A comprehensive course of study for natural resources was developed and offered to eleventh and twelfth grade students as an elective, to determine whether such a program was feasible in a high school vocational setting. An area-wide survey of environmental occupations was conducted and an advisory committee made recommendations as to course content, which was based on a curriculum developed by the Pennsylvania State University Agriculture Education Department. Students were enrolled for two years, three class periods per day, five days a week, with one-half of the instructional time spent in classroom subjects and the other half in mechanics. Extensive field experiences were also conducted. After three years of program operation, conclusions are that students previously turned off by school now appear to have more tolerance for school because they have a program of interest and one with which they can identify. A second class section of first year students was added to accommodate increased interest, and the local school board agreed to fund the program when federal assistance is no longer available. Graduates of the program are all employed, many of them in natural resources or related occupations. Recommendations included establishing programs of this nature in other schools and conducting follow-up studies of employment patterns of graduates. (A natural resource course of study is appended.) (BL)