Posted: June 16, 2025 | Forestry Education
If you’ve ever wondered where the next generation of North Carolina’s foresters are getting their start—look no further than Montgomery Community College (MCC). Tucked in the heart of Montgomery County, MCC is home to one of the most hands-on, field-tested forestry education programs in the state. Their Forest Management Technology program is a launching pad for students who want to turn a passion for the outdoors into a career managing, protecting, and understanding our region’s woodland resources.
This isn’t your average classroom-based program. MCC’s forestry students are out in the woods, boots on the ground, operating the same equipment you’d find on a professional logging site. From chainsaws and skidders to bulldozers and brush trucks, students gain practical experience in forest operations, wildland fire suppression, and timber harvesting—skills that are immediately applicable to real-world forestry jobs.
On campus, the program has access to 134 acres of managed timberland, divided into various forest types to give students exposure to different ecological and silvicultural scenarios. It’s not just about learning what to do, but how and why—something landowners and forestry professionals alike can appreciate.
The program doesn’t stop at tree ID and brush cutting. Students dive deep into the technological side of forest management with training in GPS, GIS, remote sensing, surveying, forest measurement, and mapping software. These tools are essential in today’s data-driven approach to land management. Whether it’s planning a harvest, mapping property boundaries, or conducting a timber cruise, MCC graduates come out ready to work with the same tech used by consulting foresters and government agencies across the state.
The curriculum is as comprehensive as the landscape itself. Students take courses in:
It’s an all-in-one education tailored to the full cycle of forest management. From identifying tree species to developing timber management plans and suppressing wildfires—this program covers it all.
Graduates of MCC’s Forest Management Technology program are stepping directly into roles with organizations like:
And for those with entrepreneurial spirit, self-employment as a consulting forester is a very real (and often rewarding) path forward.
Students can pursue the Associate in Applied Science Degree (70–76 credit hours), or add specialized skills with certificates in GIS (12 credit hours) or Recreation Forestry (13 credit hours). There’s also the Forestry Club—an active campus organization that gives students the chance to compete in woodsman’s competitions, connect with industry pros, and get involved with community outreach.
These students aren’t just studying forestry—they’re living it.
For landowners and industry professionals, MCC is doing more than educating—it’s building the future workforce for our region. If you’re a landowner looking to hire skilled help, or if you want to better understand who might be managing your timber down the road, MCC is producing capable, tech-savvy, and field-ready graduates who know what sustainable land stewardship looks like.
To learn more, you can reach out to Forestry Instructor Joshua Hussey at husseyj7885@montgomery.edu or call 910-898-9731. You can also explore the program directly through Montgomery Community College’s website (just search “Forest Management Technology”).