Guidelines in PDF format

Purpose/Objectives:

1. To provide educational opportunities for youth relative to the importance of forests and forest management and wildlife to North Carolina and the world.
2. To teach youth the skills involved in forest and wildlife management, including tree/wildlife identification, forest measurements, reforestation, stand management, habitats, outdoor ethics, current issues facing wildlife and forests, etc.
3. To afford youth the opportunity to explore the diversity of plant and wildlife species, products, amenities, and aesthetic and recreational values that exist in or can be derived from forests and wildlife.

Eligibility:
Individuals or teams may compete.

• 8-10 – 4-H’er must be 8 years old prior to January 1 of the current year and not have reached their eleventh birthday before January 1 of the current year.
• 11-13 – 4-H’er must be eleven years old prior to January 1 of the current year and not have reached their fourteenth birthday before January 1 of the current year.
• 14-18 – 4-H’er must be fourteen years of age prior to January 1 of the current year, and not have reached their nineteenth birthday before January 1 of the current year.

Presentation Ideas:

• Benefits derived from forests (urban forest benefits, wood products, etc)
• Economic importance of forestry to specific counties, regions, etc.
• Wood/tree identification
• Invasive species
• Forest measurements
• Use of prescribed fire for forest and/or wildlife management
• North Carolina wildlife species’ natural history (endangered species, birds, herpetofauna, mammals, etc)
• Wildlife damage control
• Note:  Topics dealing with fish, fishing, sea turtles, marine mammals, and aquaculture belong in Fisheries & Aquatic Resource Category.
• Other topics and ideas that tie-in with forestry and/or wildlife in North Carolina
• Wood products Note: Older participants are encouraged to choose topics that require more “in-depth” preparation rather than the more elementary topics. Also, repeat competitors would benefit from presenting different topics, rather than using the same demonstration year after year (at least not more than twice).

Resources:

• Publications and videos are available from local libraries, Cooperative Extension offices, Agricultural Communications library, and Extension Specialists. Other State and Federal agencies may also provide valuable information. The Southeastern 4-H Wildlife Projects are another good source for information and ideas for wildlife presentations.

Rules/Regulations:

• NO LIVE ANIMALS can be used in the presentation. If preparations for the presentation will involve the use of live animals (for example, collecting observations, doing some kind of experiment, etc. that will be reported on in the presentation) please contact a wildlife professional or a Cooperative Extension Wildlife Specialist in advance for guidance on the proper animal care and handling procedures to follow. Following the proper animal care and use, guidelines are required for all live animal research conducted at the university, so awareness of these rules should be part of the educational experience for any 4H’er who works with live animals.

Suggestions/Helpful Hints:

• Presenters should speak loudly, clearly, and not too fast! Speaking tones should be as those used when talking with the audience, rather than just reciting from memory. If posters are used, large letters are needed, and only the main points or keywords presented. Participants should dress neatly. Clothing or costume items that match the theme seem to leave a good impression on judges. Presenters should look at the audience as much as possible and a smile does not hurt. Have Fun!! If presenters have a personal interest in their topic, the presentation will be fun for the judges to listen to.

1. Judges will watch the presentation, ask the presenter a question or two, then fill out the standard judge’s score sheet.
2. Once the division winners have been announced the judges will be available to provide some positive, constructive, verbal feedback to the participants about their presentations.
3. After State Finals, the score sheets will be mailed to the assisting 4-H agent so they can go over the scores and comments with the 4-H’er to help them improve their presentation skills.

Awards:

• District Winners: Medallion & Monetary awards are listed in the 4-H Awards Handbook.
• State Winner: Medallion & Monetary awards are listed in the 4-H Awards Handbook.

Specialist Contact:

Renee Strnad
Environmental Education Assistant
Box 8008 NC State University
Raleigh, NC 27695
Telephone: 919.515.5518
renee_strnad@ncsu.edu