The 2024 Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute will be held from May 20 – 24, 2024. It will start at 11 AM PT on Monday and conclude at 12 PM PT on Friday. To allow for flexibility in sessions this year you are allowed to register for one session on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday and one session on Thursday and Friday. You must register for two sessions and stay for the entire week. The exception to this will be the Advanced Crosscut Saw and Axe Train the Trainer and Advanced Trail Maintenance courses because they are week-long sessions.
COST: There is no cost to attend.
FOOD: On your own – no food provided. Participants will handle their own meals. Cooking facilities may be provided – more information will be provided ahead of the event.
APPLY HERE- REGISTRATION CLOSED APRIL 15TH.
ATTENDANCE PREREQUISITE:
- Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training class “Wilderness Act of 1964” online class – The Wilderness Act of 1964 – Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center (iu.edu)
This online course is recommended to be taken before attending the Northern Rockies Wilderness Skills Institute but is optional. This is a free class, which includes reading short narratives, listening to audio, interactive graphics, and quizzes. The purpose of The Wilderness Act of 1964 course is to acquaint you with the contents of this law and equip you to consider its impact in managing a wilderness area; this is foundational material relevant to everyone working in wilderness stewardship. We have designed the sessions at the Wilderness Skills Institute assuming you have already taken this class and have learned this foundational material. Feedback from past students has shown that most people prefer to take this class on their own before the full session, so that they can go at their own pace and have time to reflect on what they learned. The average time it takes students is 2.5 hours. You can stop and start the class anytime you want – you don’t have to take it all at once. Once at the Wilderness Skills Institute, please be prepared to discuss what you learned from the class, what surprised you, and what was the most important thing you got from the curriculum.
SCHEDULE:
*Options 1+2 of the Field Leadership Development and Defensive Horsemanship courses are the same and will cover the same material.
MONDAY-TUESDAY-WEDNESDAY SESSIONS:
- Field Leadership Development
Lead Instructor: Colter Pence- Participants will gain knowledge of and practice using tools and philosophies which will aid them in communicating with others, engaging in problem solving, and handling conflict while in a field-based leadership setting. Participants will be asked to practice and use the knowledge and perspectives gained in this session through exercises, activities, and self-reflection. After engaging in this session, participants will feel empowered to fulfill leadership roles in their field work.
- Target participants are emerging field leaders, those who are leading field crews and/or are in situations to fill in or support other leaders. Also encouraged to apply are those who have participated in NRWSI sessions in previous years and/or have been recruited to be an instructor supporting another track this year and are ripe for interpersonal development.
- Upon completion of this lesson, participants will:
- Learn about various communication tools which they can use as field leaders.
- Understand how to use different leadership styles in different situations.
- Learn how to deliver Leader’s Intent, Field Briefings, and After-Action Reviews.
- Have practiced some of the techniques and tools shared with them and be able to share these techniques and tools with others.
- Class size will be limited.
- Wilderness and Trails Foundations
Lead Instructors: Josh Page, Ian Bartling, Jacob Long- This session focuses on the basic skills and concepts needed to be a successful wilderness ranger in the field. It will cover an introduction to the Wilderness Act, provide an overview of the many traditional tools and their uses for wilderness trail maintenance, cover the specifications to which trail maintenance is done on USFS lands, and touch on different ways this work is performed. Attendees will have a greater understanding of how and why we monitor solitude and campsites in wilderness, and what methods we use. Some trail skills that will be highlighted include brushing, basic tread work, erosion and water management (water bars and drains), and proper corridor specifications. This course will include a mixture of indoor sessions coupled with time in the field to reinforce concepts covered in class.
- Dress for the weather. Some lessons are taught outside as wilderness intended. We will be outside rain, shine, snow, hail, sleet, cats and dogs, whatever gets thrown at us!
- Upon completion of this lesson, participants will:
- Understand and be familiar with the Wilderness Act and wilderness character.
- Become knowledgeable in common trail maintenance tools and their intended use (focus and emphasis will be on tools besides the crosscut saw and ax).
- Become familiar with annual maintenance and trail corridor specifications, as set by the U.S. Forest Service.
- Understand how to properly conduct campsite and solitude monitoring as well as follow up reporting.
- Class size may be limited.
- Wilderness/Backcountry First Aid
Lead Instructor: Aerie Backcountry Medicine- This three-day Wilderness First Aid/CPR/AED course will cover the basics of wilderness and backcountry medical treatment and rescue. This 16-hour course is designed for students who have little or no experience in first aid or wilderness medicine. It is well suited for individuals who are responsible for friends and family while in the backcountry as well as professional guides. The course is designed with scenarios at the heart of the learning experience. We emphasize hands-on practice of skills and assessments of patients.
