Onboarding plan
Forest and Conservation Worker Onboarding Plan (30-60-90 Days)
A practical, printable plan to take a new forest and conservation worker from first day to full productivity.
Forest and Conservation Worker onboarding at a glance
Week one covers orientation, safety and shadowing. Days 1–30 build vocabulary and supervised practice on core procedures; days 31–60 move to independent work with competency sign-offs; days 61–90 focus on full productivity, cross-training and a credential plan.
Before day one
- Confirm start date, schedule, pay and supervisor in writing
- Verify required credentials: Sawyer certification, Wilderness first aid (as applicable)
- Prepare equipment and access: planting bars and hoedads; chainsaws and brush cutters; pulaskis and McLeods; hand tools
- Assign a buddy or preceptor
- Enroll the new hire in Forest and Conservation Worker training so foundations are covered before or during week one
Week one: orient and protect
- Workplace tour, emergency procedures and incident reporting
- Wear chainsaw PPE and hard hats
- Keep safe spacing with tools
- Carry first aid and communication
- Watch for weather and fire conditions
- Shadow an experienced forest and conservation worker through a full shift
- Training modules 1–3: role foundations, a day on the job and essential vocabulary (15 terms)
Days 1–30: learn
Goal: perform core tasks safely under supervision.
- Supervised practice: plant a tree seedling
- Supervised practice: build a trail water bar
- Supervised practice: work safely with a crew in remote terrain
- Training modules 4–7: duties, step-by-step tasks, tools and safety
- 30-day check-in: confidence, questions and early wins
Days 31–60: contribute
Goal: handle a regular workload independently.
- Plant seedlings: independently
- Thin trees and clear brush: independently
- Remove invasive plants: independently
- Build and maintain trails: independently
- Competency sign-offs completed (see checklist below)
- Training final knowledge check and certificate of completion
- 60-day check-in
Days 61–90: own
Goal: full productivity and a growth plan.
- Meet productivity and quality targets for the role
- Begin cross-training on a secondary task
- Agree on a credential goal (for example, Sawyer certification)
- Discuss the career path: Crew Member → Crew Lead → Forestry Technician
- 90-day review
Competency checklist
| Skill or task | Trained | Observed | Signed off |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plant a Tree Seedling | |||
| Build a Trail Water Bar | |||
| Work Safely with a Crew in Remote Terrain | |||
| Tree planting | |||
| Chainsaw and brush cutting | |||
| Trail construction | |||
| Plant identification |
How to measure onboarding success
- Time to independent work
- Injuries and equipment damage
- Quality checks, client complaints or animal outcomes
- Seasonal return rate
How Forest and Conservation Worker training maps to this plan
- Introduction to the Forest and Conservation Worker Role
- A Day on the Job
- Essential Forest and Conservation Worker Vocabulary
- Core Duties and Responsibilities
- Common Tasks, Step by Step
- Tools, Equipment and Technology
- Safety, Compliance and Professional Standards
- Skills Employers Look For
- Launching Your Forest and Conservation Worker Career
- Final Knowledge Check