Hilltop students get hands-on look at Alberta’s forestry sector

By Haylee Winger
For Hilltop students, learning about forestry recently meant getting out of the classroom and into
the field.
Students in Grades 10 to 12 took part in a forestry program through the Woodland Operational
Learning Foundation (WOLF), gaining a closer look at the technology, skills and planning
involved in Alberta’s forestry sector.
The program was offered through Alberta’s Career and Technology Studies (CTS) curriculum,
allowing students to earn high school credits while gaining hands-on experience and learning
about the wide range of careers connected to forestry.
Hilltop Jr/Sr High teacher Jeannie Trebilcock said she hopes the program broadens students’
understanding of the industry.
“I hope students take away a greater understanding of the many different occupations and career
opportunities available within the forest industry,” Trebilcock said. “I want them to see that
forestry is much more than just working in the woods and that there are a wide variety of
pathways they can explore.”
WOLF’s program introduced students to skills including GPS and GIS navigation and mapping,
plant identification, forest management, bushcraft and woodland operations. Students also
worked with forestry simulators and other technology used in the industry.
Much of the learning took place outside the classroom.
During their time in the program, students put their skills into practice around Whitecourt’s
Forest Interpretive Centre. They identified plant species and practised navigating with GPS
equipment and compasses, while also learning how those tools can be used to create maps.
The group also explored Centennial Park, where students met with an archaeologist. Their
experience included a tour of a local mill, giving them an opportunity to see how different areas
of knowledge and skills connect in a working forestry environment.
Trebilcock said the students’ response to those practical experiences was a highlight of the
program.
“What has stood out to me most about their experience this year is the excitement and
enthusiasm they have shown during the field trips and hands-on activities,” she said. “Seeing
students become engaged and curious as they experience different aspects of the industry
firsthand has been especially rewarding.”

The program also introduced students to the more than 400 jobs that support Alberta’s forestry
sector, providing a look at the variety of opportunities available within the industry.
For the students who took part, the program provided an opportunity to explore potential careers
while developing practical skills and making connections with people working in the industry.
“These practical experiences have helped bring the learning to life and have allowed students to
see how the skills they are developing can connect to real-world careers,” Trebilcock said.
The WOLF program gives high school students firsthand experience with forestry and introduces
them to skills and knowledge that can be applied to a variety of careers in the sector.