Chainsaw Academy returns to Cedar Rapids in April

CEDAR RAPIDS — Learning to safely use a chainsaw can be extremely useful, especially following a natural disaster. A popular training course, returning in April to Cedar Rapids, will cover the basics of chainsaw operation and safety for beginners.

Bur Oak Land Trust’s Chainsaw Academy is a two-day classroom and field course that will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, April 9 and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 10, at Indian Creek Nature Center.

“Our previous chainsaw courses were very popular, and we wanted to make it easier for more people to attend,” said Bur Oak Communications Director Meredith Roemerman. “Through a partnership with Indian Creek Nature Center and a grant from Linn County Board of Supervisors, we were able to make the course more affordable and bring it to a city where chainsaw skills are still in high demand following the derecho.”

The cost for the course is $15 with equipment and safety gear provided. For more information, visit https://buroaklandtrust.salsalabs.org/chainsawacademylinncospring.

When the 2020 derecho storm swept across the state and hit Cedar Rapids hard, the city alone lost hundreds of thousands of trees. The amount of damage left some residents on their own to cut up large branches and limbs, many without proper chainsaw training.

“After the derecho, we saw individuals using chain saws without proper protective equipment and making cuts that were dangerous,” said Bur Oak Executive Director Jason Taylor. “The most extreme case we saw was a person using woodworking tools to cut limbs off a tree in their backyard while also standing on the tree. We want to get as much information to people as possible about safely using chain saws and when to call a professional.”

About Bur Oak Land Trust

For more than 40 years, Bur Oak Land Trust has been advancing biodiversity in Eastern Iowa by protecting resilient landscapes and connecting people to them. Bur Oak protects nearly 900 acres of land through fee-owned properties and conservation easements and manages critical habitat on 500 of those acres through its conservation-focused AmeriCorps program. To learn more, visit buroaklandtrust.org.