Program Details
Conservation/Forestry Pre-Apprenticeship Readiness Program
Operation Fresh Start
07/01/2018
OFS CONSERVATION PRE-APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO TAKE A COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO VOCATIONAL AND EDUCATIONAL TRAINING IN ORDER TO ENSURE THAT YOUNG PEOPLE ARE PREPARED TO ENTER CAREERS IN CONSERVATION. OFS RECRUITS YOUNG PEOPLE FROM DANE COUNTY AGES 16-24, MOST OF WHOM ARE FROM UNDER-REPRESENTED, LOW-INCOME, UNDER-SERVED POPULATIONS. LEGACY IS AN 800-900 HOUR PROGRAM. PARTICIPANTS TRAIN 32 HOURS PER WEEK. THE MAJORITY OF THEIR TIME IS SPENT ON CONSERVATION SITES WORKING AND RECEIVING TECHNICAL INSTRUCTION. PARTICIPANTS ENGAGE IN HANDS-ON WORK INCLUDING INVASIVE SPECIES REMOVAL, PLANTING OF NATIVE FLOWERS, GRASSES, SHRUBS AND TREES, TRAIL BUILDING OR MAINTENANCE, PRAIRIE AND FOREST RESTORATION AND WATERSHED IMPROVEMENT. THEY ARE ALSO TRAINED IN JOB SITE SAFETY, SAFE OPERATION AND USE OF HAND AND POWER TOOLS, READING AND INTERPRETATION OF LAND SURVEY MAPS, CONSERVATION/FORESTRY VOCABULARY AND CONSERVATION MATERIAL IDENTIFICATION AND USAGE. THEY ALSO DO OSHA 10 AND FA/CPR.
Show More
Show Less
A program that requires its students to demonstrate they have successfully acquired a set of skills or knowledge base prior to completing the program. Compare to a "time-based" training program that results in successful completion if the students participate in a certain number of instructional hours.
This program is offered
No deadline. Applications are accepted year-round. See Operation Fresh Start's website, www.operationfreshstart.org, for application instructions.
For more information about "career pathways" visit https://dwd.wisconsin.gov/career-pathways
DANE COUNTY PARKS AGREES TO PROVIDE OFS INFORMATION ABOUT ARBORIST APPRENTICESHIP AND PRE-APPRENTICESHIP OPENINGS WITH THEM AND OTHER CERTIFIED ARBORIST EMPLOYERS, ASSIST IN RECRUITMENT EFFORTS BY REFERRING UNDER-QUALIFIED APPLICANTS TO OFS PRE-APPRENTICESHIP READINESS PROGRAMING, PROVIDE COORDINATED PARTNER TRAINING FOR OUR CONSERVATION CREWS IN CHAINSAW USE, TREE FELLING TECHNIQUES, DEBRIS REMOVAL AND PLANTING TECHNIQUES, ANNUALLY REVIEW OUR PROGRAM DESIGN AND CURRICULUM TO IMPROVE APPRENTICESHIP READINESS, AND DESIGNATE A REPRESENTATIVE FROM DANE COUNTY PARKS TO COMMUNICATE WITH OFS CONCERNING SHARED CLIENTELE EMPLOYMENT DEVELOPMENT TO HELP WITH RETENTION IN APPRENTICESHIPS AND PRE-APPRENTICESHIP POSITIONS. IN TURN, THROUGH ITS PRE-APPRENTICESHIP READINESS PROGRAM, OFS WILL PROVIDE REMEDIAL TRAINING
AN M.O.U. WITH DANE COUNTY PARKS BUILDS UPON OUR PARTNERSHIP AND PROVIDES A MORE FORMAL PIPELINE PARTNERSHIP INTO THE ARBORIST APPRENTICESHIP WITH DANE COUNTY PARKS AND OTHER CONSERVATION COMPANIES.
EACH PARTICIPANT IS ASSIGNED TO A PLACEMENT SPECIALIST WHO WORKS WITH THE YOUNG PERSON TO DEVELOP A CAREER PLAN, LEARN JOB SEARCH SKILLS AND DEVELOP A RESUME. THE PLACEMENT SPECIALIST WORKS WITH THE YOUNG PERSON TO OBTAIN EMPLOYMENT RELATED TO THE TRAINING, THEN PROVIDES ONE YEAR OF SUPPORTIVE FOLLOW-UP SERVICES TO ENSURE RETENTION.
IN THE CLASSROOM OR CONSERVATION LAB, PARTICIPANTS RECEIVE INSTRUCTION IN OSHA SAFETY, CONSERVATION/CONSTRUCTION MATH PRINCIPLES AND CALCULATIONS, APPRENTICESHIP APTITUDE TEST STUDY PREPARATION, HAND AND POWER TOOLS IDENTIFICATION, USAGE, AND MAINTENANCE, CONSERVATION MATERIALS IDENTIFICATION AND USAGE. OFS STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS FROM THE COMMUNITY PROVIDE TUTORING SERVICES.
Not applicable
,
bmcmahon@operationfreshstart.org
cwood@operationfreshstart.org
bpolak@operationfreshstart.org
kpritchard@operationfreshstart.org
Not Provided
Not Provided
DISCLAIMER: Wisconsin's Department of Workforce Development (DWD) does not endorse or promote any specific training institution and/or program on this website. The content, including links, is provided directly by training institutions. DWD bears no legal responsibility for the accuracy or legality of the program-related content on this site or external sites that are linked through this page. Please notify DETETPL@dwd.wisconsin.gov about any inappropriate content.