June 27, 2016, by admin

The U.S. Forest Service International Programs is pleased to announce an exciting opportunity for young adults interested in Forestry, Natural Resources, and Environmental Science! Please share this announcement with high school science teachers, environmental and forestry professors at the college level, and anyone else in your network who works with youth between the ages of 14 and 22.

The International Jr. Foresters’ Competition is an annual event hosted by Russian Federal Forestry Agency (RFFA) to promote and reward young scientists for their interest and efforts in the environmental field, as well as to encourage international dialogue about forestry issues. The 2016 competition will take place in in early September (September 4 – 9), and will include time for sightseeing in and around St. Petersburg, Russia. The competition, which runs a bit like a science fair, is open to young adults between the ages of 14-22. Projects will be presented to an international panel of judges to compete for public recognition and valuable prizes.  Projects that students have already completed for local science fairs or college courses can easily be adapted to the required format. (See http://www.fs.fed.us/about-agency/international-programs/news-useful-links for complete application instructions.)

The USA participated in this event for the first time in 2012, and our student representatives won 3rd place in the overall competition. Click here to learn more about their experience: http://blogs.usda.gov/2012/10/17/us-teens-win-third-prize-at-international-jr-foresters%E2%80%99-competition/. Regardless of where a student might place in the competition, the experience is a unique resume builder and provides a wonderful opportunity to build international connections and friendships!

The U.S. Forest Service International Programs office will provide 1-2 scholarships to cover international travel for qualified applicants who have completed one project (projects can be submitted by one individual student or by teams of two students).  To compete for these scholarships, the deadline for submission of projects to the US Forest Service International Programs office is July 8th, 2016. U.S. Forest Service will also provide travel support and coordinate all logistical details of the students’ journey.

Please see the following link for detailed information about the competition, project requirements, and the application form: http://www.fs.fed.us/about-agency/international-programs/news-useful-links

Interested applicants are encouraged to contact Jennifer Smith or Jacob Minor before applying to learn the latest information and confirm the application process. Feel free to contact Ms. Smith or Mr. Minor at any point with questions or concerns. Emails: jennifercsmith@fs.fed.us; jminor@fs.fed.us