Natural Resources

Program Description

The two year Natural Resources Academy Canada diploma program will prepare students to work in the exciting fields of wildlife, forestry, fisheries, enforcement and environmental consulting. Besides the numerous courses related to animal behaviour, silviculture, ecology and fish management, students will complete several professional development courses. They include canoeing, coastal navigation, firearms safety, and first aid as well as a one-week field camp. At the end of the program, academic and practical training is supplemented with an 8 week work term.

Program Courses

• Animal Behaviour and Nutrition
• Biology
• Canadian Firearms Safety (Hunter Education)
• Canadian Firearms Safety (Restricted)
• Canadian Firearms Safety (Unrestricted)
• Capture and Control
• Career Orientation
• Coastal Navigation
• Communications
• Comprehensive Field Research Paper
• Ecology
• Environmental Conservation
• Environmental Impact Assessment
• Fish and Wildlife Biology
• Fish and Wildlife Measurements
• Flat Water Canoeing
• Forest Ecology
• Forest Fire Management
• Forestry Measurements
• Geographic Information Systems Concepts
• Geology
• Habitat Management
• Introduction to Natural Resources Management
• Introduction to Technical Reporting
• Law Enforcement Acts and Regulations
• Mapping/Remote Sensing
• Marine Search and Rescue
• Natural Resources Math Fundamentals
• Officer Safety
• Parasitology and Necropsy
• Physical Education
• Physical Environment
• Probability and Statistics
• Procedural Law
• Restricted Radio Operator
• Safety and Maintenance of Field Equipment
• Silviculture
• Spreadsheets
• Technical Reporting
• WHMIS
• Wilderness and Remote First Aid
• Wilderness Survival
• Word Processing
• Work Term

Employment Opportunities

Upon successful completion of the Natural Resources program, graduates will be eligible for employment (depending on specific hiring practices) with natural resources agencies such as wildlife, forestry, fisheries, and environmental consulting firms. As well, opportunities may arise in public sectors and self-created entrepreneurial activities. A small sample of Academy Canada’s excellent employers include:

• Dept. of Fisheries and Oceans
• Dept. of Wildlife
• Dept. of Forest Resource and Agrifoods
• Water Quality Testing, Alberta
• Acre Aquatic Center
• Shannahan's Security
• Biggin's Contracting
• Timber Survey's, Alberta
• Clovelly Golf
• Canadian Forest Services
• Placentia Bay Devel. Association
• River Watch
• National Parks

Work Term Information

Work terms are a required, unpaid, formally arranged on-site training experience completed at the end of the program. The work term provides students with practical, real-world experience that supports skill development, professional confidence, and readiness for employment.

Students are expected to attend according to the host’s schedule and must report any absences to both the host supervisor and the Graduate Employment Coordinator. Missed days are added to the end of the placement. Attendance and performance are monitored through ongoing communication, including check-ins and formal mid-placement and final evaluations. Successful completion of an approved, authorized work term is required for graduation.

Students are responsible for maintaining professional conduct, attending as scheduled, complying with host policies, promptly reporting absences or concerns, and completing all required documentation. The College is responsible for approving placements, providing guidance and support, monitoring progress, and determining successful completion. Work term hosts are responsible for supervision, attendance reporting, providing appropriate learning opportunities, and completing required evaluations. Students who do not who do not meet work term requirements may be removed from their placement and may be required to complete a new placement in order to graduate.