High Cascades Forest Volunteers

Class Descriptions

First Aid - Allingham

Instructor: Lyndell Wilken

Time: 4 hours

Westfir only

Geared for wilderness environments, this class provides information on prevention, assessment and responding to emergencies including bleeding, strains, sprains, dislocations, fractures, heat and cold illness, bites, stings and other sudden illness.  Transporting of an injured or ill person will be addressed.  This is not a Red Cross certification class.  You will receive a Wilderness First Aid Card from the Forest Service after completing the 4 hour training  A three year renewal is advised.

Instructor:  Sue West

Time: 2 hours

Westfir only

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills will be learned and practiced.  A two year renewal is advised.

Instructors:  Instructor Pool

Time: 8 hrs

The Forest Service requires that each operator on every X-Cut saw is a certified sawyer. This session is for volunteers who do not have a card, but have substantial X-Cut saw experience in the field. The course includes a review of key X-Cut safety procedures and best practices for clearing trail effectively in challenging and potentially hazardous situations. The instructor will determine whether each sawyer is ready to receive certification at the A or B level. Class will be working to clear a trail. Hardhat required (will be provided if you do not have one); bring gloves, long sleeve shirt, eye protection, boots and saw if you have one.

Instructors: Instructor Pool

Time: 4 hrs  Westfir

Time: 4 hrs  Allingham

The Forest Service requires that each operator on every X-Cut saw is a certified sawyer. Required:  if you want to use power or X-Cut saws to clear trails. You must have a recertification card from a previous year to attend this class. Saw safety review and recertification time with instructor will be held in the field. Hardhat required (will be provided if you do not have one); bring gloves, long sleeve shirt, eye protection, boots and saw if you have one.  At Allingham the second four hours of the recertificaiton class on Saturday and Sunday will be devoted to trail projects intended to give participants training in advanced saw techniques and how logging out can be used to improve trail design.

Instructor(s): Forest Service

Time: 8 hrs

The Forest Service requires that each operator using chain saws is a certified sawyer. Required: You must have a certification card, if you want to use power saws to clear trails.  Saw safety review and certification time with instructor will be held in the field. Hardhat required (will be provided if you do not have one); bring gloves, chaps, long sleeve shirt, eye protection, boots and saw if you have one.

Instructor(s): Forest Service

Time: 4 hrs  Westfir

Time  4 hrs  Allingham

The Forest Service requires that each operator using chain saws is a certified sawyer. Required if you want to use power saws to clear trails. You must have a recertification card from a previous year. If you are a very experienced sawyer and do not have a card you may come to the class where instructors will evaluate your skill level for A or B card.  Saw safety review and recertification time with instructor will be held in the field. Hardhat required (will be provided if you do not have one); bring gloves, chaps, long sleeve shirt, eye protection, boots and saw if you have one. At Allingham the second four hours of the recertificaiton class on Saturday and Sunday will be devoted to trail projects intended to give participants training in advanced saw techniques and how logging out can be used to improve trail design.

Instructors: Instructor Pool

Time: 8 hrs.

Limit:16

Intended for those new to trail work who want to learn how to cut brush and small logs to help clear a trail to proper specifications. After discussion of general safety protocols, students learn about safe and effective use of hand saws and loppers. This class also includes how to complete an early-season trail survey to identify and report major problems, especially blown-down logs -- their numbers, locations and sizes.

The effects of water and gravity constantly threaten our trails and thus we must learn how best to deflect them.  This course begins with basics of hillside hydrology and how trails work when they shed water properly.  Includes introduction of “trail eyes” for recognizing tread erosion patterns.  Hands-on practice removing slough and berm, and effective cleaning and maintenance of existing water bars and drain dips.

Instructors: Instructor Pool

Time: 8 hrs

Limit:16

Instructors: Instructor Pool

Time: 4 hrs

Classroom only

Westfir Only

Intended for students who have already taken Saw Crew Training (103) and are interested in an orientation specifically to chainsaws, in preparation for a chainsaw certification class. The class will not use chainsaws in the field, but it will cover things you need to know if you’ve never handled a chainsaw before, including how they work and why they are potentially dangerous. Also included is a review of specialized safety equipment & clothing needed, and how to start saws safely. If time allows, we will disassemble a saw to clean and sharpen it.

