Kentucky 4-H Virtual Forestry Field Day 

Laurie Thomas, Senior Extension Associate, Forestry and Natural Resources Extension

The Kentucky 4-H Forestry Field Days looked a little different this past year but we did not want to miss the chance to share with the youth of Kentucky the importance and enjoyment of our trees and forests so we created the Kentucky 4-H Virtual Forestry Field Day. The purpose of the Virtual Forestry Field Day is the same as the in-person field days that are traditionally held across the state each September. Both are designed to develop an appreciation of trees and their roles in our environment, whether in a yard, park or forest. We also want youth to understand the need and importance of conserving woodlands as a source of products and services necessary for quality living and acquire information and knowledge of practical forestry skills that real-life foresters utilize everyday on the job. The Kentucky 4-H Virtual Forestry Field Day consists of seven units with each unit providing educational information in video format and three challenges that can be viewed and completed at home or as a 4-H club at a county Extension office. The program was presented at the 2020 4-H Conference and a few of the comments included “I love this idea! This will help with my spring Nature Club.” “Thank you for making this available.  We started a Forestry Club this past fall and this will be very helpful since we are homebound for the immediate future.” The units include Kentucky’s Forests, What is Forestry?, History of Forestry, Tree Identification, Tree Measurement, Why Trees Are Important (Their Ecosystem Services) and Careers in Forestry. The challenges included tree identification, tree measurement and completing the Adopt-a-Tree program.

Upon completion of the units and challenges the 4-Hers complete the 4-H Forestry Virtual Field Day Online Survey and 4-H youth received a certificate from the University of Kentucky Department of Forestry and Natural Resources along with a copy of “Identifying Kentucky’s Forest Trees”. In addition, this Virtual Forestry Field Day supplements our future in-person field days. https://4-h.ca.uky.edu/forestryfieldday

To date, more than 100 youth have completed the 4-H Virtual Forestry Field Day and received a certificate of completion. Jennifer Cole 4-H Agent in Pulaski County was a big champion of the program and conducted the Virtual Field Day with many of her 4-Hers during the spring and freshman Vo-Ag class at Pulaski County High School.