Page 26 - Tree Line - North Carolina Forestry Association - Fourth Quarter 2023

EDUCATION PROGRAMS
of North Carolina
GROWING
Forestry Education in North Carolina
Education is a central component of the NCFA’s mission to ensure healthy, productive, and sustainable forests. The NCFA’s education programs increase knowledge and awareness of the importance of forests and forestland conservation
as well as the contributions of the forest products industry to North Carolina’s economy and environment, bringing a myriad of benefits to our state’s communities and citizens.
High School Forestry Course & Credential
NCFA’s Education Committee is collaborating with the North Carolina FFA team to create a new semester-long high school forestry course. This course will be a part of the North Carolina
agricultural education curriculum through North Carolina’s Department of Public Instruction and will be implemented in the 2024-2025 school year.
In addition, the NCFA is pleased to be a state affiliate of the
®
By Jessica Ireland, Director of Education Programs and Abigail Ridge, Education Programs Coordinator
24 ncforestry.org / FOURTH QUARTER 2023
ForestryWorks
Credential Program to North Carolina. This credential program prepares students for employment in forestry and was developed in collaboration with the forest industry. Teachers are required to attend a professional development workshop to offer the program and students are required to score 70% or higher on an exam to receive the credential. This program has achieved great success in other states, educating more than 7,500 students and training more than 230 educators since 2017.
program and is bringing the Forest Worker