working with NGR
What we're about
Our planning focus is beyond tree price. It is centered around creating healthy environments where people can thrive.
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Next Generation Reforestation
ACCOUNTABILITY
CLAIRITY
We have mandatory online employee orientation, establishing definition and rules to govern our respectful workplaces.
Next Gen does their best to keep employees informed with season systems, changes and other pertinent information. We're working to actively improve on the general sentiment in planting where 'no one knows what's going on'. We want you to know, and feel free to participate.
We want to ensure our employees know they can affect change by offering ideas or submitting feedback. Simple ways to connect with us include: speaking with a member of the leadership team (Will, Caitlin or Marchena), Project Managers, members of the JHSC or through respect@nextgenerationreforestation.com
Difficult conversations when things get tough are key. Not always easy, but important.
Accountability is when our core values guide our actions. It's when we do what we say we're going to do.
Some concrete examples are:
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In 2022, Next Gen introduced a company wide Joint Health & Safety Committee that meets both in and off season.
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We also began having a Bullying, Harassment & Violence Advisory Committee that was able to deliberate, support and follow up with issues that arose through the season. This committee included folks both in leadership at Next Gen, people with backgrounds in counseling and social work and an external Human Resource Professional.
WELLNESS
We understand the toll that an intense planting season puts on individuals. We aim to provide a supportive environment so that we all finish the season mentally and physically strong.
Some positives from 2022 were:
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Trained Peer Supporters in camp - supported themselves by Sam, our Mental Health & Wellness Coordinator
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Introduction of a new Employee Development position - facilitating staff training and competencies in both hard and human skills
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Introduction of a Health Care Spending Account for Staff who have been with the company for over 5 seasons
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Ready access to TotalPhysio for Musculo Skeletal Issues and Skylark Counselling services for Mental Health and Dispute Resolution
Cultural shifts take time, and we are committed to continuing to work towards a respectful work-where-we-live environment where people can leave the season as healthy as they went in.
Many of Next Gen’s staff have been working together for years, and often decades. Our Project Managers have between 10 and 35 years planting experience. Many of us have committed our lives to planting, we appreciate and do our best to facilitate longevity.
Experienced Staff
Tree Planting Family
You will enjoy working with Next Gen if you are looking for a planting community. We work mainly in bush camps with great food and amenities.
We’re looking for experienced or new planters who are interested in a medium to long term working relationship.
Safety
Winner of the Alberta Forest Products Association (AFPA) Outstanding Achievement in Health & Safety in Silviculture for 2019-2021
Next Gen collaborates with planters, staff, and managers to create an authentic safety culture. Our objective is for all employees to understand their role and significance within the crew community. It also means people are held accountable for supporting safety-first decisions.
We have mandatory online employee orientation. This outlines expectations across crews and individuals. Our hope is to increase the clarity of expectation and comprehension of important safety points.
Through meetings, conversations and feedback surveys, we ensure that all people who work with Next Gen have a voice and the ability to address any areas of concern. You can effect change in policy moving forward.
2022 Saw the implementation of a company wide Joint Health & Safety Committee (JHSC) and a Bullying, Harassment & Violence (BHV) Advisory Committee.
Partnership with Total Physio
An excellent physiotherapy office out of Smithers, BC, Total Physio is revolutionizing how planters deal with injury. The team at Total Physio has studied planting, its biomechanics and the etiology of its injuries. They have put together wonderful materials on how best to prepare for planting, effective and realistic ergonomics to prevent injuries and how to tape for both relative-rest and prevention of injury. A paragraph is not enough to describe the amazing work they are doing in silviculture.
Next Gen is partnered with Total Physio. In this, we can provide planters with pre-season materials to prepare for the season. Our First Aid Attendants are armed with game-changing taping techniques. Finally, this partnership allows for the ability to Skype with and consult physios in their office. This facilitates accurate diagnoses of problems and accelerates the return to full fitness.
Pre-season preparedness will be an emphasis moving into the 2023 season.
Food
Next Gen is known in the industry for its food. We have some of the best cooks around, generous portions and wonderful flavours.
Check out our instagram or the photo gallery to get an idea of what there is to offer.
We are passionate about food and our food budget is among the highest in the industry.
We have camps instead of crews
Many planting companies are organized in smaller crew units, six or ten packs run by one foreman.
However, Next Gen does not have fixed crews. We organize planters around available trees. This maximizes productivity and efficiency.
Every morning there is a truck board, similar to the one shown here, letting you know your location, transportation and field staff for the day.
Tree Rates for 2023
Most of our trees will be planted in Alberta in the 2023 season. Average piece rates will be .14-.15 cents. Prices are all inclusive and vacation & stat will be broken out on tree records and pay stubs.
Detailed contract rates are available - please apply or email for more information.
For a more well-rounded look at earnings, please click here.
Reasonable Camp Costs
In 2019, Next Gen was a pioneer in our decision to abolish Camp Costs. Bittersweetly, in 2023 we will see a return of Camp Costs. Many planters and Staff have expressed a desire to return to having all-inclusive, higher, tree prices and paying Camp Cost.
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$25 on planting days - an industry standard
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$15 on non-planting days
Remote Work Allowance
2023 will see the introduction of RWA for planters at Next Gen. We are not certain of how this will be implemented, but it will be an option!
