Inspiring Future Forest Stewards

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- Hi, Sanford Smith here with Penn State Extension.

This video is about the Future Forest Steward Program.

This is a program for youth ages 8 to about 12 or 13 years of age, and it teaches the important concept of forest stewardship.

Forest stewardship means that we receive forests from past generations.

We should enhance and improve them while they're passing on to the next generation.

Now, this is an important concept, and it's not usually taught.

Usually, we teach youth about tree identification or wildlife, but it's important for them to know this stewardship concept.

Oftentimes, youth involved in this program are working in an organization, such as a formal school class or even a group like scouting or 4H clubs, and there are adults involved.

There's a little Leader's Guide or Facilitator's Guide that goes along with this program that helps to educate as well as inform the adults.

They don't need to have any previous knowledge.

There's a publication that the youth work through, learning the concept as well as doing activities, and then both the adult and the youth get involved in going outside and doing a stewardship-related activity.

And there's many different ones, and there's an easy to find one that will work for you.

Again, this is for youth ages about 8 to 12 or 13 years of age, and when they complete this program, they get a neat little patch like this.

It's shown here on the screen as well as this is about the size that you can expect, and it's something that gives the kids a little bit of motivation, something to work towards.

So I hope you will check it out and join this Future Forest Steward Program!