From the Woods Today – Tree of the Week

Laurie Thomas, Extension Forester, Sr.

The University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Extension team launched the weekly online program From the Woods Today in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and the program remains an important component of our forestry and natural resources Extension programming efforts (https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/woods-today). The From the Woods Today program features current information on woodlands and wildlife in Kentucky including information on woodland management, tree identification, invasive species, forest health, wildlife habitat management, and many more forestry-related topics.

The Tree of the Week segment which provides identification characteristics, native ranges, commercial and non-commercial uses as well as natural history of a different tree each has proved to be a popular and well used/viewed segment from the show. The segments is posted as a stand-alone video on the departments YouTube channel and there are currently 73 species/videos posted. The Tree of the Week segment had over 224,700 views in this last reporting year. Additionally the video segments can be found on the Common Kentucky Trees page of the department website https://forestry.ca.uky.edu/common_ky_trees

The From the Woods Today program won the 2021 National Family Forests Education Project Award. This award focused on educational programming responses to the COVID pandemic by university forestry Extension programs across the United States. The award is co-sponsored by the National Woodland Owners Association and the National Association of University Forest Resources Programs. The target audience for the program includes: woodland owners, county Extension agents/staff, and those withan interest in forestry, wildlife, and natural resources. University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources staff members serve as hosts as they welcome and interview numerous individuals such as University of Kentucky Extension specialists and faculty with expertise in forestry, watersheds, wildlife, tree improvement, and much more. The program also spotlights Kentucky forestry and natural resources partners such as the Kentucky Division of Forestry, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Natural Resources Conservation Service, State Nature Preserves, Kentucky Forest Industries Association, American Chestnut Foundation, Kentucky Woodland Owners Association, Kentucky Tree Farm Committee, and many more.

The live From the Woods Today program allows viewers to interact directly with hosts and presenters. In addition, the program provides continuing education credits for county Extension agents. While many agents and other viewers participate in the live programs many more access the educational content through recordings posted to the departments YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/c/UKForestryandNaturalResourcesExtension). As of June 2022, more than 275 videos have been posted to the From the Woods Today playlist. In total, these From the Woods Today videos have been viewed more than 291,000 times. The From the Woods Today program serves as a vital communication link and educational outlet between county Extension agents/staff, those who depend on or care about Kentucky’s woodlands and wildlife, and the UK Department of Forestry and Natural Resources Extension team.