Career choices for the outdoorsman-What should i do?

[Danny20gauge]

Ok guys, i know theres tons of people on here that work many different jobs/careers, so with your expert opinions what should i do??? Im in grade 11 right now soon to be in grade 12 so i really have to decide what im doing now. I have been thinking of OPP officer for a long time now and thats my first choice, always wanted to be a police officer and OPP will most likely get me somewhere out of the city. Second choice would be farmer however i live in Toronto (I did not choose this, hate it here) and with no family members owning farms (at least in this country) or family friends i have no real way of learning, so not very likely although i would love to become one. I have also been looking at land surveyor however must land surveyors survey new subdivisions that are destroying the country side and i just cant support that i hate urbanization. Trades interest me particularly welding (2 uncles are welders) however im not sure how easy it would be to do that in the country. My main priority is getting a job that will allow me to be outside of the city and live... comfortably (fairly good pay for the people not understanding). So with so many fellow outdoorsmen out there i would love to hear what you guys do and education, job availability and satisfaction you guys have experienced. Hope you guys can help me out with what i should do, and i guess this could also become a good resource for younger people in the future.

1. Needs to be out of city
2. Decent pay
3. Not nearly impossible to get into

[FrucksOutdoor]

Wildlife Officer comes to mind however some hunters may feel you're siding with the enemy

[DanO]

Need a little more info. Are you willing or able to go to College and/or University? If you can go to College I'd say consider Forestry Tech or Technologist. Fisheries Tech or Technologist. Sir Sanford Fleming College would be worth looking into.

If you're thinking University consider Fish and Wildlife at Univerity of Guelph (which also has a good AGricultural program) but jobs are hard to find in F &W.

[Danny20gauge]

That used to be my first choice however if you think about it when are they needed most? Hunting season, that means ill be missing out on the season. I would be a good CO but i would miss out on the hunting season so id rather not.

[impact]

Find a trade you like and get into it. There are all kinds of apprenticeship opportunities right now and the government is very generous with grants and loans. After 5 years and getting your journeyman's red seal it is not uncommon to pull in $100k / year plus a lot of the jobs get you working outdoors in various projects. A lot of tradesmen are also outdoors men. It seems to be a nice fit.

Good luck with your decision. Nice to see a young lad serious about his career plans!

[fishy steve]

well theres a million choices ahead of you... all depends on where you wanna live, and how hard you are willing to work... trades is always a great place to start... i did machinig... good pay, easy enough to get into if you are good with your hands, but depending on what the company you work for deals in, you are at the mercy of the economy... up here around north bay, most of the machining, is tied into the mining industry, so just like mining, it follows a boom or bust pattern... if i was back in your shoes, id either go to school for an electrician, or for a mining position itself. electrician opens up a large area of places you could work, especially if you can get your foot in the door with hydro... and mining offers very good paying jobs, if you dont mind spending time in remote areas of northern ontario...

theres also forestry if you really wanna work in the outdoors...

[Danny20gauge]

I can go to Colledge or University ive taken University (academic) courses all throughout highschool so i have the option of both. I have been checking out Wildlife and forestry technician but jobs are hard to get. Most are seasonal and part time (Means no work when theres snow on the ground). Finding a good career is so hard nowadays and since i want one out of the city that pays decent its even harder.

[Mdiddi]

OPP is good choice if that is what you want to do. Don't waste your time with schooling related to police as you would go to police college anyways.

Find something else you like to do or are interested in like forestry or one of the trades. Get a diploma in something you like or about the outdoors. something to fall back on. OPP wont likely hire you till you are mid 20's although some kids get through. There are great jobs out there in trades like steam fitters (you could work at Bruce power), electrical (hydro), forestry (harvesting or even hydro has guys and girls keeping lines clear.) Find a trade you like and likely there is a demand up north. You might need to school or apprentice in the city though.

Don't settle and don't fall for some broad who doesn't want your goal. Good luck.

[fishy steve]

honestly id stay away for fish and wildlife programs... just like you say, not many jobs left, and probably only gonna go down from here... i know lots of people that took the fish and wildlife program... very few of them are working in that field today...

[Danny20gauge]

I have been researching trades a bit and Northern Ontario seems to be needing a lot of people in the trades, particularity in mining. Im either thinking of mining or something in health care, because where people go so does health care so somthing like a nurse or x ray technician. Is anyone here in mining, i would like to know what positions would be the best and the type education needed for them. Mineing isn't something im really knowledgeable in and im gonna need some guidance with this.