Click on the workshop title to view class descriptions, dates, and locations. Workshops with current openings will have a "register" link. Click here to view the 2010 brochure (pdf document)

If you have any questions about individual training requirements, review them here or contact the MLEP office.

MLEP Credit Classes

Anderson Lubricants Seminars
Biomass Workshop/Field Tour
Brake Inspector Qualification
EAB - Eyes in the Woods
Fluids and Filters
Forest Management Guideline Training
Forest Products Utilization Marketing: Timber Markets
GPS & Landview for Loggers, Foresters and Landowners
Healthy Fields and Forests
Intermediate Stand Treatments
Landview for Loggers, Foresters and Landowners
Logger Conferences
Oversize/Overweight Permitting
Online- Biomass Harvesting Guideline Training
Online- Landview (GIS) Training - Introductory and Advanced
Online- Commercial Motor Vehicle Driver Training
Online- Hazardous Materials
Online- How to Prepare for a DOT Audit
Responding to Change - Financial Tools and Planning
Stewardship for Early-Successional Habitat Birds within MN Forested Regions
Truck Weight Compliance

LogSafe/Safety Credit Classes

CPR and First Aid Certification
OSHA - Defensive Driving, Electrical Safety, Fire Safety
Anderson Lubricants Seminars (OSHA credit)

Class Descriptions and Dates

Anderson Lubricants Seminars (4 hrs. MLEP or LogSafe OSHA Cr.)

March 30 - Bemidji COMPLETED Lubrication Seminar hosted by Bemidji Oil & Propane and Norbon Oil & Propane. Covers product knowledge, industry updates, cost reducing ideas, safety & environment. Brochure

April 21 - Hibbing COMPLETED Covers product knowledge, industry updates, cost reducing ideas, safety & environment. Brochure

To Register: Anderson Lubricants - Michelle Nelson (715) 394-1129 or mnelson@andersonlubes.com

Biomass Workshop/Field Tour (8 hrs. MLEP Cr.)

Woody biomass has the potential to become a viable energy source for the future.  University of Minnesota Extension and its partners will host biomass workshops for woodland owners, farmers, natural resources professionals, those in the energy business and interested community members. Participants will gain an understanding of recent developments in bioenergy production, utilization, marketing, and conversion technologies.
Topics include: 

• State of the Art of the Biomass Energy Industry
• Woody Biomass Supply and Market Opportunities for Minnesota
• Woody Biomass Energy Technology Options
• Federal and State Policy Developments in Biomass Utilization
• Update of the Biomass Conservation Assistance Program (BCAP)
• Minneapolis Biomass Exchange: Facilitating Trade Through Technology
• Other topics.  (For a complete list of all topics at each site please contact the planning staff.)

Field tours will be held at each site:  Maplewood – A visit to the District Energy St. Paul, to observe its operation.  Alexandria – Visit a hybrid poplar plantation to discuss management, to achieve greater productivity for energy.

June 2 - Maplewood (Twin Cities Metro) Agenda COMPLETED
University of Minnesota Extension Office, Ramsey County, 2020 White Bear Avenue.

June 3- Alexandria (Central MN) Agenda COMPLETED
Douglas County Public Works Department, 526 Willow Drive, Alexandria (park in NE lot).

The workshops are sponsored by University of Minnesota Extension, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, WesMin RC&D Council, and Natural Resources Conservation Service.

Brake Inspector Qualification (4 hrs. MLEP Cr.) register

This workshop is designed for drivers, owners and technicians.  A representative from CATCO will review: clutch brake function/failure; PTO engage and operation; power divider & main locking differential operation; pre-trip inspection liabilities; air dryer function & testing; service brake leak test at dash; air pressure gauges; auto slack adjustment; air brake anti-freeze usage; parking brake chamber types and abilities; ABS operation; PLC to non-PLC compatibility; components; diagnostics; testing and blink code retrieval.  This training is designed to meet Part II, A. of the brake inspector qualifications minimum requirements.

May 4 - Cloquet COMPLETED
September 28 - Bemidji
September 29 - Brainerd

EAB - Eyes in the Woods (4 hrs. MLEP Cr.)

Have you heard about emerald ash borer (EAB) but aren’t sure how it will impact your work in the woods or what management suggestions are best for landowners? Would you like to know how to identify EAB and its signs and symptoms? Are you worried about how EAB quarantines might impact your business? If you answered yes to any of these questions please attend one of the EAB Eyes in the Woods ½ day sessions to learn all about EAB, its history, how to ID it and its symptoms, management recommendations, and about quarantine restrictions.

