Forestry & Land Stewardship

About this course

This elective teaches a student how to look after a piece of wooded ground. It opens with the biblical groundwork, dominion and stewardship in Genesis, the Sabbath rest commanded for the land in Leviticus, trees in Scripture, and the difference between sustainable use and exploitation. From there it moves into how a forest actually works, its layers and soil and water cycles and decomposers, then tree identification by leaf, bark, silhouette, and field key, forest health and the invasive species and pests and storm and drought damage that threaten it, sustainable forestry and woodlot management, wildlife habitat, fire stewardship, soil and water protection, trails and hospitality on your own land, and finally the long view: writing a stewardship plan, keeping maps and records, working with conservation programs, and passing land down well. Each lesson opens with a verse from the King James Bible.

The course is 10 units of 10 lessons each, 100 lessons in all, self-paced rather than tied to a daily schedule. A lesson is a short reading, most of them 300 to 650 words, followed by a ten-question multiple-choice quiz that grades itself. The writing is plain high school prose that defines its terms as it goes, and it assumes no prior background. Nothing has to be bought to finish the course. It is written, though, for someone who has land or hopes to, and it will mean much more to a student who can walk a woodlot, start a tree journal, and put a field guide to use.

A few things you should know before starting. Unit 6 includes a lesson on hunting and trapping treated as wildlife management: regulated seasons, legal limits, sustainable harvest rates, taking only a shot you are confident in so the animal does not suffer, using all the usable meat, and checking traps daily. It is framed as provision and land management rather than sport, and it does discuss dispatching animals humanely. Unit 7 is given to fire, covering wildfire risk, defensible space around buildings, firebreaks, fire weather, what to do in a wildfire emergency, and controlled burns; that lesson states plainly that a controlled burn is professional work the student will not be doing themselves. Safety is handled the same way elsewhere: the tree felling lesson exists mainly to say that in-person chainsaw and felling training from a qualified instructor is not optional, and that this is adult work with proper protective gear. Species, regulations, agencies, and conservation programs discussed are North American.

What the course covers

• Biblical stewardship, dominion, and Sabbath rest for the land
• Forest ecosystems, layers, water cycles, and biodiversity
• Tree identification by leaf, bark, silhouette, and field key
• Invasive species, insect pests, drought, and storm damage
• Sustainable forestry, selective cutting, and reading a woodlot
• Felling safety, milling lumber, and seasoning firewood
• Wildlife habitat, native plants, and regulated hunting and trapping
• Wildfire risk, defensible space, firebreaks, and controlled burns
• Soil health, erosion control, riparian buffers, and watersheds
• Trails, land access, stewardship plans, and succession

What your student will be able to do

• Identify common North American trees using bark, leaves, and a dichotomous key
• Assess a woodlot for health and recognize invasive species and pest damage
• Plan sustainable cutting, replanting, and a firewood seasoning schedule
• Evaluate wildfire risk and create defensible space around buildings
• Protect soil and water with riparian buffers and erosion control on slopes and trails
• Write a land stewardship plan and think through passing land to the next generation

Scope and sequence

All 10 units of Forestry & Land Stewardship for Grade 9, in the order they are taught.

Inside the course

These photographs appear in the lessons themselves, not just on this page. Every one is freely licensed and credited to its photographer at the foot of this page.

Every lesson, by title

All 100 lesson titles are listed here — nothing is withheld until you download. Open a unit to read its contents.

One whole lesson, exactly as it comes

This is a real lesson taken from the middle of the course — the teaching text, the practice, the homework, and the first three quiz questions with their answers. It is not a marketing excerpt.

Unit 6: Wildlife Habitat: Creating Space for God's Creatures · Lesson 1

Why Wildlife Habitat Matters

God's Design for Creation

Wildlife habitat is not a luxury or something only nature lovers care about—it's foundational to stewardship. When God placed humanity in the Garden of Eden, He gave us dominion over the animals and responsibility to tend the land. This wasn't permission to exploit; it was a calling to care wisely. A righteous person shows regard for the life of his beasts, meaning we're accountable for how we treat the creatures that depend on the land we manage.

Why Your Land Matters

Every forest, meadow, pond, and thicket you own or work with is a piece of God's creation. Wildlife habitat management isn't complicated at first—it begins with understanding that animals need specific things to survive. When you provide those things intentionally, you're practicing biblical stewardship. You're making your land productive for more than just human use. This changes how you think about every acre.

Wildlife also provides practical benefits beyond spiritual obedience. Songbirds control insect populations. Pollinators make gardens and crops thrive. Predators like hawks keep rodent populations in check. When you manage habitat, you're supporting a natural balance that reduces problems and increases productivity across your whole property.

The Connection to Food and Provision

For many families, wildlife management connects directly to food. Deer, wild birds, fish in your ponds—these represent genuine provision. Hunting and trapping, done legally and humanely, can fill your freezer and feed your family. But more importantly, it teaches you to think long-term: if you want deer to flourish this year, you must manage habitat so they'll thrive. This cycles back to the basic principle that we don't just take from the land—we care for it to ensure ongoing blessing.

Developing a Steward's Mindset

Wildlife habitat management starts with asking the right questions: What animals live here or should live here? What do they need? How can my land be more useful to them—and to my family—if I invest in habitat? This isn't romantic thinking; it's practical wisdom. A farmer who clears every bush sees fewer birds and more insects. A landowner who plans a habitat corridor sees deer herds, hears songbirds, and enjoys healthier land.

Looking Ahead

In this unit, you'll learn the practical tools: how to read what animals need, how to build specific habitats, how to use native plants, and how to make hard choices when priorities compete. You'll discover that good habitat management isn't just about wildlife—it's about building a flourishing, productive piece of creation that honors God and feeds your family.

Start viewing your property not just as yours, but as a trust. The animals depend on your decisions. That responsibility is also your privilege.

The first three of this lesson's 10 questions

According to Proverbs 12:10, what does a righteous person do regarding the life of his beast?

1. He regardeth the life of his beast
2. He uses them only when necessary for food
3. He honors all creatures as equal to human life
4. He releases all domestic animals to the wild

Show the answer

Answer: He regardeth the life of his beast

What was God's original instruction to humanity regarding creation?

1. To have dominion and tend the land with care
2. To preserve nature without any human use
3. To use animals without any limit
4. To exploit all natural resources for profit

Show the answer

Answer: To have dominion and tend the land with care

Which is NOT mentioned as a practical benefit of wildlife habitat management?

1. Wildlife eliminating all human diseases
2. Animals providing food for families
3. Predators keeping rodent numbers low
4. Songbirds controlling insect populations

Show the answer

Answer: Wildlife eliminating all human diseases

Another 7 questions follow in the lesson itself, each one graded the moment it is answered.

What you will need

Drawn from the materials named across all 100 lessons of this course. Most families already own most of it.