The Crosscut Sawyer

The Crosscut Sawyer is designed to provide the basic technical knowledge needed by Federal land management agency employees and partners to use crosscut saws safely and efficiently for bucking in moderately complex or "B-level" situations. The course is not part of the USFS Crosscut certification process but meant to complement a Crosscut Sawyer’s knowledge. For USFS, or other agency certification, Crosscut Sawyers will need to follow agency policy. For more information contact your unit or regional saw coordinator.

What We Do

Equip and inspire employees and partners to honor the public trust through TRAINING and COACHING. Our expert advice, and unique and effective blend of classroom and field courses, e-courses, and webinars, provides timely access to training in support of field efforts to meet the spirit and intent of the Wilderness Act.

Facilitate knowledge, connection, communication, and camaraderie through INFORMATION. Wilderness.net makes it easy to find maps, data, images, toolboxes, templates, and examples to quickly and successfully address stewardship issues. Wilderness Connect keeps the community of practice connected and able to individually and collectively leverage expertise across agency, non-agency, and academic boundaries.

Cultivate the next generation of Wilderness stewards through ENGAGEMENT, EDUCATION and EMPLOYMENT. From kindergarten through college, we build awareness and interest, create connections and confidence, and inspire responsible stewardship and respect through our creative outreach and internship programs, rigorous teacher workshops, and personal support.

Model interagency excellence. Working across Departments and agencies since 1993, the Carhart Center has pioneered projects in training, information, and education that have been embraced by Homeland Security Border Patrol agents, recognized by Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, endorsed by the Confederated Salish and Kootenai and Salish/Pend d'Oreille Tribal Education and Culture Committees, and replicated within and outside the federal government. Our flexible, creative, and innovative interagency Team approach to addressing wilderness issues has virtually eliminated duplication of staff, funding, and effort, within and between agencies, and improved consistency in wilderness stewardship. Our commitment to the law, the field, and to interagency excellence exemplify what it means to manage the wilderness System as a System and what excellence and efficiency in government service really look like. Consistently exceeding performance goals, the Carhart Center has become the premier model of a successful interagency, Service First organization.

Sustain Hope. In the midst of continual uncertainty and change, the Carhart Center provides continuity and consistency. The field counts on our ability to provide timely, accurate answers to their wilderness stewardship questions. Our one-stop shop sustains hope that, in the midst of change, one thing remains - our commitment to the preservation of wilderness character.

 

Testimonials

"Case studies and discussion, reviewing minimum requirements analyses training, discussions in the field setting with like professionals ... I actually feel liberated by what I learned in the course." - BLM

"The training taught us the ways to think through wilderness issues, not what to think about wilderness. I now feel that I have a good base to use when answering questions about wilderness. It also has opened new questions about the value of wilderness to different people and has opened my eyes to other ways of looking at wilderness." - FWS

"The online resources are amazing and I have shared them with field staff...definitely the best...!" - FS

"Armed with wilderness knowledge and trying to do the right thing, it's amazing how much good can be done." - NPS

"I was skeptical coming into a 'wilderness' workshop. I now feel like an ambassador for wilderness use and preservation and the toolkit gives me lessons and activities I can really use with my students." - Wilderness Investigation Teacher Workshop graduate

"Thank you for providing outdoor experiences for my child. I just can't do them myself and I'm pleased that my daughter and their Big have this opportunity." - Outdoor Explorers Mentoring Program parent

"Working with the Carhart Center was a meaningful experience for me because I had the opportunity to work with true wilderness experts." - Carhart Center Intern

"No single agency could, on their own, achieve what the Carhart Center and Leopold Institute have achieved together by collocating employees and collaborating across agencies. This model of effectiveness and efficiency was the right thing to do in 1993 and it's the right thing to do now. It's right for wilderness, and for the taxpayers of the United States." Jack Ward Thomas, former Chief of the Forest Service