4-H Natural Resources
The 4-H Natural Resource project area is designed to teach youth about conservation and management practices for our nation's natural resources. The information below will provide fact sheets and other study material in the areas of fishing, forestry, wildlife and fair material.
Fishing
Sport Fishing Angling Skills
4-H Sport fishing - Aquatic Ecology
- Introduction to Aquatic Ecology
- All About Fish: Basic Biology and Ecology
- All About Fish: Classification an Identification
- Fish and the Places They Live: Water and the Water Cycle
- Fish and the Places They Live: Watersheds
- Fish and the Places They Live: Water Habitats
- Fish and the Places They Live: Communities
- Supplemental Fact Sheets
4-H Sport fishing - People and Fish
4-H Sport fishing - Tackle Crafting
- General Introduction and Information
- Fly Tying Introduction and Information
- Tackle Crafting Fact Sheets
- Fly Tying
- Tying a Wet Ant
- Tying Panfish Flies
- Tying Quill Winged and Flank Feather Winged Wet Flies
- Tying Hackle Wet Flies
- Tying Bucktails
- Tying Reverse Bucktails
- Tying Hackle Dry Flies
- Tying Classic Dry Flies
- Tying Hairwing Dry Flies
- Dry Flies Featuring Spun Hair
- Tying Mayfly Nymphs
- Caddisfly, Cranefly, Beetle and Fly Nymphs
- Stonefly, Fishfly, Dobsonfly, Damselfly and Dragonfly Nymphs
- Tying Streamer Flies
- Tying Hair Bugs
- Making Hard-bodied Poppers
- Saltwater Patterns
Forestry
- 4-H Forestry Program Manual
- Forestry Fact Sheets
- NREM 207 - Oklahoma Forests and Forestry
- NREM 208 - Tree Identification
- NREM 209 - Compass and Pacing
- NREM 210 - Forest Evaluation
- NREM 211 - Forest Inventory
- NREM 212 - Management Practices
- (236) - Collecting and Exhibiting Leaves
- (237) - Leaf Presses and Collecting Tips
- (239) - Forestry Self-determined Projects
Forestry Judging
- About the Contest
There are over 750 million acres of forested land in the U.S. Approximately 10 million of those forested acres are located in Oklahoma. This equates to about 20% of Oklahoma’s land. A majority of this forestland is located in the 18 easternmost counties of the state. These areas are where 4-H members can establish a basis in forestry knowledge and develop an interest in forestry careers.
Every year, each Oklahoman uses the equivalent of a 100-foot tall, 18-inch diameter tree in the form of paper, lumber, fuel, and a variety of other products. Today, forestry is an $80+ million a year industry in Oklahoma. Value added forestry products made in Oklahoma would increase that figure by nearly 3-fold. Additionally, forest grazing and forest wildlife are important economic resources to Oklahomans who engage in hunting, fishing, livestock production, and various non-consumptive outdoor recreation activities. The estimated value of these non-timber resources is believed to exceed $600 million.
The Oklahoma 4-H Forestry Judging Program is designed to encourage and promote more awareness and knowledge of forestry as an art and science. As current or future leaders and decision makers, 4-H members, volunteer leaders, and Extension agents will learn of the complexities and tradeoffs involved in managing a forest for multiple use objectives.
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Objectives
The objectives of the Oklahoma 4-H Forestry Judging Contest are to provide the opportunity and atmosphere for 4-H forestry members to:
Develop leadership talents and to work towards achieving character development and effective citizenship;
Develop desirable attitudes toward the need and importance of conserving woodlands as a source of income, raw materials, wildlife habitat, and recreation important for quality living;
Acquire an understanding of practical forestry skills in forest management and of the utilization of forest and wood products.
In addition to meeting these objectives, the judging contests will encourage and promote better forestry knowledge for 4-H members, volunteer leaders, and extension agents at local, county, district, and state levels. As future voters, decision-makers, and leaders, 4-H'ers participating in this program will learn of the complexities and trade-offs involved in managing woodland for multiple use objectives.
- Contest Format and Rules
Forestry is practiced primarily in 18 forested counties of eastern Oklahoma. For this reason the district and state contests are held in eastern Oklahoma. The competitions are 1/2day events. The national invitational is a four-day event held in West Virginia in late July. All contests consist of the following five events:
- Tree Identification
- Insect and Disease Identification
- Compass and Pacing
- Forest Evaluation
- A Written Forestry Quiz
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Requirements for Oklahoma District Contests
Competition will be divided into Junior and Senior divisions.
Junior division members must be 9-13 years old.
Senior division members must be 14-19 years old.Age is determined by members age as of January 1 of the current year.
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Requirements for State Contest
Only Senior division members (members who have passed their 14th birthday before January 1 of the current year) are eligible to compete for the state championship to represent Oklahoma at the national invitational.
However, Junior division members can participate in the state contest.
Participation in a previous contest (County, Northern, Southern, etc.) is not a requirement for state competition.
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Requirements for National Invitational
The first place senior team (3-4 members) at the State contest earns the right to represent Oklahoma at National.
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Awards
State Contest - High individuals and teams will receive awards as determined by the sponsors. Scholarships are awarded by the Ouachita Mountains RC&D and Eastern Oklahoma State College.
National awards are determined annually by the sponsors. The number of college scholarships varies from year to year.
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Sponsors
Oklahoma Forestry Association sponsors the state awards
International Paper Company Foundation sponsors the national awards
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Expenses, Travel and Time Regulations
Team members, coaches and chaperons travel at their own expense to district and national contests.
Wildlife
- Wildlife Damage
While most people enjoy and encourage wildlife on their property, occasionally damage is caused by various wildlife species. This is an issue for both agricultural and urban settings. There are several broad categories of wildlife damage control including: exclusion, repellents, fear provoking stimuli, habitat modification, and lethal control.
Effectiveness varies between species and methodologies, and no one control method will be best in all situations. Detailed information for various wildlife damage scenarios, can be found at the following link:
- WHEP Youth Contests
- General Wildlife
- Wildlife Foods