CANCELLED: TKO Saw School – Saw Training and Certification Course

Crew Leaders: Vito P. Pat K. Guy H.

Work Description:  First Day: 4 hrs classroom (AM); 4 hrs field instruction (PM); Second Day: 2 hrs classroom review; 4 hrs Saw Certification

Land Manager: USFS

District: Zig Zag RD

In the days of C-19 we ask for a little more experience leading into your first volunteer event. Since we’ve added mitigations of risk around physical distancing, our volunteer leaders are not as able to hover about and answer hands-on questions throughout the trail party. And if an emergency does develop, we need our participants to be even more aware of our safety procedures. Don’t worry, trailkeeping is for everybody and we made it easy to get going.

Click here to learn what you need to know before registering for this event.

Initial Crosscut Saw Bucking Certification (2 days): Every crosscut saw operator team leader must be certified to ensure safe and quality work. This session is for volunteers who do not have a USFS certification card, but have demonstrated crosscut saw “hands-on” experience with a crosscut saw. The course will cover key crosscut safety procedures and best practices for clearing trail effectively in challenging and potentially hazardous situations. Day one is primarily classroom, and day two is mostly field evaluation. Candidates typically receive an “A” level certification. Candidates who demonstrate extensive skill and leadership with considerable saw experience may receive “B” level certification.

Crosscut Saw Re-Certification (6 hours): A safety and skills refresher and re-certification test to ensure safe sawing habits, up-grade techniques, and provide the opportunity for a higher level of certification.

A current First Aid and CPR certification is required for a saw certification to be valid. TKO staff and volunteers cannot use crosscut saws unless they hold a recognized and valid sawyer certification, first aid, and CPR card unless they are working with a B-certified USFS sawyer. After completing your online application, applicants will be required to forward or upload photocopies of their First Aid and CPR certifications. A USFS National Sawyer Certification card will not be issued without copies of these certification cards.

Note: Please bring good gloves, safety glasses, hard hats, face coverings, and hand-sanitizer- all your new normal trail work PPE. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, TKO cannot provide any of this equipment.

Potential cancellation: We will not work in the field if the weather is not safe for our team. 

What to bring:

• Lunch
• Plenty of water
• Snacks
• Gloves, Safety Glasses, Hard Hat

What to wear:

• Boots (Please wear something sturdy that will protect your toes from sharp tools. Boots must cover your ankles. No tennis shoes allowed.)
• Work gloves
• A long-sleeved shirt is a requirement
• Long pants are required
• Rain gear as appropriate for the weather

Support the MHKC organization with a donation!

2020 has been a difficult year for MHKC. For over 85 years, Mt. Hood Kiwanis Camp (MHKC) has offered incredible outdoor recreational programming for campers with developmental, intellectual, and physical disabilities at its fully accessible 22-acre campsite . Consider a donation to help the camp through this difficult period!

Questions?

Please contact Guy Hamblen at guy.hamblen@trailkeepersoforegon.org  Send me an email if you want to join our waitlist for this workshop.

Directions:  Mt Hood Kiwanis Camp,  https://www.google.com/maps/place/Mt+Hood+Kiwanis+Camp/@45.3097147,-121.856898,13.61z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x54950c98a3d4f893:0xcfd7b5618a762071!8m2!3d45.3133027!4d-121.8037785

LAND ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: TKO recognizes that the trails we work on travel through the traditional lands of many Indigenous tribes. In every corner of what we now call Oregon, these people were forced to cede their land, their home, to the US government at various times from 1853 – 1871. We are privileged to be here today & express gratitude to the descendants of these tribes for being the original stewards of this land.

EQUITY & INCLUSION: TKO seeks to make Oregon’s trails a place where people can go to connect with nature & one another. Not everyone feels safe & welcome in the outdoors due to racism, bias & hate. We commit to being part of the solution to change that. Conduct, speech, or expressions that target individuals or groups will not be tolerated by TKO, regardless of whether they are based on age, citizenship, disability, ethnicity, gender identity/expression, geographic origin, language, marital status, nationality, race, religion, sexual orientation, or socioeconomic status.

PERSONAL SAFETY: Your physical & emotional safety is our number one priority. If a person’s actions or comments make you feel uncomfortable/unsafe – interrupt directly, tell a crew leader &/or complete the post-event survey.