SD22 Forestry-Trades Program is the Program at Charles Bloom Secondary in School District 22, BC, Ca The woodlot is 6 square kilometers, or 600 hectares.
The Charles Bloom Forestry program is one of the most unique high school programs in BC and has been operating for approximately 45 years. Woodlot 1908 was acquired in 2002 and has been our outdoor classroom for three days a week and an integral part of our program. The woodlot operates, and is an example to our students and community, as renewable and sustainable resource development. Forest mana
gement is demonstrated to the students through a cut-block layout for clear-cut with reserve. Select seed trees are left to aid with natural regeneration. Reforestation with seedlings is also implemented. The Forestry Program works closely with professional foresters and a career logger to properly manage a sustainable harvest level and reforestation. The Forestry Program provides students with broad-based practical and theoretical background career preparation for careers in the forestry industry. However, it is our intent that the students construct a wealth of skills, the quality of which transfer to numerous fields of employment and success; not just to train loggers. Students learn about work ethic, initiative, reliability, important teamwork skills, problem solving, respect, confidence, and character building and these valuable skills focus on future employment. The Forestry Program fosters and develops the personal and interpersonal skills that are required to, not only compete, but excel in today’s working environment. First and foremost and paramount to the success of this program is student safety. Safety starts with shop and equipment safety, followed by PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), axe, chainsaw, Wood-Mizer sawmill, skidder, and crawler safety. Student led safety meetings are held every morning prior to starting work at the woodlot.
2015-16 introduces a Skills Exploration trade sampler into the Forestry program. Five trade sampler modules will be presented over the two semester course; carpentry, electrical, plumbing, auto/heavy duty mechanics, and welding. These modules provide a sample view of what each trade is about. There are also many learning opportunities for students interested in Forestry tech careers or university programs. To partner with the unique skills that students will learn in the Forestry Program, students will participate in the following training opportunities: Level 1 Occupational First Aid, safety training – logging practices, WorkSafe BC presentation, ENFORM Level 1 Chainsaw Certification, chainsaw maintenance, repairs, operating heavy duty equipment, wildlife awareness, and aspects of silviculture. Very few graduating students know their career path by grade 12. Some realize this dilemma at the moment they are asked to complete the grad write-up for the school annual. Bloom Forestry can broaden the scope of career choices or at least give students the confidence to investigate career opportunities.
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