By Blake Jackson
More than 60 middle and high school students from Breathitt and Letcher counties recently participated in an educational field experience at Robinson Forest, a 14,800-acre research forest located in the Cumberland Plateau.
Known for its pristine watersheds, the site served as the setting for the Flooding in Appalachian Streams and Headwaters (FLASH) Field Day 2025, hosted by the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
Organized by the Robinson Center and the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, the event allowed students to explore the science behind flash flooding through hands-on demonstrations. Engineers and researchers from multiple universities guided participants through stations focused on hydrology, biology, meteorology, climatology, soils, dendrology and community resource engagement.
Alongside the learning rotations, a community resource fair introduced students to future education and workforce opportunities. Participating groups included the Kentucky Division of Water, Forestry Works, Kentucky 4-H Youth Development, Green Forests Work and several local agencies.
For Lee Moser, senior agriculture Extension associate and one of the event coordinators, the program offered an accessible and memorable approach to science. “This was an opportunity for us and the students to distill the impact of flooding to an eighth-grade level - making science fun and connecting them with nature right here at Robinson Forest, which is close to their neighborhood,” Moser said.
“Robinson Forest is a special university resource used for research, teaching and outreach,” Co-organizer Katherine Bullock said. “Our team was thrilled to collaborate with university faculty, on-site staff and the local community hosting a truly memorable field day for local students located in Eastern Kentucky and giving them the chance to learn from experts and experience the excitement of environmental science firsthand.”
The field day supports the larger FLASH Initiative, a four-year National Science Foundation funded effort that studies flash flooding and seeks to strengthen community resilience. The initiative involves UK and multiple partner universities.
Educators hope this event inspires future learning, academic pathways and awareness of natural resource science while helping students stay connected to their home communities.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-paul-hartley
Categories: Kentucky, Education