You already know how important this industry is in maintaining the environment, good health, manufacturing, and livelihoods. Does the next generation?
Or are they buying into stigmas, negative stereotypes, and false beliefs about working in the Forest Products Industry? Or, worse, they’re completely unaware of all the options and opportunities that exist. Not exactly ideal when there’s a skills gap crisis and the future workforce is essential to keeping the industry alive and thriving.
Here’s the good news!
At the North American Forest Foundation, we’re working hard to dispel the myths and influence the next generation through education. Upping the cool factor and attracting more young people to this valuable and exciting industry.
How do we get it done?
No need for an industry re-brand. There’s already so much ‘cool’ at play. But if our voices are only at a whisper and messaging is inconsistent, we’re not being seen, heard, or felt. Aka NOT ON THEIR RADAR.
We’ve got to turn up the volume and meet the next generation(s) where they are. Online!
Not suggesting your company has to jump on TikTok or Snap Chat tomorrow, but it’s imperative that we’re all engaging regularly where they are.
A brochure-like website no longer cuts the mustard. The average consumer, for example, is already through 70 percent of the buying cycle before they ever reach out or CLICK order. It’s a well-known fact that millennials don’t want to talk to you on the phone. They research on their own and it’s got to be at their fingertips and easy to find.
We can put our heads in the sand and continue doing what we’ve always done (because it’s easier and painless). Or we can do something different and affect real change.
Starting Young
At the North American Forest Foundation, we’re working hard to bridge the gap and attract and influence the next generation in several ways.
Through the generosity of our annual donors and supporters like you, we’re able to impact more than 75,000 students per year by sending teachers our Truth About Trees teaching kit at no charge.
This free resource is reusable and sharable across classrooms. K-3 students are learning through lessons, activities and play, the value and importance of trees in our lives. We call it becoming #exTREEmelysmart!
It also complements the Forever Forest exhibit from the Omaha Children’s Museum, traveling to 30 cities over the next ten years. Teachers are visiting the 3D traveling exhibit for field trips and then teaching the kit to reinforce the experience. More than 600,000 students and teachers have been impacted so far.
This cultivates a healthier future for them, the industry, and the planet.
Capitalizing on Digital
There is a definite need to provide this kind of awareness and learning at the Jr. High level as well! Reinforcing what they learned previously during a pivotal time in their development.
And why we’re developing a Truth About Trees app to assist teachers with critical science curriculum and serving it up in a format that’s easy to consume, gamified and rewarding.
The second phase of this initiative will be a website that complements the experience and also serves as a portal for forestry career opportunities, scholarships, schools, organizations, and resources.
How You Can Participate
As a non-profit, we can’t do this important work without financial support from industry companies and individuals like you.
You can become an annual donor, monthly individual donor, or sponsor one or more of our initiatives like the Kit, the App, Back-to-School Kit Drive, Giving Tuesday (Nov. 30th), or event sponsorship.
Together, we’re upping the ‘cool’ factor and ensuring future growth and success of this amazing and important industry.
Nurturing the next generation through education is the mission of the North American Forest Foundation. Helping children (teachers and parents too) become #exTREEmelysmart, cultivates a healthier future for them, our industry, and the planet. Please join us in our mission to educate 1 million kids by 2030!
Make your donation at NortAmericanForestFoundation.org or email Allison DeFord at adeford@NorthAmericanForestFoundation.org today!
