Natural Resources

About Our Programs

Demand for qualified natural resources practitioners continues to grow. Green River College Natural Resources programs offer a variety of paths that will prepare graduates for immediate employment within industry. Everyone receives training in forestry with the opportunity to build on that knowledge in water quality, wildfire, park management, and applied geographic information systems. Our programs provide a hands-on learning experience that prepares students for the field.

Make your dream of an outdoor career in natural resources a reality with the most affordable and applied programs in the Northwest - contact us for an application! 

The Natural Resources department offers a wide variety of paths to your career goals.

Our core program offers 5 Associates of Applied Science degrees and a Bachelor's of Applied Science degree. All students who complete the Associates track will earn their Forestry, AAS with the option to incorporate additional classes to earn their Wildland Fire, AAS, Water Quality, AAS, Park Management, AAS, and/or Geographic Information Systems, AAS. From there, students can jump right into an industry position or continue their education and earn their Forest Resource Management, BAS. 

Students interested in transferring to another college or university should review the Natural Resources, AAS-T track.

 

Program Highlights

  • The Forestry, AAS program is accredited by the Society of American Foresters
  • Green River College sits on a 260-acre learning forest that the Natural Resources Department manages
  • We manage our own fleet of 5 vehicles, including 2 (highly) lifted Chevy Express Vans for field trips
  • Students have access to camping and backpacking gear, power tools, and other equipment to use in their classes
  • Internships (often paid) are part of the degree requirements and can lead to permanent positions after graduation
SAF - Society of American Foresters

Student Success

The following table shows post-college outcomes for Natural Resources AAS Graduates. This data represents the 2020-2022 graduates.

AAS Post-College Outcomes (2020-2022) 
Total AAS Students Enrolled 97
% of graduating students 73%
% of students employed 82%
% of students continuing higher education 77% 

Degrees & Certificates

Bachelor's

Associates

Transfer

Program Quick Links

Meet The Team

Meet the Team

Contact Us

For more information or to make an appointment, please contact:

Jessyka Williams

Natural Resources Program Manager

jrwilliams@greenriver.edu

253-931-6925

 

NR helmet on stump

Explore

Natural Resource Graduates take many paths

Biological technician | Contract supervisor in natural resources | Forest fire crew supervisor | Forest inventory technician | Forest engineering assistant | Natural resource field crew supervisor | GIS technician | Independent forest contractor | Log scaler | State park ranger’s assistant | Surveying technician |Trail maintenance supervisor | Tree planting inspector

Great Opportunities

Associate of Applied Science, Bachelor of Applied Science, and beyond!

When you earn your Associate of Applied Science (A.A.S.) in our program, you can qualify to join our four-year Forest Resource Management, Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.S.) program, transfer to another institution, or begin working in industry! Meet with your advisor to be sure you have the correct course plan.

Completing the Green River’s Forest Resource Management, B.A.S. will open opportunities for immediate employment in management positions in the natural resources field or continue your education with a graduate degree!

Forest Resource Mgmt., B.A.S.