The day begins in the classroom

Class sizes are intentionally small to encourage students to participate and to ask questions, and to maximize the students? learning potential.

Dave presents material on a variety of topics such as:

the components of a chainsaw; its operation, safe handling, and maintenance (the latter includes easy-to-perform tasks that will maximize a chainsaw?s life and prevent unnecessary replacement of chains and chain-bars); its use to perform limbing, bucking, and felling; key concepts such as compression and tension that dictate how a limb, under pressure, reacts when cut; a selection of industry-accepted notching cuts that can be used to direct the fall of a tree in both urban and forest settings; and high-risk situations a chainsaw user may encounter and the extra precautions that must be taken to avoid injury or death.

Dave is a powerful speaker and a charismatic instructor whose knowledge of chainsaw use in a wide variety of situations becomes increasingly apparent as the classroom session progresses. Whether you?re a novice to chainsaw use or a seasoned chainsaw user with old, established habits, you will learn valuable material. Even those with 30 years of experience using a chainsaw have commented on the refresher-value of Dave?s course and the tips and suggestions he offers.

Dave explains important concepts to the class

Each student is given a workbook that is useful as a reference after the class is over. The workbook contains the material Dave presents with additional supporting detail

The material in the workbook is easy to read. Here, students study the type of cuts they?ll be expected to make on the bolts of wood Dave has prepared

Students get an up-close opportunity to learn see what happens to a chain when it?s improperly used

Next, the students move outside