Chainsaw Instructor Certification

Dennis Helton, retired USFS Instructor
Monday, March 14, 8 AM - 6 PM & Tuesday, March 15, 8 AM - 12:30 PM
One and one half day outdoor workshop
Location: Meet on Day 1 in the Foxfire II Room at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

In the afternoon and on Day 2 we will meet in the Crowne Plaza lobby,

then carpool to the workshop site.

The Session

Chainsaw work clearing downfall and storm damage is regularly handled by trail volunteers due to a lack of in house capacity by many land managing agencies. There seems to always be however a shortage of available classes to certify chainsaw operators wanting to work on public lands. This 1 and 1/2 day workshop is offered at the PTBA Conference to help address this need.

Upon successful completion of this course and passing various tests, attendees of this important workshop will be certified as Chainsaw Instructors and be available to offer regular chainsaw certification courses as needed. Certification in this Instructors Course is strictly performance based. Prerequisite requirements are current USFS Chainsaw Operator Certification (or equivalent) or a very high level of competence and confidence in all aspects of chainsaw operations.

This workshop will help instructor candidates develop classroom and field teaching skills to be used in conducting chainsaw training. Candidates will be allowed to explain and demonstrate proper safety equipment, safe chain saw use, situation awareness, size-up, cutting or felling plan.

Though not a requirement of this certification, it is however highly recommended that all candidates also stay post conference and help with the Chainsaw Operators Certification Course being offered as part of the PTBA Conference. This will give an immediate opportunity to put your new teaching skills to work while still under the watchful eye of an instructor with many years of experience.

All workshop attendees should bring good work clothes and required PPE (helmet, hearing protection, leather work gloves, eye protection, long sleeve work shirt and leather work boots 7” tall). If you want to bring your own chain saw to work with, please do. Some chainsaws (and limited PPE) will be provided.

The Presenter

Dennis Helton- retired USFS instructor. Dennis is known far and wide as one of the best chainsaw instructors in the SE and we are pleased to have him present at the PTBA Conference.

When and Where

Monday March 14, 8 am -6 pm & Tuesday March 15, 8 am -12:30 pm.

Our group will meet on Monday morning in the Foxfire II Room in the Crowne Plaza Hotel.  Transportation in the afternoon and on Day 2 will be via car pool.  Please let us know if you will or will not have a vehicle at the conference.

Fee
The cost will be $250 for early registration (through Feb. 25) and $275 after Feb. 25.   Fee includes lunches on both days.  Registration is on a first-come basis and is limited to 8 attendees.

For More Information
Contact: Dennis Helton at dshelton74@hotmail.com.