Sign up now for a firearms safety hunter education class

Now is a great time for people to sign up for a hunter education firearms safety class offered by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

“Volunteer Instructors from throughout the state are calling in right now to set up spring classes, so this is the time to get your son or daughter registered before the fall hunting seasons begin,” said Acting Capt. Jon Paurus, DNR hunter education coordinator.

Anyone born after Dec. 31, 1979 must take a DNR safety training course and receive a certificate of completion before purchasing a license for big or small game. 

“Every year we have hopeful hunters who wait until the last minute to take a hunter safety class only to find out they have missed their opportunity to do so,” Paurus said. “The fall is when many of our volunteer instructors would like to be enjoying the outdoors as well, which means it can be more difficult to find a class.”

Also, hunters frequently encounter problems when they hunt states where more stringent hunter education requirements are required. For example, Colorado requires a hunter education certificate for anyone born after Jan. 1, 1949, and neighboring states such as North Dakota and Iowa have requirements for those born after 1961 and 1967. 

For a list of classes or to check requirements from other states please visit the Safety/Education webpage at http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/index.html.

Classes generally fill up quickly but check the listing often as more classes are being added daily. For more information, call 651-296-6157 or toll-free 888-646-6367.

Want to learn how to fish? Consider asking a friend for help.

Ask another angler and they’ll likely take you fishing,” said Mike Kurre, mentoring coordinator with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. “The number one thing is to ask. Fishing with someone else can simply be more fun.”

To start, anglers might not need to buy gear or a license because in most cases, Minnesotans don’t need a license to fish in Minnesota state parks and fishing kits can be checked out through a free loaner program. For locations, see www.mndnr.gov/state_parks/loaner.

Classes for kids and adults are listed on the DNR Take a Kid Fishing page at www.mndnr.gov/takeakidgfishing. They include:

• I Can Fish! Classes led by a naturalist. Discover what it takes to start fishing. Rods, reels and bait provided.
• I Can Trout Fish! Classes provide fishing gear. License requirements are waived. Learn about trout, the food they eat, and how to catch and release trout. 
• Fly fishing classes introduce the fundamentals, including how to cast or cast more accurately.

Classes are scheduled from Sunday, May 25, to Saturday, Aug. 30.

Extension offers Food Safety classes in Moorhead

MARSHALL, Minn. (01/16/2014) — University of Minnesota Extension is offering two courses to help food service establishments meet the educational requirement for Certified Food Managers.

The initial certification course, called ServSafeâ, will be offered on Thursday, March 6, 2014 at the Travelodge and Suites in Moorhead.  The class will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with the test following at 4:30 p.m.  Participants must attend all day to be eligible to take the certification exam. This course includes information about safe food preparation, handling, sanitation and prevention of foodborne illnesses.  Registration is required by February 20, 2014.

Certification renewal for food managers will be held on Wednesday, March 5, 2014 from 1-5 p.m.   It will be held at the Travelodge and Suites.  Certified Food Managers need four hours of continuing education credits within three years of becoming certified.  University of Minnesota Extension educators and University specialists developed the four-hour Serve It Up Safely ™ renewal course that meets these criteria.   Registration is due by February 19, 2014.

Pre-registration is required. For a registration brochure or for more information call 507-337-2819 or contact Connie Schwartau at schwa047@umn.edu. 

The Food Safety Manager Certification Course and Serve It Up Safely renewal course are also available on-line.   To get more information about all of these classes go to extension.umn.edu/food-safety or contact Connie Schwartau at schwa047@umn.edu at 507-337-2819.  

Snowmobile Safety Class

A Snowmobile Safety Class will be held on Saturday, December 14th from 8am to 2pm at Moorhead Senior High School, 2300 4th Ave. So., in Moorhead. Registration will be from 7:30-8am. The event is sponsored by Clay County Trail Blazers Snowmobile Club (www.claytrails.org), who will also provide pizza lunch.

REQUIREMENTS:

1)    Must be 12 years old before 3/31/14

2)     Successfully complete and pass all sections on the MN Snowmobile safety training CD.

3)     Printed and signed copy of the voucher of completion offered at the end of the Snowmobile safety training CD.

4)    Birth Certificate or drivers license required

5)    Anyone under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian during registration.

6)    Dress according to the weather. Inside class, outside ride. Bring helmet if you have one, if not we will supply one.

Snowmobiles will be supplied. Do not bring your sled!

