|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
|
 |
A
Job To Love
Picture yourself working outdoors among
the rich forest smells and sounds. You
breathe in the pine-scented air while
listening to rustling leaves and singing
birds. Resting your shovel on the ground,
you sit down on a stump to enjoy a relaxing
lunch. After a morning of tree planting,
you scan the forest and imagine how
it will look in the years to come. You’re
happy to know that it’s you who
has helped to restore the forest and
the habitat that it provides for wildlife.
Tree
planters perform manual tasks,
including tree planting, harvesting,
and spraying operations. They work
outdoors—by themselves or in
crews. Aboriginal tree planters often
live in their home communities and
use their expertise to help maintain
forests on Aboriginal lands.
While
you might enjoy working outdoors,
the weather can make things tough.
As a tree planter, you’ll work
in everything from rain to snow to
35°C heat. You’ll work in
remote areas and share a tent and
camp duties with up to 40 other people.
The living quarters are tight and
the people can get on your nerves.
Planting is physically demanding,
and puts stress on your back, neck,
arms, knees, and ankles. At the same
time, however, it’s a great way
to keep physically fit and to make
a positive impact on the Earth’s
health and sustainability.
Job
Description
Tree planters plant seedlings and
often select and prepare sites for
tree planting. For example, a tree
planter might use a shovel to clear
away debris before planting young
trees in the soil. Tree planters work
for logging companies, tree planting
companies, and contractors.
Job
Duties
- Unload
seedlings from trucks
- Water
seedlings regularly
- Prepare
sites for planting
- Plant
seedlings
Fact
Each year, fire destroys up to 14
million hectares of forest around
the world.
|
|
 |
 |
|
High
school courses that will prepare you
for this job include physical education,
English, math, and science. Aboriginal
studies, history, and languages will
prepare you for working in a multi-cultural
setting. Talk to your career or academic
counsellor about options such as construction
and mechanics.
The
minimum education requirement for
tree planters is a high school diploma.
An advanced education in forestry
will make you more competitive in
the job market and make it easier
to get a job and negotiate your salary.
Look
into specific high school prerequisites
set by the college or university you
would like to attend.
Before
entering the workforce, tree planters
might require training in:
- Cardiopulmonary
Resuscitation (CPR)
- Orienteering
- Wilderness
and Occupational First Aid
- Workplace
Hazardous Materials Information
System (WHMIS)
|
|
|
 |
|
Tree
planters with a high school diploma
make an average of $4,000.00 per year.
Tree
planters with several years experience
and education make an average of $7,000.00
per year.
|
|
|
 |
|
Some
of the best knowledge you’ll
gain for this job will come from listening
to the stories and wisdom of your
relations. Ask your Elders how they
would identify areas where it’s
best to plant. Join your family on
hunting, fishing, and camping trips.
The time you spend outdoors will make
your studies easier and your experience
with the natural world will appeal
to employers too.
Relate to people in similar jobs:
- Botanist
- Agricultural
technician
- Forester
- Forest
fire fighter
Relate
and interact with tree planters. Ask
them what they like about their jobs,
and how you should get started.
First Nations Forestry Program
Canadian Forest Service
580 Booth Street, 7th Floor
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0E4
Telephone: (613) 947-7380
Fax: (613) 992-5390
email: info@fnfp.gc.ca
website: www.fnfp.gc.ca
National
Aboriginal Forestry Association
875 Bank Street
Ottawa, ON
K1S 3W4
Telephone: (613) 233-5563
Fax: (613) 233-4329
email: nafa@web.ca
website: www.nafaforestry.org
The
Canadian Institute of Forestry
606 - 151 Slater Street
Ottawa, ON
K1P 5H3
Telephone: (613) 234-2242
Fax: (613) 234-6181
email: cif@cif-ifc.org
website: www.cif-ifc.org
The
Boreal Forest Research Centre
H.A. George Building, Fairview College
Bag 3500
Peace River, AB
T8S 1V9
Telephone: (780) 618-2623
Fax: (780) 624-0725
email: boreal@fairviewcollege.com
website: www.borealcentre.com
Relate
to other students. There are Aboriginal
student associations and resource
centres at most universities. Visit
these centres to find out what they
have to offer. Also, look into community,
friendship, and multi-cultural centres.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
