Environmental Occupations

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Students cutting up tree trunk

The Environmental Occupations program prepares students for employment and advancement in the exciting and ever-expanding fields of natural resource conservation, environmental education, park maintenance, outdoor recreation, and ranger services. Students graduate with the edge necessary to compete for entry-level jobs or for entering a two or four-year college.

Willowbrook

This program occupies a 181 acre environmental education center for student use and training. This land laboratory includes two ponds, a woodland stream, wetlands, prairie, miles of trails, 80 acres of mature woods, and state of the art instructional facilities. This bounty of natural resources enriches each student's learning experience. 

Skills for Life

  • Operating a tractor

  • Reading and interpretation of maps

  • Guiding nature and museum tours

  • Using tree-climbing equipment

  • Using wildlife management skills

  • Using a chainsaw safely

  • Conducting prescribed burns

  • Trimming a tree correctly

  • Performing water testing

  • Earning trapper certification

  • Cutting and splitting firewood

  • Being environmentally aware

  • Identifying waterfowl

  • Operating a skid loader

  • Making maple syrup

  • Constructing museum exhibits 

Our Grads in the Workforce

Upper Valley Career Center Environmental Occupations graduates are currently working across the state in the following places and careers:

  • State & County Parks

  • Golf Courses

  • Landscaping

  • Tree Trimming

  • Surveyors

  • Nature Centers

  • Garden Centers

  • Lawn Care Companies

Yellowstone

Environmental Occupations students also enjoy the opportunity to attend a 10-day field study trip to both Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in Montana and Wyoming. This once in a lifetime trip is exposes the students to vast expanse and beauty of our national parks, as well as all the wide range of occupations that are available in this line of work. 

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Wildlife conservationist taking to group of students

Entry-Level Careers

  • Park Maintenance Technician

  • Tree Service Worker

  • Soil Conservation Aide

  • Park Naturalist’s Aide

Advanced Career Opportunities

  • Park Ranger

  • Park Naturalist

  • Surveyor

  • Wildlife Officer

  • Park Manager

  • Water Quality Technician

  • Wildlife or Fisheries technician

  • Environmental Education Instructor

Certifications Earned

  • Hunter Safety

  • Trapper

  • Ohio Safe Boating

  • Skid Steer Training 

  • Chainsaw Operator

  • Tractor and Implements Operator

  • ATV Rider

From ur Graduates

"Environmental Occupations is the foundation for everything in my park/forestry career. The training has helped me obtain my arborist certification as well as my current position as city forester." 

Jeremy Drake, Superintendent

Troy City Parks, Forestry Department 

Colleges to Consider for Further Education

  • Hocking College

  • Edison State Community College

  • The Ohio State University

  • Ohio State ATI, Wooster

  • Muskingham College 

  • Clark State Community College

Meet the Instructors

Jim Metz
Instructor Level II
metzj@uppervalleycc.org
937.778.1980 x748

Michaella Quinter
Instructor Level I
quinterm@uppervalleycc.org
937.778.8763 x732

Career Technical Student Organization

FFA logo

All students of the Environmental Occupations program are also members of the Upper Valley Career Center FFA program as part of their career-technical education.