April 21 - Cloquet COMPLETED
May 5 - Grand Rapids COMPLETED
May 11 - Grand Marais COMPLETED

Fluids and Filters (4 hrs. MLEP Cr.)

Whether you own 1 piece of equipment or 100 –it’s an important part of your operation and a significant investment.  Representatives from Industrial Fluid Technologies will share ideas to reduce your total cost of ownership.  Topics will include: heavy-duty engine oils, hydraulic oils, greases, and coolants. Participants will also discuss how the new emission standards, bio-diesel mandates, oil analysis program, and filtration improvements may affect your bottom line profitability.

April 28 - International Falls COMPLETED
June 2 - Bemidji COMPLETED
August 16 - Grand Rapids COMPLETED

Forest Management Guideline Training (16 hrs. MLEP Cr.) register

This two-day training provides an introduction to Minnesota’s Forest Management and Biomass Harvesting Guidelines.  All new MLEP members, as well as those reapplying for MLEP membership, are required to attend this training.  After completing this training, participants will be knowledgeable of the Guidelines and how to implement them in their sale design and harvest operations.

Day One– Introduction to Forest Management & Biomass Harvesting Guidelines

This session will provide an overview of the Guidelines and participants will receive a copy of the Guidelines manual. Topics include: cultural resources, forest soils, riparian areas, wildlife habitat, stream & wetland approaches & crossings, spills, water diversion and erosion control, visual quality and waterbody identification in the context of timber harvesting and forest road building.

Day Two– Implementing the Guidelines in Timber Sale Design

Participants will discuss planning considerations and tools. Next, participants will work in small groups – reviewing site information before traveling to the forest to walk-over and create their own timber sale plan.   Finally, groups present their sale design to the group at large.

August 31-September 1 - Cloquet COMPLETED
September 8-9 - Rochester

Forest Products Utilization Marketing: Timber Products (8 hrs. MLEP Cr.)

This one day workshop focuses on utilization and marketing of forest products as a tool to help accomplish forest management and provide revenue to landowners and land managers. The morning session will include updates on current resources and markets for traditional forest products, biomass, carbon credits and agro-forestry. Also included will be technology options for informing product appraisal and sorting decisions. The afternoon will consist of a field session at a logging site to discuss utilization & marketing items such as timber sale terms, assimilation of new technologies; logger decisions on marketing and sorting, and how to get full value for timber from your forest management operation in light of current market conditions and emerging biomass markets. Agenda

This class is sponsored by the Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative, Forest Products Society, MN DNR, UMN, UMD and USFS. Register through MLEP to ensure you receive credit for the class.

July 27 - Grand Rapids COMPLETED

GPS & Landview for Loggers, Foresters, Landowners (8 hrs. MLEP Cr.)

This hands-on workshop provides a brief overview of the basics of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology and will include detailed instruction for customizing settings, marking a location, mapping a boundary, and calculating acreage. In addition, participants will create & navigate waypoints, tracks and routes. The workshop is a hybrid of the Introduction and Intermediate GPS classes we have offered in the past. The curriculum has been overhauled and updated for use with the Garmin GPS MAP 76csx receivers that we will use in the workshop.

Additional Cost: $10 equipment fee for MLEP members due when submitting your registration.

April 24 - Grand Rapids COMPLETED

Healthy Fields and Forests (4 hrs. MLEP Cr.) register

This half-day workshop allows you to help yourself while improving the health of your land. Join hosts Mike and Pete Greeheck to learn from experts about the latest in forestry, invasive species control,habitat managment,and stream restoration. Agenda - Outline and directions

This class is sponsored by the Aldo Leopold Foundation, American Forest Foundation, Minnesota Forestry Association, and Minnesota DNR. Register through MLEP to ensure you receive credit for the class!

September 25 - Kellogg

Intermediate Stand Treatments (8 hrs. MLEP Cr.) register

This workshop will include an overview of intermediate treatments for natural resource professionals, loggers, and landowners so all people involved can use the same terminology, see examples of traditional and non-traditional uses of these treatments,  learn about operability for these processes plus examples of equipment, and the economics of doing the treatments from short term to long term perspectives. 

September 14 - Cloquet

Landview for Loggers, Foresters, Landowners (8 hrs. MLEP Cr.)

