UK Cooperative Extension Service launches forestry field course for high school students
LEXINGTON, Ky. (April 24, 2025) — The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and Department of Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) announce the inaugural ForestryWorks Field Course, a weeklong, hands-on learning experience open to high school students across Kentucky. The workshop takes place at Robinson Forest from June 22-27 and is part of the larger ForestryWorks initiative — established by the Forest Training Institute and other industry partners to create a skilled workforce for the forestry industry.
“ForestryWorks was initially developed in Alabama to cultivate future professionals in the forestry sector,” said Frannie Preston, FNR extension and coordinator for the Kentucky branch of ForestryWorks. “This new field course at Robinson Forest and Wood Utilization Center is the perfect extension of that program, offering a robust, hands-on approach.”
Participants of the field course will:
- Learn forestry activities focused on protecting plant and animal habitats, harvesting timber, planting trees and manufacturing wood products
- Practice tree measurements, identification, felling, log bucking and log grading
- Explore wood products through sawmilling, hardwood lumber grading, railway tie log grading and wood drying
- Develop a deeper understanding of forestry careers
“This experience is designed for high school students who love the outdoors,” Preston said. “They’ll not only gain real-world knowledge of forestry and conservation practices but will also discover how these skills can lead to meaningful careers across the forestry spectrum.”
A pathway to career success
The course is also part of the Forest Worker Certificate Program. The program, taught in agriculture classrooms statewide, helps students gain the practical skills needed for careers in forestry. It also addresses a growing demand for professionals who can balance sustainable forest management with the needs of local communities and ecosystems.
“Students who complete the certificate program will gain an introduction to Kentucky’s forests, from ecological stewardship to cutting-edge industry practices, and acquire practical skills and insights on diverse career paths — including roles in environmental protection, timber harvesting, product manufacturing and more,” Preston said.
Organizers aim to expand the certificate across all 120 counties in Kentucky, ensuring that students in every corner of the state can build workforce-ready skills, develop professional networks and discover fulfilling outdoor careers.
Students interested in applying to the ForestryWorks Field Course should visit https://uky.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_0MMOG6LLDzr9bJs.
For more information on either the field course or the Forest Worker Certificate Program, contact Frannie Preston at fmpr227@uky.edu.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.