NC State Parks “Big Trees” Contest
Directions
- Measure the circumference of big trees.
- Wrap a string around the trunk at 4½ feet above the ground, or breast height.
- Mark the string so that you can measure it with a tape measure.
- Identify the type of tree and record the county where you found it.
Below are resources to help you identify trees:
Online NC Tree ID Guide from NC State University
https://projects.ncsu.edu/cals/plantbiology/ncsc/tnc/index.html,
Common Forest Trees of NC from NC Forest Service
https://chatham.ces.ncsu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/CommonForestTrees2012.pdf
Download the Reporting Sheet
Be Safe
Make sure it is safe to measure the tree. Choose trees in your yard, parks, or other public places that are easy to get to. If trees are on private land, make sure you have permission to measure them. Take photos of the trees if you are competing for prizes. Make sure to practice proper social distancing while measuring.
Prizes
For prizes, email your completed sheet to bigtrees2020NC@gmail.com by June 5th, 2020. If you are under 18, get permission from a parent or guardian to participate. Attach a small photo of each big tree that you are including in your circumference total. The grand prize for a total circumference of all trees is a genuine Ashe Tree baseball bat and a 2020 annual pass to North Carolina State Parks. Up to 100 smaller prizes will be awarded for the widest tree of each species.