Putting state-wide aerial photos, mapping and other geographic information at your fingertips.  This workshop will provide training on Landview (a free Geographic Information System (GIS) developed by MN DNR for non-GIS users).  The workshop will take place in a computer lab where participants will use Landview to: browse spatial data; create simple point, line, and polygon shapefiles; download and upload data to a Garmin GPS; and create, view, and print maps; download shapefiles from the MN DNR data deli; customize overlay layers and work with attribute tables.

April 23 - International Falls COMPLETED

Logger Conferences (4 hrs. MLEP Cr. and 4-8 hrs. LogSafe Cr.)

NEW FORMAT!  To accommodate the reduced training hours requirement, the conference format has been modified.  The new format will provide MLEP and OSHA training on Day One and CPR/First-Aid training on Day Two.  For those that only need 4 hours of MLEP and 4 hours of OSHA training for 2010, you can complete all your training on Day One of the conference.  Those needing 4 hours of MLEP and 8 hours of CPR/First-Aid training can attend the second half of Day One and all day on Day Two.  Participants may also register for only the OSHA, MLEP or CPR/First-Aid portion of the conference.  If you have any questions about what training you need for 2010, please contact the MLEP office.

Day One
The conference will begin with a group welcome session that will provide details on the day’s events.  Participants will then choose from a variety of OSHA breakout sessions. After lunch, there will be another group session that will include an MLEP/SFI Program update followed by MLEP breakout sessions. At this time, tentative OSHA breakout sessions include: landing zone safety, power line safety and lock out/tag out.  Tentative MLEP breakout sessions include: get your game on - interactive logging & forestry facts, timber sale marketing & bidding study results and more. 

Day Two
CPR/First-Aid certification and recertification.  This year, the CPR/First-Aid curriculum has been revised to include new information on wilderness first aid.

April 6 & 7 - Fortune Bay Resort, Tower COMPLETED

April 13 & 14 - Northern Lights Convention Center, Walker COMPLETED

Oversize/Overweight Permitting (4 hrs. MLEP Cr.)

This MnDOT class will show you time-saving ways to apply for your OS/OW transportation permits. Training includes: explaining the various annual and seasonal permits and how to apply for them; how to record and authorize trips on your annual permit; how to store individual vehicle information for later retrieval without having to re-enter the data; how to search a previous permit and use it as a template for a new permit; how to properly enter vehicle axle configurations; how to evaluate your route, or let the system find you a route; weight restrictions and more.

April 23 - Duluth COMPLETED

Responding to Change - Financial Tools and Planning (4 hrs. MLEP Cr.)

During these challenging times understanding your costs, risks, and financial position are more important than ever. Participants in this workshop will review the financial tools available to help manage day-to-day operations.  Then the workshop will shift its focus from operations management to strategic thinking.  We will discuss emerging biomass markets and build the framework for creating a business plan that addresses the changes taking place in today’s timber industry.

March 24 - Rochester CANCELLED - low registration
April 27 - Brainerd CANCELLED - low registration
May 11 - Grand Marais COMPLETED

Stewardship for Early-Successional Habitat Birds within Minnesota’s Forested Regions (8 hrs. MLEP Cr.)

The Sustainable Forests Education Cooperative is teaming up with the
Minnesota DNR, US Fish & Wildlife Service and Wildlife Management Institute
to educate professional land practitioners about sharp-tailed grouse, American
woodcock, and golden-winged warblers’ habitat needs as well as identify
opportunities to design and implement habitat management activities.
An afternoon field tour will feature "on the ground" examples of management
aimed at benefitting these bird species. View flyer here (.pdf document)

May 5 - Cloquet COMPLETED

Truck Weight Compliance Training (8 hrs. MLEP Cr.) register

The training has been updated to reflect 2009 truck weight legislative changes. Participants will review the laws governing gross weights, road-restriction weights, axle weights, and seasonally increased weights. The workshop will also address the differences between the state and local systems, road damage issues, reading weight charts, and the advantages and reasons for proper tire sizes, axle spacing, and axle configurations. Professional and easy to understand classroom and “take home” materials will help you identify potential concerns with your own trucks and assist you in optimizing your own configurations and options.

This workshop is being funded by the Minnesota Department of Transportation. The instructor is retired State Patrol Lieutenant Greg A. Hayes.

