Champions in the Field: Measuring Giants, Building Pride

Champions in the Field: Measuring Giants, Building Pride

From Kansas Canopy by Kansas Forest Service

February 4, 2026 · 50 min · Season 6 · Episode 2

About this episode

This episode explores the Kansas Champion Tree Program and the role of volunteers in preserving the state's largest trees.

In this episode of the Kansas Canopy Podcast, Volunteer and Partnership Liaison Brady Wolken takes us behind the scenes of the Kansas Champion Tree Program and its dedicated volunteers. From measuring some of the largest trees in the state to learning how to identify species and document their stories, these citizen scientists help preserve Kansas’s living landmarks. We explore why champion trees matter, how they connect us to the history of our state, and how spending time with these giants fosters a deeper respect for nature, and a sense of pride in caring for it. 5th Grade Arbor Day Poster Contest: https://www.kansasforests.org/programs/postercontest.html 200-year-old Kansas Champion Pecan: https://www.kansasforests.org/events/calendars_and_articles/statechampionpecan.html What Tree is This Guide: https://www.arborday.org/tree-identification

Topics covered

  • Kansas Champion Tree Program
  • volunteering
  • citizen science
  • tree measurement
  • environmental pride

Keywords

  • champion trees
  • nature conservation
  • Kansas history

Mentioned in this episode

Products: What Tree is This Guide

Books & works: What Tree is This Guide

Places: Kansas

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