- The course covers basic emergency medicine topics such as airway management, breathing emergencies, circulatory problems, and environmental concerns. We include common medical emergencies such as diabetes, seizures, asthma, and anaphylaxis. We emphasize trauma with in-depth discussions and hands-on training with splinting, bleeding control, and wound management. We also discuss legalities within wilderness medicine and SOAP note documentation. Along with basic medical and trauma concerns we discuss how these emergencies can be addressed in a wilderness environment. This includes topics such as evacuation, litter construction, backcountry communications, and decision-making.
- This three-day Wilderness First Aid/CPR/AED course will cover the basics of wilderness and backcountry medical treatment and rescue. This course is NOT a Wilderness First Responder course which is an 80-hour course. A Wilderness First Aid certification is valid for 2 years. After your certification expires you simply need to retake the class to renew.
- Maximum Group Size: 24
- Defensive Horsemanship
Lead Instructor: Robin Connell- The Basic Horsemanship class will result in participants being certified for 8 hours of required horsemanship training. The course will review the basics of horsemanship and provide an excellent refresher for those with more experience. The course will be field-based and hands-on, so be prepared for field work. Please dress accordingly and be prepared for cold, wet, North Idaho spring weather!
- The course will include a short classroom introduction covering the course objectives of how to effectively work with and around stock in a safe manner. This indoor session will include a discussion on equine psychology and how to work safely with horses and mules. Following this short indoor orientation, the remainder of the class will be a hands-on demonstration at the Powell barn. Outdoor topics include catching, tying, grooming, saddling, bridling, mounting, riding, feeding, and camping with stock. The remainder of the class will focus on packing and handling skills.
- This course will provide a brief review of the basics of horsemanship, trailering, working with ropes, knot-tying, skills for assisting packers, packing skills pertinent to loading animals, and preparing gear to be packed in. The course will be hands-on and field oriented.
- Class size may be limited.
THURSDAY-FRIDAY SESSIONS:
- Field Leadership Development
- Lead Instructor: Colter Pence
- Participants will gain knowledge of and practice using tools and philosophies which will aid them in communicating with others, engaging in problem solving, and handling conflict while in a field-based leadership setting. Participants will be asked to practice and use the knowledge and perspectives gained in this session through exercises, activities, and self-reflection. After engaging in this session, participants will feel empowered to fulfill leadership roles in their field work.
- Target participants are emerging field leaders, those who are leading field crews and/or are in situations to fill in or support other leaders. Also encouraged to apply are those who have participated in NRWSI sessions in previous years and/or have been recruited to be an instructor supporting another track this year and are ripe for interpersonal development.
- Upon completion of this lesson, participants will:
- Learn about various communication tools which they can use as field leaders.
- Understand how to use different leadership styles in different situations.
- Learn how to deliver Leader’s Intent, Field Briefings, and After-Action Reviews.
- Have practiced some of the techniques and tools shared with them and be able to share these techniques and tools with others.
- Class size will be limited.
- Advanced Wilderness Stewardship
Lead Facilitator: Julia Cotter- This session will focus on some of the skills and concepts needed to understand the national framework that is used to measure and guide wilderness management. It will take a deeper dive into wilderness values, wilderness stewardship performance and wilderness character monitoring. Students will participate in crafting a Minimum Requirements Analysis document to better understand the MRAF framework. Participants will be provided a framework for track their careers in wilderness management and will engage in exercises to develop further develop leadership potential. Students will also learn about and engage in discussion about new wilderness research including social science and inclusivity in wilderness and prescribed fire in wilderness.
- Upon completion of this lesson, participants will:
- Understand and be familiar with Wilderness Stewardship Performance measures and Wilderness Character Monitoring elements.
- Learn what a Minimum Requirement Analysis (MRA) is and how to use the analysis framework. Participants will complete a MRA during this course.
- Become familiar with references for contemporary wilderness research and review some interesting wilderness research in the works.
- Understand and be familiar with wilderness fire management and prescribed fire in wilderness.
- Learn about tracking your career and skill set in wilderness, discuss mentorship opportunities in the wilderness community.
- Class size may be limited.
- Crosscut Saw B Bucking, A Falling
Lead Facilitator: Adam Washebek, others TBD- Required Prerequisite: Current First Aid/CPR course completed prior to the start of the course.
- The A/B Crosscut Certification Course provides students with both classroom-based instruction and field experience in the use of the crosscut saws and axes. Students will learn how to safely utilize these tools in a trail maintenance capacity. The course will cover tool history, best practices in the field, one-on-one instruction in tool use in the field, tool care, safety, and transportation of the tools. Successful completion of this course is required to use these tools on national forest lands while participating in stewardship efforts.
