1. Forest Conservation Worker Career Cluster: Farming, Fishing, and Forestry Dominic Hahn Me touching a geological marker on top of Mt. Phillips in New Mexico

2. Introduction “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu I apply this quote to everything in my life. Right now it is the first hour on a Monday. This is the first step of what feels like a thousand mile journey. This quote always inspires me to start long and difficult tasks. I always think to myself “this is just the first step.” I am interested in this career because I enjoy being in nature. In this report I will go over the nature of work, working conditions, qualification, job outlook, and earnings.

3. Nature of Work • Reforesting • Clear brush from roadsides and trails • Remove dead trees • Administer herbicides and pesticides

4. Working Conditions • Work in nature • In all conditions of weather • Mostly physical work • Physically demanding • Walking long distance • Carrying equipment

5. Training, Qualification, Advancement • High school diploma • On the job training • Basic knowledge of biology and the ecosystem • Biology and geology classes would be required in highschool.

6. Job Outlook/Employment • 4% increase in jobs over ten years • Mostly employed by the state • State and local parks and tree farms

7. Earnings • Average salary is roughly 24,000 per year • Locally employed pays more • State employed pays less Goals: • Visit Fenway Park (+) • Walk thirty miles in one day (+) • Own my own restaurant (-)

8. Backup Occupation • Cook • Prepare food • Any place where food is served (restaurant, school, hospital ect.) • Roughly 20,000$ per year

9. Summary I would be very happy if I got this job. I would love to spend my day in the forest helping it prosper. The low pay is no problem. I would rather do what I enjoy than have a job I don’t like and have a lot of money. My best bet to get a job in this field would be to become employed by a state park. Doing this project really opened my eyes to how great a career in this field would be.

10. Citations • http://jobs.virginia.gov/careerguides/ForestConservationWorker.htm • http://www.bls.gov/ooh/food-preparation-and-serving/food-preparation-workers.htm • http://www.bls.gov/ooh/farming-fishing-and-forestry/forest-and-conservation-workers.htm