~Conservation Officer~ Career Cluster: Farming, Fishing, Forestry

1. ~Conservation Officer~Career Cluster: Farming, Fishing, Forestry Amelia Oke 5/5/14 Hr. 4 Career Technology Foundations

2. Introduction “The earth we abuse and the living things we kill will, in the end, take their revenge; for in exploiting their presence we are diminishing our future.” ~Marya Mannes I’ve always had a great love for nature and the outdoors, a love that a lot of people wouldn’t understand. I spend most of my time outside, and half of my summers up north exploring the woods. About two years ago I first visited the St. Clair Shores DNR on a field trip, and I guess that’s when I first became interested in conservation. I’ve become inspired to try and preserve the environment, the forests, the lakes; just nature in general. For this career, I will be looking up what kind of education I need, what the job consists of, the amount of hours on the job, and what different conservation jobs there are.

3. Nature of Work • Enforce natural resource, recreational safety and environmental protection laws • Observe and check hunters and anglers, enforce snowmobiling, off-road vehicle and watercraft regulations • Write criminal case briefs and give court testimony • On occasion they physical arrests are made of criminals who may be intoxicated and/or disorderly. • Are first to respond to a variety of natural disasters and emergencies • Plant seedlings, clear away brush, identify diseases, help prevent forest fires, spray trees for diseases/harmful insects, make sure equipment is working properly

4. Working Conditions • My career is both mental and physical. • It’s mental because you need the know-how of when to make an arrest, or know when to investigate something. Plus you must have good focus on your topic of work. • It’s physical because most peace officers work outside in the environment doing physical tasks such as arresting people of disorderly conduct. • This career is all outdoors unless you work in the DNR office as a biologist. • Jobs done by a conservation officer outside include enforcing fish, game, tracking, trapping and waterfowl rights and regulations, operating snowmobiles, ATV’s, ORV’s and other off-road vehicles, relocating animals and overall maintaining a clean, healthy environment for woods and water. • Hours worked as a conservation officer are approximately eight a day.

5. Training, Qualification, Advancement • A high-school diploma or GED is required to become a conservation officer. • A college degree is not required • For the education of becoming a conservation officer I have looked into four main colleges who have the program for becoming an officer. Those four colleges are Northern Michigan University, Lake Superior State University, Oakland University and Central Michigan University. • I could take some biology classes for this occupation • A degree in forestry with an associate’s or bachelor’s degree are for conservation officers who want to advance in their field.

6. Job Outlook • The employment rate for forest and conservation officers is 4% • The employment rate is at a steady rate but is slowing declining • Openings for this career can be found in nine different districts in Michigan. • If I could get a job as a DNR officer I would first look to the St. Clair Shores DNR in Michigan. But I would much rather work at the DNR in Alcona or Alpena Michigan. • There is currently no particular place I desire to work.

7. Earnings • The median salary as of 2012 was $24,340. • My lifestyle goals is to have enough money to be independent and to be able to provide for myself. • I do not believe that this job would fit my goals • Goals: 1. Afford my own house out in the woods somewhere; a lot of money (-) 2. Own a horse; $4,000 a year (-) 3. Buy a Chevy Silverado(New) $35,000 (-)

8. Country Music Artist • The responsibilities of being a singer or in my case a country music artist, would be to memorize lyrics, listen to my producer/director, and be able to entertain the public. • A degree is not required for this career • Job Outlook: The pay for singers is based on how good your music sells, so the amount of money to be made is indefinable. • Medium earnings are indefinable. • With this career if I signed with a good record label and I become recognized, I’ll be able to produce music that the fans could relate to, and I would get to travel and sing on multiple different stages in multiple different states.

9. Conclusion After researching this career, I am no longer interested in it. The one thing I did look forward to was that I’d always be outside in the environment I’m most happy in. There was actually two things I didn’t like about this career field. I don’t like the fact that a part of the job has to do with federal law. The other thing that I don’t like about this job is that based on the median annual wage, I wouldn’t be able to support myself. My overall learning experience from researching this has made me realize that this just isn’t the job for me. Even though the work trucks used by the DNR are Chevy’s, I’ve just lost complete interest in this career within a day.

10. Citations • http://www.michigan.gov/dnr • http://www.bls.gov/ooh/entertainment-and-sports/home.htm • http://www.bls.gov/ooh/farming-fishing-and-forestry/home.htm