About

About the Invitational

The National 4-H Forestry Invitational is the national championship of 4-H forestry. Each year, since 1980, teams of 4-H foresters have come to Jackson’s Mill State 4-H Conference Center at Weston, WV, to meet, compete, and have fun. Jackson’s Mill is the boyhood home of General Thomas “Stonewall” Jackson, Confederate General during the American Civil War, and a historic setting for the Invitational. Jackson’s Mill State 4-H Conference Center is the first and oldest 4-H camp in the United States and is operated by West Virginia University Extension.

The purpose of the Invitational is to develop an appreciation for the importance of conserving forestland as a source of products, benefits, and services necessary for quality living. 4-H foresters learn citizenship and leadership skills as well as practical forest management skills through participation in the 4-H Forestry Invitational. By learning these skills young people will be better prepared to own forestland or deal with environmental issues in the future.

4-H foresters participate in forestry skills and knowledge events over 3 days of competition, including:

Tree Measurement

Tree Identification

Forest Evaluation

Compass Orienteering

Topographic Map Use

Forest Insect and Disease Identification

Forestry Bowl

Forestry Written Exam

Additional Invitational activities include local tours, campfires, and woodsmen skills fun competition. To download and view the daily schedule click the tab on the upper right of the registration page. The Invitational was founded in 1980. International Paper was the sole sponsor of the National 4-H Forestry Invitational until 2007. The Invitational is now sponsored by a broad range of very supportive companies and organizations along with the USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, Cooperative Extension Service. The event is organized and conducted by a committee comprised of Cooperative Extension Service specialists and educators, and professional foresters from the U.S. Forest Service, the West Virginia Division of Forestry and forestry agencies from other state governments. Our new sponsors look forward to seeing our 4-H foresters’ achieve at the Invitational and in future programs; and they salute the dedicated volunteers and professional leaders whose work enables more than 95,000 young people nationwide to participate in 4-H programs each year. For more information about the National 4-H Forestry Invitational contact the Invitational: Chair: Bill Worrell, bworrell@vt.edu or 276-889-8056 Co-Chair: Dave McGill, dmcgill@wvu.edu or (304) 293-2941 ext. 35930

Helpful Links:

Participating States

Invitational Committee