This past weekend we hosted our annual spring Game of Logging workshop at NorthWoods. The Game of Logging (GOL) is a chainsaw skills and safety training curriculum developed in the 1960s by Swedish logger and instructor Soren Eriksson, focusing on small hands-on group learning and friendly competition to instill successful chainsaw techniques, felling strategies and safety practices. GOL is one of the most popular adult workshops we host, with multiple yearly workshops nearly always selling out well in advance of the event.
GOL can only be taught by certified instructors, and in our region, we are lucky to enjoy the expertise of our friend David Birdsall, co-owner and instructor at Northeast Woodland Training who has been leading classes in forestry with us since the days of our founding as the Vermont Leadership Center.
The full GOL course consists of four days and levels of instruction. Since a full day is needed for each class level, we usually offer GOL as a combo weekend of Levels 1/2 or Levels 3/4. This past weekend we hosted levels 1 /2 , easily the the most popular. These levels cover an overview of chain saw safety and basic tree felling practice and includes basic saw maintenance and sharpening techniques. Take a look at the gallery to see this weekend’s participants learning with Dave in our red pine plantation.
Interested in Game of Logging? We will be offering all four levels over two weekends in September 2018. A great opportunity for the ultimate full GOL course. Or, if you’ve already completed 1 and 2, join us for levels 3 and 4 to learn how to tackle challenging trees, forest hazards, limbing, bucking, winching, rope use and harvest planning. Cost is $180/level, and remember to book early by emailing forestry@northwoodscenter.org. Thanks!