- This is a field-based course so come with appropriate outdoor gear and a sack lunch both days. If you have a favorite set of tools, please bring those as well.
- Class size may be limited.
- Defensive Horsemanship
- Lead Instructor: Robin Connell
- The Basic Horsemanship class will result in participants being certified for 8 hours of required horsemanship training. The course will review the basics of horsemanship and provide an excellent refresher for those with more experience. The course will be field-based and hands-on, so be prepared for field work. Please dress accordingly and be prepared for cold, wet, North Idaho spring weather!
- The course will include a short classroom introduction covering the course objectives of how to effectively work with and around stock in a safe manner. This indoor session will include a discussion on equine psychology and how to work safely with horses and mules. Following this short indoor orientation, the remainder of the class will be a hands-on demonstration at the Powell barn. Outdoor topics include catching, tying, grooming, saddling, bridling, mounting, riding, feeding, and camping with stock. The remainder of the class will focus on packing and handling skills.
- This course will provide a brief review of the basics of horsemanship, trailering, working with ropes, knot-tying, skills for assisting packers, packing skills pertinent to loading animals, and preparing gear to be packed in. The course will be hands-on and field oriented.
- Class size may be limited.
WEEKLONG SESSIONS:
- Advanced Crosscut Saw and Axemanship – Train the Trainer
Lead Instructor: Adam Washebek- Required Prerequisite: Current First Aid/CPR course completed prior to the start of the course.
- Note this prerequisite: Participants need substantial saw and ax experience and have the desire to teach. Although the course will have a field component where falling, bucking, and ax use is refined, students should be very proficient with traditional tools and tasks coming into the course.
- In early May, selected applicants will receive an email with policy, curriculum, and USFS Sawyer Database information. It will be the participant’s job to familiarize themselves with all of this information before the start of the class. We will review all of it in the class, but it is important that participants come in with a fair understanding of policy, curriculum, and the sawyer database.
- Monday-Wednesday- May 20-22
- Adam and a panel of experts will start in the classroom Monday afternoon and discuss and review the 2023 Updated Policy, the newly released USFS crosscut saw and ax curriculum “Developing Thinking Sawyers”, the new National USFS Sawyer Database, Saw Vernacular, OSHA, Delegation and Designation and other necessary evils of navigating the saw policy and education within the USFS. (3 hours) This intent of this portion is to teach soon to be saw educators how to set up a classroom and other educational methodologies.
- Tuesday will start in the classroom to follow up on what was presented the previous day. By mid-morning Tuesday, we will head into the field and Wednesday will be all day in the field with a focus on axemanship, complex and precision falling, OHLEC, complex bucking, removing hung trees (with and without rigging) and following the new educational methodology. Participants will learn and be evaluated. The hope if for the participants to leave with enough skill to become instructors and certifiers.
- Thursday-Friday, May 23-24
- A falling and B bucking course taught by course participants.
- The newly certified educators put on a class for new sawyers. Volunteers, partners, and USFS employees will attend this course. The participants from the first three days will train, evaluate, and certify under the supervision of the cadre of instructors.
- Class size will be limited.
- Advanced Trail Maintenance- Introduction to Rigging and Rock Work
Lead Instructor: Mark Smith, Alex Totoiu, Noel Payne, Jon Dorman- Note this prerequisite: Students should have 3-5 seasons of experience in trail maintenance and construction. No prior experience with rigging or rock work is required, but students should have a strong understanding of fundamental trail structures, and the use and maintenance of basic trail tools. Students should also have the desire to train others in these skills. Selection of participants for this course will prioritize those that meet these pre-requisites.
- This course will introduce students to the fundamentals of rigging for trail work, and dry-stone masonry. Students will get an overview of stone trail structures, and their design considerations, as well as hands on experience building a rock retaining wall. Students will gain an understanding of simple rigging systems, the equipment and forces involved, and important safety considerations when designing systems.
- Class will begin on Monday with an overview of rock construction for trail work, and the forces and stresses generated during rigging operations, as well as an explanation of common rigging systems for trails projects. The remainder of the week students will apply these skills in the construction of a rock retaining wall, using rigging systems to harvest and transport native stone to the project site.
- The course will be primarily field based with hands-on experiences, so be prepared for field work. Please dress accordingly and be prepared for cold, wet, North Idaho spring weather! Students are expected to provide their own PPE.
- Hard Hat
- Safety Glasses
- Hearing Protection
- Leather gloves
- Long sleeved work-shirt
- Long pants
- Sturdy leather boots
- Other tools and equipment will be provided.
- Class size will be limited.