Are you interested in helping certified sawyers to clear trails, but don't have much experience working with or around saws? Regardless if you aim to become a certified sawyer yourself, learning to be a saw crew member is an important place to start and takes know-how to do safely. This class provides field experience with crosscut saws & axes, but most of the principles are also applicable to chainsaws. Therefore, this class is the place to start, no matter what trail clearing tools you expect to use in the future. The session begins with an introduction to crosscut saws and axes of various types, and how they work. It then covers their safe and effective use, including a review of trail clearing specifications, safety equipment, the forces of tension and bind, and the practice of situational awareness. This class is an introduction; it does NOT provide saw certification, which is required for those who wish to be lead sawyers.

Instructors: Instructor Pool

Time: 8 hrs

Instr: Instructor Pool

Limit:16

Instructors: Instructor Pool

Time: 8 hrs

Limit:16

For curious trail workers who want to understand why so many trails are in bad shape because of how they were made. Learn how better design and layout makes trails more sustainable and less prone to erosion. Introduction to different trail design standards appropriate for different kinds of trails. This class is for anybody interested in these topics, but students with some trail building and maintenance experience will benefit the most.

Instructors: Instructor Pool

Time: 8 hrs

Limit:1

Westfir Only

Intended for someone who has taken 102 (Intro to Tread & Drainage) and/or has experience doing drainage work.  Learn how to design and locate effective drainage structures.  After a comprehensive explanation of hillside hydrology and how trails work when they shed water properly, this class shows students how to design and construct long, rolling drain dips as a way of reducing erosion on existing trails.

Intended for someone who has taken 201 (Drainage Design & Drain Dips) and/or has considerable experience doing drainage work.  Where earthen rolling drain dips are not feasible, drainage features are sometimes armored using rock or log.  Learn contemporary techniques to build water bars and checks with both rock and log. The class will include a review of outdated techniques, and how to convert “old school” waterbars to a more effective design.

Instructors: Molly Juillerat &

  Jenny Lippert

Time: 4 hrs

Limit: 20

Westfir only

Even in protected wilderness and recreation areas, invasive species can invade by hitchhiking on people, dogs, horses, bikes, wading boots and other gear. Once established, invasive species replace native flora, make the habitat inhospitable to wildlife, and can even change the way the ecosystem works. This workshop offers information on what species to look for, how to report them and preventative actions. The workshop, presented by Molly Juillerat and Jenny Lippert, botanists on the Willamette National Forest, will meet and carpool to Buckhead Wildlife Area. The field day includes witnessing some of the impacts of invaders, identifying and reporting them. Volunteers will also have the opportunity to sign up for weed pulls and to adopt trails to monitor for specific species.

Instructor:  Doug Jordan and                  Tyson Cross

Time: 4 hrs

Westfir only

This class is highly recommended for helping to survey trails and cleanup lake sites, and educate the public about trail and wilderness resources.  The class is designed to be an overview of duties, training and responsibilities for the jobs of surveying trail conditions, Adopt-A-Lake, Adopt-A-Trail, cleaning out wilderness lake campsites, making public contacts on the trail, or working as a Wilderness Trailhead Host.  Classroom time includes job descriptions for each project, recommended time commitments, and specific field examples provided by those who have already been out there, plus much more.  There will also be out-of-classroom activities designed to teach you the skills "hands on".  Bring gloves and wear work clothes.

Instructors: FS archaeologists and            Representative(s) from the

   Sand Mountain Society

Time: 7 hrs

Limit: 12

Not offered in 2011

If you are interested in learning about opportunities to help preserve Forest historic sites and structures, then this session is for YOU!  Help is needed to monitor historical sites and structures throughout the Willamette National Forest. This session provides information about the FS Heritage Stewardship program, as well as training in how to help monitor these sites and identify maintenance and preservation needs.  SMS is a volunteer organization that operates in partnership with the FS to rehabilitate and restore historic lookouts around the Region.

If weather effects access to fire lookouts participants will be going to accessible historic sites.  Some hiking may be required to reach some sites, and access may vary from easy to very difficult.  Other opportunities to volunteer in the Forest heritage program will also be addressed in this class. Participants should dress for the weather, wear sturdy hiking shoes or boots, and bring their own lunch and water.

Course 207 Wildland Restoration & Trail Decommissioning

Instructor:

Time: 4 hrs

Learn how to care for your tools and protective gear. Keeping tools sharp is critical for working efficiently and safely.  Session includes how to properly sharpen basic hand tools and why some others are not sharpened.

