https://www.nifatrees.org/Calendar NIFA - Northwest Illinois Forestry Assn upcoming events NIFA - Northwest Illinois Forestry Assn Wild Apricot - membership management software and more en Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:06:57 GMT Thu, 23 Jul 2026 22:06:57 GMT Wed, 05 Aug 2026 17:00:00 GMT <p><img src="https://nifatrees.org/resources/Pictures/WoW%20Wednesday%20LL%20IG.png" alt="" title="" border="0"><br></p> https://nifatrees.org/event-6771532 https://nifatrees.org/event-6771532 Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT <p>Topics covered include personal protective equipment (PPE), chainsaw safety features, reactive forces, body mechanics, and situational awareness.&nbsp; Also, starting, operating, and moving with a chainsaw, planning and executing tree felling, limbing, and bucking, and basic chainsaw maintenance.&nbsp;</p> <p>Classes will be conducted by Luke Saunders, owner of Blue Heron Stewardship, LLC, Viroqua, WI.&nbsp; Mr. Saunders has been a SAWW certified chainsaw safety instructor for 12 years.&nbsp; He has a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration on Environmental Studies from St. Olaf College and a Masters in Forestry from UW-Madison. Blue Heron Stewardship also offers a range of restoration management services including custom timber felling, small scale timber harvests, and forest stand improvement.</p> https://nifatrees.org/event-6758766 https://nifatrees.org/event-6758766 Sat, 19 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT <p>Topics covered include personal protective equipment (PPE), chainsaw safety features, reactive forces, body mechanics, and situational awareness.&nbsp; Also, starting, operating, and moving with a chainsaw, planning and executing tree felling, limbing, and bucking, and basic chainsaw maintenance.&nbsp;</p> <p>Classes will be conducted by Luke Saunders, owner of Blue Heron Stewardship, LLC, Viroqua, WI.&nbsp; Mr. Saunders has been a SAWW certified chainsaw safety instructor for 12 years.&nbsp; He has a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration on Environmental Studies from St. Olaf College and a Masters in Forestry from UW-Madison. Blue Heron Stewardship also offers a range of restoration management services including custom timber felling, small scale timber harvests, and forest stand improvement.</p> https://nifatrees.org/event-6758766 https://nifatrees.org/event-6758766 Fri, 25 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT <p>For those with chain saw experience wishing to improve their skills and acquire safety instruction certification. The morning classroom session will introduce the SAWW curriculum, cover "Layers of Protection" including safety features of chainsaws, reactive forces and outline the cutting plan process. The afternoon session will be an outdoor hands-on practice session covering felling, limbing, and bucking.</p> <p>Day of class sign-in begins at 8:00 am with the indoor session starting at 8:30.&nbsp;Course will end at 4:30 pm.&nbsp; Bring your own lunch, chain saw, leather work boots, and gloves.&nbsp; If you have them, bring a safety helmet with face shield and hearing protection and chainsaw chaps.&nbsp; If you do not have any of the aforementioned, indicate so with registration/payment, and they will be provided or shared.</p> <p>About the Instructor</p> <p>Luke Saunders, owner of Blue Heron Stewardship, LLC, Viroqua, WI, has been a SAWW certified chainsaw safety instructor for 12 years. He has a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration on Environmental Studies from St. Olaf College and a Masters in Forestry from UW-Madison. Blue Heron Stewardship also offers a range of restoration management services including custom timber felling, small scale timber harvests, and forest stand improvement.</p> <p><br></p> https://nifatrees.org/event-6758768 https://nifatrees.org/event-6758768 Sat, 26 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT <p>Level 2 (must have completed Level 1). Indoor session will cover basic chainsaw maintenance and sharpening techniques. Outdoor session will continue hands-on practice, adding complexity, and building on information and exercises presented in Level 1.</p> <p>Day of class sign-in begins at 8:00 am with the indoor session starting at 8:30.&nbsp;Course will end at 4:30 pm.&nbsp; Bring your own lunch, chain saw, leather work boots, and gloves.&nbsp; If you have them, bring a safety helmet with face shield and hearing protection and chainsaw chaps.&nbsp; If you do not have any of the aforementioned, indicate so with registration/payment, and they will be provided or shared.</p> <p>About the Instructor</p> <p>Luke Saunders, owner of Blue Heron Stewardship, LLC, Viroqua, WI, has been a SAWW certified chainsaw safety instructor for 12 years. He has a B.A. in Political Science with a concentration on Environmental Studies from St. Olaf College and a Masters in Forestry from UW-Madison. Blue Heron Stewardship also offers a range of restoration management services including custom timber felling, small scale timber harvests, and forest stand improvement.</p> <p><br></p> https://nifatrees.org/event-6758775 https://nifatrees.org/event-6758775