Chainsaw Operator Training
A working course, not a lecture. Two days at camp learning to run a saw safely — and the reason Camp Pirtle can clear its own trails after a storm.
Dates and registration are on the council calendar.
Who it's for
Adults 21 and over. The course trains adults in the proper safety and operation of chainsaws for use at G.W. Pirtle. If you work on camp — Order of the Arrow service weekends, Turkey Camp volunteers, the crews that show up after weather comes through — this is the training that makes you useful with a saw rather than a hazard beside one.
This is why the camp stays open. East Texas storms put pines across roads and campsites, and a Scout camp cannot wait on a contractor every time. Trained volunteer operators are how the trails get cleared and the sites get reopened.
How the weekend runs
- Friday — arrive between 5:00 and 6:30 p.m. Class starts at 6:30 p.m., followed by cracker barrel.
- Saturday morning — the classroom portion finishes.
- Saturday afternoon — field work. The hands-on portion runs the remainder of the day.
- Dismissal — to be announced by the course director.
Registration includes cracker barrel on Friday night, plus breakfast and lunch on Saturday.
Required gear
You will not be allowed to run a saw without all of this. Every item is required, not suggested:
- Chainsaw chaps
- Hard hat
- Eye protection
- Ear protection
- Gloves
- Closed-toe, over-the-ankle boots
Recommended
- Long-sleeved shirt
- Your own chainsaw
- Any personal chainsaw equipment you normally use
Bringing your own saw means learning on the machine you will actually be running, which is worth more than practising on somebody else's.
Registration closes Wednesday, October 21, 2026 at 11:59 p.m. Sign-ups are not taken at the gate — this one needs a head count for meals and equipment.
Documents
Course paperwork is posted here as it is released. In the meantime, the course listing (opens in a new tab) has the current details.
Ready to sign up?
Registration is handled on the East Texas Area Council event calendar.