Basic Chainsaw Use & Safety for Beginners, April 19, 2022

640 James Road,Lincoln VT 05443

19 April, 2022

Description

BASIC CHAINSAW USE & SAFETY FOR BEGINNERS. This course is designed to introduce the safe handling of a chainsaw . BASIC CHAINSAW USE & SAFETY FOR BEGINNERS. This course is designed to introduce the safe handling of the chainsaw. This internationally recognized training program will boost your confidence with using a chainsaw in the woods or on the firewood pile. While this training has shown to increase the efficiency, production and safety of working with a chainsaw, it does not eliminate all hazards. NOTE: This course is taught by the same excellent instructors from Northeast Woodland Training who teach all the Game of Logging chainsaw training courses we offer. It's an excellent preparation for Level 1 for beginning chainsaw users (though you don't have to take it in order to take Level 1). COURSE DESCRIPTION This hands-on full-day course will include: Basic saw maintenanceStarting the sawDaily engine and bar maintenanceChain sharpening – learn when to sharpen or change the chainBasic bucking and limbing techniques (The instructor will fell the trees. All participants will get hands-on time bucking and limbing.)Practice cutting “cookies”Challenge cutting through log but leaving bark, emphasizing control.Safety principles covered will be: Understanding the reactive forces that need to be controlled by the operator.Push, Pull, Kick back.Safe and proper body mechanics to minimize the risk of slips, trips, and falls when operating a saw.Possible review of electric chainsaws, if group interest.***Workshop participants will not be felling trees. This course is designed to prepare a beginner saw user with the fundamentals of chain safety and maintenance. Designed for the first-time saw user, this course is an excellent foundation for those interested in attending future Game of Logging Level 1 – 4 trainings. COVID PRECAUTIONS: Our instructors have created rigorous COVID-19 protocol. You can read the Covid-19 protocol here. WHAT TO BRING You can use the instructor's chainsaw, so you do not have to bring one. But if you own a saw, bring it. At the very least, you can show to the instructor for feedback, and you may be able to use it for your cutting practice.Hardhat with eye and ear protectionChaps ( Though you need to bring these, the instructors strongly encourage you NOT to buy a pair just to attend the workshop, since they'll be telling you about the pros and cons of different styles. Try to borrow a pair from a friend or neighbor.)Sturdy bootsGloves (optional)Clothes appropriate to a full day in the woods--THIS IS A RAIN/SNOW OR SHINE COURSE! (If it's really cold, hand- and toe-warmers are great to have)Lunch and beveragesDrug- and alcohol-free bodyPositive attitude. Remember that you will be in a course with up to 9 other participants, all of whom will take turns with chainsaw practice. You will learn a great deal by watching and listening closely to other participants' chainsaw handling.There are no bathroom facilities, so be prepared to take care of business in the woods, following Leave No Trace practices. DIRECTIONS: 640 James Road in Lincoln, Vermont, is the approximate address of the Vermont Family Forests land, and you can use this address to get directions from Google Maps (let us know in advance if you need help getting directions). **When you turn onto James Road from Elder Hill Road, proceed 0.6 mile. PLEASE BE SURE TO DRIVE SLOWLY (15mph) THROUGH THE DEVELOPED AREA OF OUR NEIGHBOR'S LAND, which you'll encounter at about 0.4 miles. You'll see a new driveway to your right and will be parking there. CANCELLATION AND REFUND POLICY: Please note our refund policy! You may cancel your registration up one week prior to the workshop date and receive a full refund, less a $30 administrative fee. You also have the option, during that time period, to shift your registration fee to our next offering of the course for no administrative fee. If you cancel less than one week prior to the workshop, your fee is not eligible for refund, unless we have someone on the waiting list who is available to fill your space, in which case you will receive a full refund, less a $30 administrative fee (or you can shift your registration to our next offering of the course). Game of Logging courses are held rain or shine. In the rare event that a workshop is cancelled due to extreme weather conditions, participants will receive a full refund of their registration fee. The Game of Logging training program combines Scandinavian logging techniques with the latest systems for working safely around trees. We cannot overstate the value of these courses. We have participants who’ve used chainsaws for 30 years prior to taking GOL Level I say that the course changed the way they work in the woods.    The Game of Logging courses must be taken in sequence (even if you have chainsaw experience, you must begin with Level I).   Level 1. Precision Felling Techniques.This workshop introduces safe and accurate open-face felling. Topics include personal protective equipment, chainsaw safety features, chainsaw reactive forces, bore cutting, pre-planning the fell, and understanding hinge wood strength. 8AM-4:00PM one-day course. Maximum 10 participants.    Level 2. Maximizing Saw Performance.The morning portion of this workshop focuses on maximizing chainsaw performance through basic maintenance and filing techniques. In the afternoon woods portion of the workshop, you'll learn limbing and bucking techniques and spring pole cutting, and will practice more tree felling. 8AM-4:00PM one-day course. Maximum 10 participants.   Level 3: Limbing, Bucking, and Difficult Trees.This workshop training includes dealing with lean when felling trees; limbing and bucking downed trees; and felling difficult and hung-up trees. 8AM-4:00PM one-day course. Maximum 10 participants.    Level 4 for Landowners or Storm Damage Training: Safe technques for working with trees under extreme compression/tension or damage due to wind-throw, ice damage, flooding, etc., where stems may be tangled, have root systems exposed, or other hazardous situations that need to be removed. Students must have completed GOL Levels 1-3 prior to attending this class.   Vermont Family Forests' Game of Logging chainsaw training courses are taught by the outstanding instructors from Northeast Woodland Training. Visit their website (www.woodlandtraining.com) for detailed course descriptions.