Sawyer Certification & First Aid - Suttle Lodge

April 20-22
Suttle Lodge
Sisters, OR
Friday, 10am - Sunday, 4pm
$425*
Register here

Read more about our stewardship efforts and these sawyer trainings in this recent article from the Bend Bulletin.

One of our greatest identified needs to improve the experience of trail users along the Oregon Timber Trail corridor is trail maintenance. A large part of that work involves removing downed trees each season. In order to do so safely and legally with power saws on National Forest managed lands one needs to obtain a certification. This certification is the same detailed S212 course that is used nationwide to certify USFS employees, fire fighters, and anyone using saws on public lands. In 2017 the Oregon Timber Trail Alliance helped train 20 new sawyers who subsequently contributed 534 hours of volunteer labor maintaining trails on pubic lands. Thank you!

The 2018 s212 sawyer course will consist of roughly a day of classroom instruction, and a day of field instruction and practice, culminating in a practical exam. The course is focused on beginner (A-level) sawyers and no experience is required. (though you must provide your own equipment, see below) The course covers much more than just running a chainsaw. It covers saw components, maintenance, and bucking techniques. It covers context and history, and the use of saws in NW forests. It addresses the many acute dangers of working in the forest around large complex situations. It covers types of binds, snag complexity, cutting and wedging techniques, and additional tools useful for working with fallen timber. It addresses working with groups in taxing conditions and making smart, informed, and safe assessments of risk.

The manual for this course can be found here and is full of valuable information.

If you are already a certified sawyer and would like to re-cert or advance to a different level, or if you are already First Aid CPR certified please email us.

A prerequisite to the s212 course is a current First Aid and CPR certification. We're happy to have our own Kim McCormack from the Cascade Training Center teaching this component with a focus on backcountry techniques and an additional Bleeding Control (BCON) certification.

Classroom and lodging will be at Suttle Lodge outside of Sisters, OR for Friday and Saturday nights. Meals are NOT included but there is food available on site from the Boathouse restaurant. Lodging is bunkhouse style so plan on sharing a rustic cabin

DAY 1: Convene at Suttle Lodge, introductions, paperwork, overview of goals. First aid, CPR, Bleeding control instruction and practice.

DAY 2: Sawyer course goals, saw overview, maintenance and other classroom subjects.

DAY 3: Travel to field for instruction and practice on risk assessment, saw use and cutting techniques. Practical exam and field evaluation.

This course provides:

A group learning environment in a natural setting
Opportunity to earn USFS s212 Sawyer certification
Opportunity to earn First Aid, CPR, BCON certification
Two nights lodging at Suttle Lodge

Students are expected to bring:

An attitude focused on learning and safety
Bedding for staying in the Suttle Lodge Rustic Cabins
Weather-appropriate clothing for hanging out in a cold, damp forest
A functioning chainsaw
Fuel and bar oil
USFS approved saw chaps
Boots 8" high
Work gloves
6-point helmet (not a bike helmet)
Ear protection
Eye protection
Long pants
Long-sleeved shirt

April 20-22, $425*, Register here

If cost is a barrier for you, sign up to our mailing list. We'll be announcing some scholarships for this event in February.

We're hosting two sawyer certification events in 2018, if these dates don't work for you check out our other event at Horse Creek Lodge, March 9-11.

* Your registration fee goes towards lodging, first aid/CPR instruction, coordination of the event, a weekend-long group learning environment, and helps advance the Oregon Timber Trail Alliance's mission. Your fees are not used for any instruction provided by federal employees or any component of the weekend that takes place on public lands.