According to the Rayonier website<\/a>, \u201cRayonier was formed through the merger of Rayonier and PotlatchDeltic, combining two long-standing industry leaders with more than a century of experience in timberlands, manufacturing, and real estate.\u201d<\/p>\n Students Learn Forestry Cycles Hands-On<\/p>\n During the event, students gathered around picnic tables at the entrance to the trails and got to ask questions to Ogrodnik after the lecture. <\/p>\n Students were given an answer key showing the cycle of seeding nurseries and how they are transported in refrigerated vans to the land to be planted, then site preparation, planting, fostering the plants, and using tools to measure and map out the acres for harvesting and getting products to market.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ruby Cox, program coordinator for the Institute of Environmental Research and Education, hosted the Introduction to Forestry event. According to the UNF IERE Core Staff and Faculty website<\/a>, Cox previously was a community volunteer ambassador for the National Park Service at Timucuan Ecological and Historic Preserve in Jacksonville, Florida, where she developed her passion and skills for environmental interpretation, community engagement, and volunteer management.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cFlorida Field School is embedded within the Environmental Sciences degree curriculum so that every graduating student has a chance to participate in experiential trips that explore habitats, species, current environmental issues, and career pathways. Students are encouraged to go beyond learning concepts; they also meet professionals across sectors, including federal agencies and private industries like forestry,\u201d Cox said.<\/p>\n \u201cIERE\u2019s mission is to provide opportunities for environmental research and education through interdisciplinary programs that enhance students\u2019 experiences, prepare them for the workforce and graduate school, and increase scholarship and innovation,\u201d Cox said. \u201cThrough experiential learning and professional connections, the Florida Field School program supports that mission.\u201d<\/p>\n According to the UNF IERE Index<\/a>, the Institute of Environmental Research and Education is an interdisciplinary hub that unites students and faculty from all six UNF colleges in a shared mission to advance environmental knowledge through interdisciplinary research, education, and community engagement. This mission is achieved by fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, providing real-world experiences, and offering innovative academic programs that enrich student learning and advance environmental research.<\/p>\n Cox said, \u201cWe hope students walk away with a clearer picture of the range of environmental science and forestry career paths (from public land management to private forestry) and how modern forestry uses specialized tools and technology. Just as importantly, we want them to gain confidence by asking questions directly to professionals and trying hands-on field measurements.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Janet Herrick, office director at SWCA Environmental Consultants and a University of North Florida alumna, provides a career example, stating that environmental consulting is a valuable yet demanding career. <\/p>\n![\"Woman](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Florida-Field-School-Introduction-to-Forestry-3-600x338.jpg\")
Ana Brown<\/a>
\nStudent Career Growth through Environmental Career Pathways<\/p>\n