Growing Futures in Forestry
Forestry curriculum, training and careers for students and educators.
Washington’s 22 million acres of forestland support wildlife, recreation, local economies, and climate resilience. Your local conservation district works with partner agencies to connect students and educators with Puget Sound–based forestry education. Discover real-world learning opportunities that empower students and spark interest in career pathways close to home.
Conservation Districts Provide…
Classroom Instruction
Conservation districts regularly host digital and in-person workshops about the local environment. These events are typically free to the public and are a great way to meet forestry and habitat specialists!
We can help you introduce the concept of forest canopy conversion: the transformation of forested areas into non-forested land, often due to urban development, agriculture, or other land-use changes. By understanding this process, students can explore the balance between land use and conservation and the implications for climate resilience and healthy communities.
Field Experiences
We can also help coordinate field trips to local forests, including visits with private forest landowners, where students can explore forest management, observe forest conditions firsthand, and connect classroom learning to real-world landscapes.
Stewardship Opportunities
Conservation districts offer hands-on stewardship opportunities that allow students to care for local forests while building practical skills. Students can participate in activities such as tree planting, invasive weed removal, and forest restoration projects, gaining firsthand experience with forest management and habitat improvement. These experiences help students understand how stewardship supports healthy forests, wildlife, and resilient communities.
Envirothon (High School)
Envirothon is a team-based natural resources competition hosted by Conservation Districts for high school students. Teams test their skills in Forestry, Aquatic Ecology, Soils and Land Use, Wildlife, and a rotating current-issue topic.
Students compete locally at the Northwest Regional Envirothon, with top teams advancing to the Washington State Envirothon in May. State champions advance to the national NCF Envirothon, competing against teams from across the U.S. and beyond.
Workshops
Conservation districts regularly host digital and in-person workshops about the local environment and management tips to improve natural resources. These events are typically free to the public and are a great way to meet forestry and habitat specialists who can assist with in-class or field trip educational opportunities while also learning about topics that may connect to lesson plans.
Connect with Your Local Conservation District Forester
Washington state has 45 conservation districts zoned by county. Find yours to get connected with resources and future learning opportunities!
Partner Agencies & Organizations
Department of Natural Resources
The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is a state agency that manages more than 5.6 million acres of public land in Washington for the needs of present and future generations. DNR is the largest wildland firefighting agency in Washington, regulates forest practices across private and state lands, manages nearly 3 million acres of trust lands for public beneficiaries, maintains more than 97 natural areas to protect rare plant species and communities, houses the Washington Geological Survey, and manages the state’s aquatic lands. Through Washington State Trust Lands, working forests help fund public schools.
DNR’s Youth Education and Outreach Program connects students and teachers to state lands and DNR subject-matter experts. To support K-12 education, DNR provides:
- Programming for youth, including field trips, classroom lessons, and guest speakers. Request DNR programming. All programming is free, and funding for transportation and substitutes may be available, depending on equity needs and program type.
- Gear kits, which include materials for forestry education and personal protective equipment. These kits are free for public schools and extra-curricular programs, and can be requested online.
- Curriculum for middle and high school classroom instruction, focused on publicly-accessible DNR-managed lands in Washington. Curriculum is hosted on the Open Educational Resources Hub, which is maintained by the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Hub requires a login, but all materials are free to use. Find DNR-published materials.
- Workshops for formal and informal educators to grow their knowledge, skills and confidence to teach about natural resource topics, facilitated in partnership with Conservation Districts, Tribes, industry, and other organizations. Reach out to yeop@dnr.wa.gov about upcoming offerings.
Pacific Education Institute
The Pacific Education Institute (PEI) offers forestry-focused educational resources for various grade levels and learning objectives. Educators can search by topic, grade level, standards, and resource type, with many materials available in Spanish.
Notable resources include the “Forests of Washington: Forest Ecosystems and People” activity guide, which provides comprehensive insights into the state’s forest regions and related issues, and the “Washington Forest Education: K-12 Learning Framework,” offering a structured approach to integrating forest and natural resource education into the classroom.
