Courses and Workshops

See below for course offerings at the research forest. Courses are intended for UBC Faculty, Staff, Teaching Assistants and students.

Course Calendar

DateCourseLocationRegister
May 19, 2023Basic Chainsaw Operators CourseBCIT, Burnaby & MKRF, Maple RidgeContact to Register
May 2, 2023S100A Fire Suppression RefresherMKRF, Maple RidgeContact to Register
May 3-4, 2023 (FULL)S100 Fires SuppressionBCIT Woodlot & MKRF, Maple RidgeContact for Waitlist
May 24, 2023Birding & Bird EcologyOnlineRegister Now
May 28, 2023Birding & Bird EcologyMaplewood Flats, North VancouverRegister Now
June 2, 20234WD Driver’s TrainingMKRF, Maple RidgeRegister Now
June 3, 2023UTV Driver’s TrainingMKRF, Maple RidgeRegister Now
June 3-4, 2023Waterfront Canoe InstructorLoon Lake, Maple RidgeComing Soon
June 11, 2023Birding & Bird EcologyColony Farm Regional Park, Port CoquitlamRegister Now
June 18-20, 2023Remote First Aid + OFA 1MKRF, Maple RidgeRegister Now
June 23-25, 2023Remote First Aid + OFA 1MKRF, Maple RidgeRegister Now

Course Descriptions

Remote First Aid + OFA 1 (22 hours)

Facilitator: Ridge Wilderness

Location: Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, Maple Ridge

Dates: February 21-23, 2023 | April 30-May 2, 2023 | June 18-20, 2023 | June 23-25, 2023

Rate: $299.95

  • Comprehensive first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills for those who live or work in a non-urban or remote workplace or community, or who are outdoor recreation enthusiasts. Participants will gain the skills and training required for planning, preventing injury, and promoting individual safety in a remote setting.  Includes strategies for providing extended care in a remote setting for up to 24 hours. Part of the course is taught in an outdoor setting and requires greater physical activity and endurance than typical first aid training. OFA1 equivalency is available. Course consists of 2 hours in the evening of the first day (7pm-9pm), followed by 10 hour sessions the remaining 2 days (8:30am-6:30pm).

Register: April 30- May 2  |  June 18-20  |  June 23-25

Standard First Aid (16 hours)

Facilitator: Ridge Wilderness 

Location: UBC Campus

Dates: TBD

Rate: $149.95

  • Comprehensive two-day course offering first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills for those who need training due to work requirements or who want more knowledge to respond to emergencies at home. Course meets legislation requirements for provincial/territorial worker safety and insurance boards and includes the latest first aid and CPR guidelines.

Register: Coming Soon

Emergency First Aid (8 hours)

Facilitator: Ridge Wilderness

Location: Malcolm Knapp Research Forest, Maple Ridge

Dates: March 7, 2023 | May 3, 2023

Rate: $104.95

  • Basic one-day course offering an overview of first aid and cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills for the workplace or home.Includes the latest first aid and CPR guidelines. Meets OHS regulations for Basic First Aid. Exceeds competitors’ standards by including injury prevention content, CPR Level C and AED.

Register: March 7 | May 3

Basic Chainsaw Operators Course

Facilitator: BCIT

Location: Day 1: BCIT, Burnaby ; Day 2: MKRF, Maple Ridge

Dates: May 19,2023 (exact dates TBD)

Rate: Contact for rate

  • This course educates participants in safe work procedures and saw handling principles necessary to safely operate a chainsaw. While developed for the forest industry, the course is open to anyone. This basic training does NOT qualify participants to produce bucking cuts on steep terrain nor to fall trees, where more advanced skills training is required. This course is available in English only. Participants will receive a wallet card and record of completion after successfully finishing the course.

Register: Contact Jeremy Watkins for available space and to register.

S100 Fire Suppression & S100A Refresher

Facilitator: Kelly Hatfull

Location: Day 1: BCIT Woodlot, Maple Ridge ; Day 2: MKRF, Maple Ridge

Dates: S100: May 3-4, 2023 (FULL – Contact for waitlist) | S100A: May 2, 2023

Rate: Contact for rate

  • Upon successful completion of the course, the candidate will demonstrate a basic knowledge of wildland fire suppression organization structure, wild fire behavior, and suppression and safety procedures.
  • Practical skills with equipment used in BC to effectively and safely respond to wildfires is a mandatory component for initial ticket holders.
  • For industry workers who may be required to take fire control as outlined to the Wildfire Act and Regulations (loggers, truck drivers etc.).
  • Annual certification is mandatory.
  • The S-100 is a two day, 16-hour course with both a classroom and a field component. The annual refresher is a one-day, four-hour course and does not include a field component. Both the S-100 and S-100 Recert are good for one year from date of delivery. If a person has taken either course within the last five years, they would only need to take the S-100 Recert to be considered trained for the following year. If more than five years have passed since a person has taken either course, they would need to re-take the two-day, S-100 course again.

Register: Contact Jeremy Watkins for available space and to register.

Birding and Bird Ecology

Facilitator: Dr. Eric Anderson

Location: Various

Dates: May 24, 2023 (online), May 28, 2023 (field), June 11, 2023 (field)

Rate: Online $45 ($40 students) | Field $65 ($58 students)

  • Are you an aspiring or novice birder who is interested in increasing your knowledge of bird identification, as well as bird ecology and conservation?  Join us for an exciting Birding & Bird Ecology workshop. This course will introduce you to the tools and techniques needed to identify birds and enhance those skills by developing a foundation of bird ecology and conservation.  This session will focus on developing skills to identify 20-30 common species.

    Field sessions will hone identification skills and expand an ecological understanding of birds. Identification of birds will focus on field markings, vocalizations, and behaviors.Field sessions will be held at Maplewood Flats Conservation Area and Colony Farm Regional Park.

Register Now

4WD Driver’s Training

Facilitator: Arc Off-Road

Location: MKRF, Maple Ridge

Dates: June 2, 2023

Rate: $175 +gst

  • Prepare for operations in difficult environments.

    • Learn more about your 4WD vehicle and recovery systems.
    • Discover new techniques to improve your 4WD Operations.
    • Develop skills to operate your vehicle safely, efficiently and preserve your equipment knowing you can overcome any challenge safely.
    • Train in actual conditions, your 4WD training will take place in similar conditions to your operations.

Limited spaces available.

Register Now

UTV Driver’s Training

Facilitator: Arc Off-Road

Location: MKRF, Maple Ridge

Dates: June 3, 2023

Rate: $175 +gst

  • Prepare for UTV operations.

    • Attend a 1-day Canada Safety Council (CSC) UTV driver safety course to learn how to safely operate a UTV.
    • Upon completion of the course you will receive a CSC UTV Operators Certificate.

Limited spaces available.

Register Now

Waterfront Canoe Instructor Course

Facilitator: Ridge Wilderness

Location: Loon Lake, Maple Ridge

Dates: June 3-4, 2023

Rate: TBD

  • The Waterfront Instructor is an entry-level instructor program designed for those individuals that would like to teach in a small designated area (80 x 100 metres) such as a pond or lake beachfront in calm waters. This certification has expanded from camp counsellors to canoe club leaders, teachers and scout and guide leaders and others that want to teach through games in this safe and calm designated area. A Waterfront Instructor is certified to conduct Paddle Canada Waterfront Program.

Register: Coming Soon!