Learn by doing at Tremont’s second campus. Hands on the Land is this year’s limited series of practical, place-based programs that turn the Townsend campus into both classroom and workshop. Each program offers a different way to get curious, try something new, and deepen your relationship with the land. Learn more about our plans for the Townsend campus.
A chainsaw is a powerful tool for caring for the land, but using one well starts with confidence, knowledge, and safety.
Led by Tremont Land Manager Elizabeth Davis, this intensive two-day workshop is designed for people with little or no previous chainsaw experience. You’ll learn the fundamentals of chainsaw use through a combination of instruction and hands-on practice, with time to become more comfortable handling and operating the saw under experienced guidance.
Over the course of the weekend, you’ll cover chainsaw safety, basic maintenance and sharpening, felling, limbing, and bucking – the process of cutting an already-felled tree into manageable sections. The goal isn’t simply to learn how to make a cut, but to begin building the judgment, confidence, and practical skills needed to use a chainsaw safely and effectively as a land-stewardship tool.
All tools and equipment are provided, so no previous experience or personal chainsaw is required. Participants who own a chainsaw are welcome to bring their own if they would like to become more familiar with the equipment they use at home.
For an additional $70, participants may elect to camp Friday and Saturday nights in the platform tents at the Walker Valley Campus and join us in the dining hall for Saturday breakfast, Saturday supper, and Sunday breakfast.
Registration includes all materials and instruction. Bring your own lunch.
Photos by Elizabeth Davis, Jeremy Lloyd, and Lindsey Nguyen.
Cover photo by Andy Ottinger.
Meet Your Instructor
Elizabeth Davis
Elizabeth is the Land Manager at Tremont Institute. She graduated from Middlebury College with a degree in Conservation Biology and Environmental Science and is currently pursuing a graduate degree in Natural Resources through Oregon State University. After college, she thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail southbound from Maine to Georgia. She is a Wilderness First Responder, has completed Permaculture Design Certification through Yestermorrow Design School, and is a C Sawyer (chainsaw certification) through the USFS. She has worked at Tremont since 2014 and enjoys exploring wild places, woodworking, growing food, and reading good books.
A NEW PLACE TO EXPLORE
At Tremont's second campus in Townsend, the landscape is our classroom. This evolving space offers new opportunities to learn hands-on skills, follow your curiosity, and connect more deeply with the natural world. Whether it's your first visit or you've been following our plans for years, we're excited to share this next chapter of Tremont with you.
A NEW PLACE TO EXPLORE
At Tremont's second campus in Townsend, the landscape is our classroom. This evolving space offers new opportunities to learn hands-on skills, follow your curiosity, and connect more deeply with the natural world. Whether it's your first visit or you've been following our plans for years, we're excited to share this next chapter of Tremont with you.
