Forsite, Kamloops, BC
I completed my first 2 co-op work terms at Forsite Consultant Ltd in Kamloops, BC. I grew into this job and the friendly crew that I was working with, and continuously expanded my knowledge of the forest industry. Throughout the summer and into the fall, my position involved completing stream assessments, road traverse, silviculture prescriptions, boundary layout and GPSing for Tolko Heffely and BCTS Kamloops. At first I was working in Tolko’s projects with skyline cable logging blocks, which was a great workout for me all through the summer. Then my position shifted its focus to cutblock layout for mountain beetle infested lodgepole pine forests for BCTS Kamloops. This was a different experience from Tolko’s project, because instead of harvesting healthy and living trees, BCTS wanted to harvest the dead pines. This was great for the forest because it makes growing space available for regeneration. Working at Forsite was a learning process for me, because it was my first forestry job. Based on my knowledge from school, I was able to learn fast and understand what is best for our clients. If anyone ever asks me whether or not it is worth going into Co-op, my answer is “Definitely,” because not only do you get a head start in your career but also work experience like mine definitely supports my learning in school.
