In 2022, CAL FIRE’s Wood Products and Bioenergy Team awarded the Placer County RCD a grant amounting to $250,880 to fund the Forestry and Natural Resources Career Mentorship Program, along with seed funding from California Licensed Foresters Association, Women in Timber, and the UC Cooperative Extension. The mission of the Forestry and Natural Resources Career Mentorship Program is to increase recruitment and retention of early-career forestry professionals by: pairing university and community college students with a professional mentor, providing networking and training opportunities, and offering insight into a forestry career. The Program recognizes that a diverse and expanded workforce is essential to addressing current and future challenges facing the field. We encourage support for underrepresented groups in the profession, including women, Black, Indigenous, Latinx, Asian, Pacific Islander, and LGBTQIA+ by: providing training on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) for participants, pairing participants based on shared professional interests and identity (when requested), and highlighting the diversity of identities and specialties that exist within the field of forestry.

Interested in applying to be a mentor/mentee? See the program overview for more information! The mentorship cycle lasts for nine months (October – June), and pairs are expected to meet monthly.

Participating schools include Bakersfield College, UC Berkeley, Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, Cal Poly Humboldt, College of the Redwoods, Feather River College, Reedley College, and Shasta College. At 4-year universities, sophomores, juniors, and seniors majoring in forestry are eligible for participation. All community college forestry students are eligible for the Program. Professionals with a background in forestry are encouraged to apply as mentors.  Read more about last year’s program highlights in the 2022-2023 Annual Report!

Program Resources

Take a peek at our Program Resource Database!

Donate Today!

Tax-deductible donations for the Forestry Mentorship Program can be made to the Placer RCD. Please include “Forestry Mentorship Program” in the memo line. Checks may be sent to:

Attn: Allison Erny

                Placer RCD 

                11641 Blocker Drive, Suite 120

                Auburn, CA 95603

Upcoming Events

Applications for mentors and mentees will be available in late August 2023.

Check back in September 2023 for the Fall 2023 Schedule of Events!

Here was the 2022-2023 Calendar of Events for Program Participants.

Program Partners

Funding for this project provided by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection’s Business and Workforce Development Grants.

Forestry & Natural Resources Mentorship Program Updates

• Application Open for Mentors and Mentees of the Forestry and Natural Resources Career Mentorship Program August 19, 2022
• The Forestry and Natural Resources Career Mentorship Program Publishes 2021-2022 Annual Report August 10, 2022
• Placer RCD Awarded CAL FIRE Grant to Fund a Forestry and Natural Resources Career Mentorship Program July 21, 2022

Other News

• Placer Resource Conservation District awarded CAL FIRE grant to fund mentorship program (Gold Country Media)

Related Media

• 2021-2022 Forestry and Natural Resources Career Mentorship Program
• California Licensed Foresters Association (CLFA) Career Mentorship Program
• Press Release: Forestry and Natural Resources Mentorship Program (2022-07)