Submitted by the Economic Development Council.

People who want to make a living working with trees or forests are invited to a free, hands-on, outdoor course offered by the Economic Development Council of San Juan County. The course will be taught by Carson Sprenger, proprietor of Rain Shadow Consulting at their Orcas Island facilities, from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Saturdays Oct. 30-Nov. 20. The course is sponsored by a generous donation from the family of Walt Corbin and from the Kiwanis Club of Orcas Island.

Carson Sprenger has over 20 years of experience working in the forests of the San Juan Islands. The hands-on curriculum has been designed for job-seekers and career changers interested in working in tree care/tree service, forestry, or landscaping. These jobs remain in high demand in our rural communities.

The course will prepare students for an entry-level arborist position and is not intended for D.I.Y. home repairs. The class will cover tools of the trades, including ropes; keeping trees and forests healthy; safety; and the ins and outs of working in the industry. Students will not use chainsaws or fell trees in this class. Applicants must be 18 years old or older, residents of San Juan County, and participating in the course to gain job skills. The deadline to apply is October 15th, and space is limited.

To apply, please visit the EDC’s website at www.sanjuansedc.org/trades. For more information, email the EDC Trades Coordinator at mickey@sanjuansedc.org.

The EDC thanks Walt Corbin, his wife Gayle, and their family, for their support of skills training to help people obtain fulfilling work and their support of the environment. The EDC hopes this course honors Mr. Corbin’s legacy.

The EDC’s Trades Education Initiative is additionally supported by San Juan County; the Harvest Foundation; the Town of Friday Harbor; the Port of Friday Harbor. And other funders of the EDC’s Trades Training Initiative, including the United Way of San Juan County; the Washington State Dept. of Commerce; the Orcas Kiwanis; and other donors and grantors.

The San Juan County Economic Development Council strives to support small rural enterprises, and conduct projects to stimulate new job creation, strengthen the economic base for working families, and support the overall quality of life for islanders.