Opportunities From: Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado

Why it's important:

Becoming a chainsaw sawyer is a valuable skill and a critical way to contribute to conservation efforts across Colorado. By attending this course you will gain the skills and certification to be able to safely assist with fire mitigation, trail maintenance and other felling and bucking operations to aid in forest management.

What you'll learn:

Upgrade your outdoor stewardship skills at this exciting 3 day workshop! Whether they're used for thinning fuel loads in forests, removing invasive species, clearing blow downs or much more, chainsaws are an indispensable tool in many different natural resource and trail management applications. The focus of this 3-day workshop will be on saw safety; bucking, limbing, and felling principles and techniques; an overview of the tools of the trade as well as tool care and maintenance; hazard analysis and situational awareness; and did we mention safety (lots on saw safety!). Using the USDA Forest Service National Sawyer Training: Developing Thinking Sawyers, trainees will be recommended for certification up to a "B" skill level for felling and bucking. Please note that certification level is at the discretion of the workshop evaluator based on demonstrated field proficiency and is not guaranteed.  

Where you'll be:

This chainsaw training will take place in the San Luis Valley, which is four hours south of Denver. The classroom portion on Friday will take place in Del Norte, CO. The field portion will take place near South Fork on Forest Service land. VOC will not be hosting a basecamp for this training but dispersed camping options are available near the field site. More information will be provided via email to registered participants. 

Eligibility Requirements:        

Ages 18+  

A valid first aid/CPR certification or higher is required to validate all saw certifications. You must have this certification prior to taking this class. VOC will be hosting first aid/CPR courses in both Denver and the San Luis Valley this spring. Those certification courses can be found on the VOC training calendar. 

Essential details:

This course takes place on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, May 1-3, 2026. It is required to attend all three days of this training. Depending on participants skill level and previous experience, there may be a chance to finish up this training early.

This training costs $150/person. To pay for the course please click here. In an effort to support the local community, this training is free to residents of the San Luis Valley who are engaged in the volunteer program. Contact Katie@voc.org if you would like to request a payment waiver.

Your spot will not be reserved until you have registered and paid for the course.

A detailed email with the exact location, schedule and logistical information will be sent one month prior to the training date. If you have any questions in the meantime, please email Katie at katie@voc.org

If you cancel your registration within 2 weeks of the training date you will not be eligible for a refund. This is because we cannot fill a spot with such short notice.

Want to put these skills to work on project? Check out these opportunities to show off your new skills!

VOC offers a scholarship to cover training costs for volunteers with a commitment to the outdoors. Learn more and apply here. Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, April 1st, 2026.

Why it's important:

Becoming a crosscut sawyer is a valuable skill and a critical way to contribute to conservation efforts across Colorado. Trail maintenance in wilderness areas is largely becoming a matter of clearing dead or downed trees from the trail corridor but crosscutting is also a useful skill to harvest raw materials for backcountry trail projects, such as bridge construction. By attending this course, you will gain the skills and certification to safely and effectively utilize wilderness-approved, crosscut saws.

What you'll learn:

Upgrade your outdoor stewardship skills at this exciting 2-day workshop! In this training, you will learn crosscut saw techniques, procedures, and best practices for safely and effectively clearing trails in challenging situations. The course will also cover basic tool care and maintenance and include a mix of classroom learning, and hands-on field experience. Using the USDA Forest Service National Sawyer Training: Developing Thinking Sawyers, trainees will be recommended for certification up to a "B" skill level for bucking. This course does not include felling. Please note that certification level is at the discretion of the workshop evaluator based on demonstrated field proficiency and is not guaranteed.  

Where you'll be:

This crosscut training will take place in the San Luis Valley, which is four hours south of Denver. The classroom portion on Saturday will take place in Del Norte, CO. The field portion will take place near South Fork on Forest Service land. VOC will not be hosting a basecamp for this training but dispersed camping options are available near the field site. More information will be provided via email to registered participants. 

Eligibility requirements:        

Ages 18+  

A valid first aid/CPR certification or higher is required to validate all saw certifications. You must have this certification prior to taking this class. VOC will be hosting first aid/CPR courses in both Denver and the San Luis Valley this spring. Those certification courses can be found on the VOC training calendar. 

Essential details:

This course takes place on Saturday and Sunday, May 16-17, 2026. It is required to attend both days of this training.

This training costs $60/person. To pay for the course please click here. In an effort to support the local community, this training is free to residents of the San Luis Valley who are engaged in the volunteer program. Contact Katie@voc.org if you would like to request a payment waiver.

Your spot will not be reserved until you have registered and paid for the course.

A detailed email with the exact location, schedule and logistical information will be sent one month prior to the training date. If you have any questions in the meantime, please email Katie at katie@voc.org

If you cancel your registration within 2 weeks of the training date you will not be eligible for a refund. This is because we cannot fill a spot with such short notice.

Want to put these skills to work on a project? Check out this opportunity to show off your new skills!

VOC offers a scholarship to cover training costs for volunteers with a commitment to the outdoors. Learn more and apply here. Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, April 1st, 2026.

 Why it's important:

Becoming a crosscut sawyer is a valuable skill and a critical way to contribute to conservation efforts across Colorado. Trail maintenance in wilderness areas is largely becoming a matter of clearing dead or downed trees from the trail corridor but crosscutting is also a useful skill to harvest raw materials for backcountry trail projects, such as bridge construction. By attending this course, you will gain the skills to safely and effectively utilize wilderness-approved, crosscut saws.

What you'll learn:

Upgrade your outdoor stewardship skills at this exciting 2 day workshop! In this training, you will learn crosscut saw techniques, procedures, and best practices for safely and effectively clearing trails in challenging situations. The course will also cover basic tool care and maintenance and include a mix of online course work, classroom learning, and hands-on field experience. Using the USDA Forest Service National Sawyer Training: Developing Thinking Sawyers, trainees will be recommended for certification up to a "B" skill level for bucking. This course does not include felling. Please note that certification level is at the discretion of the workshop evaluator based on demonstrated field proficiency and is not guaranteed.

Where you'll be: 

This crosscut saw training will take place near Fort Collins, Colorado. Exact location details will be shared once you have paid for the course.

Eligibility requirements:        

Ages 18+  

A valid first aid/CPR certification or higher is required to validate all saw certifications. You must have this certification prior to taking this class. VOC will be hosting first aid/CPR courses in both Denver and the San Luis Valley this spring. Those certification courses can be found on the VOC training calendar.

Essential details:

This course takes place on Saturday and Sunday, May 30-31, 2026. It is required to attend both days of this training.

This training costs $60/person. To pay for the course, please click here.

Your spot will not be reserved until you have registered and paid for the course.

A detailed email with the exact location, schedule and logistical information will be sent one month prior to the training date. If you have any questions in the meantime, please email Kelly at kclouse@voc.org.

If you cancel your registration within 2 weeks of the training date you will not be eligible for a refund. This is because we cannot fill a spot with such short notice.

Want to put these skills to work on a project? Check out this opportunity to show off your new skills!

VOC offers a scholarship to cover training costs for volunteers with a commitment to the outdoors. Learn more and apply here. Applications will be accepted until Wednesday, April 1st, 2026.