Forestry Foundational Skills

The Foundational Skills Certificate in Forestry is designed to provide opportunities to learn fundamental skills in the field of forestry. Coursework is designed to provide students with the technical skills needed for entry-level employment in a variety of forestry-related fields and to prepare students for continued study leading to a more advanced certificate or degree.

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Occupational

A program of study in Forestry at Lake Tahoe Community College (LTCC) has been designed to address occupational and educational needs throughout California and the Lake Tahoe Basin. In May2020, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (as part of the California Climate Investments Program) awarded a grant to LTCC to develop educational pathways and training to meet local and regional needs in the field of forestry. In April 2021, the California Tahoe Conservancy provided LTCC with additional funding to provide pathways for forestry training and to better meet local labor market needs. As the Caldor Fire entered the Lake Tahoe Basin in August of 2021, community members and local agencies were again reminded that proper management of forest resources is essential for the sustainability and viability of our community and those like it. There is strong local interest in forestry education and career development in forestry-related fields. The Forestry Education & Job Placement Program at LTCC provides the theoretical knowledge and technical skills necessary to prepare students for advanced coursework, degree attainment, and entry-level employment in the field of forestry.

The Foundational Skills Certificate in Forestry introduces students to the field of forestry and provides them with the technical skills needed to be competitive when applying for entry–level positions with local employers, such as the USDA Forest Service and the Tahoe Resource Conservation District. The new forestry program encourages students to use scientific methods to identify issues, understand relationships, and solve problems. Students will evaluate forestry issues in local and global contexts. These program objectives are met by placing an emphasis on the integration of academic coursework and technical field skills, which provide students with an educational foundation and practical experience. LTCC offers a comprehensive curriculum of classroom and laboratory-based courses, field courses, and work experience/internship opportunities that focus on forestry issues, analysis, management,monitoring, and assessment. Through directed learning and hands-on experiences,students will learn to analyze forestry issues using appropriate technologies.The curriculum exposes students to different types of problem-solving strategies and analytical tools.

Forestry program curriculum was designed with stackable certificates leading to a degree. The program was designed to improve one’s chances of employability and job placement and provide additional skills training that may result in wage progression. This program of study will also help guide and prepare students for college-level coursework leading to an advanced degree in forestry.

A Foundational Skills Certificate will be awarded upon completion of a minimum of 13.5 units distributed as follows:

1.     All courses from the following (5.25 units):

FOR 110 Introduction to Forestry (4)
FOR 110L Introduction to Forestry Lab (1.25)

2.      A minimum of 8.25 units from the following:

EVS 110 California Naturalist Program(4.5)
FIR 167 Wildland Fire Safety and Hand Crew Operations (3.5)
FOR 133 Internship - Occupational Work Experience (1-2)
GEG 134/CIS 135A ArcGIS Online (3.5)
GEG 135/CIS 135B ArcGIS Desktop (3.5)
WLD 105C Wilderness Navigation (1.5)

The certificate can be completed in one academic year (three quarters). The suggested sequence of courses that follows is based on entry into the program at the beginning of the academic year.