Additionally, PEI’s “Urban Forestry” storyline guides students in exploring the benefits of urban trees and the urban heat island effect. These resources are designed to enhance students’ understanding of forestry and foster a deeper connection to the natural world.
The YESS program brings together PEI, school districts, skill centers, and local industry partners to support student learning. High school participants earn credit and a stipend while gaining job skills and exploring careers in natural resources or education through a mix of classroom instruction and hands-on service at partner sites.
WSU Forestry Extension
Washington State University (WSU) Extension Forestry provides forestry education and assistance through community-based WSU faculty and staff. Offerings include courses, workshops, field days, publications, online resources, and individual consultations. The primary audience is owners of wooded property, but many of the publications and online resources are also suited to a K-12 environment. Also, WSU Extension Forestry offers special forestry courses for K-12 educators. For more information, visit the WSU Extension Forestry Website.
Additional Supports for Education & Workforce Development
Student Resources
Xerces Society and Woodland Fish & Wildlife have great resources on habitats that students can find around their communities.
Washington Forest Protection Association
The Washington Forest Protection Association offers a dedicated website designed to help students learn about working, managed forests in Washington state. The site features sections on Washington forests, wildlife, wood products, the environment, and fun activities, providing a comprehensive and engaging learning experience.
Society of American Forests: Accredited College Guide
The Society of American Foresters (SAF), a national organization to provide professional education and advance the sustainable management of forest and other natural resources, provides an Accredited College Guide. This guide is a great resource to help prospective students in finding forestry and natural resource-focused degree programs which are accredited through SAF’s voluntary, peer-reviewed recognition process. SAF also has student chapters through colleges that can provide hands-on, professional development experiences as well as networking opportunities with working professionals.
Agriculture & Natural Resource Center of Excellence (ANR)
The Agriculture & Natural Resource Center of Excellence (ANR) is one of 12 Centers of Excellence in Washington State that link business, industry, labor, government, and the state’s educational systems to create a highly skilled and readily available workforce critical to the success of the state’s economy. View the Agriculture & Natural Resource Career Pathways in Washington State program guide.
Washington FFA Association
Through forestry Career Development Events and hands-on field experiences, Washington FFA Association equips students with real-world skills in forest management, timber cruising, wildlife habitat, and sustainable harvesting. As part of the national National FFA Organization, the forestry tracks connect classroom learning with outdoor application— challenging students to identify tree species, measure board feet, assess forest health, and present management plans. These experiences build technical expertise, teamwork, and leadership while introducing students to careers in forestry, natural resources, and environmental science.
There are hundreds of jobs in the forestry industry, and many pathways to take! Share this with your students who are interested in exploring this field.
Exploring Green Jobs in Forestry Careers
Washington Natural Resources Corps Programs: Complete List
Washington Conservation Corps
Young adults (18-25) can jumpstart a career in the environmental field through the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC). Crew members serve a 9-month term across Washington’s public lands while making a positive impact on the environment. Members learn about local ecology, plant identification, restoration techniques, natural resource management, and tool safety while engaging with a wide variety of conservation professionals from government and non-profit agencies. Most districts have a WCC field crew that help us accomplish our many projects!
Teacher Resources
Forest Carbon Data Visualization
The Forest Carbon Data Visualization website is an interactive tool that illustrates the role of U.S. forests in carbon sequestration and storage. Developed by the National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO) with data analysis by the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc. (NCASI), this resource offers insights into how forests contribute to mitigating climate change.
National Association of Forest Owners Alliance
National Association of Forest Owners Alliance covers topics such as understanding CO₂ equivalents (CO₂e), different forest categories, the processes of carbon sequestration, storage, and emissions, the role of forest products, and sustainable forest management practices. It’s designed to make complex forest carbon data accessible and engaging, providing a comprehensive picture of how U.S. forests and forest products are combating climate change.
