Cultivating the Next Generation of Maine's Forest Stewards

Imagine graduating from high school with a tangible credential that demonstrates your readiness to pursue a career in the forest workforce. In a collaborative effort to address the critical shortage of skilled young professionals entering the workforce and the lack of resources available for Career and Technical Education educators, we are developing a Maine Forest Technician Curriculum. The curriculum is designed for high school students interested in forest-based career opportunities and technical careers within the forest industry. By aligning technical skills with academic standards, the program will provide students with the opportunity to earn a credential of value while earning their high school diploma.

The curriculum enhances Maine TREE’s workforce development efforts by combining elements of the Forest Ecology Research Network (FERN) and Certified Logging Professional (CLP) programs into a comprehensive program aligned with educational standards for core credits toward high school graduation.  It will also directly address a gap between the existing 32-hour CLP curriculum and the half-decade-long process to become a licensed forester, providing a valuable intermediate career credential. To ensure the curriculum meets the needs of collaborators, an advisory committee of forest industry experts has provided input on the curriculum.  The project aims to enhance both the technical and soft skills of high school and CTE graduates, thereby increasing their employability within the forest sector.

Throughout 2025, our team has identified resource gaps and outlined a curriculum that ties existing resources together into a comprehensive academic model, establishing the foundational knowledge necessary for a successful career in Maine’s forest. In August, we launched the professional development component of this program by hosting a CTE instructor workshop and a custom CTE Tour. Modeled after the signature Forests of Maine Teachers’ Tours, the CTE Tour took place at the University of Maine, Orono (UMO). Educators participated in signature workshops, including the “White Pine Time Machine,” at the University Forest, which showcased the stages of white pine regeneration and the impact of various harvesting methods on forest composition. The group also learned about UMO's research and development projects, which focus on innovative forest products including cellulose nanofibers (CNF), cross-laminated timber (CLT), and other materials. The group discussed the applications of these tours in their classrooms and the alignment of the curriculum outline with their programs. 

Career and Technical Educators visit a Tree Farm

In November, we launched a professional development series to support the implementation of the program during the pilot year and encourage the co-creation of the curriculum with education professionals from CTE programs and other schools in Maine. This project directly aligns with the current priorities of the Department of Education, which include establishing technical education standards for all career and technical programs in the state. This project is possible thanks to funding from the Maine Timberland Charitable Trust and the Maine Department of Education Climate Education Professional Development Grant program. To learn more about this and other environmental education and workforce development initiatives, visit www.MaineTREE.org/education