Forestry Technician

 

Are you passionate about the outdoors, and particularly, about forests? Concerned about the responsible management of forest resources? Be a part of a close-knit community of men and women across the country who are making a difference in our environment as a Forestry Technician.

 

Program Highlights

In Fleming's two-year Forestry Technician program, you'll acquire the right stuff to work effectively in natural resources management -- from identifying trees to working with high-tech computers.

In an ideal combination of theory and technical hands-on experiences, your studies in the classroom will be complemented by numerous field excursions. You'll also participate in the Forestry program's unique field camp experience. In addition, you can increase your credentials (and career readiness and versatility) by taking certification courses such as forest fire fighting, first aid and CPR, tree marking and cutter certification (at a modest extra cost).

Want to gain an international perspective on forestry? Through a new exchange program, you can visit Europe for as little as three weeks or as long as one semester, attending courses at our partner institutions - the University of West Hungary, in Sopron, Hungary and the University of Padua in Legnaro, Italy. 

 

 

Word from the Workplace

"I had completed the Fish and Wildlife program, and realized that the Forestry program was an excellent complement to it. In addition, I could receive both diplomas within a three-year period. I believe the Forestry program is `leading edge' within Ontario, and provided me with the basic fundamentals and sound knowledge that I needed to succeed in this career. In some districts, geographic information systems is a fairly new concept, and the training and background I received at Fleming helped to really set me ahead in this area."

Jennifer Hughes, Program Graduate
Area Technician, Pembroke District,
Ministry of Natural Resources

 

Why Choose Fleming?

Three decades of producing excellent grads has the close-knit forestry industry seeking out more for new hiring opportunities every year. Fleming's Forestry program has an excellent reputation for producing the best, most competent technicians for a wide variety of agencies, companies, and organizations. The Forestry grad is highly sought after by government ministries, agencies, and forestry companies -- including, for example, the B.C. Forestry Service and the Nova Scotia government's ministries of natural resources and the environment. Employers recognize that the students' training is holistic, and prepares them for a wide variety of tasks and duties. "Everyone knows this college," program co-ordinator Gerald Guenkel says. "Perhaps it's because there are so many graduates in the field who are now in a position to hire new grads, and are doing so as a result of their own positive experience of the program."

Common First Semester 
Students in our School’s diploma programs take the same courses for first semester after choosing and being accepted into one of our programs. This common focus exposes you to a variety of career options and other programs. You will have the freedom to explore and obtain a multidisciplinary perspective, while you acquire a base of knowledge and fundamental skills.

Although students are accepted into a specific program for their first semester, the common first semester allows you to change direction if you find another program or career area is more appealing. Once you have successfully completed the common first semester, you can enter the program of your choice in second semester, subject to enrolment capacity.

 

Work Experience

There are many practical, hands-on opportunities throughout the program. You'll have the opportunity to put your education into practice through participating in our field camp at Gogama, in northern Ontario. You'll live and work in an established, boreal forest camp for seven days, practicing your forestry skills while developing teamwork.

 

What it Takes to Succeed

Forestry Technicians are responsible for resource management planning and protection. Experience working in parks, nature centres, or similar venues, either as a volunteer or employee, would be an asset. Your success in forestry will be greatly helped if you have:

• a passion for forests, environment, outdoors
• problem-solving ability
• strong organizational skills
• good background in maths, sciences
• willingness to move for a career opportunity

Students would benefit by having basic computer skills including e-mail, word processing, file management and internet web browsing.

 

Career Opportunities

There are career opportunities anywhere there is a forest, in rural, wilderness, and urban settings. As mentioned above, major employers in the field seek to hire Fleming graduates, so there's many career opportunities straight out of college. You could find yourself working for hydroelectric companies, conservation authorities, municipalities, forest industry (woodlands, sawmills, pulp mills), government agencies, forest nurseries, federal/provincial forestry-related ministries, and private contractors both within Canada and abroad. Job titles you may hold include forest ecosystem assessor, firefighter, silviculture technician, forest technician, conservation authority technician, forest operation supervisor, and forest planner. With additional training, you could also work as a forester. There's lots of opportunities for women! Employers of Forestry Technicians are after brains, not brawn in the men and women they hire.

 

Minimum Admission Requirements

OSSD with the majority of credits at the College (C) and Open (O) level, including:

• 2 College (C) English courses (Grade 11 or Grade 12)
• 2 College (C) Math courses (Grade 11 or Grade 12) 

When (C) is the minimum course level for admission, (U) or (U/C) courses are also accepted.

