This year Johnson Forestry Services has started a Forestry Pathways Course, with the help of Tokomairiro Training, based out of Tokomairiro High School.
The course is run for two days each week over a 32-week period and is supported by local forestry companies. It offers students the opportunity to get first-hand insight into the forestry industry while gaining industry-related unit standards (including 40 credits at level 3). The programme places emphasis on silviculture and harvesting operations and introduces learners to a variety of industry pathways, including future tertiary study and employment.
This year there are eight students from around Otago on the course, and already three have mentioned that they would like to go on to work in forestry management, and another five students have indicated they would like to work in harvesting and silviculture operations.
Steve Johnson and Alistair McKenzie are determined to make this new initiative work, and Wenita Forest Products is enthusiastic about supporting this training programme.
Pictured are JFS trainer/assessor Alistair McKenzie, with students on the Forestry Pathways course, Leah Holloway, Rylie Barrett, Kayle Harris, Tayne Fletcher, Shawn Taylor and Timon Schnider.