Natural Resources

Natural Resources are the building blocks of society. Water, soil, wood and wildlife are the raw materials that we rely on throughout our lives. The Natural Resources program is concerned with the management and conservation of these natural resources. Students should be able to perform manual labor with hand tools and heavy equipment. Most fieldwork is outdoors so the student should be willing and able to spend extended periods outside and dress for the weather. Natural Resource students work with dangerous equipment in an open environment and must exercise caution and responsibility.

Topics covered:

General and Shop Safety - Accident prevention, first aid, personal protective equipment use

Heavy Equipment Operation - Pond construction, forest road construction and maintenance, landscape construction, equipment maintenance.  Equipment includes dump truck, bulldozer, front end loader, backhoe, farm tractor, skidsteer loader, mini-excavator 

Forestry - Forest ecology, tree identification, timber cruising, silviculture

Nursery, Landscape Management - Site assessment and preparation, soil testing, plant selection and establishment, tree climbing, tree pruning and care

Logging - Chainsaw safety and maintenance, felling techniques and skidding, firewood production

Sawmill and Lumber Grading - Sawmill operation and maintenance, lumber staking and drying, lumber grading

Maple Syrup Operation - Selecting and tapping trees, collection systems, evaporation, finishing, filtering and grading

Surveying - GPS use, map reading: aerial and topographic, transit use, laser level operation

Environmental Science and Wildlife - Deer population estimation and impact, habitat enhancement, water quality issues, soil science, aquaculture