The LEAP Program is a Not-for-Profit Educational Organization that strives to remain non-political. LEAP has a Board of Directors and a Steering Committee that is comprised of volunteers from different areas of Forestry from around the State.

 

 As Covid 19 is starting to come under control, LEAP will begin offering some workshops

 

again. To deal with the no-training year of 2020, we are bumping everyone up one year
from wherever you are at currently. In other words, if your Certification Period was
2018-2020, then you will now be 2019-2021 etc. We will work with everyone to get
your status with LEAP back to normal. As per the Governor’s Emergency Order
regarding Covid 19, we will continue to follow the recommended guidelines. Masks will
be worn, and group occupancies will be observed.
Also, and very importantly, as many of you know the Vermont Department of Forests, Parks
and Recreation (FP&R) has worked to create the Vermont Logger Safety and Workers’
Compensation Insurance Program. Employers whose employees meet the training
standards and demonstrate that they have implemented safe practices at their logging
operations, through an onsite consultation and verification with a Loss Prevention
Specialist, will be eligible for a 15% discount on their workers’ compensation insurance
premiums. LEAP is pleased to be able to assist FP&R by offering safety training to satisfy the
requirements of this program.
Through working closely with FP&R in developing these trainings, LEAP has come to
realize that promoting a culture of safety for all professional loggers is paramount. That is
why we have decided that this training is important for everyone enrolled in LEAP. As a
result, a modification of the VT LEAP Program has evolved, and curriculum
requirements have changed. LEAP now has what we are calling a core curriculum to
complete in order to become LEAP certified along with continuing education
requirements. There will be two tracks of trainings that you will need to choose from
whether you run a mechanized operation or non-mechanized. The main difference is
whether you are using a chainsaw to fell the trees or sitting inside a machine that will do
this for you. The revised curriculum requirements are as follows:
For a logger who is already LEAP certified and has taken Professionalism in Forestry and
Managing Forest Ecosystems, (formerly called the Primary Curriculum), you will likely
just need the safety workshops designed for which ever track pertains to your timber
harvesting operation. . A logger coming in new to LEAP will need to complete all the
curriculum requirements. Whether you are already in LEAP or if you are new to LEAP,
everyone will have two years to meet these new requirements.
Along with these changes, LEAP received a grant from the Working Lands Enterprise
Board in 2020 to do a comprehensive upgrade of our website and database. This new
system will allow you to see your personal status online at any time and you will be able
to sign up and pay for workshops via the website. This is going to mean using Smart
Phones and computers to register for workshops and access your information. We will
expect that there will be a learning curve for some of you, and we will absolutely help
everyone get there!

As Covid 19 is starting to come under control, LEAP will begin offering some workshopsagain. To deal with the no-training year of 2020, we are bumping everyone up one yearfrom wherever you are at currently. In other words, if your Certification Period was2018-2020, then you will now be 2019-2021 etc. We will work with everyone to getyour status with LEAP back to normal. As per the Governor’s Emergency Orderregarding Covid 19, we will continue to follow the recommended guidelines. Masks willbe worn, and group occupancies will be observed.

Also, and very importantly, as many of you know the Vermont Department of Forests, Parksand Recreation (FP&R) has worked to create the Vermont Logger Safety and Workers’Compensation Insurance Program. Employers whose employees meet the trainingstandards and demonstrate that they have implemented safe practices at their loggingoperations, through an onsite consultation and verification with a Loss PreventionSpecialist, will be eligible for a 15% discount on their workers’ compensation insurancepremiums. LEAP is pleased to be able to assist FP&R by offering safety training to satisfy therequirements of this program.

Through working closely with FP&R in developing these trainings, LEAP has come torealize that promoting a culture of safety for all professional loggers is paramount. That is why we have decided that this training is important for everyone enrolled in LEAP. As aresult, a modification of the VT LEAP Program has evolved, and curriculumrequirements have changed. LEAP now has what we are calling a core curriculum tocomplete in order to become LEAP certified along with continuing educationrequirements. There will be two tracks of trainings that you will need to choose fromwhether you run a mechanized operation or non-mechanized. The main difference iswhether you are using a chainsaw to fell the trees or sitting inside a machine that will dothis for you. The revised curriculum requirements are as follows:

For a logger who is already LEAP certified and has taken Professionalism in Forestry andManaging Forest Ecosystems, (formerly called the Primary Curriculum), you will likelyjust need the safety workshops designed for which ever track pertains to your timberharvesting operation. A logger coming in new to LEAP will need to complete all thecurriculum requirements. Whether you are already in LEAP or if you are new to LEAP,everyone will have two years to meet these new requirements.