This workshop includes coffee breaks and program materials. Registrants are on their own for lunch.
Jan. 13 - Detroit Lakes COMPLETED
Jan. 20 - Owatonna COMPLETED
Jan. 27 - Arden Hills COMPLETED
Feb. 17 - St. Cloud COMPLETED
Feb. 24 - E Grand Forks COMPLETED
Mar. 10 - Marshall COMPLETED
Mar. 12 - Alexandria COMPLETED
Mar. 24 - Bloomington COMPLETED
Mar. 25 - Mankato COMPLETED
Apr. 7 - Duluth COMPLETED
Apr. 14 - Alexandria COMPLETED
Apr. 21 - Rochester COMPLETED
June 29 - Hallock COMPLETED
Sep. 29 - Arden Hills
Oct. 6 - Mankato
Oct. 14 - St. Cloud
Oct. 20 - Bemidji
Oct. 27 - Alexandria

Plan Ahead - 2011 Dates (can be used for next year's MLEP credit)
Jan. 12 - Detroit Lakes
Jan. 19 - Owatonna
Jan. 27 - Arden Hills
Feb. 2 - St. Cloud
Feb. 10 - E Grand Forks
Mar. 2 - Marshall
Mar. 10 - Alexandria
Mar. 16 - Mankato
Mar. 23 - Bloomington
Mar. 23 - Duluth

LogSafe - CPR/First Aid Certification* (8 hrs. LogSafe Cr.) register

This year’s First Aid classes will include a customized segment that encompasses some of injuries common to logging. Logging is an occupation where a combination of adverse conditions, use of machinery and limited access to EMS create special challenges.  This segment will more closely cover the following subjects to help prepare the logger in an emergency situation:
Head, face and hand injuries
Bone, joint and muscle injuries
Splinting and bandaging techniques
Moving a victim with potential spine injuries
Burns
Hypothermia, frost bite & heat related emergencies
March 30 - Baudette COMPLETED
March 31 - International Falls COMPLETED
April 1 - International Falls COMPLETED
April 7 - Tower (Logger Conference) COMPLETED
April 8 - Two Harbors COMPLETED
April 14 - Walker (Logger Conference) COMPLETED
April 15 - Sandstone COMPLETED
April 20 - Grand Rapids COMPLETED
April 21 - Grand Rapids COMPLETED
April 22 - Sandstone COMPLETED
April 28 - Brainerd COMPLETED
May 4 - Bemidji COMPLETED
May 12 - Cloquet COMPLETED
May 13 - Cloquet COMPLETED
October 5 - International Falls
October 6 - Bemidji
October 12 - Cloquet FULL
October 13 - Brainerd
December 7 - Hibbing

*The OSHA Logging Standard requires employers to assure that each employee, including supervisors, receives or has received First Aid and CPR training and that each employee's First Aid and CPR training remain current.  In most cases, this would require completing the First Aid and CPR certification every other year.

LogSafe - OSHA Safety (4 hrs. LogSafe Cr.) register

This year’s OSHA training will feature one of three topics:
Electrical Safety – this course will review the principles of AC vs. DC current, electrical hazards and include live demonstrations of the effects of electrical current on the human body.  Other electrical issues will also be addressed.
Fire Safety – presentation includes prevention, gasoline & propane hazards, and fire extinguisher types and use.
Defensive Driving – Other drivers can make roads a dangerous place to be.   This course will address risk management, trailer safety and handling, near misses and right-a-ways regarding non-traditional traffic like snowmobiles and ATVs.

March 24 (AM)- Rochester - Defensive Driving
March 30 - Baudette - Fire Safety
March 31 - International Falls - Electrical Safety
April 1 - International Falls - Electrical Safety
April 2 - International Falls - Electrical Safety CANCELLED-low registration
April 6 - Tower Logger Conference
April 8 - Two Harbors - Defensive Driving
April 13 - Walker Logger Conference
April 20 - Grand Rapids - Fire Safety
April 21 - Grand Rapids - Fire Safety
April 22 - Grand Rapids - Fire Safety CANCELLED-low registration
April 27 - Biwabik - Electrical Safety CANCELLED-low registration
April 28 - Brainerd - Electrical Safety
April 29 - Brainerd - Electrical Safety CANCELLED-low registration
May 4 - Bemidji - Defensive Driving
May 5 - Bemidji - Defensive Driving
May 12 - Cloquet - Fire Safety
October 5 - International Falls - Electrical Safety
October 6 - Bemidji - Defensive Driving
October 7 - Bemidji - Defensive Driving
October 12 - Cloquet - Fire Safety
October 13 - Cloquet - Fire Safety
December 7 - Hibbing - Electrical Safety