In the spring of 1994 representatives of the New Brunswick Department of Education's Partnership for Education and J.D. Irving, Limited met to discuss ways in which the company, educators and students might forge a partnership to foster a comprehensive understanding of the region's forest resource. The partnership was solidified through an extensive week-long tour by educators, students and company foresters throughout the diverse operations that characterize today's forest industry. Students and educators became committed to the idea of developing resources that would offer fun, credible, interactive and cross-curricular lessons of the contemporary forest, related industries, forest management practices and current issues.
Objectives
1. To foster increased communication between students, educators and the forest industry;
2. To provide educators and students with a greater understanding of the role the forestry sector plays in the region's economy;
3. To give educators and students a better understanding of the variety of interesting and exciting forestry careers available in their own province and the employability skills required to succeed;
4. To explain the forest industry's concern for and commitment to environmentally responsible practices in all of its operations.