The Alabama Forestry Youth Camp is a five-day experience for high school students interested in conservation and natural resources. It is designed to teach basic forestry concepts through classroom instruction and outdoor activities.
The 2018 camp will be held the week of June 11-15, 2018 at the Federation’s Rural Training and Research Center, near Epes, Alabama. The program is open to any student, boy or girl, who is at least 15 years old and has completed 9th grade but not yet finished 12th grade.

Students attending will participate in classes covering tree identification, forest management, forest products, wildlife, water quality, urban forestry and forestry history. Many classes will be held outdoors unless weather conditions interfere. Proper outdoor attire is required including good closed toe shoes.
Students will be taught by a staff of professionals in the natural resource fields, who are employed both in the public and private sector. They are provided release time from their jobs to be camp instructors. Students will be housed in dormitories with adult supervision, and adult teaching staff will be available to the campers for study and supervised recreational activities.
The camp will be held at the Federation’s Rural Training and Research Center, near Epes in Sumter County. Students must be able to handle their own transportation to and from the camp. Directions to the camp and other detailed information will be provided to campers who complete an application form and are accepted or the camp.
Camp Director Justin Jacobs said, “I attended this camp about ten years ago when I was a high school student. It raised my interest in forestry and wildlife. I attended Alabama A & M majoring in forestry. Now I am back as the Federation’s Forestry Specialist working with forestry landowners and running this camp to interest young people in this critical field.”
The camp is co-sponsored with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives by Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension, Alabama A & M University Center for Excellence, Auburn University School of Forestry, Alabama Forestry Commission, U. S. Forestry Service and other partners.
The only cost for the camp is a $30.00 application fee. The camp sponsors cover all other costs for instruction, field trips, meals, snacks, lodging and recreation.
Students who are interested should immediately contact the Federation at http://www.federation.coop where there is an application form on line. Applications are also available from Justin Jacobs, Camp Director at jjacobs55@hotmail.com, 205/652-9676 (office) or 256/777-4356 (cell).