4-H Wildlife Projects
Each of the projects incorporates experiential learning opportunities that will form a base for further discovery in the wildlife area of your choice. Projects are divided into two age categories 9-12 and 13-15. Anyone, regardless of involvement in 4-H may utilize these projects. 4-H Wildlife Projects can be found by visiting this web page.Deer and Turkey and Oaks, OH MY! Extension Forestry 4-H Youth Programs presentation from the 2025 State Extension Conference
4-H Forestry and Wildlife Presentations
Ideas for presentations include the 4-H Wildlife Projects (information above), in-depth information on a favorite wildlife species, forest management, tree insects and diseases, just to name a few.
WHEP – Wildlife Habitat Education Program
WHEP is a national 4-H program that:
- teaches 4-Hers about the fundamentals of wildlife management
- brings 4-Hers together to develop team skills
- promotes and develops leadership skills among 4-Hers
- provides an opportunity for 4-Hers to work with natural resource professionals.
Although WHEP is a competitive event, its primary purpose is to increase participant’s knowledge of wildlife management while promoting life skills. The basis of the program is the NC WHEP Learning and Activity Guide, which covers wildlife habitat management concepts and helps participants prepare for the annual state contest.
What is NC WHEP? from the 2016 NC Volunteer Leaders Conference
2026 NC WHEP State Contest
Saturday, May 2, 2026 Eno River Association's Confluence Natural Area Hillsborough, NC (Orange County)
Congratulations to Forsyth County, our top scoring 2026 Senior Division Team! They will have the opportunity to represent NC at the national WHEP contest being hosted by South Carolina in late July.
| SR Division Team Ranks | JR Division Team Ranks |
| 1st Forsyth A | 1st Forsyth A |
| 2nd Alexander | 2nd Henderson A |
| 3rd Forsyth B | 3rd Henderson B |
| 4th Cabarrus | 4th Forsyth B |
| 5th Alleghany | 5th Edgecombe |
| 6th Wilson | 6th Alleghany |
| 7th Edgecombe | 7th Caswell |
| 8th Davidson | |
| INDIVIDUAL SCORES | |
| SR Division | JR Division |
| 1st Maggie Mehaffey Forsyth County |
1st Jonathan So Forsyth County |
| 2nd Calloway Mehaffey Forsyth County |
2nd Zane Capps Henderson County |
| 3rd Lucy Mehaffey Forsyth County |
3rd Avlyn Wilkie Henderson County |
| 4th James Tyler Forsyth County |
4th Thatcher Mehaffey Forsyth County |
| 5th Sevy Petty Forsyth County |
5th Rachel So Forsyth County |
NC WHEP Learning and Activity Guide - 5th Edition This version of the guide includes the revisions to the WMPs, January 2014 (which replaced pages 44 & 45 in the 4th edition of the NC WHEP guide) as well as the 2016 update of the new wildlife identification list (Table 2. Selected Wildlife Species for Identification). This list does not change the management species for the 2017 NC Contest.
NEW Training Resources!
Contact
to be added to the
Google Training Site
(for 4-H Agents/Volunteer Leaders only)
WHEP Assistance
Ideas to help train your WHEP team
4-H Forestry Contest
The 4-H Forestry Contest helps develop appreciation for the importance of conserving forestland as a source of products, benefits, and services necessary for quality living. 4-H foresters learn practical forest management skills through participation in the 4-H Forestry contest. Learning these skills will help our leaders of tomorrow be prepared to own forestland or deal with environmental issues in the future. Events covered at the state contest include tree identification, tree measurement, insect and disease identification, and compass traverse.
The state forestry contest will help determine the Senior Division team that will have the opportunity to represent North Carolina at the National Forestry Invitational in West Virginia in July of the following year.
2025 NC 4-H Forestry Contest
October 11, 2025 Schenck Memorial Forest Raleigh, NC
Congratulations to all our first-time participants! Read all about the 2025 state forestry contest in this news article.
| SR Division Team Ranks | JR Division Team Ranks |
| 1st Forsyth | 1st Forsyth JR A |
| 2nd Davidson* | 2nd Henderson |
| 3rd Onslow | 3rd Forsyth JR B |
| 4th Wilson | 4th Harnett JR B |
| 5th Harnett JR A | |
| 6th Onslow |
*Forsyth County represented NC at the 2025 national Forestry Invitational, therefore, Davidson County will have the opportunity to represent the state in 2026.
NC 4-H Forestry Invitational Handbook *UPDATED 2024* What is new in the Forestry Handbook?
NEW Training Resources!
Contact
to be added to the
Google Training Site
(for 4-H Agents/Volunteer Leaders and their 4-Hers only)
NC Forest Service Educational State Forests are home to PLT Tree Trunks that can help support your 4-H Forest Training Efforts.
North Carolina 4-H Forestry Invitational presentation from the 2025 Volunteer Leaders Conference
National 4-H Forestry Invitational web site clicking on this link will take you to a new page. The national page has all the resources for training forestry teams and working with groups interested in learning about forestry. Read about the great success the North Carolina 4-H Forestry Team had at the 2018 National Invitational!
Key Contacts
Renee Strnad Extension Forestry Environmental Educator NC Project Learning Tree Coordinator renee_strnad@ncsu.edu 919-515-5518
Location: 4225 Jordan Hall II, NC State Campus
Fax: 919-515-6883
