Many foresters spend a lot of time outdoors during the first few years of their career.
Many do not. Typical outdoor duties might include measuring and grading trees, evaluating insect out breaks, conducting land surveys, fighting wildfires, managing prescribed fires, laying out road systems, supervising construction of trails and planting trees, supervising timber harvesting, or conducting research studies. Foresters also plan and direct recreational use of forestlands, manage watersheds for production of timber and water quality, and plan forest practices that ensure an abundance of wildlife. Duties may then include planning, contracting, preparing reports, and managing budgets. Many foresters become top executives in public agencies, conservation organizations, and corporations.