This section of the site informs the wood cluster community of related project progress, events, new websites, news, and other new information. Information, including website links, if available, will be provided for conferences, training sessions, project meetings, articles of interest, showcases, industry events, and important news from project administrators. Click on the appropriate button to access this exciting information and learn about some opportunities for personal growth.

If any user has related news they would like to share with the community, send it by way of e-mail to the webmaster and if approved by the administration, it will be posted on the Project News section.

Current Events Last Edited: Tuesday February 09, 2010

• Foundation Skills High School Curriculum Completed – The third year curriculum for Secondary Manufacturing and Construction Carpentry courses is complete and available on the website. The completed project-based curriculum focuses on the construction of a free-standing piece of quality finished casework for the Secondary Manufacturing specialty area and a free-standing dormer for Construction Carpentry. This completes the curriculum development phase for the full three-year high school wood cluster curriculum. Schools can now develop a full three-year program for either the Forest Industry or Wood Industry and can offer courses in any or all of the five specialty areas, three courses relating to the Forest Industry and two to the Wood Industry.

• Talks With the National Hardwood Lumber Association – Discussions are proceeding with representatives of the NHLA and Lance Hummer, the founder of the Wood Cluster project. The purpose of these discussions is to have NHLA indorse the Foundation Skills Curriculum and include industry representatives from the organization in future activities completed as part of the project. NHLA representatives seemed very interested in the curriculum and its potential to assist in providing the hardwood industry with better trained entry-level workers.
   
• Prospects Look Good for Certification Program Development – Lance Hummer has submitted a proposal for a grant to develop a certification program for the Wood Cluster project. The grant would include the development of certification guidelines and tests for the competencies included in the Foundation Skills Curriculum. Evaluation methodology will include both theory and hands-on testing. Development of this program will complete an objective of the Wood Cluster program, providing the forest and wood industry with additional and competent entry-level employees needed for them to stay competitive in a global economy.
   

Archive Events

• Natural Resource Continuing Education Providers - A national meeting of natural resource continuing education providers will take place February 2-4, 2004 at the Cloquet Forestry Center sponsored by the College of Natural Resources, University of Minnesota. To register, or for more information contact Louise Yount at 218-879-0858 or lyount@umn.edu.
   
• National Standards for the Woodworking Industries - Work is continuing on the development of national standards for occupations within the woodworking industry. Thanks to the efforts of Wilf Torunski, National Program Director of WoodLINKS USA, a group of interested representatives of the industry is working diligently to develop standards and eventually a certification program. To date, marketing and framework subcommittees have been formed and are each carrying out specific objectives to begin make the standard a reality. For more information on the efforts of this group contact Wilf Torunski at 304-431-7010 or woodlinksusa@citilink.net.
   
• Funding Received! Additional funding for the Third Year: Wood Specialization courses of the Foundation Skills Curriculum for the Forest and Wood Industry has been secured from the Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor through the tireless efforts of Lance Hummer, Northwestern PA Industrial Center. This money will complete the curriculum and assist in its distribution and promotion. It will also provide for the development of a plan for a Forest and Wood Industry Certification program. The grant extends through January 2005.