Use of Technology in WV Career Development Events

The use of all electronic devices; including but not limited to cell phones, BlackBerries, PDAs, MP3 players, programmable calculators; are prohibited during all West Virginia Career Development Events.  If an event requires the use of calculators, the event coordinator will provide exact specifications on the type(s) of devices (including functions) that will be permitted.

 Failure to comply with this regulation will result in the elimination of the entire team from competition.  A letter will be sent to the school principal and superintendent by the state staff detailing the reasons for the dismissal.

 Use of Reference Materials in WV Career Development Events

Students participating in West Virginia Career Development Events are prohibited from bringing reference materials, paper, and/or other aids into the contest area unless the materials/aids are specified by the event coordinators in the official rules and regulations.  The exception, all students are permitted to use a standard clipboard.  Cover sheets will be provided for all contestants in all contests.  Contestants participating in contests with oral reasons will be provided two sheets of unlined white paper to take notes. 

 Failure to comply with this regulation will result in the elimination of the entire team from competition.  A letter will be sent to the school principal and superintendent by the state staff detailing the reasons for the dismissal.

Teams of Less than Three Members

Students may compete in a Career Development Event even if their school does not have a full team (3 or 4 members).  If a school has less than 3 team members, the students are only eligible for individual awards. A school may enter only one team (maximum 4 students) per event. (Passed 11/6/2006)

Forestry

Contest Format:

 Phase 1: General Knowledge/Management (100 points).

             Fifty (50) objective-type multiple choice or true/false questions will be selected from the areas of the forest industry and forest management.  This phase of the contest will test the contestant’s knowledge and understanding of basic principles of forestry.

Time:  Each contestant will be allowed 45 minutes to complete this phase of the contest.
Scoring:  Each answer has a value of 2 points for a total maximum score of 100 points.

 Phase 2:  Tree Identification (90 points)

                 Fifteen (15) specimens from the following list will numbered for contestants to identify by common names.  Numbered specimens can be live trees or live branches.

Time:   Each contestant will be allowed 45 minutes to complete this phase of the contest.
Scoring: Six points will be given for each specimen that is correctly identified for a maximum of 90 points.

 Phase 3:  Equipment Identification (60 points)

             Twenty (20) pieces of equipment from the following list will be displayed for the contestants to identify by technical names.  Each piece of equipment will be designated by a number.

Time:  Each contestant will be allowed 45 minutes to complete this phase.
Scoring:  Three (3) points will be given for each piece of equipment identified correctly for a total of 60 points.  No partial credit will be given. 

 FORESTRY APPLICATIONS:

             Contestants will compete individually in 2 of the 3 practicums listed below:

Sawtimber cruising, pulpwood cruising or Compass and pacing.  The contest coordinator will designate the two (2) practicums to be completed by the contestants.

 1.      Sawtimber Cruising:  Each contestant will use the Biltmore Tree Stick to measure the DBH and merchantable height in 8-foot half-logs or 16-foot logs for ten (10) designated sawtimber  trees.  Using the provided volume table the contestant will calculate the total volume of the 10 trees.

Diameter measurement criteria:

• Diameter breast height (DBH) must be 11.0 inches or greater.

• Record all trees in 1-inch diameter classes.

Note: Any tree diameter measured at the exact half-inch point will become the next highest full inch.  For example, 11.5 becomes 12 inches, 13.5 becomes 14 inches, etc.

Height measurement criteria:

• Merchantable sawtimber height is measured from a 1-foot stump to an 8-inch top diameter (inside bark). 

• If a major fork occurs between the stump and 8-inch top, merchantable height stops immediately below the fork.  Hollow trees or curved trunks (sweep) are not considered as a defect for this contest.  Measure to the nearest half-log by interpolating between the full log markings on the tree stick.

 Time:  45 minutes

Scoring:  100 points

• 4 points for each correct DBH (Partial credit will be given with a deduction of two point for each inch the participant is off the correct answer.)

• 4 points for each correct merchantable height

• 20 points for correct volume within 10 % plus or minus

• 15 points for correct volume within 20 % plus or minus

• 10 points for correct volume within 30 % plus or minus

• 0  points for volume over or under 30%

Partial credit will be given for DBH with a deduction of two point for each inch the participant is off the correct answer.

2.  Pulpwood Cruising:  Each contestant will use the Biltmore Tree Stick to measure the DBH and merchantable height in 8-foot bolts of ten (10) designated pulpwood-sized trees and calculate the standard cord volume of the 10 trees.

Contestants will calculate the volume using the volume table provided by the contest coordinator.

 Diameter measurement criteria:

• Diameter breast height (DBH) must be five (5) inches or greater.

•  Tally all trees in 1-inch classes.

Note: Any tree measured at the exact half-inch point will become the next highest full inch

(See sawtimber above).

Height measurement criteria:

• Merchantable pulpwood height is measured from a 1-foot stump to a 4-inch top diameter (inside bark).

•  Measure to the nearest 8-foot bolt (stick) by interpolating between the 16-foot “log” markings on you tree stick.

 Time:  45 minutes

Scoring:  See sawtimber scoring above.

 III.             Compass and Pacing:  The contestant will use a hand compass and pacing to the nearest full foot to simulate determination of the property lines on a timber tract or locating timber cruise transect lines.  The compass course will consist of five (5) separate lines.  The participant can start at any of the 5 starting points and will record the azimuth bearing (to the nearest full degree).  Participants can bring their own compass or use Silva Ranger type compasses provided  by the contest coordinator.  Hand held compasses with sighting devices cannot be used.  Participants will also pace each of the 5 lines and convert their paces to feet that indicates the length of each line.

 Time:  45 minutes

 Scoring:  100 points (20 maximum points/line – 10 per bearing & 10 per distance)

• Deduction of 1 point/2 degrees of bearing or 2 feet of distance from the correct answer.

• Maximum of 20 points will be deducted on any line.

 Note:  A laminated sheet of conversions of quadrant readings to azimuth readings will be available at each of the 5 starting points.

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