Mature Students
If you are 19 years of age or older before classes start, and you do not possess an OSSD, you can write the Canadian Adult Achievement Test to assess your eligibility for admission.

* Students starting in January are required to attend classes over the summer semester.

 

Selection Process

 

Related Programs

Take a third-year Technologist option in Natural Resources Law Enforcement or consider Geographic Information Systems for even more career opportunities.

 

Additional Costs

Plan to spend about $1,100 in the first year and $600 in the second year for books, supplies and camp fees.

 

University Transfer Agreements

• Athabasca University
• Lakehead University
• University of Ontario Institute of Technology

Course	Hours
Semester 1
Applied Mathematics in Natural Resource Sciences	45.00
Communicating Technical Information	45.00
Ecology and Environment	60.00
Ecosystem Skills	60.00
Environmental Leadership	45.00
Geospatial Techniques	45.00
Optional Courses:   Communications Plus 15.00
Semester 2
Forest Fire Science	45.00
Forest Measurement	45.00
Introductory Computing	45.00
Soil Studies	45.00
Technical Reporting	45.00
Trees and Shrubs Of Ontario	45.00
Wildlife Observation Skills	45.00
General Education Elective
Semester 3
Air Photo Interpretation	45.00
Environmental Issues: The Human Factor	45.00
Forest Ecology and Silvics	45.00
Forest Entomology and Pathology	45.00
Forest Management Using GIS	45.00
Forestry Field Camp	40.00
Geomatics in Surveying	45.00
General Education Elective
Semester 4
Annual Forest Planning with GIS	45.00
Forest Horticulture	45.00
Forest Inventory	60.00
Forest Products: Utilization and Scaling	45.00
Human Relations	45.00
Silviculture	45.00
Urban Forest Science	45.00

Semester 1

Environmental Leadership

Course Number: NATR008

This course will enable students to develop a personal position and direct their career path within the context of the environmental and natural resource industry. A dynamic, interactive case study approach will be used to examine issues arising from environmental disputes and conflicts, and to develop an understanding of ecological sustainability.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Applied Mathematics in Natural Resource Sciences

Course Number: MATH063

This course will enable students to apply specific mathematical concepts and acquire foundation skills important in the Natural Resource and Environmental Sciences. It is designed to complement and reinforce learning within other first semester courses and program areas.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Communicating Technical Information

Course Number: COMM044

This course focuses on the development of fundamental writing and speaking skills, both individually and in teams, within the context of program and work needs in the environmental field. Also, students will be required to apply and to demonstrate fundamental research skills, including an analysis of library and Web resources pertaining to program-related topics. Assessment strategies will be tied closely to other common first semester courses.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Ecology and Environment

Course Number: ENVR020

Learn how nature works by studying the key components of the ecosystems in the Kawartha Lakes Region. Through field and lab exploration of wild life, landforms, forests, lakes, rivers and wetlands, students will see the connections between themselves, the environment and ecosystems that surround them.

Units: 60.00
Hours: 60.00

Ecosystem Skills

Course Number: ECOS013

This course will focus on three areas of study: identification, field and lab skills. Students will identify and classify the living and non-living components of the specific ecosystems described in the Ecology and Environment (ENVR 20) course. Field skills to be developed include the ability to navigate through the natural environment and use a variety of ecosystem inventory techniques. Special emphasis will be placed on safe work habits in lab and field.

Units: 60.00
Hours: 60.00

Environmental Leadership

Course Number: NATR008

This course will enable students to develop a personal position and direct their career path within the context of the environmental and natural resource industry. A dynamic, interactive case study approach will be used to examine issues arising from environmental disputes and conflicts, and to develop an understanding of ecological sustainability.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Geospatial Techniques

Course Number: GEOM036

This course is designed around the four pillars of Geomatics: Remote Sensing, Cartography, Surveying and GIS. Students will develop entry-level skills in data capture, surveying, (computer) drafting, principles of remote sensing, air photo interpretation, and in usage of representative Geomatics-related software.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Communications Plus

Course Number: COMM012

Communications Plus will provide individualized help in language and writing skills for students enrolled in Common First Semester Communicating Technical Information. This is a one-hour timetabled class in addition to the Communicating Technical Information course. Students who are recommended and/or elect to take Communications Plus will work on computer-based modules, and may receive assistance on seminar and lab writing assignments from all courses. No additional work is required other than the one class hour per week.

