Licking County Soil & Water Conservation District

05/31/2026

Looking for a fun summer activity for the kids? Join Licking County Soil & Water at the Hartford Fair Natural Resources Area for a full day of outdoor fun and hands-on learning! 🎣☀️

The HFNRA Summer Kids Event will feature:
🐟 Open fishing
Fishing competition
Fish fillet demo
Water quality activities
Fly tying lessons
Fly rod casting instruction

Wednesday, June 24, 2026
10 AM – 3 PM
📍 Hartford Fair Natural Resources Area
14028 Fairgrounds Rd, Croton, OH

Bring the family and enjoy a day outdoors!

Register here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0549AAA92DA3FDC61-64268044-hfnra

05/29/2026

🌿📚 Calling All Educators! Summer Learning Starts Here with Licking County Soil & Water! Looking to bring fresh, hands-on environmental learning into your classroom? Don’t miss our Educator Workshops.

To to learn more about the workshops being offered or to register, visit 👉 https://lickingswcd.com/education/adult-workshops.html.

These engaging summer workshops are designed to help educators of all grade levels:
✨ Gain new ideas for teaching conservation and natural resources
✨ Experience interactive, outdoor-based learning
✨ Connect with local experts and community partners
✨ Bring real-world environmental concepts back to your students

Licking Soil & Water regularly offers workshops and field experiences focused on conservation, water quality, soil health, and more, giving you practical tools and inspiration for your classroom.

🌱 Spots may be limited, register today and make this your most impactful teaching year yet! Thank you to all of our community partners who help make this series possible!

05/27/2026

💧🌿 As we close out American Wetlands Month, we are excited to bring you one final feature! Did you know? Right here in Granville, the Newell Recreation Preserve is helping protect and restore vital wetland habitat in Licking County.

Dedicated in July 2020, this beautiful 40-acre preserve includes:
✨ 15 acres of wetlands
✨ A 4.5-acre high-quality wetland
✨ Multiple vernal pools that provide critical seasonal habitat for wildlife
✨ 25 acres being restored with prairie grasses and pollinator-friendly flowers

The preserve also serves as an important connection along the Ohio-to-Erie Trail, linking communities from Cincinnati to Cleveland and giving visitors a chance to experience the beauty of Ohio’s natural landscapes. A huge thank you to the Newell family, Licking Park District, Licking County Commissioners, and all partners who helped make this project possible!

We invite you to take time to explore, appreciate, and protect these incredible ecosystems right in our backyard. To learn more, visit Licking Parks District www.lickingparkdistrict.com/facilities/facility/details/Newell-Recreation-Preserve-17.

05/25/2026

The Licking County Soil & Water office is closed today, Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. 🇺🇸

We pause to honor and remember those who gave their lives in service to our country. Regular office hours will resume tomorrow.

05/25/2026

As we head into summer fun, it’s the perfect time to focus on staying safe around water and protecting the natural resources that make our community so special. 💧🌿 In honor of National Water Safety Month, let’s work together to keep our families safe and our waterways clean!

Water Safety Tips
🛟 Always supervise children near water—no distractions, even for a moment
🛟 Wear life jackets when boating or swimming in open water
🛟 Know your limits—don’t swim alone and be mindful of currents
🛟 Learn CPR & basic rescue skills—it can save a life
🛟 Stay hydrated & take breaks to avoid fatigue in the heat

🌎 Protect Our Waterways: Our lakes, rivers, and streams in Licking County are vital to our environment and community.

🚯 Pack it in, pack it out, take all trash with you
🗑️ Dispose of waste properly to prevent pollution
🌱 Respect natural habitats and wildlife
💧 Keep storm drains clear—they lead directly to our waterways

Together, we can enjoy the water safely while keeping it clean for everyone. 💙

Did you know that May is National Water Safety Month? Follow along with us this month as we share information and resources about the importance of water safety, and what we can do to prevent drownings in Licking County!

05/22/2026

The Area 3 Envirothon took place on April 22 hosted by Coshocton Soil & Water Conservation District welcoming 52 of the region’s top teams to compete for a chance to advance to the Ohio Envirothon. Congratulations to Licking County’s own Granville High School and Watkins High School teams for earning top honors and securing their spot to advance to the Ohio Envirothon, taking place June 1–3 at Franciscan University! Granville Exempted Village Schools

The Envirothon is a dynamic, hands-on competition that pushes students to apply their knowledge in real-world environmental topics like:

🌊 Aquatics
🌳 Forestry
🌱 Soils & Land Use
🦌 Wildlife Management
💧 Current Issue: “Nonpoint Source Pollution—It Begins at Home”

Through teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving, these students are building skills that go far beyond the classroom, preparing them to become the next generation of environmental leaders. 🌎💚

👏 Join us in cheering on Granville and Watkins as they head to state! Good luck! For more information about Envirothon, visit our website https://lickingswcd.com/education/envirothon.html.
Southwest Licking Local Schools

05/20/2026

🐝🌼 Today we’re celebrating World Bee Day by recognizing the powerful connection between pollinators, native plants, and healthy soil, and how small changes can make a big impact.

Right now at our SWCD site, our meadow planting is in its first year, also known as the “ugly duckling” phase. 🌱 Year one is about establishment, not appearance. While it may look sparse or weedy now, the space is laying the foundation for a thriving, colorful meadow full of bees, butterflies, and other essential pollinators in the years ahead. 🦋🐝

By planting native and supporting pollinators, we’re helping:
🌼 Increase biodiversity
🌱 Improve soil structure and water absorption
🐝 Provide critical food and habitat for pollinators

Stay tuned—this “ugly duckling” will soon transform into a vibrant ecosystem! 💚

05/19/2026

🌿 Wetland Feature: Bloody Run Swamp 🌿 Up next in our wetland series, we’re highlighting Bloody Run Swamp, a unique and historically rich ecosystem right here in our region!

Did you know that about 90% of Ohio’s wetlands have been lost over time? Today, efforts like the Bloody Run Swamp restoration are helping bring these important ecosystems back.
Wetlands may not always look exciting, but they play a huge role in keeping our water clean, reducing flooding, and supporting local wildlife. In fact, they act like “nature’s filters,” removing pollutants before they reach our streams and rivers.

At Bloody Run, former farmland was transformed back into a natural wetland by removing drainage systems, reshaping the land, and planting thousands of native trees and plants. The result? A healthier environment for both people and wildlife.

👉 Read this feature story by the Reporting Project: https://tinyurl.com/2dxskp9f.

Looking to learn more? The Stream and Wetlands Foundation also provides a great historical overview of this wetland by visiting 👉 https://streamandwetlands.org/bloody-run-swamp-a-historical-summary/.

Wetlands like Bloody Run Swamp play a critical role in improving water quality, supporting wildlife, and reducing flooding. We’re excited to continue sharing these important natural spaces with you! 💧🌱

05/17/2026

🌳🌱 Did you purchase a tree from the Licking County Soil & Water Tree Sale this year? We’d love to see how it’s growing! 🌿

📸 Share a photo of your newly planted tree in the comments or tag us in your post and use so we can celebrate your efforts to make Licking County greener, one tree at a time.

Whether it’s in your backyard, along your property line, or part of a bigger conservation project, we want to see it! 💚 Thank you for supporting conservation and helping our community grow!

05/16/2026

Nationwide’s Drive the 5 safety program is designed to help keep drivers in the agriculture, food and fuel sectors safe and alert on the road. Learn more about the program and each principle: Nationwide.com/Drivethe5