Join a hands-on course to learn safe operation of chainsaws with fourth-generation logger, firefighter, and experienced chainsaw safety instructor, Rich Harvey. The three course offerings will be held throughout April on San Juan, Lopez and Orcas islands. Course participants limited to first 15 sign ups per island.

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When & Where: 9am to 4:30pm

​April 5+6: Midnight's Farm, Lopez Island

April 12+13:  Mount Grant Preserve, San Juan Island

April 26+27: Camp Four Winds, Orcas Island

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Cost: $100 which will directly to the Youth Conservation Corps summer 2025 program. Scholarships available. 

 

Equipment: Please be prepared to provide a personal chainsaw, full PPE (leg protection, safety glasses/ eye pro, ear protection, appropriate footwear) and a bagged lunch. A limited supply of some equipment may be loaned and should be coordinated prior to the course with Julie Curtis at Julie@sjicd.org. 

 

Instructor: Rich Harvey

Orcas-based logger and firefighter Rich Harvey has been working with timber and firewood production for over thirty years, continuing a family tradition in the logging industry for four generations. Since 1999 he has been a firefighter with Orcas Fire Department, where he has served as a firefighter and Lieutenant he has been an instructor for many recruit classes. He has served with DNR as a Wildland Firefighter/ Engine lead and for several fire seasons performing contract wildland firefighting. Rich is currently a Lead Faller for Mountain West Wildfire, LLC  where he is deployed on wildland fires and a lead instructor for classes taught to fire departments and municipalities. Rich has led several NCCC AmeriCorps teams in forest health and improvement projects, taught Timber falling classes for Art of Felling Timber in Oregon, and chainsaw safety classes for the public locally. Rich is a natural born instructor and professionally runs a logging, tree care and excavation company since 2006.

 

Course Syllabus

Day 1

9:00am Start time

• 9- 9:45am- Introductions and class layout

• 9:45-11am PPE and how it works, safety briefs,  stance and handling, starting the chainsaw

• 11-11:15am Coffee snack break

• 11:15--1230 Chainsaw break down, (this also allows us to safety inspect the saws)

• 1230-1:00 working lunch

• 1:00-4:30 safe chainsaw operations, teaching and participation in limbing and bucking, trade craft to increase productivity and safety

Day 2

9:00am Start time

• 9:00- 9:30am review of day, Q & A

• 9:30- 10:30 introduction to tree felling: Handouts, whiteboard, demonstration tree

• 10:30-10:45 coffee and snack break

• 10:45-12:30 Felling with 2 teams at a time. Other participants can watch or continue to practice limbing and bucking depending on the site

• 12:30-1:00 Lunch

• 1:00-3:30 felling, limbing and bucking operations

• 4:00-4:30 end of the class review

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Questions may be directed to Communications Coordinator Julie Curtis via email at Julie@sjicd.org or phone at (360) 378- 6621 ext. 2.