Units: 15.00
Hours: 15.00

Semester 2

Forest Fire Science

Course Number: FSTY012

The ecological role of fire in Canada's boreal forest is one of renewal. Many species rely on wildfires for creating conditions to favour their regeneration: this creates a rich, ecologically diverse landscape that supports many species, both tree and animal, on which economies are based. One theme of this course will be to strengthen knowledge and application of initial attack fire suppression tactics and strategies. The role of fire as a silvicultural tool (e.g. prescribed burning) will be the second major theme of this course.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Forest Measurement

Course Number: FSTY073

This course deals with specific measurements and assessment methods for forests. The course involves laboratory sessions and field trips. Measurement of tree height, tree diameter, basal area, land area, and tree volume is studied. The Canadian Fire Weather Index system is introduced. Fixed area sampling, point sampling, tree marking, and fuel loading are field trip topics.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Introductory Computing

Course Number: COMP345

Working in the Windows XP environment, this computer course introduces the student to computer basics (computer terminology, e-mail, Internet, file management) and the application and use of word processing, spreadsheet, and database software. Through the extensive use of hands-on activities, students will gain sufficient knowledge and experience to make productive use of computers as a tool in both college and workplace environments.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Soil Studies

Course Number: NATR041

This course provides an introduction to the physical, chemical and biological properties of soils. Students develop skills in the determination of soil textures, soil moisture, soil porosity, and other aspects using a variety of field and laboratory methods.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Technical Reporting

Course Number: COMM034

This course is an introduction to technical writing and speaking for students in the School of Environmental & Natural Resource Sciences. Students will write a formal technical report by applying research skills in the library and on the Internet, writing an outline and an introduction, documenting their sources of information in the APA style, editing and revising drafts of their reports, writing formal elements of the report, and integrating graphic presentations with text. In addition, they will present their reports orally, using appropriate audiovisual media, write a set of instructions in memo format, and be able to identify several common types of reports.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Trees and Shrubs Of Ontario

Course Number: FSTY050

This course deals with the identification of approximately 100 species of trees and shrubs of importance to those managing the forests resources of Ontario. Throughout the semester identification features for common trees and shrubs in both summer and winter condition are introduced and applied. A number of field trips are utilized to assist students with their identification skills. In the weekly lecture series topics such as tree growth, reproduction, photosynthesis, respiration, forest ecology and uses of trees will be introduced. At the completion of the course students will have a sound working knowledge of dendrology. The skills introduced in this semester may then be used in following semesters when working with Forest Ecosystem Classification, Restoration Ecology, Conservation Planning and other habitat management situations.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Wildlife Observation Skills

Course Number: FIWI041

This course is an introduction to a range of skills in wildlife observation. A variety of wildlife species may be present in an environment despite not being seen. Important skills include visual and auditory identification of wildlife signs. The primary emphasis in this course will be on identification of wildlife signs such as tracks, trail patterns, scat, skulls, impacts on the environment, bird song and amphibian calls. When ever possible it is important to achieve visual observation and documentation of wildlife. Photography will be examined as a tool to document wildlife and their signs. Studies of wildlife observation technology will include an evaluation of binoculars and spotting scopes. Wildlife observation projects and groups will be reviewed including the Christmas Bird Count and breeding bird surveys. Lab instruction will be augmented with field trips to observe signs of local wildlife and when possible to document actual wildlife sightings.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Semester 3

Air Photo Interpretation

Course Number: NATR007

This course provides an introduction to the basic photo interpretation of physical, biological, and cultural features on different aerial photographs. Basic photogrammetry concepts will be examined and practised in scale determination, height, and measurement. By the end of the semester, students will acquire an understanding of basic remote sensing techniques and their application in natural resource disciplines.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Environmental Issues: The Human Factor

Course Number: GNED015

This course introduces students to the non-technical aspects of environmental issues: historical, cultural, ethical, political, and economic. It is concerned with how environmental issues enter public consciousness and how they are subsequently dealt with in the Canadian and global communities. Students will be encouraged to adopt a balanced, analytical approach as the basis for developing and expressing their own viewpoints as informed citizens and technicians/technologists.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Forest Ecology and Silvics

Course Number: FSTY010

This course deals with the natural factors affecting the establishment and growth of trees individually and in communities, and how these factors affect the future development of plant communities according to the principle of succession. The development of plantations and woodlots will be examined from a successional point of view. Students will examine, in detail, the use of site classification systems and soil surveys as tools in silviculture decision making.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Forest Entomology and Pathology

Course Number: FSTY011

Students of the Forestry, Arboriculture and Park's and Forest Recreation programs possess an excellent foundation in the 'normal growth' of trees. This course introduces students to the study of insects and diseases of forest and urban trees. Identification, classification, and control measures of commercially important insects and diseases are examined. The emphasis is on the pests of forest and urban trees and a collection of such specimens.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Forest Management Using GIS

Course Number: FSTY014

This course examines the principles of managing forests for biological diversity, the forest management policies used currently across Canada, and the techniques of forest resource analysis. Students are expected to have a basic competence in the use of computer spreadsheets and DOS. Spatial forest analysis will be introduced via a geographical information system (GIS).