Along with these changes, LEAP received a grant from the Working Lands EnterpriseBoard in 2020 to do a comprehensive upgrade of our website and database. This newsystem will allow you to see your personal status online at any time and you will be ableto sign up and pay for workshops via the website. This is going to mean using SmartPhones and computers to register for workshops and access your information. We willexpect that there will be a learning curve for some of you, and we will absolutely helpeveryone get there!

 

LEAP/SFI Certification Requirements

 

For Mechanized Logging Operators

 

LEAP Certification Requirements - Attain LEAP/SFI Certification: Completing the following requirements within two years, meets minimum certification requirements for the VT LEAP Program and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).   These are also the requirements for the employee training requirements for the Vermont Logger Safety and Workers’ Compensation Insurance Program. (Additional steps are required for full safety certification with your insurance carrier.) 

            Professionalism (1 day – 8 credits)

            Managing and Using Forest Ecosystems (1 day – 8 credits)

            Introduction to Mechanized Logger Safety (1 day – 8 credits)

            Advanced Logger Rescue/First Aid & CPR (1 day – 8 credits)

             

.  

 

Continuing Education Requirements - Continuing education is required to maintain LEAP/SFI certification. Within every two years, except as otherwise noted, and after completing LEAP requirements, the following is required to maintain LEAP/SFI certification:

            Safety Workshop (8 hours annually – 8 credits)

            *LEAP elective (1 day – 8 credits)

            Maintain First Aid/CPR certification

 

*A LEAP participant may substitute other non-LEAP sponsored workshops for the LEAP elective with pre-approval from the LEAP board of directors. A copy of the agenda shall be sent to the LEAP Coordinator a minimum of one week prior to the scheduled workshop

 

Already LEAP certified -

For Loggers who have previously completed the LEAP program, the following workshops need to be completed to meet the new Curriculum requirements:

 

            Introduction to Mechanized Logger Safety (1 day – 8 credits)

            Advanced Logger Rescue/First Aid & CPR (1 day – 8 credits)

 

Then Continuing Education Requirements will be the same as above. 

 

 

LEAP/SFI Certification Requirements

 

For Non-Mechanized Logging Operators

 

 LEAP Certification Requirements - Attain LEAP/SFI Certification: Completing the following requirements within two years, meets minimum certification requirements for the VT LEAP Program and the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI).   These are also the requirements for the employee training requirements for the Vermont Logger Safety and Workers’ Compensation Insurance Program. (Additional steps are required for full safety certification with your insurance carrier.) 

 

            Professionalism (1 day – 8 credits)

            Managing and Using Forest Ecosystems (1 day – 8 credits)

            *Game of Logging (Levels 1 through 4 – 32 credits)

            Advanced Logger Rescue/First Aid & CPR (1 day – 8 credits)

           

 

Continuing Education Requirements - Continuing education is required to maintain LEAP certification. Within every two years after completing LEAP certification requirements, except as otherwise noted, the following is required to maintain LEAP certification:

            Safety Workshop (1 day annually – 8 credits)

            **LEAP elective (1 day – 8 credits)

            Maintain First Aid/CPR certification

 

*If completed GOL more than five years ago, must take Level 5 GOL (Refresher)

**A LEAP participant may substitute other non-LEAP sponsored workshops for LEAP electives with pre-approval from the LEAP board of directors. A copy of the agenda shall be sent to the LEAP Coordinator a minimum of one week prior to the scheduled workshop.  

 

Already LEAP certified -

For Loggers who have previously completed the LEAP program, the following workshops need to be completed to meet the new Curriculum requirements:

 

            *Game of Logging (Levels 1 through 4 – 32 credits) 

            Advanced Logger Rescue/First Aid & CPR (1 day – 8 credits)

 

*If completed GOL more than five years ago, must take Level 5 GOL (Refresher)

 

Then Continuing Education Requirements will be the same as above. 

 

LEAP Philosophy: We recognize that the logging profession is an essential link between Vermont woodlands and forest industry. Along with landowners and foresters, loggers are partners in managing our forests for wood, water, wildlife and recreation. Vermont's forests have a legacy of providing these resources and are capable of sustaining these public benefits if properly managed. We see education as offering a positive approach, bringing everyone together to reach this common goal. The LEAP program is an instrument to encourage life-long learning among loggers. We will strive to promote professionalism through education and instill a stewardship ethic among loggers. The outcome of this endeavor, we envision, will be a well managed and productive forest landscape, and a positive public perception of the logging profession. Much of the Forest Industry has adopted the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) principles. One of these principles requires them to purchase wood products from loggers who have completed a Nationally SFI accredited Logger Education Program. The VT LEAP Program exceeds these requirements.