EDUCATION

COURSES
TESTIMONIALS
CONTACT US

CHAINSAW SAFETY & EFFICIENCY TRAINING

Logo for SAWW Erskine Safety and Woods Worker Training featuring stylized text and a circular design.

Luke Saunders is certified by Safety and Woods Worker Training (SAWW) as an Instructor of Levels 1-4 of chainsaw safety and efficiency training. 

JOIN A CHAINSAW SAFETY CLASS IN 2026!

Classes will be held at the beautiful Kickapoo Valley Reserve near La Farge, WI.

Click on the links below to register. Space is limited.

LEVEL 101 (2-day Level 1 event)

Level 101 is geared toward participants with little or no experience running a chainsaw, covering Level 1 material at a more deliberate pace over two full training days, in a supportive and dynamic setting. Participants will receive a SAWW-certified Level 1 Certificate.

LEVEL 1

Thursday, September 24, 2026 

Saturday, October 17, 2026

LEVEL 2

Thursday, October 22, 2026

LEVEL 3

Saturday, November 14, 2026

These chainsaw trainings are dynamic, challenging and fun, and will help you feel more comfortable running a saw while increasing proficiency and productivity. We follow a curriculum outlined by SAWW-certified training, drawing from proven methods to teach techniques that protect you from inherent hazards, while getting more work done. We preach “Layers of Protection”. Blue Heron Stewardship LLC uses these techniques in our own day-to-day operations. We look forward to sharing them with you or your crew.

See what past participants have to say about our training

Course Descriptions

A group of people wearing safety gear, including helmets and headphones, gathered around a man who is cutting a large piece of wood with a chainsaw.

1

  • Level 1 Training provides the baseline for subsequent SAWW-certified training. Level 1 Training moves from understanding risks of chainsaw operation, to running a saw proficiently, introducing basic planning procedures to practice felling, bucking and limbing trees. All Participants have the opportunity to run a saw.

    1. Overview & History of SAWW Training Program

    2. OSHA regulations and requirements

    3. Personal Protective Equipment

    4. Tools of the Trade

    5. Safety Features of the chainsaw

    6. The Cutter Tooth, and its Reactive Forces on a chainsaw

    7. Planning: Intro to the Felling (and bucking) Five

    8. Principles of directional felling

    9. Hands-on practice with saws, focused on body mechanics, safe practices and application of techniques to implement Planning

    10. Introduction to basic limbing & bucking techniques

Man cutting a tree trunk with a chainsaw in a wooded area, with two other people in the background preparing tools near a parked truck.

2

  • Level 2 Training builds on Level 1 basic saw training. Level 2 teaches proper maintenance of the chainsaw, with particular focus on sharpening to optimize saw performance and safety. Level 2 cutting techniques build on Level 1 concepts, applying them to more complex situations. All participants have the opportunity to run a saw.

    1. Review of Level 1 concepts

    2. Basic chainsaw maintenance, to Reduce Down Time (RDT)

    3. Chain sharpening; filing options and techniques, hands-on practice

    4. Review of the Felling Five, focused on precision at the stump

    5. Applying Felling Five to bucking and limbing operations

    6. Hands-on practice with saws, introducing more complex scenarios to felling, limbing and bucking

A tree in a natural setting with snow patches on the ground and a clear blue sky. There are construction or survey markers near the base of the tree, with some equipment and debris scattered on the ground.

3

  • Level 3 Training focuses on felling difficult trees, and processing trees in difficult scenarios. Level 3 introduces important concepts critical to successful cutting in complex scenarios, with the majority of the class conducted in the field. Level 3 content and focus can be adapted to client needs and applications.

    1. Review of Level 1 & 2 concepts

    2. Introduction to Segments and Lift (planning for difficult trees)

    3. Felling of difficult trees

    4. Review of the Felling Five, focused on identifying limits, ensuring success on difficult trees

    5. Extensive hands-on practice with saws, introducing more complex scenarios to felling, limbing and bucking

A freshly cut tree stump in a snowy outdoor setting with a large fallen tree behind it and three orange and red tools on the stump.

4

  • Level 4 Training is advanced training for professional chainsaw operators, including focus on productivity. Level 4 content and focus can be adapted to client needs and applications

    1. Review of Level 1, 2, and 3 concepts

    2. Trainer demonstration of complex procedures and techniques, as requested

    3. Trainee implementation of all concepts with limited Instructor guidance (show it)

    4. Extensive hands-on practice with saws, with all potential scenarios to felling, limbing and bucking

A man in an orange safety helmet and orange work gloves sitting on a fallen tree in a forest, with other people partially visible, involved in tree-cutting or forestry work.

Blue Heron Stewardship, LLC draws on Luke’s professional experience as a horse logger, timber feller and restoration technician to provide chainsaw trainings to meet the needs of a wide variety of participants.

Our clients and partners include:

  • Municipalities (Parks and Recreation, Public Works Departments)

  • Counties

  • Department of Natural Resources, other state agencies

  • US Army Corps of Engineers

  • Private companies, including in utilities, logging, ecological restoration and arboriculture fields

  • Rural electric cooperatives

  • Land Conservancies

  • The Prairie Enthusiasts

  • Open-to the public trainings at many Nature Centers and other sites

  • Community and Development organizations

Testimonials

“I really enjoyed Luke’s teaching style and felt confident and comfortable him taking lead in the training. If I take more courses I want him to be the instructor.”

— Arborist, Level 1, 2022

Luke is an outstanding trainer.  He's very personable, and tailored the training to fit our groups prior experience and skill level.  I have no doubt that his expert instruction has probably saved many sawyers from serious personal injury or death.  He needs a raise!

— Level 3, 2021

“I learned so much from this course and I’m much more confident with running a saw and dropping trees. Looking forward to the next level of training.”

— Level 1, 2018

“Luke was an awesome instructor for both SAWW1 and SAWW2 classes. SAWW1 we(the students) had lots of issues felling the trees, But!! that was great because we were able to analyze what happened and with Luke's experience, show us how to still be able to fell tree safely. Luke's knowledge and experience was the best part of the class. Just did not have enough time! SAWW2 Luke moved maintenance to end of the day because of heat index. This to me was a benefit, we used students saws as examples of maintenance needed. Clogged filter, depth or lack of depth so chain did not cut. Idle needing adjustment. Luke used each problem and a learning experience. Thanks Luke!!”

—Levels 1 & 2, 2023

The instructor was extremely patient, and a very good teacher. It was very easy to ask him questions, and he was very thorough in answering questions, as well as explaining the topics covered in a fun, and inviting way.

—Level 1, 2019

Luke and his light sabers are awesome.

—Level 2, 2019