- College Connections: articulation agreementswith
- Paul Smith’s College (3 credits)
- University of Maine at Fort Kent (up to 6 credits)
- Unity College ( up to 6 credits)
The Natural Resources & Forestry Program allows students to gain practical skills through introductory experiences with forest products, wildlife management, conservation practices, outdoor recreation, maple syrup production, soil and water quality analysis, urban tree management and landscape design/installation.
Certifications
- Game of Logging 1-4
- OSHA Agricultural Safety Certification
- Logger Education and Advanced Professionalism
- American Heart Association Heartsaver®️ CPR/ AED
- Wilderness First Aid Certification
- Stop the Bleed (American College of Surgeons)
Advisory Committee
- David Birdsall— Northeast Woodland Training
- Nancy McGuire— Rutland NRCD
- Joe Epler— Assistant City Forester
- Tim Smith— Rutland City Forester Arborist
- Melinda Hardt— Vermont Farm Food Center Procurement
- Ken Gagnon— Gagnon Lumber
- Corey Hart— VT Dept Fish and Wildlife
This program helps students interested in conservation and natural resource management gain skills, knowledge and experience while developing valuable relationships with industry professionals. Students will be involved in practical experiences related to the forest ecology, outdoor recreation, wildlife and fisheries science, soil and water quality analysis and conservation, heavy equipment operation, landscape installation and conservation-related construction projects. The natural areas of western Vermont become the lab as students explore working forests, conservation and recreational areas, nurseries and farms, and processing facilities.
What We Do
Outdoor laboratories– 4,000 acre Rutland City Watershed and various private lands, Career Exploration and related college guidance, meet professionals through site visits, field trips, competitions and community service activities, learn about residential landscaping as part of the Student Craft house project, raise seasonal vegetable and landscape plant seedlings.
Entry Requirements
Recommended Prerequisites:
To be successful in this program, applicants should be able to demonstrate the following prior to entry: read and comprehend complex informational texts independently and proficiently (i.e. safety and equipment manuals); ability to use technology for research, critical thinking, decision making, communication, collaboration, creativity and innovation; and, demonstrate the responsible use of technology and an understanding of ethics and safety issues in using electronic media in school; communicate clearly, effectively and with reason through spoken language; communicate using clear and coherent written language; participate effectively as a member of a team; act as a responsible and contributing citizen by being conscientious
of the impacts of decisions on others and the environment; understand and apply proportional relationships, operations with rational numbers, and linear equations; fluency in solving equations with fractions, decimals and percentages; competency with fine and gross motor skills; willingness to engage in physical activity in a range of weather conditions and rough terrain.
Program Instructor – Mike Stannard
Mike Stannard joined Stafford Natural Resources and Forestry in 2023 after 16.5 years as a Science Teacher at Rutland High School and 19 overall. He graduated from Paul Smith’s College in 1997 with an A.A. in Environmental Studies and from Johnson State College (Northern Vermont University), in 2000, with his B.S. in Environmental Science. From childhood, Mike has worked, studied, and adventured in the outdoors. From the hills andmountains of Vermont and the Adirondacks to the rainforests and coral reefs of Belize to the wild rivers of Alaska, Mike has made snowboarding, paddling, hiking, wildlife photography, flyfishing, camping, maple sugaring, hunting, and fishing a great part of he and his family’s lives.
mike.stannard@rcpsvt.org (802) 770-1057
Natural Resources and Forestry Social Media 
