Ornamental
Horticulture

Lead Teacher
Mr. Dan Fisk

Ms. Frances Burrington
Ms. Mary Ellen Roseman
Mr. Nathan Sperry

An education in the Pathfinder Horticulture program will prepare a student for a career in the diverse and expanding green industry. The program focuses on five disciplines; landscape design and operations, arboriculture, turfgrass management, greenhouse management and floriculture.
The Horticulture program boasts 100% enrollment in the National FFA organization which is the largest youth organization in the United States . The FFA currently has over 500,000 members. Students may also be able to participate in the cooperative education program which allows them to work for a local employer. This gives students valuable work experience in the industry while also earning their high school diploma.
Upon graduation students are prepared for employment in any one of the disciplines or continuing their education at college. Students from the program have continued their education at the Stockbridge School of Agriculture at the University of Massachusetts and the Landscape Operations program at Springfield Technical Community College .

Areas of Study:

Freshman and Sophomores:
•  Botany
•  Plant and Soil Science
•  Plant Propagation
•  Integrated Pest Management
•  Entomology
•  Greenhouse Management
•  Plant Identification (Annuals and Perennials)
•  Small Business Practices

 

Juniors and Seniors
•  Equipment Operation
•  Equipment Maintenance
•  Turfgrass Management
•  Irrigation
•  Arboriculture
•  Forestry
•  Landscape Design
•  Landscape Maintenance
•  Small Business Practices
•  Plant Identification (Woody Plants)
•  Plant Pathology

 

Certifications:
Students may be prepared to obtain the following certifications:
•  Pesticide Applicators License
•  Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professional
•  Commercial Drivers License Hydraulics License