Wildland Firefighting & Silviculture Training

Ready to find your niche in British Columbia's growing natural resource sector?

This 8-week, fully funded, field-based forestry program could be for you! Stillwater Consulting's Wildland Firefighting & Silviculture Training program introduces participants to a variety of possible career paths in natural resources, including Wildland Firefighting and other field-based forestry work. Covering 16 valuable industry certifications in just 8 weeks, participants will gain skills, support and connections to launch a fulfilling career in BC’s natural resource industry.

Program Details

Next intakes

Starts May 6, 2024 in Cranbrook and Prince George

Eligibility Requirements

Open to unemployed or precariously employed individuals
Must live in the East Kootenay or Prince George regions
Participants must also self-identify as facing two or more of the following barriers to employment:
- Mental health challenges
- Housing instability
- Lack of recent and/or Canadian work experience
- Lack of basic employment skills
- Limited literacy, financial literacy, or digital literacy skills
- Limited English language skills
- Having less than a Grade 12 education
- Recovering from addiction
- Prior criminal justice involvement
- Being a(n):
  - Recent Immigrant, Refugee, Visible Minority; or
  - Young Adult at Risk; or
  - Older Worker; or
  - Survivor of Violence and/or Abuse; or
  - Person with Disabilities

Potential Employment Outcomes

This program prepares graduates for a wide range of employment opportunities ranging from equipment operation to field work. Examples of jobs our past students have gone on to be successful in have included (but are not limited to):

Junior Forestry or Environmental Technician
Recreation Trail Building & Maintenance
Wildland Firefighting
Equipment Operator
Fuels Management & Reduction
Tree Planting (including Crew Boss & Tree Runner)
Danger Tree Assessor
Tree Nursery Worker

Apply Now

Forestry Field Studies, including: Species Identification and Basic Ecology, Forest Essentials, Map, Compass & Field Communications, Silviculture, Forest Health, GPS, GIS & Data Collection, Fuels/Waste Management, Helicopter Safety, Layout, Forest Operations, Fire Behaviour, Invasive Species, Radio Communications, and Tree Planting.
Occupational First Aid - Level 1 & Transportation Endorsement
Danger Tree Assessor - Qualified Persons (DTA)
Basic Chainsaw Operator
Basic Brush Saw, Brushing and Thinning Training
S100 - Basic Fire Suppression and Safety
S185 - Fire Entrapment Avoidance
ICS100 - Incident Command
S211 - Fire Weather
S212 - Wildfire Communications
S232 - Portable Pumps and Water Delivery Systems
S230 - Introduction to Supervision
S235 - Ignition Operations
Bear Aware
Canadian Safety Council ATV and UTV Off-Road Vehicle Operation
BC Hydro Utility Tree Worker
Pesticide Applicator – Agriculture General Certification

In addition to this training being fully-funded, participants will also receive the following support as required:

Daily training wage during the instructional portion of the program
Access to office space with WIFI and meeting rooms
Mental health support
Transportation to and from field sites
Childcare and additional support during instructional portion of the program (if needed)
Safety equipment and tools necessary for immediate employment

For all you that have an interest in forestry, or want to attempt wildland firefighting, or just want to expand your knowledge and skills and try something new. This program has been one of my greatest experiences. Great facilitators and instructors - in 8 short weeks I had a resume built full of certificates. I left feeling confident and driven, with skills and certificates I never thought I would hold. Stillwater provides you with lots of hands-on experience to help you move forward with the knowledge you learn in the classroom and out in the field.

Scott,

Wildland Firefighting & Silviculture Training Graduate

Next Steps

Applying for this fully-funded training program involves several steps:

Review the eligibility requirements above to determine if you are a fit for this program
Register for an upcoming information session to have all your questions answered:
- Tuesday, April 16, 2024 @ 2pm MST - Register Now
Complete the interest form at the bottom of this page
Once you receive an email from us, complete the detailed online application form
Successful applicants will be contacted for a virtual interview with Stillwater staff
12 interviewees per region will be selected for the program and go through final approvals before starting

WFST Form

Take the Next Step

Complete the form below to express your interest in this training. If we are actively recruiting in your region, we will send you an invitation to complete a detailed application form. Please add wfst@stillwaterconsultingltd.com to your safe senders list to ensure you receive this email.