COURSE CURRICULUM

Fleming College’s Forestry Skills certificate program offers a comprehensive, hands-on curriculum designed to prepare students for immediate employment in the forestry industry. Spanning two semesters, this in-person program emphasizes practical learning and technical skills development critical to forest management operations. In Semester 1, students engage with courses like Dendrology, where they study the identification and cultural requirements of over 125 tree and shrub species, and Field Skills, which introduces ecosystem inventory techniques and safe field practices. Other key courses include Forest Fire Science, highlighting the ecological role of fire and initial suppression strategies; Operation and Maintenance of Equipment, which trains students in chainsaw use and equipment safety; and Introduction to Indigenous Studies, offering insight into the historical and contemporary experiences of Indigenous peoples in Canada. Semester 2 builds on this foundation with Career Preparation, helping students develop job search and portfolio-building skills, and Forest Measurement, where students practice data collection and stand analysis. Additional courses such as Forest Products, Intro to Silviculture Operations, and Woody Plant Propagation provide students with knowledge in wood utilization, harvesting practices, and nursery propagation techniques. Soils and Ecosystems explores substrate classification using Ontario’s Ecological Land Classification system, and Wildlife Observation Skills teaches tracking and documentation of animal presence through signs and sounds. With extensive outdoor and lab-based training, this program ensures graduates possess job-ready competencies in forest navigation, tree and soil science, fire management, equipment handling, and ecosystem assessment—making them well-equipped to contribute to the sustainable management of Ontario’s forest landscapes.