Online LEAP Update being offered

“LEAP Updates” a one-day workshop for loggers is being offered online via Zoom, on March 4.

Over 1,800 Idaho loggers have taken the University of Idaho Extension program on forest ecology, silviculture, and water quality, titled Logger Education to Advance Professionalism or “LEAP”. LEAP Update is an annual opportunity for LEAP graduates to build on that professional development in forestry.

2021 LEAP Updates will be held online via Zoom on Thursday, March 4th. This year’s topics include: mass timbers and cross laminated timber, proposed Idaho smoke management rule updates, logger survey highlights, tree planting, workers’ compensation updates, drones in logging, log market updates, using CLT in forest bridge building, mental health in the logging industry, and an update on COVID-19.

There is no fee for this online session, but to prepare for the program, please go to https://uidaho.edu/leapupdate to register by Friday, February 26, 2021. For technical assistance registering or accessing course resources, please contact Audra Cochran (acochran@uidaho.edu). For program content questions, contact Randy Brooks (rbrooks@uidaho.edu).

For those who do not have adequate internet access to participate in Zoom, some physical sites will be hosting the program (projecting the program onto a screen). To attend at one of these sites, participants must sign up separately at that site by Friday, February 26.  To view a complete list of these sites, please visit www.uidaho.edu/extension/forestry/programs  and click on the “Zoom Viewing Sites” pdf link under the “LEAP Update” tab. Different sites have differing capacities for this, so call early to reserve a spot at a preferred site.

LEAP Update also helps loggers to fulfill Idaho Pro-Logger program annual continuing education and best management practice training requirements. For more information on the Idaho Pro-Logger program or logging safety/first aid sessions, contact the Associated Logging Contractors of Idaho at 208-667-6473.