Scouting America's Chain Saw Basic training course is a 12-hour certification program designed to teach safe chainsaw operation, maintenance, and basic cutting techniques for camp and trail maintenance.

Course Overview & Requirements

• Duration: Approximately 12 hours total, split between 3–4 hours of classroom safety instruction and a hands-on field cutting day.

• Operator Age: Participants and operators must be at least 21 years old.

• Prerequisites: Must be a registered Scouter/Scout, be approved by a council designee, and have a current annual medical health record (Parts A and B).

• Certification Validity: The completed training certification is valid for 5 years

• What You Will Learn

• Pre-operational inspections, chain tensioning, and control checks.

• Hazard identification (such as spring poles, hung-up trees, and kickback zones).

• Safe felling, limbing, and bucking techniques for low-complexity situations.

• Proper use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)