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Training CD’s available at the Clay County DMV or the Moorhead Law Enforcement Center.  For questions contact;

Marc Simonet at MaSmn2@aol.com or Phone # 701-793-7977

Harvey Moos at hmoos321@gmail.com  or phone # 701-238-8327

http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/index.html (800) 366-8917, or email at info.dnr@state.mn.us.

NDSU Master Gardener Classes Set to Start Sept. 27

North Dakota master gardener training is more convenient and flexible than ever, according to Esther McGinnis, the North Dakota State University Extension Service master gardener coordinator.

The core master gardener course will be offered online and in a traditional classroom setting. If weekday morning classes conflict with an individual's schedule, the classes can be watched online. Also, all assignments will be online.

The traditional classroom training will be conducted at several locations in the state, including Ashley, Bismarck, Cooperstown, Devils Lake, Dickinson, Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot, Napoleon, Wahpeton, Watford City and Williston.

The online and classroom sessions will run for eight weeks beginning Sept. 27 and ending Nov. 15. The training sessions will be held every Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (CDT).

"Topics will include annual and perennial flowers, selecting and planting trees and shrubs, soil health, plant diseases and pests, landscape design, vegetable and fruit production and so much more," McGinnis says.

The cost is $150 for those wishing to become a certified master gardener and $300 for those just interested in taking the class. Computer knowledge and Internet access is required. All handouts will be available online for participants to access and print.

Certified master gardeners are required to complete 48 hours of approved volunteer work through their NDSU county Extension agent. The volunteer work should be completed within 24 months following the completion of classes.

"The master gardener program goes beyond ordinary and invests in creating leaders to serve the needs of their communities," McGinnis says. "Master gardeners become ambassadors to assist the NDSU Extension Service in providing accurate and environmentally sustainable horticultural advice."

For more information, contact your local NDSU Extension Service office or McGinnis at (701) 231-7406.

To register, go to http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/mastergardener. All registration is done online and payment is by credit card or electronic check only. The registration deadline is Friday, Sept. 13.

Online firearms safety hunter course now available for adults

Minnesota residents 18 and older can now take the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources’ firearms (DNR) safety hunter education course online.

The new training option includes a virtual field day that emphasizes responsible gun handling and hunting safety. Students who complete the course are issued a voucher that they can use to complete their certification immediately or attend an instructor led field day.

“This will greatly increase certification accessibility to working adults and military personnel who traditionally have conflicts trying to scheduling a multi-week classroom course,” said Capt. Mike Hammer, DNR Enforcement education program coordinator.

Minnesota and Iowa are the first states to offer this option for adults. The online course takes about nine hours to complete and is interactive with narration, quizzes and final exam. Both the main course and field day include a virtual range where students can shoot various firearms and action types at a variety of targets and distances. There’s even instruction on how to properly sight-in rifles and pattern a shotgun.

“This is a great addition to our computer based adult safety training programs,” Hammer said. “We think it will be a huge success and create even more safe hunters.”

http://www.huntercourse.com/usa/minnesota/

Extension offers Food Safety classes in Moorhead

MARSHALL, Minn. (07/08/2013) — University of Minnesota Extension is offering two

courses to help food service establishments meet the educational requirement for Certified Food

Managers.

The initial certification course, called ServSafeâ, will be offered on Thursday, August 29, 2013

at the Travelodge and Suites in Moorhead. The class will run from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with the

test following at 4:30 p.m. Participants must attend all day to be eligible to take the certification

exam. This course includes information about safe food preparation, handling, sanitation and

prevention of foodborne illnesses. Registration is required by August 15, 2013.

Certification renewal for food managers will be held on Wednesday, August 28, 2013 from 1-5

p.m. It will be held at the Travelodge and Suites. Certified Food Managers need four hours of

continuing education credits within three years of becoming certified. University of Minnesota

Extension educators and University specialists developed the four-hour Serve It Up Safely ™

renewal course that meets these criteria. Registration is due by August 14, 2013.

 

Pre-registration is required. For a registration brochure or for more information call 507-337-

2819 or contact Connie Schwartau at schwa047@umn.edu.

 

The Food Safety Manager Certification Course and Serve It Up Safely renewal course are also

available on-line. To get more information about all of these classes go to extension.umn.edu/

food-safety or contact Connie Schwartau at schwa047@umn.edu at 507-337-2819.

-------

Source: Connie Schwartau, Extension Program Coordinator in Food Science, U of M Extension

Regional Office, Marshall

Now is the time to take a hunter safety course

With the fall hunting seasons just around the corner, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) urges hunters to sign up now for a hunter education class.

