The Forest and Wood Products Institute

Seminars and Workshops

The Forest and Wood Products Institute provides workshops on topics of interest to the wood products industry.

Game of Logging in MA

Hands-On Chainsaw Training

THE GAME OF LOGGING is the premier chainsaw training program in the United States, training hundreds of professional saw users each year.  The same program that teaches the pros is now available for forest landowners, firewood users, Tree Farmers, and other occasional saw users.  This program will increase your knowledge of and comfort with the chainsaw, and it will increase your proficiency and safety. 

THE GAME OF LOGGING is a unique, hands-on course, utilizing a competitive response technique to engage, focus, and inspire the student.  During the training all participants get to practice the skills taught and receive valuable input from our professional trainer.

THE GAME OF LOGGING is composed of 4 levels of training. Each level is a full day and they must be taken in order (i.e. you must complete Level 1 before taking Level 2).

LEVEL 1:
        Personal protective equipment
        Daily safety checks
        Reactive forces
        How to correctly sharpen the chain
        Using your saw to reduce fatigue and increase efficiency
        Notching and "bore cutting" practice on a prepared stump
        How to use the five-point felling plan to safely fell trees
        Scoring the stump
        Hands-on felling practice

LEVEL 2:
        Routine maintenance to keep your saw in top condition
        Carburetor tune-up
        How to correctly sharpen the chain (review)
        Safely dealing with common hazards
        Review of felling and bore cutting
        Hands-on felling practice

LEVEL 3:
        Dealing with lean/Using the Pro-Sight Card
        Limbing plan
        Bucking and limbing cuts
        Felling difficult trees
        Hands-on felling practice

LEVEL 4:
        Putting it all together
        Course Review
        Job planning and skidding options
         Felling multiple trees at working speed

INSTRUCTOR: William Girard. Bill has been working in the woods for 34 years. He runs an integrated operation, logging as well as performing residential tree work and land clearing, and he also operates a portable sawmill.  Bill has provided Game of Logging training since 2001.

We have no classes scheduled at this time.

All classes begin at 8 AM.  Classes are limited to ten people on a first-come, first-served basis.

Participants must bring: Hard hat, Eye & ear protection, Chaps*, Chainsaw *, Boots, Beverages & lunch.
(* We can provide these if you cannot.)

Registration Fee: $175.00 per person per level or $600.00 per person for all 4 levels with your pre-registration and payment (a $100 savings).

This program is provided by the Forest and Wood Products Institute at Mount Wachusett Community College with the assistance of the Massachusetts Dept. of Conservation and Recreation.

Registration Form (PDF)

return to top