Just in time for the fall semester, the Land, Forest, and Wildlife Management (LFW) program at SRTC-Thomasville received a shipment of new, cutting edge forestry equipment. Thanks to Perkins grant funds, the college was able to acquire Silva Ranger handheld compasses, Haglöf Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) units, Haglöf Electronic Clinometers, Motorola handheld 2-way radios, and large tree calipers.
Program faculty Dr. Jeremy Green said that the new tools of the trade replace outdated and broken gear. “These are the same units used by professional technicians in the forestry industry, allowing our students to learn and practice current methods of data collection. This will result in better job placement with less on the job training for our graduates.”
The purchase of this new equipment was made possible thanks to an allocation from Federal Perkins Funds, which is a primary federal funding source for career and technical education (CTE) programs. CTE programs are critical for preparing students for careers in local and regional economies. Since 2015, the Perkins grant has allowed SRTC to purchase more than half a million dollars’ worth of equipment for programs, providing students with practical hands-on training to master skills and techniques before employment. This reduces the time and money employers must spend training and orienting new employees while increasing new employee confidence and proficiency.