Other Classes

Saw Classes given at both venues

Trail Classes

Instructor:  LeeAnn Clarke

Time:  4 hours

Allingham only

Wilderness First Aid - Westfir

CPR - Westfir

Standard Red Cross First Aid class; this class provides information on prevention in addition to providing you with the basics of how to assess and respond to emergencies like bleeding, strains, sprains, dislocations, fractures, heat and cold illness, bites, stings and other sudden illness.  Required every three years..

X-Cut Certification

X-Cut Recertification

Chain Saw Certification

Chain Saw Recertification

Course 101  Opening the Trail -- How to Brush and Scout a Trail

Course 102  Tread and Drainage: Protecting Trails from Erosion

Course 103  Let’s Log Out! Basic Saw Crew Training

Course 104  Intro to Chainsaw for Prospective Sawyers (4 hours, classroom only)

Course 200  Basic Trail Design

Course 203  Drainage Remediation with Waterbars and Checks

Course 201  Drainage Design and Drain Dips

Invasive Weed Field Trip

Volunteer Ranger Program:  Surveying & Adopting Trails/Lakes, and Trail Patrols

Historic Site Stewardship -  Not offered in 2011

Course 107  Tool Maintenance

Instructor:   Mike Kinyon 

Time: 4 hrs

Westfir only

Course 205  Tread Re-Construction

This course goes beyond a triage approach (203, Drainage Remediation), because reconstruction indicates a more thorough restoration of damaged tread to ideal specifications. Review hillside hydrology and how trails should work. Practice systematic slough & berm removal. Learn to reconstruct tread after gullying, tread creep, nasty roots, and uprooted trees. (Pre-requisite: 201 and 203, or equivalent experience.)

Instructors: Instructor Pool

Time: 8 hrs

Limit:16

Course 300  Basic Rock Work

Instructors: Instructor Pool

Time: 8 hrs

Limit:16

Learn fundamentals of rock construction. Includes a strong emphasis on effective and safe use of rock bars the critical tool for all rock work. We’ll tackle basic rock placement techniques for walls or steps to last the ages.

Instructors: Instructor Pool

Time: 8 hrs

Limit:16

Course 304  Leadership:  Managing a Crew

For students with moderate to extensive trail building experience who want to lead trail crews and work parties. Not a construction techniques class; this is about effective leadership. Students will have classroom and field work in the following topics: Work Day Responsibilities; Risk Assessment and Safety; Tool Safety & Tool Talks; Leadership & Team Building; Practical Experience Leading Trail Crews

Course 400  Advanced Leadership:  Trail Analysis, Reconstruction Design, and Project Management

Instructors: Instructor Pool

Time: 8 hrs

Limit:16

Westfir Only

Determine the optimal fixes for various problems on a trail. Learn the steps for estimating time and materials, and setting up a work project. Learn about trail triage: how to prioritize and what techniques to use when total trail reconstruction to ideal specs is not an option. Understand environmental concerns and policies that may impact projects. Learn what to look for when scouting a trail and how/when to schedule work.

High Cascade Trails, cross water features of every conceivable size and type from seeps to cascades.  Because bridges are time consuming and expensive to build and maintain, the construction of simpler more durable structures is preferred.  Learn to build and maintain two to three of the following:  fords, stepping stones, culverts, French drains, armored swales, step down drains.  Participants should expect to get wet and muddy.  Recommended only after taking 201 through 204 and 300.

This project is an opportunity for you to spend time using your acquired training skills to work on dispersed campsites along the North Fork of the Willamette River on Aufderheide Dr., and Salt Creek along Rd. 24. Fire pits will need to be cleaned and eliminated as well as sites revitalized back to a clean area for visitors to enjoy.  You will need gloves, boots and long sleeve shirts. This is a great opportunity to help the Middle Fork Ranger District.

Instructors:

FS archaeologists:  Terry and Steve

Time: 8 hrs

Limit: 12

Westfir only

If you would like to learn more about local archaeology and some methods that professional archaeologists employ to locate, record, and protect archaeological sites, then you may enjoy this session!  

This is an opportunity to help FS archaeologists explore a nearby archaeological site through small-scale test excavations. Participants will learn precise excavation methods and the kinds of information that we can derive from artifacts recovered from the archaeological context.  You will also be able to learn what the archaeologist’s role is in the Forest Service and other volunteer opportunities in the Forest heritage program.  Class participants should dress appropriately for the weather, wear sturdy work shoes or boots, and bring their own lunch and water.

Archaeological Site Exploration

CPR - Allingham

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation skills will be learned and practiced.   American Heart Association cards will be issued, good for two years.

