IMPORTANT change! The crosscut C bucking certification will take place before Ranger Academy on May 2nd-4th. Reach out to Erik Rademacer (Erik.Rademacher@usda.gov) if you wish to attend.
IMPORTANT change! The crosscut C bucking certification will take place before Ranger Academy on May 2nd-4th. Reach out to Erik Rademacer (Erik.Rademacher@usda.gov) if you wish to attend.
Overview
The Wilderness Ranger Academy provides an opportunity to access high quality skill building for those who engage in wilderness work in California. It offers an excellent platform for sharing information and connecting wilderness stewards – agency, partnership staff, and volunteers from across the region – both inside and outside of the classroom.
Photo: Mike McFadin
Courses are designed to be interactive and provide skills-based training at various levels of experience. The training will take advantage of existing virtual modules in combination with site-based teaching of physical skills. In addition, the event will facilitate connections that promote camaraderie of participants developed while comparing notes and sharing stories around campfires.
The application period will be open through April 6th. YOUR APPLICATION DOES NOT GUARANTEE ENROLLMENT. To ensure equitable geographic participation in Wilderness Ranger Academy, we will review applications and will notify you of enrollment status by April 17th. If you are selected to attend, you will be provided a logistics packet with more information about the event.
During the application process you will be asked to rank sessions you are interested in attending. We do our best to enroll participants in their highest ranked choices, depending on availability. Due to high demand, it is not always possible to provide every participant with their first choice.
Photo: Mike McFadin
Prerequisites
Arthur Carhart National Wilderness Training Center “Wilderness Act of 1964” online class
This free online course is required before attending the Wilderness Ranger Academy. It includes reading short narratives, listening to audio, interactive graphics, and quizzes. The average time it takes students is 2.5 hours. You can stop and start the class anytime you want – you don’t have to take it all at once. Once at the Academy, please be prepared to discuss what you learned from the class, what surprised you, and what was the most important thing you got from the curriculum.
Leave No Trace 101 online class
This free online course is required before attending Wilderness Ranger Academy. It includes reading short narratives, watching videos, and quizzes. We have designed the visitor contact sessions at the Academy (Tuesday) assuming you have already taken this class and have learned this foundational material. The average time it takes students is 40 minutes. You can stop and start the class anytime you want – you don’t have to take it all at once.
Location & Accommodations
This year's ranger academy is located in Northern California in and around Weaverville, California. Registration and basecamp will be at the Tannery Gulch Campground about 20 minutes from downtown Weaverville where most services (hospital, groceries, gas) are available. Please note that cell service in the campground can be unreliable. Campsites will be provided to academy participants free of charge
On Monday participants arrive and register at the campground and Tuesday sessions will be held at the campground with all participants together. Some of the concurrent courses on Wednesday-Friday will be at the Weaverville Ranger Station, Weaverville Veteran's Hall, the district's trail and mule barns, and nearby trails.
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Turnoff to Tannery Gulch Campground: 1100 Tannery Gulch Rd, Lewiston, CA 96091, United States
Weaverville Ranger Station: 360 Main St, Weaverville, CA 96093
Veteran's Hall: 109 Memorial Dr, Weaverville, CA 96093
Trails and Mule Barns: 250 Weaver Bally Loop, Weaverville, CA 96093​
Bowerman Ranch: 40°54'10.2"N 122°45'59.6"W (Guy Covington Dr), Trinity Center, CA 96091
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Please carpool when possible and note that if you bring a car, it may not always be immediately accessible.
Wednesday Session Descriptions
Crosscut Saw Sharpening Demonstration
Crosscut saws are essential for wilderness work. High-quality versions of these tools have not been manufactured since the late 1950's, and so their sharpening and maintenance are niche skills critical to wilderness field work. In this session, the Forest Service Regional Crosscut Saw Coordinator will provide a demonstration on the labor-intensive work of what goes into sharpening a saw.
Thursday/Friday Skills Session Descriptions
Introduction to Backcountry Navigation
This course will offer an exploration into backcountry navigation methods and principles. Rangers will engage in discussions and activities to gain experience with using maps, compasses, and orienteering. This course will include a local day trip with participants returning to base camp at the end of the day. Please bring your compass if you have one; there will be some units available to borrow for the day. The Backcountry Navigation course will be a long day, so please be prepared with lunch and have plenty of water. A chair and clipboard are also recommended for comfort throughout the day but are not required.
Course Objectives
• Read a topo map and understand different mapping grids
• Understand how to read and use a compass
• Orient maps
• Take map and field bearings
• Find their pace
• Navigate using a field bearing