Forestry Education for Secondary Schools

in Waikato & Bay of Plenty

At Silvipath, we believe the best way to prepare students for future forestry careers is by giving them hands-on, real-world experience. Our forestry education programmes for secondary school students combine classroom learning with practical training—helping students gain valuable industry skills while earning NZQA credentials and credits towards NCEA.

We work with schools across the Bay of Plenty and Waikato regions to deliver short gateway courses, practical workshops, and structured work experience opportunities in the forestry sector.

Practical Forestry Education for the Next Generation

Preparing Students for Forestry Careers

At Silvipath, we recognise that secondary schools are continually seeking ways to connect students with real-world employment opportunities. We deliver industry-relevant forestry education that bridges the gap between the classroom and the workplace. This allows secondary school students to see forestry as a dynamic career choice, offering diverse roles in silviculture operations, and much more.

Through our block courses and work experience programmes, students gain skills that can lead to employment or further training within New Zealand’s forestry industry.

A group of young people sitting around a U-shaped set of white tables in a modern conference room, with several notebooks, water bottles, and pens, and large windows showing an outdoor field.

Our Secondary School Forestry Programmes

Two people lying on a flat surface outdoors, writing or filling out papers, with a scenic landscape of green fields, trees, a body of water, and mountains in the background under a clear blue sky.
A man in a safety helmet and orange vest uses a chainsaw to cut a large fallen tree outdoors on a sunny day.

Block Courses – 1 to 2 Day Training

Our block courses are short, intensive programmes designed to introduce students to core forestry skills. These include:

  • Chainsaw Course – Safe handling, operation, and maintenance training.

  • Health and Safety awareness for forestry environments.

  • Introductory silviculture practices.

All block courses are linked to NZQA certificate programmes, meaning students can earn recognised qualifications and NCEA credits at level 2 and 3.


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A young boy in an orange safety vest, black hoodie, gray shorts, and orange boots looking through binoculars in a grassy field with small pine trees and a clear blue sky.
Two young men in safety vests and helmets working with safety equipment near a pickup truck in a forested area.

Our work experience programmes give students a full week working alongside professional Silviculture crews and in forestry training blocks. Under supervision, they gain exposure to real forestry operations—helping them understand what a career in forestry looks like day-to-day.

  • Pruning

  • Planting

  • Quality Control/ Plotting

  • Chainsaw skills and maintenance

  • Vegetation fire training

  • Gaining unit standards and credits towards NCEA

Work Experience – 1 Week Industry Placement

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NZQA Certificates & Recognised Qualifications

We align our training with NZQA forestry training plans, ensuring students leave with both practical experience and a chance at working towards  formal qualifications. Certificates are provided upon completion, giving students tangible proof of their skills and readiness for employment.

These forestry certificate programmes can cover:

  • Chainsaw Operation

  • Basic forestry Health & Safety requirements

  • Environmental Requirements

  • Introduction to Silviculture Tasks

  • Understanding Forestry Environments

  • Vegetation Fire Training

Block Courses for Secondary Schools

Our gateway courses are designed for flexibility, making them easy to integrate into a school’s timetable. We can deliver training at one of our approved Waikato or Bay of Plenty sites—or at your school if facilities allow.

We work closely with careers advisors and gateway coordinators to ensure the training meets both school and industry requirements.


Why Partner with Silvipath for Forestry Education?

  • We are local to Bay of Plenty and Waikato with strong forestry industry connections.

  • Our hands on learning style allows students to prepare and understands real work environments.

  • Our unique partnerships provide students a clear pathway to employment and apprenticeships in the forestry industry.

  • We product flexible locations for our trainings. We can run trainings at your school or at our location training centre.

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Enquire About School Forestry Programmes

If you’re a secondary school in the Bay of Plenty or Waikato and want to offer students a pathway into forestry careers, Silvipath can help. From chainsaw courses to work experience placements, we deliver training that inspires, educates, and prepares students for the future.

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