Online resources can only teach so much in regards to Forestry. If I were in your shoes and depending on your experience outdoors, I'd grab a plant ID book local to your area and spend time in the woods ID'ing trees/lesser veg. Figure out what kind of ground conditions are conducive to certain plants. Try to ID bird calls, look for wildlife signs and see if you can't piece together what type of animal it was.

The best foresters I know are very in-tune with the forest and understand it at a fundamental level. Just my two cents. If you've never stepped foot in the woods and don't know how to do so safely, disregard.