The Oneida County Sheriff’s Department will hold a snowmobile safety course in early January.
The course is designed for younger snowmobilers to teach them how to operate a snowmobile safely and responsibly. But anyone can take the course.
Participants aged 12 and over are eligible to participate and receive their safety certificate.
Deputy Michael Baran is entering his sixthe year of teaching the snowmobile safety course and looks forward to seeing students on the trails.
“I enjoy it. I see success for the kids.” Baran said: “How excited they are when they get to drive after completing the course. Hopefully we’ll get some snow. It doesn’t look great right now, but hopefully that will change in the coming weeks so we can get the trails open.
The course will focus on the basics of snowmobiling, such as handling, etiquette and off-road safety, and how to be a responsible rider throughout the state.
“It’s important to teach these things especially safety and responsibility so we can keep the trails open.” Baran said, “So that we don’t lose some of the trails to people driving off the route. That’s one of the biggest things we see and that the clubs have to deal with.”
The course will be held on January 6 at the Oneida County Sheriff’s Office in their community roome and 7e from 4:00 PM to 7:00 PM.
Participants can register online via the Rijnlander School District website.
Baran says there are only a few spots left, so those interested should register as soon as possible.