"Though classes are held throughout the year, their numbers peak in the summer and early fall," said Capt. Mike Hammer, DNR Enforcement Division education program coordinator. "So now is the time to sign up and complete a course, because once the hunting season gets rolling, it might be too late."

Besides ensuring the ability to hunt this year, taking the class sooner rather than later means more time for scouting hunting locations, sighting-in rifles, practicing shotgun skills and securing permission to hunt on private lands.

Minnesota hunters born after Dec. 31, 1979, must take a DNR hunter education firearms safety training course and receive a certificate of completion before buying a license for big or small game.

Classes are taught by DNR certified volunteers in their local communities. Students, depending on their age, have a few options to become certified. Regardless of which option they choose the course provides them with basic safe firearms handling skills, wildlife identification, outdoor skills and responsibility that accompanies hunting and firearms use.

Classes fill-up fast. To find a class, visit http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/safety/firearms/index.html, 651-296-6157 or toll-free 888-646-6367.

Red Cross Community Course Schedules - Fargo

FARGO, N.D. (Aug. 7, 2012) — Each year, more than 5 million people learn lifesaving skills in American Red Cross training classes and people in the Jamestown area, can join the ranks of these everyday heroes by taking a class now.

The First Aid and CPR/AED course teaches people how to perform CPR and use an AED, what to do if someone is choking, and how to prevent and respond to other emergencies until advanced medical help arrives. Course participants also learn how to control bleeding as well as how to care for seizures and other sudden illnesses, as well as will be offered for specialization in pediatric lifesaving skills.

The Babysitter’s Training course will give 11-15 year-olds the skills and confidence to safely and responsibly care for children and infants, as well as some tools to help them get started in their own babysitting business.

Caregiving skills take prospective young sitters from feeding to diapering and playtime to bedtime routines. Participants also learn how to handle emergencies such as injuries, illnesses and household accidents.

Red Cross training courses meet OSHA guidelines, feature hands-on skills practice and include 2 year certifications, free digital materials and skill refreshers. Visit redcross.org/training or call 1-800-RED-CROSS for details and to register for a class.

Courses are subject to cancellation without notification. Advance registration is required.

Minn-Kota Chapter 2602 12th St. North, Fargo, ND

                           

Course	Date	Time	Location	Cost
Pediatric CPR/AED Review	8/13/2012	6:00-8:30pm	Chapter Office	$55.00
First Aid Review	8/13/2012	8:00-10:00pm	Chapter Office	$55.00
Adult CPR/AED Review	8/14/2012	6:30-9:00pm	Chapter Office	$55.00
Babysitter’s Training	8/15/2012	9:30am-4:00pm	Chapter Office	$85.00
First Aid Review	8/16/2012	12:30-2:30pm	Chapter Office	$55.00
Adult CPR/AED*	9/6/2012	9:00-10:30am	Chapter Office	$70.00
First Aid*	9/6/2012	9:00-10:30am	Chapter Office	$70.00
CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer*	9/6/2012	9:00-10:30am	Chapter Office	$110.00
Adult CPR/AED Review	9/8/2012	9:00-11:30am	Chapter Office	$55.00
First Aid Review	9/8/2012	12:30-2:30pm	Chapter Office	$55.00
Pediatric CPR/AED Review	9/10/2012	6:00-8:30pm	Chapter Office	$55.00
First Aid Review	9/10/2012	8:00-10:00pm	Chapter Office	$55.00
Adult CPR/AED Review	9/11/2012	6:30-9:00pm	Chapter Office	$55.00
Adult CPR/AED Review	9/13/2012	9:00-11:30am	Chapter Office	$55.00
First Aid Review	9/13/2012	12:30-2:30pm	Chapter Office	$55.00
First Aid Review	9/13/2012	6:30-8:30pm	Chapter Office	$55.00
Adult CPR/AED Review	10/13/2012	9:00-11:30am	Chapter Office	$55.00
First Aid Review	10/13/2012	12:00-2:30pm	Chapter Office	$55.00
Pediatric CPR/AED Review	10/15/2012	6:00-8:30pm	Chapter Office	$55.00
First Aid Review	10/15/2012	8:00-10:00pm	Chapter Office	$55.00
Adult CPR/AED Review	10/16/2012	6:30-9:00pm	Chapter Office	$55.00
*Web Based/Classroom-Online component must be completed before class.
Course	Date	Time	Location	Cost
Adult CPR/AED Review	10/18/2012	9:00-11:30am	Chapter Office	$55.00
First Aid Review	10/18/2012	12:30-2:30pm	Chapter Office	$55.00