Launching this summer, the Future Foresters Apprenticeship program at Smokey House Center will address the critical workforce needs in Vermont’s forestry sector. This ten-week, immersive apprenticeship offers a paid, comprehensive, place-based training experience for college-aged youth that will equip them with the technical skills and field experience needed to become the next generation of professionals protecting and stewarding our forests.

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Apprentices will live and work at Smokey House engaging in hands-on training, coursework, and mentorship from regional forestry experts. Graduates of the Future Foresters Apprenticeship will leave with a solid foundational forestry skill set that includes: inventorying, silvicultural prescriptions, best management practices (BMPs), boundary surveying, and more. Participants will also gain practical experience in more innovative and specialized fields like agroforestry, climate-adaptive management, maple syrup production, and local wood use in green building. Through guest lectures, expert-led field sessions, and regional field trips, participants will build connections and future career pathways within the industry. Smokey House’s deep-rooted relationships with Vermont’s forestry community and academic institutions make it the ideal place to implement this program and we are excited to get it off the ground!

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We are so close to launching this life-changing opportunity for young people, with just $48,000 left to raise. We are grateful to have already secured support, but we need your help to finalize the funding and make the Future Foresters Apprenticeship a reality. Your donation will help provide hands-on learning, career opportunities, and an abundant and resilient future for Vermont’s forests.