Young Tree Farmers Camp

View the project report

Commodities

• Additional Plants: trees

Practices

• Crop Production: agroforestry, forest farming, forestry, forest/woodlot management

The program involves two one week summer camps and a Saturday camp held quarterly will be conducted during the grant period. In late 2018, the Center for Heirs’ Property Preservation™ (CHPP™) received a 25-acre donated tract of land in Berkeley County from Lord Berkeley Conservation Trust. The goal of CHPP™ is to utilize this land as a tangible example of how forestry may be used to dramatically increase the value of one’s land and expose rural and minority youth to sustainable forestry. This tract embodies many of the issues facing landowners in our forestry program. Consequently, this property will be an outside classroom –a demonstration forest—for landowners with whom CHPP™ works. The instructors will include the CHPP™ Forestry team, SC Forestry Commission, and USDA SC NRCS, and the teachings will mirror the conversations and technical assistance that they have with landowners. They will implement many of the approaches it often recommends to its landowners such as harvesting, planting/reforestation, and the associated benefits of longleaf pine. The minority youth will be instructed on basic forestry concepts including tree identification, forest products, forest measurements and compass/GPS to encourage their interest in careers in natural resources. These youth will be solicited from neighboring schools. Notice of these camps will be disseminated at project outreach events.  

Ultimately, the youth will increase their knowledge and understanding that there are certain best management practices (BMP) which are fundamental to both high value products and healthy forests. In addition, this program will assist in establishing the youth’s role in the family landownership and their critical importance and bring awareness to the wide range of environmental career opportunities open to them. Also, these minority youth will see CHPP African American foresters on staff in action in the field, which may provide an ‘AHA” moment for some youth and provoke them to seek forestry as a career.