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Forestry Field Camp

Course Number: APST030

The Forestry Fall Camp is a five day on-site field activity located in the Great Lakes-St. Lawrence/ Boreal forest region north of Algonquin Park, Ontario at the Canadian Ecology Centre (http://www.canadianecology.ca). This course involves a variety of current forestry activities, including silvicultural audits, forest ecosystem assessments, forest renewal audits and cruising techniques. During the camp each student will develop skills in the use of chainsaws, brushsaws, global positioning systems (GPS) and forest measurement tools. Students will develop skills in working in a team environment using the latest industrial safety standards.

Units: 40.00
Hours: 40.00

Geomatics in Surveying

Course Number: SURV018

This course places the emphasis on the fundamental principles of Geomatics as they apply to Surveying. Electronic instruments will be used with emphasis on data loggers to obtain field positions with features and attribute data. These field locations and attributes will be used to create GIS related survey plans. Coordinate Geometry will be used in the computation of boundaries areas and volumes. The GIS features will be implemented using practical field projects and the projects will be related to land information systems.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Semester 4

Annual Forest Planning with GIS

Course Number: FSTY047

Students will create an annual harvesting plan which illustrates commitment to protecting all forest values while at the same time optimizing the economic environment of a cost effective harvesting operation. Areas of discussion include seasonal harvesting progression: road location and costing: harvesting systems and equipment applicability and costs: wood transportation systems and costing: forest management agreements: areas of concern and management guidelines for aquatic, terrestrial, social, cultural and economic environments

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Forest Horticulture

Course Number: FSTY076

This course deals with woody plant propagation within greenhouse and bare-root nurseries for both natural and urban landscapes as well as for forest management. This course also addresses preservation and care of horticultural plants for human well-being in urban settings. Topics include tree seed processing, stratification, germination, seedling culture, cutting propagation, nursery soils, fertilizers, irrigation, and quality control. Special emphasis will be placed on placed on plant selection, plant growth and responses, horticultural practices, preventative maintenance, nursery stock handling, plant-to-soil relationships, and overall seedling physiology.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Forest Inventory

Course Number: FSTY074

This course examines the mensurational skills required to develop and implement silviculture prescriptions. A review of tree measurement and an introduction to new equipment is accomplished by indoor and field labs. Design of inventory systems is covered through lectures. Growth patterns in trees and their influence on tree development are investigated through a stem analysis exercise. Inventories applied to stands. A specific type is also covered through lectures. Measurement and evaluation of all aged hardwood stands are carried out by field trips demonstrating the skills required for all aged management.

Units: 60.00
Hours: 60.00

Forest Products: Utilization and Scaling

Course Number: FSTY016

This course provides insight into the traditional end uses of wood products and by-products. Topics such as dimensional lumber saw milling, veneer production, and pulp and paper technology for roundwood, chips, and recycled paper will be covered. Throughout the course, the techniques of wood scaling and measurement will be presented. This course provides students with a sound understanding of the variety of wood end uses. Students will have the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in the use of bandsaw mills.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Human Relations

Course Number: MGMT005

This course examines self-awareness, interpersonal relations, motivation, stress, small group dynamics, and organizational behaviour. Particular attention will be paid to leadership and conflict management in employment situations. Contemporary developments reshaping human relations will be introduced for study and discussion.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Silviculture

Course Number: FSTY044

In this course, students will examine the factors affecting artificial stand establishment and the practices used to establish new stands. Basic information on seed production and collection will be covered. Students will discuss site preparation techniques and equipment. The silvicultural techniques used to improve the final product in established stands, both artificial and natural, will be explained and observed in lectures and field situations. Students will examine silvicultural treatments from a contracting point of view to expose them to tendering procedures.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00

Urban Forest Science

Course Number: FSTY060

This course introduces the students to tree anatomy, tree physiology, urban soil conditions, tree installation and the impact of construction on tree health. Field trips deal with tree selection, tree pruning, tree reaction to wounding and an introduction to hazard tree assessment.

Units: 45.00
Hours: 45.00