The Understory – July 3, 2025
July 3, 2025 9:00 am
Fireworks spark thousands of wildfires in the U.S. each year.
Celebrate Safely, Virginia 🇺🇸 🎆
As you get ready to celebrate this 4th of July, make plans to enjoy a public, professionally organized fireworks show. All fireworks, even seemingly harmless ones, can cause serious injury. Did you know sparklers burn at an incredible 2,000 degrees?! According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 14,700 people across the U.S. were injured by fireworks last year.
“Both legal and illegal fireworks can quickly ignite wildfires that put entire communities at risk,” said DOF Chief of Fire and Emergency Response John Miller. “Only use fireworks in safe spaces away from people, houses and flammable material (dry grass, leaves, storm debris).
Play it safe and leave fireworks to the pros. If you still choose to light fireworks at home, learn best practices and relevant laws by reading our recent news release: https://ow.ly/FrRB50Wj6fU
In the “hottest” class of the summer, campers manage a prescribed burn.
Forestry Summer Camp: See Ya Next Year!
Big thanks to our campers, partners and sponsors for helping make DOF’s Camp Woods & Wildlife another success. Held each June at the Holliday Lake 4-H Center within the Appomattox Buckingham-State Forest, this year’s class was made up of 57 campers — half of whom were girls — representing 39 Virginia localities.
Campers tackled a jam-packed week of wilderness survival, fisheries biology, arboriculture, and forest ecology and management, including a prescribed burn. Campers left with sharpened tree identification skills, a greater understanding of the many career paths available in natural resources, new friends and of course, lasting memories. A photo album from the week will be shared on DOF’s Flickr later this month.
The Camp “Lumberjack Contest” features a pulpwood toss, log rolling and crosscut sawing.
Next year’s Camp will be held June 15-19. If your child has not previously attended and is interested, bookmark our Camp webpage. Applications open in February. Learn more: https://ow.ly/em7g50Wije4.
This dream team replaced a bridge in just one day.
A Bridge Too Far? Not for DOF!
Zoar State Forest in King William County offers 368 acres to explore, including boat ramp access to the Mattaponi River for kayaks and canoes. Several miles of trails and forest roads offer serene opportunities for hiking and biking. The hiking trails include several footbridges to allow easy crossing over the creeks that feed into the Mattaponi.
“One of the bridges on the nature trail was at risk of being claimed by the river,” said State Forest Manager Dennis Gaston. “The biggest challenge to building a new bridge was getting tools and materials to the site, which couldn’t be accessed by vehicle. But this crew was undaunted and found a solution.”
DOF staff got creative and ferried materials by boat.
Instead, DOF staff transported the materials by boat on the Mattaponi River. Talk about creative problem solving! The new bridge is ready for visitors. Come hike, bike or kayak this hidden gem just outside of Aylett. Please note: A state forest use permit is required for some activities. Learn more on DOF’s website: https://ow.ly/B2wy50WfL9C
Tags: The Understory
Category: Education, Public Information