The Georgia Forestry Foundation (GFF) is proud to announce a new partnership with ForestryWorks® to provide FREE End of Pathway Assessment (EOPA) exams to students. Approved by the Georgia Department of Education, this new initiative is designed to provide students with career-ready skills for employment in one of the South’s largest and most critical industries: forestry.
“Providing industry-recognized exams helps validate student learning and opens doors to high-paying, meaningful careers in Georgia’s forestry industry,” shared Kaitlyn Marchant, program manager for agriculture education at the Georgia Department of Education. “We’ve been part of the program’s development from the beginning, with schools across the state piloting the curriculum to ensure high-quality content, strong programming and industry relevance.”
Schools across Georgia can now access EOPA certification exams aligned with the following six forestry-related pathways:
- Forestry Management Systems
- Forest Mechanical Systems
- Forest/Natural Resources Management
- Forest/Renewable Energy
- Forest/Wildlife Systems
- Agriculture Leadership in Forestry
“In welcoming our newest partner, we are excited to deliver a curriculum that utilizes Georgia-based examples and aligns directly with Georgia’s six forestry-related CTAE pathways under the Agriculture, Food, and Natural Resources Career Cluster,” shared Maggie Pope, director of education at ForestryWorks. Through this partnership, school districts gain access to:
- Fully virtual testing platform
- Student certification management
- Teacher support and automated communications
Environmental education and innovative programming have long been central to GFF’s mission. By collaborating with industry and academic partners, the organization continues to expand its education initiatives with relevant, high-quality content and assessment tools aligned to industry needs. “This unique education resource provides engaging opportunities for every Georgia high-school student to learn about forestry’s significant impact on our everyday lives while exploring the many career paths available in this critical natural resource sector,” stated Matt Hestad, senior vice president of the Georgia Forestry Foundation.
The Forest Worker Certification earned by students is recognized by Georgia’s forestry industry and was developed to ensure students have access to modern, industry-recognized assessment tools that validate learning outcomes. By delivering these industry-recognized exams, GFF is able to validate student learning and open doors to high-paying, meaningful careers in Georgia’s forest sector. The Foundation’s long-term vision includes:
- Updating in-school forestry curriculum
- Reimagining and modernizing the concept of “Industry Certified” forestry programs
Visit ForestryWorks.com/Georgia to request information or sign-up today. If you would like to support this initiative, please contact GFF Director of Programs and Engagement Glo Camacho at glo@gffgrow.org.
