West Fraser Supports Kidney Lake Camp Upgrades, Enhancing Forestry Education
Kidney Lake Camp serves as an essential part of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Forest Technology program. Known as a "classroom in the wilderness," this camp provides first-semester students with hands-on training during the program's first five weeks.
Located northwest of Whitecourt, Alberta, Kidney Lake Camp serves as an essential part of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) Forest Technology program. Known as a "classroom in the wilderness," this camp provides first-semester students with hands-on training during the program's first five weeks. Many of West Fraser’s forestry professionals began their careers at Kidney Lake as NAIT students.
In 2024, West Fraser contributed funding to upgrade the camp through the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA), an organization whose mandate is to collect industry funds to enhance Alberta’s forest resources.
We were pleased to make this gift to NAIT. The graduates from this program are well-trained. They come to our sites and are ready to work on day one. They have lots of background in a variety of subjects that all pertain to the type of work that we do. And the field component is an integral part of the experience of the program here at NAIT.
Richard Briand, Chief Forester, Alberta, West Fraser
Transformative upgrades to Kidney Lake Camp
This funding enabled significant improvements to the camp's facilities, addressing infrastructure that had gone largely unchanged for more than 30 years. Renovations included modernizing cabins, enhancing classrooms and constructing a new food storage building,
These upgrades have significantly improved the camp's comfort, inclusivity, and functionality for NAIT's Forest Technology program students. The modern amenities allow students to focus on their education and training and experience the conditions of a modern onsite industrial setting, better preparing them for a future work environment.
“For us to be able to deliver quality education, we do need that partnership, and industry support makes all the difference,” said Dr. Agatha Ojimelukewe, Dean of the School of Energy and Natural Resources, NAIT. “Because at the end of the day, when our students have excellent programming, they come out into the workforce. And they are doing remarkable work."