U.S. Forest Service
The U.S. Forest Service has a variety of free or low-cost Conservation Education materials and partners with organizations for youth education materials. Through the PNW Research Station, students can also connect for free to real-world studies through their Science Findings page.
The newsletter Science You Can Use is a consistent source of forest science education from the Rocky Mountain Research Station.
Project Learning Tree (PLT): A nationwide program committed to advancing environmental education, forest literacy, and green career pathways, using trees and forests as windows on the world. PLT publishes curriculum resources and facilitates both in person and online training. Each state has a coordinating organization, which is the Pacific Education Institute in Washington.
Forestry Challenge: An academic event for high school students in technical forestry and current forestry topics, run out of California. To support participating students, Forestry Challenge has developed curriculum on topics like species identification, forest inventory and timber cruising.
Open Educational Resources Hub: The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) maintains this hub, which contains reviewed courses, units, and lessons that have been developed by OSPI grantees or collaborators and aligned to Washington K-12 Learning Standards. You can search for materials by topic, grade level and standard. All materials are free to use!
Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife
Whether you’re a classroom teacher, afterschool educator, homeschool provider, or community partner, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife offers engaging, ready-to-use resources for learning about Washington’s wildlife and ecosystems.
Washington Trails Association Gear Library
The Washington Trails Association Gear Library expands equitable access to the outdoors by providing free apparel and equipment to youth and community groups in Seattle and Pierce County. After attending a brief workshop orientation, participants can borrow gear at no cost, with priority given to schools serving low-income youth of color, helping remove financial barriers to outdoor education and trail experiences.
Timberland Regional Library Library of Things
Serving communities throughout South Puget Sound and Southwest Washington, Timberland Regional Library offers outdoor resources through its Library of Things collection. Patrons can check out hiking gear, Discover Passes, and educational materials such as birding guides, making it easier for individuals and families to access parks, trails, and hands-on learning opportunities.
Acknowledgements
Thank you to the Department of Natural Resources Youth Education & Outreach Program and Pacific Education Institute for partnering with Puget Sound Conservation Districts on this resource.
This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement PC-01J89501 through the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency or the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use.
Curriculum & Additional Resources
To further support your curriculum, we have curated a list of forest focused community partners, educational materials and interactive tools that delve into topics such as forest canopy conversion, sustainable forest management, and the ecological significance of our state’s forests. These resources are designed to enhance your students’ understanding and foster a deeper connection to the natural world.
U.S. Forest Service
The U.S. Forest Service’s newsletter, Science You Can Use, is a consistent source of forest science education from the Rocky Mountain Research Station.
Forest Carbon Data Visualization
The Forest Carbon Data Visualization website is an interactive tool that illustrates the role of U.S. forests in carbon sequestration and storage. Developed by the National Alliance of Forest Owners (NAFO) with data analysis by the National Council for Air and Stream Improvement, Inc. (NCASI), this resource offers insights into how forests contribute to mitigating climate change.
National Association of Forest Owners Alliance
National Association of Forest Owners Alliance covers topics such as understanding CO₂ equivalents (CO₂e), different forest categories, the processes of carbon sequestration, storage, and emissions, the role of forest products, and sustainable forest management practices. It’s designed to make complex forest carbon data accessible and engaging, providing a comprehensive picture of how U.S. forests and forest products are combating climate change.
Washington Forest Protection Association
The Washington Forest Protection Association offers a dedicated website designed to help students learn about working, managed forests in Washington state. The site features sections on Washington forests, wildlife, wood products, the environment, and fun activities, providing a comprehensive and engaging learning experience.
Gear & Materials
WA Trails Association Gear Library: Libraries in Seattle and Pierce Co. provide access to apparel and gear to support equitable access to the outdoors. Free after attending a workshop orientation, with priority for schools serving low income youth of color.
Timberland Regional Library: https://trl.org/library-of-things/ Libraries in South Puget Sound/SW WA have some outdoor gear for hiking, park access, and individual educational activities (birding guides, Discover Passes, etc.)
