Skip to main content

Wisconsin Forestry Careers Coalition Applied High School Curriculum

Coming in 2024!

Applied High School Curriculum

Applied forestry curriculum being developed as part of the Wisconsin Forestry Careers Coalition will equip high school students with the knowledge and skills needed for in-demand forestry careers. The program will culminate in a one-week Skills Camp. Students completing the program can directly enter the workforce, gain further experience through an immersion training program, or earn credits toward degrees at technical college or UW-Stevens Point.​ Lessons will be piloted beginning in the 2023-24 school year. The full curriculum will be available to teachers in the 2024-25 school year.

 

CWES | Amherst Junction, Wis.

High School Forestry Skills Camp

July 21-26, 2024

Forestry Skills Camp is a one-week experience designed for high school students completing their junior and senior year in 2024. It will be held at the Central Wisconsin Environmental Station, a UW-Stevens Point field station. The Skills Camp features hands-on instruction in tree identification, chainsaw safety and tree felling, equipment operation, milling and drying, and log and lumber grading. By the end of the week, students will earn 1 credit in Forestry 350 at UW-Stevens Point and will gain relevant skills in forestry careers.

To attend, apply for a scholarship by April 26​. Applicants will be notified of their acceptance by May 3, 2024. Students will be asked to complete the following short essays:​

  1. In 300 words or less, describe why you want to participate in the Forestry Skills Camp.
  2. In 300 words or less, describe how you think the skills you will learn at the Skills Camp will be useful in your future career.
Apply by April 26!
Treehaven | Tomahawk, Wis.

Forestry Equipment Teacher Trainings

April 2024

Train-the-Teacher workshops are scheduled for April 2024 to prepare teachers to offer applied high school forestry curriculum as part of the Wisconsin Forestry Careers Coalition (WFCC). Trainings will cover timber harvester simulators, chainsaw safety and tree felling, and portable sawmill and kiln operation. Scroll through using the slider below to see the training topics and dates.

The trainings will be held at the UW-Stevens Point Treehaven field station near Tomahawk. Meals will be provided and lodging is available on-site. Attendees will stay in dorm rooms with bunk beds; however, all attendees will have a private sleeping room and bathroom. Bedding and towels will be provided. Training fees and room and board are free for teachers, thanks to the Wisconsin Workforce Innovation Grant awarded to the Wisconsin Forestry Center.

Registration Closed

Timber Harvester Simulator Teacher Training

April 6-7, 2024 | 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

The Ponsse harvester simulator​ gives students experience operating cut-to-length harvesting machines in the safety of the classroom. Pre-generated, automatic scoring training modules walk students through general operating procedures from boom movement to harvest. This teacher training will give you experience operating the harvester simulator and the programs used to run the simulations as well as an opportunity to explore applications for the classroom. View the draft training agenda.

Optional industry externships

To truly experience what it’s like to operate a harvester or working in a sawmill, consider adding an optional externship to your training. We have partnered with the Northcentral Workforce Development Area to provide externships with the timber harvester and sawmill training. The externships, open to all Wisconsin teachers, will be in June 2024 and include a stipend for your district. Externship opportunities are limited.​ ​​Please indicate your interest at registration. ​

Registration Closed

Chainsaw Safety and Tree Felling Teacher Training

April 13, 2024 | 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

Chainsaw safety is an essential part of forestry and logging. In this training we will cover chainsaw safety, general maintenance, and experiencing the basics of tree felling. We also will explore how to incorporate chainsaws and tree felling into your curriculum. Safety equipment will be provided. See the draft Chainsaw Safety and Tree Felling Teacher Training agenda.

Registration Closed

Portable Sawmill and Kiln Operation Teacher Training

April 20-21, 2024 | 8 a.m.-4 p.m.

If you can’t bring your students to a full scale sawmill or kiln, then bring a portable one to them. This training will show you how to operate the TimberKing 2020 portable sawmill including basic milling techniques. You will also be trained on the basics of kiln drying lumber and how to operate our portable kiln. ​​View the draft workshop agenda.

Optional industry externships

To truly experience what it’s like to operate a harvester or working in a sawmill, consider adding an optional externship to your training. We have partnered with the Northcentral Workforce Development Area to provide externships with the timber harvester and sawmill training. The externships, open to all Wisconsin teachers, will be in June 2024 and include a stipend for your district. Externship opportunities are limited.​ ​​Please indicate your interest at registration. ​

High School Curriculum Modules

Though the applied forestry curriculum is written as progressive lessons, the modular nature allows teachers to select specific modules to fit into existing curriculum, whether biology, environmental science, forestry, or wood products courses. Within the modules, activities can scale based on the needs of the students, from foundational knowledge to more complex applied concepts. The goal of the curriculum is not only to build skills for the students but also to provide ease of use for the teachers by allowing flexibility and choice.

Tree Identification and Biology

Module 1

Understanding foundational tree biology is essential in the forest industry. Loggers need to understand how damaging trees can impact the value of the lumber. Sawyers need to know how to saw lumber to minimize defects in the lumber. Foresters can maximize growth by understanding how trees respond to changes in light and water. This module starts with tree biology, progresses to how trees grow, and then ends with identification using leaves, twigs, and form.

Forest Health

Module 2

A changing climate and global transport have made the threat of forest pests and disease higher than ever before. Healthy forests provide healthy ecosystems and high-quality forest products. This module will begin with an overview of spotting unhealthy trees, then will focus on insect pests, diseases, and invasive species.

Silviculture

Module 3

There are many reasons why a forest might be cut or managed. Students will learn about the steps for establishing forests, how certain trees can be promoted through intermediate harvests, and what final harvests look like. Along the way, they will learn forest measurement techniques, silvicultural practices, commonly used equipment, and general safety.

Forest Products

Module 4

Forests offer a range of services, from ecological to economic. The Forest Products module will cover the process of turning logs into lumber and paper products as well as the ecological services provided by forests and trees. Students will gain skills in identifying wood, grading logs and lumber, scaling logs, milling and kiln drying lumber, and identifying how to leverage ecological services.

Skills Camp

One-week immersive experience

Skills Camp is a one-week experience held during the summer at the Central Wisconsin Environmental Station, a UW-Stevens Point field station. The Skills Camp features hands-on instruction in tree identification, chainsaw safety and tree felling, equipment operation, milling and drying, and log and lumber grading. It serves as a capstone for students strongly considering a career in forestry. It offers students a unique opportunity to develop skills through replicated activities in a real-world setting.

REAL-WORLD FORESTRY EQUIPMENT

Teachers will have full support for this curriculum through the use of:

  • Two Ponsse full harvester and forwarder simulators
  • Two portable TimberKing sawmills
  • Two portable drying kilns
  • Two equipment trailers containing forestry tools
  • Educational trunks including basic tree measurement equipment and PPE

For More Information

Jared Schroeder

Jared Schroeder

  • High School Program Manager
  • Wisconsin Forestry Center
  • College of Natural Resources
College of Natural Resources, Outreach and Extension, Wisconsin Forestry Center
715-346-2084