WoodLinks

What is WoodLINKS?

            WoodLINKS is an industry-developed high school curriculum that provides woodworking certification for graduates. The program outlines the entry-level skills and knowledge students need to pursue a career in wood manufacturing, and provides teachers with the resources and assessment tools they need to ensure their students start out on the right path.

WoodLINKS was developed through close collaboration among representatives from the Canadian advanced wood manufacturing industry, high school teachers and post-secondary educators. It is offered in schools across Canada and the United States, and is internationally recognized for its ability to partner schools with industry, allowing students to see how their work in the classroom has practical, real-world applications.

Where did it come from?

The program was developed in a cooperative process with representatives from the BC (British Columbia during the September 1997 and 1998 school years, and subsequently received approval from the BC Ministry of Education for use in all BC high schools) wood products manufacturing industry and secondary and post-secondary educators (the WoodLINKS curriculum was built using a DACUM process with industry). The WoodLINKS program stop running in Canada due to the lack of funding for the program. The U.S.A. saw potently in the WoodLINKS program, and brought the WoodLINKS program to America.

The wood links program was restarted in Canada once there was enough money and companies that could fund the program. The program is now offered annually in over 70 schools across Canada that is presently certifying students. This includes some schools in British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Ontario, New Brunswick and Yukon.

Who is the primary target of WoodLinks Programs & why?

The primary target has been to have high schools deliver the program in grades 11 and 12. This gives the program maximum reach to young people at a time when they are beginning to make career and post-secondary education choices. The program outlines the entry-level skills and knowledge students need to pursue a career in wood manufacturing, and provides teachers with the resources and assessment tools they need to ensure their students start out on the right path.

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