Natural Resource Career Pathways
Katharine Eneguess, President of the New Hampshire Community College - BerlinThe importance of our environment, how to use it wisely or how to protect it, is not a new concept. More and more people are recognizing that the natural resources our earth provides are being used sometimes wisely and sometimes not well at all. Our quality of life in New Hampshire depends on our natural resources and many citizens are expressing an increased interest in learning about and working in natural resource careers. To help solve some of the complex issues that our natural environment faces today, one must be skilled across many disciplines: science, math, public policy, communications, and history. There are many careers which provide a chance to work with natural resources in some capacity: forest managers, wastewater technicians, cartographers, computer programmers, fish and game officers, law enforcement officers, recreation specialists, land surveyors, and the list goes on. New Hampshire Community College-Berlin provides a career pathway to these careers through an Associate Degree program in Environmental Science, Geographic Information Systems, Surveying Technology, Information Technology, or Criminal Justice.
Choosing a career or changing a career is a major decision in anyone's life. So now you're asking yourself, "Yes I have an interest but what do I do?" The first step is to find out if a career in natural resources is right for you by learning more about the environment and exploring what people do to help protect and manage natural resources. The White Mountain National Forest, Mt. Washington Observatory, the Umbagog Wildlife Refuge, Nash Stream, the Society for the Protection of New Hampshire Forests, and the Appalachian Mountain Club are in our back yard. All these organizations employ natural resource professionals, are close by, and are a great resource to go to with questions. Simply ask any of these professionals "What do you do every day? What did you do for your education? What did you learn on the job?" This is what is called an informational interview with someone. Or you can come and talk with our faculty who are in the field. Once you've had a chance to talk to professionals in natural resource careers, it will be easier to choose an appropriate field of study for your degree.
Then you think, after I get a degree, what next or who will hire me? Each federal and state agency welcomes volunteers, summer help, and especially students who are seeking career opportunities. The federal government maintains a website, www.studentjobs.gov, which serves as a gateway to student (and yes even adult students) positions at federal agencies. These positions are for students sixteen and older and include summer employment, full and part-time work, student internships, and volunteer opportunities. The site provides a searchable database, agency overviews and a listing of federal jobs by college major. Some of the federal agencies include the Forest Service, the National Park Service, the Fish and Wildlife Service, the Environmental Protection Agency, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Bureau of Land Management to name a few. There are also many New Hampshire resources which can be found at www.nh.gov.
The importance of the environment is not going to go away and is a great career path. Our local communities and our state need professionals who are going to manage and protect our natural resources. If you would like to learn more about pathways to careers in natural resources, contact the New Hampshire Community College-Berlin at 603-752-1113. We may have a degree program that is right for you and can put you in touch with our faculty or other individuals within many organizations to talk with so you can make and informed choice.
If you have questions, thoughts, or comments about this article, please e-mail keneguess@ccsnh.edu.
Back to News List10/13/2007
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