Pilot Initiative to Inspire Future Foresters via STEM Activity in Schools

Summary Description:

This is a partnership initiative between Confor and the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) to expose young people to the range of opportunities that exist within the forestry and timber technologies sector via STEM club activity in schools. The pilot is planned to last 3 years in the first instance and will target S1-S3 pupils in the Highland Council area on two programmes - Climate Smarter and Highland Celebration of Engineering starting in the Academic Year 2021/2022. Climate Smarter involves pupils engaging in a project around future schools and a resource pack on use of homegrown timber in buildings will be integrated into this successful SCDI programme. The partnership and initial engagement with schools will focus around an event linked to COP26.

SCDI have access to over 1600 primary and secondary schools across Scotland via their Young Engineers and Science Clubs and they operate a number of initiatives and competitions to excite and engage young people of all ages.

Project Outcomes:

With Confor and Scottish Forestry Trust’s support, the Climate Smarter project has been delivered by teachers across a range of formats, from lunchtime or afterschool clubs to weekly STEM sessions with whole classes or year groups over multiple terms, to intensive term or weekly themed periods like a Climate Week or Sustainability month.

To date, 452 kits have been given to schools across Scotland with over 13,000 young people taking part. Many more have taken part using legacy kits each year as well.

SFT, Confor and industry collaborators worked with Stemovators to embed key messaging and information within the project, including the creation and embedding of project content around sustainable building materials and career pathways into the forestry sector. The Forestry & Wood Hub, an educational engagement resource developed by Confor, is now being promoted as a tool for teachers participating in the Climate Smarter programme.

Under the Climate Smarter project, 133 kits were distributed to schools across Scotland in 2023/24. Seven Celebration of STEM events were delivered and volunteers from Confor, Scottish Woodlands, Moray Estates and Future Woodlands Scotland participated, engaging the local communities.

The Inverness event was once again kindly hosted by UHI Scottish School of Forestry, providing an opportunity to showcase forestry equipment, machinery and technology, and opportunities for forestry staff to inspire the next generation.

Feedback from participants, SCDI and industry volunteers has been excellent. 100% of surveyed teachers rated the Climate Smarter project resources as excellent, and felt the material was well linked to careers and future skills. 82% of participating pupils said they would like to do similar STEM activities in the future, and 79% said they learned something new about possible STEM careers.