Posted: May 22, 2025
An event held recently by Penn State Extension gave youth from across Pennsylvania an opportunity to explore their interest in wildlife and forestry. This year, the 4-H Wildlife and Forestry Field Day was open to external participants, including those not involved in 4-H. The 2025 theme was native versus invasive species.
Members of the Wildlife Science competition team
The "Exploratory Tract" for youth ages 8-11 included hands-on wildlife and forestry educational activities and guest speakers.
Workshops included:
- "Spotted Lanternfly" with Nichole Suel, director of environmental education at Lacawac Sanctuary Foundation.
- "Native Versus Invasive Jeopardy" with Sinead Roche from the Pocono Environmental Education Center.
- "Ecology Challenge" with Abigail Brockett, 4-H extension educator based in Venango County.
- "Eastern Bluebird Conservation and Nest Box Building" with Jake Smith and Shawna Burkett from the Pennsylvania Game Commission.
- "Biodiversity and Ecosystems" with Lauren Kauffman, 4-H extension educator based in Delaware County, and Barb Franck, 4-H extension educator based in Union County.
- "Ticks" with Heidi Hiem, 4-H volunteer in Montour County.
- "Bats" with Alexis Hewitt, 4-H environmental science state project ambassador.
The "Science Tract" offered youth ages 12-18 a chance to participate in a series of educational sessions to increase their knowledge and skills related to wildlife and forest sciences. According to organizers, the sessions brought to life content from 4-H wildlife and forestry project books and helped youth better understand current conservation issues. The event was also aimed at inspiring participants to investigate potential career paths in forest and wildlife conservation.
Science tract facilitators included Michael Powell, agronomy and natural resources extension educator, Sanford Smith, teaching professor in forest resources and natural resources and youth extension specialist, and Justin Heasley, 4-H extension educator in Warren and Forest counties.
Teens competed in knowledge and skills tests for the opportunity to attend national 4-H competitions.
The first-place team in the wildlife science competition included Sarah Mourey, of Cambria County; Trevor Fetterman, of Somerset County; John Bruner, of Indiana County; and Carson Riley, of Huntingdon County. This group will represent Pennsylvania at the 2025 National Wildlife Habitat Education Program Competition, July 28-31 at the Clyde York 4-H Center in Crossville, Tennessee.
The individual wildlife science competition resulted in:
- First place to Sarah Mourey, of Cambria County.
- Second place to Trevor Fetterman, of Somerset County.
- Third place to John Bruner, of Indiana County.
- Fourth place to Micah Staples, of Monroe County.
Top achievements in forestry science included:
- First place to Nathan Kennedy, of Indiana County.
- Second place to Addison Polak, of Wayne County.
- Third place to Eva Harris, of Franklin County.
The wildlife and forestry art contest invited entries that showcased themes of wildlife or forestry. Participants were required to submit paintings, drawings, or photographs created within the project year. For the art and photo contest, 45 4-H members exhibited 140 entries.
Grace Ziegmont, of York County, won "Best of Show" for photography, and Maja Fair, of Montgomery County, earned "Best of Show" for art. The People's Choice Award went to Addison Polak, of Wayne County.
The event was a collaboration among 4-H educators, state 4-H program staff, state 4-H project ambassadors, Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources staff, volunteers and council members, faculty in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management in Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, and the Pennsylvania Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
