HYBRID 17 GUIDE TO YOUR SPRING 2023!

Hello folx!

In a world that seems to be in constant flux, the seasons march on. It is spring, and we are seasonal people whose lives are intricately linked to our planets' orbit.  Whatever else is happening in the world, we have this consistency to look forward to- a place and time we can exist without so much outside noise. I love that, being tied to something as simple as the change of season and the weather outside our windows, rather than a screen, or a spreadsheet.  To me, Spring planting season represents a break and reset from the ordinary business of the everyday.  As the Thinking Fellers Union Local 282 said in their song "Hundreds of Years" back in 1994-

"Trees may last hundreds of years

but you honk your horn and grind your gears"

Time to set aside the honking and grinding. We can always return to it later...

This email will cover a lot of ground and will serve as a single document that you can refer to over the next few weeks. You can also find this email as a post on our 2023 H17 pre-season blog. Please read through it carefully and make sure to complete all required forms and training. This will help us to ensure a smooth start to our season. There are changes to this document from last year so please read the whole thing.


A Thorough Overview of the Expected Rest of Your Spring…

1. PRE-SEASON

2. HEALTH & TRAVEL

3. ARRIVAL

4. TRAINING

5. PLANT

6. OTHER details 

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1. PRE-SEASON

This month (April) there are a number of things we require from you! Please make your way through these forms and training links - the earlier the better - so that we are all well prepared for the season  >>>

You will need to go through and watch our training videos and take the tests provided (you will need the internet, more on that below). You MUST complete the training before you arrive! The satellite internet we have in camp can’t be relied upon for mass streaming of video content.

If you haven’t already, please fill out our Hybrid 17 employee info form to let us know your food choice, t-shirt size, etc.:

We also require everyone to fill out a confidential Medical History form & Worker-Contractor agreement prior to arriving:

If you have a Dawg! - You should have been forwarded our policy. We are asking that all dog owners read and submit a signed copy of our policy prior to the season – you can follow the link below to get that in to us. You will need a backup plan in writing for what you plan to do with a dog that needs to be sent away from camp.

If you will be driving any Hybrid 17 company rented / owned vehicle this season - please fill this out as soon as you can so we can put you on the insurance! (this happens in early April):

The last 2 weeks before the season starts is an excellent time to get ready for the season and finish up the preseason fitness training: Fit To Plant Program / Fit To Plant Video / Total Physio Pre-season Training Workout Video

You can stay up to date on minor updates, rideshares, and other tidbits through the Hybrid 17 Facebook Page.

You should also be gathering the things you’ll need to pack for planting. We’ve put together a handy dandy packing list that you can find here: H17 What We Need (Packing List)

You will need to make sure your provincial medical insurance is in order before you come to work! VERY IMPORTANT! Please ensure that if you need to pay, your payments are up to date, and that you are insured by the correct province. If you have Quebec medical coverage, please check the residency requirements here: https://www.ramq.gouv.qc.ca/en/citizens/temporary-stays-outside-quebec/health-insurance/Pages/eligibility-during-stay.aspx

2. HEALTH & TRAVEL

COVID has changed, again.  With any luck, things will look similarly as we enter the season.

That said, it has been remarkable how many of you have mentioned being sick with COVID as I have talked to you over the fall and winter.  And NOBODY had an easy time of it.  It is a very debilitating disease, and it is still highly contagious.  We do not want this in our camp!

The best way to make it through the season safely is to not bring COVID or any other illness to camp. We are encouraging everyone to be up to date with vaccines.  We want people to make safe choices in the week before planting- attending parties and shows and gigs are not the safest choices. If you fly, wear a mask. Take precautions and arrive healthy.

We are asking you to self-monitor for illness symptoms. It does not need to be recorded like in the past, but a check-in with yourself every day about how your body is feeling is very important. If you get sick within a week of travelling/start date, let us know so we can come up with a plan for getting you to work safely. There are many colds and flu's going around right now, as well as COVID, and we'd like to keep all sicknesses to a minimum. COVID could still shut a camp down, so please, let's be diligent. Over the last 3 seasons, we have topped up missed day wages for anyone who has missed work because of COVID or COVID symptoms, and will do so again. 

Last year, we had a single case of COVID.  And thanks to the diligence of that person, that was as far as it went.  As soon as they began to feel symptoms, this person reported and isolated themselves.  We took it from there, and made sure that they were safe, comfortable and fairly compensated for the time they had to take off. If this person had decided to work one more day, and hack and cough their way to the block in a crowded truck, things could have been very different. The best way we can deal with COVID (if it comes to camp despite our preseason efforts) is to report symptoms immediately, isolate, and limit the spread throughout camp. 

