Natural Resources Students Put Winter Skills to the Test
CA BOCES CTE students harvest ice, operate heavy equipment, and build hands-on experience through real-world conservation training
ELLICOTTVILLE - The Natural Resources students and their teacher, Mr. Christopher Golley, from CA BOCES CTE Center at Ellicottville, recently put their skills to work in the field during a hands-on winter project that combined conservation practices, equipment operation, teamwork, and environmental stewardship.
Students harvested and cut ice blocks from a frozen pond, safely transported materials using heavy equipment, and constructed an ice structure from start to finish. This experience wasn’t just about building; it was about applying classroom lessons in a real-world outdoor setting.
Throughout this activity, students practiced safe tool and chainsaw operation, equipment handling and loader safety, measuring, planning, and structural layout, environmental awareness and ice/pond safety, understanding water systems, freeze patterns, and winter ecology, and team coordination and job-site communication, and risk assessment and cold-weather work protocols.
This project reinforces what Natural Resources is all about - working with the land responsibly, understanding ecosystems, managing resources safely, and developing practical career skills in forestry, conservation, environmental management, and heavy equipment operation.
Learning looks different in Natural Resources; sometimes it means snow boots, shovels, and teamwork in the cold! We are proud of these students for their hard work, professionalism, and commitment to hands-on learning. Follow CTE Center at Ellicottville on Facebook for more on this and other program happenings.