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: [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>; [email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]>
