The Kentucky 4-H Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRESci) Academy is a three-year program for middle school students who are passionate about environmental science and the outdoors. Through hands-on learning, participants explore Kentucky’s natural resources—including water, forests, entomology, and wildlife—while building skills in observation, communication, and responsible resource use.

4-H members who successfully complete the program may apply to become NRESci Ambassadors. In this leadership role, youth share their knowledge, strengthen their leadership skills, and continue developing as environmental stewards.

The Kentucky 4-H Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences (NRESci) Academy is a three-year program that meets quarterly each year. Delegates attend:

• A two-day residential retreat each September at Feltner 4-H Camp in London, Kentucky
• Three one-day events typically scheduled for late Fall, Winter, and Spring.

These one-day events are held at diverse locations across the state—such as the Salato Wildlife Education Center, Robinson Forest, Lost River Cave, and the University of Kentucky campus—to provide youth with a wide range of experiences and meaningful exposure to natural environments and natural resource professionals. Dates are set at the beginning of each program year and are included in the application materials.

Note: This program requires significant travel, as events are held in different regions of the state. Families are responsible for transportation, though some counties may offer support or carpooling options.

Who Can Apply?

• Youth must be in 5th grade at the time of application (rising 6th graders in the fall)
• Families must commit to the full three-year program
• Only 25 youth are selected statewide each year
• Applications are reviewed in May, with notifications sent in June
• Contact your county 4-H agent for more details about the application process and local deadlines.

Program Cost

The cost is $175 per year, which covers:

• Lodging, meals, and programming fees for the fall retreat
• Program materials and activities for one-day events
• T-shirt

Partial and full scholarships may be available. If available, scholarship applications will be made available to members in June.

Each year of the three-year program, delegates focus on a distinct core area—water and entomology, forestry, or wildlife—and engage directly with experts in each field. Through hands-on field exercises such as stream sampling, forest data collection, wildlife observation and trapping, and insect identification, youth gain practical experience and deepen their understanding of Kentucky’s natural resources. Participants also explore a variety of natural sites across the Commonwealth, such as Lost River Cave, Salato Wildlife Education Center, Robinson Forest, and the University of Kentucky campus, among others.

Partial and full scholarships may be available. 

The Timothy Warren Memorial Scholarship was established in 2017 to honor the life of Timothy Warren, a graduate of the NRESci Academy and a 2015-16 Academy Ambassador from Breathitt County. "Timothy was a scientist by nature. His love for animals, reptiles, and amphibians was evident to everyone that knew him. His passion for science could be seen in the many instructional videos that he made describing how to make solar USB chargers, battery USB chargers using altoid tins, RGB lanterns, and breadboard friendly switches. He loved to take things that most people discarded and re-invent them into something valuable. He was very proud to be a member of the NRESci Academy and to be chosen as an Ambassador. His memory could be honored in no greater way than through this NRESci scholarship." - Diane Warren, Timothy's mother.