Chainsaw Safety Classes

October 7, 2009—October 8, 2009 All-day event

The Kickapoo Woods Cooperative (KWC) and Kickapoo Valley Reserve (KVR) are offering Chainsaw Safety Level I and Level II on October 7 and 8 at the KVR near La Farge. The KWC regularly offers level 1 chainsaw safety training twice a year, usually in October and April, and you must have taken that class to be eligible to take the more advanced level two training.

The Level One class on October 7 will cover proper body mechanics in chainsaw use, personal protective equipment, tools necessary in safely felling trees and their use, proper saw maintenance including sharpening, considerations for felling a tree, releasing limbs and spring poles under pressure, and more, plus demonstrations of tree felling, limbing, bucking and topping. Participants will spend 4 hours indoors doing the classroom portion, take a one-hour break for lunch, then go into the woods for at least 2 hours of practical experience using the techniques.

Content of the Level Two class (October 8) builds on what was learned in the level 1 course. Participants will spend 2 hours indoors doing the classroom portion, focused mostly on proper saw maintenance including hands-on practice sharpening the saw and adjusting the carburetor. The remainder of the day will be spent in the woods to practice felling. The workshop will include techniques for releasing limbs and spring poles under pressure, working with wedges, evaluating side lean and improving target accuracy. Each participant will have opportunities to try these techniques with the instructor's feedback. It is generally recommended that the sawyer take the information and techniques from the level one class into the field and work with those elements awhile before taking the level two class. However, it is certainly possible to derive great benefits from taking both together as they are here offered, particularly for an experienced or professional sawyer.

Location: KVR Visitor Center
S3661 State Highway 131
La Farge, WI

Registration:

Price of the Level One class (max 15 students) is $60. Level Two ( max 10 students) costs $90. Enrollment is limited, so reserve your place soon. Pre-registration is required. Send your check or money order for full payment per registrant to Kickapoo Woods Cooperative, PO Box 71, La Farge WI 54639.

Participants are encouraged to bring chainsaws, safety equipment, lunch (or buy it in La Farge), and drinking water. Instructor for the class is Ken Lallemont, who has taught chainsaw safety for more than 15 years. He also worked as a logger for 20+ years.

Directions: The class will meet at the KVR Visitor Center one mile north of La Farge at S3661 State Highway 131.

For more information
The Kickapoo Woods Cooperative (KWC) and Kickapoo Valley Reserve (KVR)
Lila Marmel
608-624-5269
sunmoon@mwt.net

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