Submitted by the San Juan Islands Conservation District.

Interested in sharpening your chainsaw skills to help with all those projects around the property? The San Juan Islands Conservation District is offering Chainsaw Skills Training Courses on Lopez, San Juan and Orcas this April, providing hands-on training in safe and effective chainsaw operation. Learn more and sign up online at www.sanjuanislandscd.org/chainsaw.

The course is designed for San Juan County landowners and residents who have access to their own chainsaw but might not consider themselves experts in the dangerous trade. This course will teach essential skills for using saws for general property maintenance and preparedness with an eye toward wildfire mitigation and overall forest health strategies. Every participant who chooses will be able to test their skills in felling at least one tree before the course is over.

The course is led by Rich Harvey, a fourth-generation logger, firefighter and experienced instructor. With decades of experience in forestry and fire response, Harvey brings invaluable expertise to help participants build confidence and competence in chainsaw handling, maintenance and safe cutting techniques.

Courses will be held April 5-6 on Lopez Island, April 12-13 on San Juan Island and April 26-27 on Orcas Island, from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The cost is $100 per participant, with all proceeds benefiting the San Juan Islands Youth Conservation Corps. Scholarships are available. Limited to 15 participants per island so early registration is encouraged.

The San Juan Islands Conservation District is dedicated to forest health and wildfire preparedness in the islands. Since 1947, the District has worked with local landowners in a non-regulatory approach to improve natural resource conditions, agricultural viability and habitat for fish and wildlife on private and public lands. More information about our programs and services is available online at www.sanjuanislandscd.org. Funding to support this course is provided by the Washington State Conservation Commission and the Climate Commitment Act. The CCA puts cap-and-invest dollars to work, reducing climate pollution, creating jobs and improving public health. Information about the CCA is available at www.climate.wa.gov.