Instructor:  LeeAnn Clarke

Time:  2 hours

Allingham only

Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop- Leave No Trace awareness workshops are an interactive program that provide the necessary tools to enjoy the outdoors responsibly. Participants will explore the principles of Leave No Trace through hands-on, engaging activities. This program encourages people to define their personal outdoor ethic and make educated decisions in the outdoors that will protect the finite resources we all share and enjoy.  Leave No Trace not only inspires people to get outdoors, but more importantly, encourages the responsible enjoyment of lands used by the public for recreation and helps develop a sense of land stewardship.

Leave No Trace Awareness Workshop

Instructor:  Isaac Daniel

Time: 2 hrs

Westfir only

Instructors: Instructor Pool

Time: 8 hrs

Limit:16

Westfir Only

Course 398  Special Topics:  Climbing Turn Reconstruction

This special course will teach how to rebuild a difficult, problematic turn to be more user friendly and comply with trail engineering specifications.  It is problem and site specific, so it will involve a little of everything- digging in the dirt, moving of rock and logs, building retaining structures, and brushing.  Bring a clinometer if you have one.

Animal Tracks and Lore

Instructor:  Dave Walp

Time: 4 hrs

Westfir only

Trail work offers a chance to observe the signs of animals that live in the woods, and sometimes spot the animals themselves.  Learn more about them in this optional session with lifelong naturalist Dave Walp.  The session begins in the classroom with a discussion of regional wildlife habitat and sign, such as slides, cuttings, rubbings and scat.  Dave will bring animal furs, skulls, plaster casts and drawings and diagrams of tracks.  The session then moves outdoors for you to learn first hand about deer and elk, their predator's cougar and bear, and the animals that clean up after those predators, coyotes and bobcats.  You'll also learn to recognize the subtle signs of smaller animals such as pine marten and porcupine in the woods and mink, beaver and otter near lakes or rivers.                                                        

Equestrian Trail Assessment Training

Instructor:  Barry Krohn

Time: 2 hrs

Westfir Only

Keeping our trails open, takes more than just log-out.  Trails are naturally prone to erosion, and when erosion is not curtailed, trails leave a deep scar on the landscape and sediment in our streams.  Furthermore, badly eroded trails are no fun to ride, because of all of the exposed roots and rocks.  Because such trails take an enormous amount of resources to repair, agency trail managers are more likely to abandon and close them.

Learn how you can be part of the solution by developing a keen awareness of erosion patterns when they are just beginning.  If you can provide a detailed and accurate tread assessment to trail managers and volunteer coordinators, they are able to allocate work resources and stay on top of tread erosion problems before they become irrepairable.

We will begin with a historic look at the development of trails, to understand why trails look the way they do.  We will then move into a study of hydrological patterns on hillsides, and learn what an ideal trail looks like when it's shedding water properly.  Then we'll look at common erosion problems on trails, and how they can be prevented or repaired.

Intro to Stock Packing

Instructors:  Kim McCarrel and

                   Kit Dickey

Time: 8 hrs

Allingham and

Westfir

This class is designed for the person with little experience handling mules and horses.  The class will cover being able to read and understand the body language and physical signs of what the equine is telling you.  Topics will include: herd dynamics, when one animal doesn't like the company of another, what to look for when approaching an animal from the rear on the trail (look for the come ahead and stay back sign), and safe handling procedures on the trail.

Dispersed Site Clean-Up Project

Course 302  Drainage Crossings

Instructors: Instructor Pool

Time: 8 hrs

Limit:16

Learn how to decommission a campsite or section of trail so that it returns to nature without erosion.  If properly done, over time the old scars disappear, replaced by a soundly restored landscape.  Topics will include:  transplanting, seed collection, and rock placements.  There are no prerequisites for this class, though students should have interest in working with plants and be willing to get dirty.

Instructors: Instructor Pool

Time: 8 hrs

Limit:16

Course 100 Intro to Trail Work

This introductory sampler class is for people new to trail work who want an overview.  One quarter of the class covers "how trails work," i.e. basic trail design concepts; one quarter covers trail work safety protocols; one quarter covers hands-on brushing and hand-saw clearing; and one quarter covers hands-on drainage cleaning.  This sampler class does not prepare students to work independently.  Instead, students will understand a range of trail work tasks and have a good idea of what they want to do under a crew leader, or what class they want to take next.

Instructors: Instructor Pool

Time: 8 hrs.

Limit:16

Allingham Only

Instructors: Instructor Pool

Time: 8 hrs

Limit:16