Workforce Development & Youth Engagement
Why Invest in Workforce Development?
Healthy forests and resilient communities depend on people.
Restoring forests, reducing wildfire risk, improving watershed health, and sustaining local economies all require a skilled workforce with deep connections to the landscapes they steward.
By investing in workforce development, the Northern Blues Restoration Partnership is helping build the capacity needed to implement restoration projects today while preparing the next generation of natural resource professionals, contractors, firefighters, and community leaders. These investments create family-wage jobs, support rural economies, strengthen local expertise, and ensure that the knowledge, skills, and partnerships needed to care for our forests remain rooted in the communities that depend on them.
We want your feedback!
Help Shape a New Natural Resources Student Event
The Northern Blues Restoration Partnership Workforce Development Team is exploring the development of a regional student event focused on natural resources and we'd like your input.
We want to design an event that is accessible, meaningful, and easy for schools to participate in. You feedback will help us understand your interest in participating, event format and structure, potential barriers, and opportunities to connect with existing curriculum and student interests.
For more information or to fill out the survey, click on the link below!
Upcoming Events
Across the Northern Blues, partners are hosting events, forming crews, and developing training opportunities to help connect the workforce to place and develop the skills to have fruitful and long standing careers in natural resources.
Check out our calendar for more information on individual events or deadlines from our various parntners.
Workforce Resources
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Eastern Oregon Job Board for Natural Resources
This job board was created specifically for natural resources jobs in Eastern Oregon. Check out what’s available in your area!
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USAJOBS Training Videos
Interested in applying for a federal job? These videos from the National Interagency Fire Center can help you navigate through applying on USAJOBS.
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USAJobs Webinar from Eastern Oregon Workforce Board
This workshop will equip you with the skills whether you are a job seeker, student, or anyone else looking for federal employment opportunities.
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Workforce Opportunities Storymap
Check out this Storymap of crew, apprentice, educational opportunities and more happening across the Northern Blues.
Workforce Pathways
When you think of a natural resources job, what do you picture? Many people think of a park ranger or a fire lookout and have the image of working outdoors in a beautiful setting. However, there is a huge variety of natural resources jobs requiring a range of skill-levels, from entry-level jobs open to very young workers to high-skill jobs open only to those with advanced degrees and high levels of training and experience.
The guide below was developed by the Northern Blues Restoration Partnership Workforce Development team, and attempts to represent a diverse set of public, private, and Tribal careers in the natural resources field. While every career is not represented in the following pages, we hope this will give
readers insight into the varied and unique pathways into a natural resources career.
Workforce Stories
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Living and learning with fire
Joseph students participate in Smithsonian documentary on prescribed burning and land stewardship
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Young adults gain wildfire workforce skills in Eastern Oregon
In spring 2025, the Northwest Youth Corps hosted a Community Wildfire Protection Corps crew of young adults ages 19 to 26 to gain experience in forestry and fuels reduction projects.
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Where Wildfire Meets the Workforce
The Eastern Oregon Conservation Corps is training the next generation of wildfire mitigation crews—providing young people with hands-on experience, career pathways, and critical skills to protect our forests, homes, and businesses.
Get in Touch
Our Workforce Development Team is always looking for new partners, fresh ideas, and opportunities to connect. Whether you're working on a project, interested in getting involved, or simply want to learn more about our work, we'd love to hear from you.
