

WHEP Coach Resources

Recruitment and Marketing Materials

4-H Staff Contacts

For general questions about WHEP, registration, competitions, etc.

For questions about WHEP competitions, the WHEP manual, etc.