Game of Logging–Trail Crew Saw Training | NorthWoods Stewardship Center

2025 Game of Logging–Trail Crew Saw Training | NorthWoods Stewardship Center

A collaboration between Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance, Northeast Woodlands Training, and NorthWoods Stewardship Center

Dates: Wednesday, May 14 and Thursday, May 15

Location: NorthWoods Stewardship Center, 154 Leadership Dr, East Charleston, VT 05833

Description: Are you a current paid staff member of an organization, business, or municipality who works to maintain trail infrastructure in Vermont and needs chainsaw training?

Trail Clearing and Storm Damage cleanup presents a very dangerous situation that is compounded by increasing frequency and severity of climate-related weather events. It is more dangerous than looking at a standing tree and predicting what needs to be done to get the tree down safely and accurately. The forces involved in trees that have been tipped over by wind can be hard to read and hence make a plan for. This hands-on training is meant to provide saw users several “tools for the toolbox” to be pulled out when they best seem to fit. This type of saw work is very dangerous. Keeping trails infrastructure free of downed trees and debris is key to the resiliency of our trail networks and communities. Professionalize, prepare, and protect your crew and/or self to meet this challenge head-on by learning the necessary skills to safely and efficiently clear blowdown messes.

The training curriculum is anchored in Northeast Woodland Training’s Game of Logging Levels 1-4 and has been modified by the organization’s lead instructor, David Birdsall, to provide only the most relevant content for trail maintainers in Vermont. Instruction will be provided by an expert instructor from NEWT.

Course Content:

• Saw Safety
• Intro Limbing and Bucking Techniques
• Maximizing Saw Performance
• Dealing with Storm Damaged Trees
• Intro to Mechanical Advantage Techniques

The training is organized by the Vermont Outdoor Business Alliance and funded by an Economic Development Administration – Travel, Tourism and Outdoor Recreation grant through the Vermont Department of Tourism and Marketing. The purpose of the grant is to professionalize and prepare VT’s trail working industry to be resilient in the face of climate change. The curriculum is designed by Northeast Woodlands Training and vetted by VT trail maintainers.

Other Details:

• Apply by 12pm Friday, May 2, 2025.
• Confirmation of acceptance will be emailed May 5 by 12pm EST.
• Please do not register if you cannot commit to full participation.
• Maximum class size is 10. There will be 1 instructor.
• Selected applicants must provide their own complete PPE (hard hat, eye+ear pro, chaps, work boots), working chainsaw, and a NEW chain.
• Each day will start at 8am and end around 4pm and be entirely outside. Dress accordingly.
• Lunch will not be provided, neither will a lunch break. Plan to bring your own lunch and eat when you can.

Cost:

Thanks to the grant funding mentioned above, VOBA and its partners are able to offer this unique training to the VT professional trail community for free so that it will be better prepared to address the challenges presented by severe weather events from climate change.

Eligibility:

• Priority will be given to folks currently working paid trail jobs for VT employers.
• Priority will be given to under-represented communities in the occupation in Vermont (women, BIPOC, LGBTQ, New Americans, persons of all abilities, etc.).

If you have any questions, please email Brian or Kelly at blamoureux@gmscllc.com or kelly@vermontoutdoorbusinessalliance.com.