St Marys Area School District – Forestry and Forest Products Education at SMASD

Project Details

The Power of Partnership: Community Support Enhances Forestry Education in Elk County

“The LHR grant, matched by local industry, catalyzed SMASD’s ag education partnership and will strengthen future talent pipelines for our region’s forest-based economy.”
– Amy Shields, Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group

The Project

The St. Marys Area School District expanded its Agricultural Education program with a comprehensive suite of forestry education tools and resources, enabling the launch of a rigorous Forestry, Wildlife, and Fisheries Sciences course in 2026–2027.

Lasting Impact

This investment connects students directly to one of the nation’s most vital forest ecosystems. Students are now able to gain hands-on experience in sustainable forest management while preparing for high-demand careers.

Funding & Partnerships

Collaboration with the Allegheny Hardwood Utilization Group, Elk County Conservation District, St. Marys Lumber Company, LandVest Forest Resources, Penn Pallet, Woodbed Corp., Northwood Resources, Inc., R. Cooney Logging, Inc., and Dave’s Saw Shop made this possible.

This mini-grant was financed in part by the Community Conservation Partnerships Program, Heritage Area Funds, under the administration of the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR), Bureau of Recreation and Conservation.