14. March 2018 · Comments Off on Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute · Categories: Education

Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute

Apply to attend the 2018 Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute!

Where: Powell Ranger Station, Powell, Idaho

When: May 21, 2018 – May 25, 2018

What: A skills building opportunity for wilderness field staff.

How: Select a Track (1, 2, 3, 4 or 5) and a lodging option below and click on the Apply Now button to be taken to registration.

Deadline: The application period will close April 9, 2018 at 5:00 pm Mountain Daylight Time.

Questions: Contact Jimmy Gaudry or Heather MacSlarrow with questions.

APPLY NOW

The Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute is for agency staff and partner organizations that work in wilderness.  This week long course offers five levels of training, with plenty of time for networking and growing community in between.

Tracks

The Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute offers 5 tracks, based on your level of experience and the skills you would like to gain.  Due to limited capacity, not every applicant may be able to attend their first choice Track.  Therefore, during the application process, you will identify your top two choices for which Track you would like to be in.  PLEASE NOTE the required pre-requisites for each track, and be prepared to furnish the appropriate documents and certifications when asked.  Information about each Track is as follows:

TRACK ONE:  Advanced Crosscut Saw and Axemanship; and Crosscut Saw and Axe Train the Trainer Course

PRE-REQUISITE: Letter of recommendation from line officer (agency staff) or direct supervisor (partner organizations).

Participants will learn policy, vernacular, OSHA requirements, delegations and designations as well as other requirements for navigating saw policy.  They will also learn about the new curriculum, new teaching aids, new methodologies and processes for saw training (1/2 day).  There will then be a field focus on axemanship, complex and precision falling, OHLEC, complex bucking, removing hung trees (with and without rigging) and following the new education methodology (1.5 days).  The newly certified educators will the put on a class for new sawyers (2 days).

TRACK TWO: Crosscut Saw B Bucking and First Aid/CPR

PRE-REQUISITE: None.

This session is focused on gaining the qualifications needed to be a crosscut saw B bucker.  Participants will also learn basic wilderness stewardship principles, leave no trace, horsemanship, and trail maintenance techniques.

The first aid/cpr session will provide participants with basic first aid and CPR skills required to work with a crosscut saw. 

The A/B Crosscut Certification Course provides students with both classroom-based instruction and field experience in the use of the crosscut saws and axes. Students will learn how to safely utilize these tools in a trail maintenance capacity. The course will cover tool history, best practices in the field, one-on-one instruction in tool use in the field, tool care, safety, and transportation of the tools. Successful completion of this course is required to use these tools on national forest lands while participating in stewardship efforts.

Participants will also learn/review basic wilderness stewardship principles, leave no trace, horsemanship, and trail maintenance techniques. 

This is a field based course so come with appropriate outdoor gear and a sack lunch both days.  If you have a favorite set of tools please bring those as well.

TRACK THREE: Crosscut Saw B Bucking and Basic Trail Maintenance

PRE-REQUISITE: First Aid/CPR Card.

This session is focused on gaining the qualifications needed to be a crosscut saw B bucker.  Participants will also learn basic wilderness stewardship principles, leave no trace, horsemanship, and trail maintenance techniques.

The basic trail maintenance session will provide…

The A/B Crosscut Certification Course provides students with both classroom-based instruction and field experience in the use of the crosscut saws and axes. Students will learn how to safely utilize these tools in a trail maintenance capacity. The course will cover tool history, best practices in the field, one-on-one instruction in tool use in the field, tool care, safety, and transportation of the tools. Successful completion of this course is required to use these tools on national forest lands while participating in stewardship efforts.

Participants will also learn/review basic wilderness stewardship principles, leave no trace, horsemanship, and trail maintenance techniques. 

This is a field based course so come with appropriate outdoor gear and a sack lunch both days.  If you have a favorite set of tools please bring those as well. 

TRACK FOUR: Beginner/Intermediate Wilderness Stewardship

PRE-REQUISITE: None.

This session will focus on the skills needed to be a wilderness ranger.  It will provide learning and engagement opportunities for a beginner to intermediate participants.  This session will include fundamentals related to the wilderness act and wilderness character monitoring.  Basic wilderness stewardship principles, roles of the wilderness ranger, making public contacts, backpacking skills, leave no trace, horsemanship, and trail maintenance techniques will also be a part of the session. 

TRACK FIVE:  Intermediate/Advanced Wilderness Stewardship

PRE-REQUISITE: None.

This session will focus on the skills needed to be a wilderness ranger.  It will provide learning opportunities for the intermediate/advanced participants.  A deeper dive into wilderness policy and law, wilderness stewardship performance, and wilderness character monitoring will be included.  It will also allow participants to take on thought provoking topics related to emerging issues, volunteer project management, and minimum requirements decision guides.  Since this is a more advanced session the participants may be asked to lead a session or discussion. 

Lodging

There are two types of lodging available – tent camping (nestled amongst the pines and under the stars on the banks of the Wild and Scenic Lochsa River), or indoor bunkhouse style lodging.  There are a limited number of indoor spaces.  Please state your preference when submitting your application, and tell us about any special accomodations you may need.

Food

Food is not provided.  It will be up to each participant or participant group to furnish their own food.  There is limited indoor cooking space, as well as outside areas suitable for camp stoves, grills, and fires.

What to Bring, How to Get There, and More Information

An informational packet will be mailed to all participants at least two weeks prior to the start of the Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute that lines out what to bring, how to get to training, and more important information.

Timeline

Application Period: March 9, 2018 – April 9, 2018

Application Review: April 9, 2018 – April 22, 2018

Applicant Notification: April 23, 2018

Informational Packet E-Mailed to Participants: May 7, 2018

Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute: May 21, 2018 – May 25, 2018

APPLY NOW

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Subject: Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute – Applications Due by April 9

Please share with employees and partners.  See link for more information.

The Northern Region will host the Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute (NRWSI) in cooperation with partners from across the Region. The dates for the NRWSI will be May 21 – 25, and it will be held at the historic Powell Ranger Station in Powell, Idaho.

This training is open to all Forest Service employees and partners. There may be a need to limit the number of participants in each session. Applying early is highly encouraged.

Applications may be submitted until April 9, 2018. A description of the sessions are offered along with application information can be found at Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute.

For information concerning the NRWSI, contact Jimmy Gaudry at jcgaudry@fs.fed.us, Kent Wellner at kwellner@fs.fed.us, or Joni Packard at jpackard@fs.fed.us.

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