3. ARRIVAL

Erin / Jub / Ella - planters should plan to arrive @ Takysie Lake Resort on May 3rd or 4th

Rose / Courtney / Graham - planters should plan to arrive @ Fraser Lake Bush Camp on May 3rd or 4th. There will be a simple dinner on May 4th in camp.

Grant / Ale / Danika / Julian - planters should plan to arrive @ (*location TBD!) on May 3rd or 4th (*snow dependent- stay tuned!)

*If you are a driver you will need to arrive on May 2nd and if you are a JOSHC member / First Aid Taper, you will need to arrive on May 1st!

Upon arrival, please find your crewboss or camp supervisor so you can get the low down on camp - where to park/tent, safety things, camp specific rules, first meeting time/place etc. etc.

If you would like to arrive earlier than these dates (and you are not involved in the driver/JOSHC training), please check with your crewboss first to make sure we can accommodate you.

4. TRAINING

There are four phases to our general orientation training that everyone must do!

1. Completion of all our online training MODULES before arriving. 

You will need internet. You will have to create a user login, but it's not too invasive and you shouldn't get any ongoing email notifications or spam. Our online training is comprised of 26 sections that reflect Hybrid 17’s Health and Safety policies and procedures. You'll have to watch the videos, read the material, and answer quiz questions. It also contains the early 90's cult classic film "Staying Safe in Bear Country" as well as the full catalogue of Total Physio planting injury management videos, which will replace the in-person presentation again this year.


The training does not need to be completed all at once, and there’s a fair amount of content to go through, so give yourself some time to work through it. It can be done on a phone, tablet or laptop. Your progress will be saved as you go. Everyone's time and progress is tracked, and everything needs to be 100% completed by May 1st. And yes, if you did the training last year, you will also need to do it again this year.


You can access our online training here:


2023 HYBRID 17 ONLINE TRAINING LINK Note: if you signed up and completed the training last year, you will need to create a new log-in and password for this year (it can be the same).

2. Attend one of the two virtual NSDP CAMP presentations on reducing sexual harassment & assault in planting camps. (April 13 or 17 @ 1 PM Vancouver time - more info below).

3. Orientation upon arrival at camp (will cover camp specific info & safety)

4. Day 1 in-person training. We will all meet in the morning as a camp before splitting off into crews to cover emergency response procedures & radio use training, then PLANT in the afternoon! (consider day 1 a warm-up day to ease your body in)

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Northern Society for Domestic Peace - CAMP Presentation

There will be a virtual presentation hosted over zoom by the NSDP on sexual harassment & assault in tree planting that everyone must attend. There are 2 dates to choose from – April 13 or 17 @ 1:00pm (Vancouver time). As most of us have seen this presentation before, these will be slightly shorter ‘refresher’ sessions this year. If you cannot attend for any reason please get in touch, and we’ll try to figure out another option. The Northern Society for Domestic Peace (NSDP) is committed to reducing sexual harassment and violence in tree planting and has been doing great work in raising awareness and developing resources for the industry to be a safer place in this respect. Thanks to the NSDP resources and recommendations, Hybrid 17 has a new and improved sexual harassment & assault policy for this year.

Please add either event to your calendar:  

NSDP for Hybrid 17 - Sexual Harassment and Assault in Treeplanting – ZOOM Webinars:

Option 1: Thursday, Apr 13, 2023 @ 1:00 PM Vancouver Time (PST)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2027478631


Option 2: Monday, Apr 17, 2023 @ 1:00 PM Vancouver Time (PST)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/2027478631

(yes, both links are the same)

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Finding our Way

 


If you haven’t seen it already-- we would like you to watch the film “Finding our Way” for essential context on the First Nations history and territory in which we work. As someone who grew up in these territories, I think this is a very accurate and disturbing view into the formidable challenges these people have faced, and will give you background information about the area and its politics. Definitely worth your time! We have licensed this film from the film-maker. Click HERE to view the FB post for more details and how to watch. It can be also be directly accessed here:

https://vimeo.com/showcase/hybrid17

Password: hybrid17

5. PLANT

A brief overview of our 2023 season from a geographical and client-based perspective. Our first day of planting will be May 5th.

First two shifts (May 5-11):

  • *Grant / *Ale  @ Smithers (Jannine supervisin’; Kayla checkin’)

    • planting PIR trees

  • Erin / Jub / Ella @ Takysie (Hannah supervisin’)

    • planting Cheslatta & Chinook COMFOR trees

  • Rose / Courtney / Graham / *Danika / *Julian @ Fraser Lake Bush Camp (Marlon supervisin’; Mariah checkin’)

    • planting Fraser Lake Sawmills & Cheslatta COMFOR trees

*A few crews' starting plans will be especially dependent on how fast the snow melts, so stay tuned and keep in contact with your crewboss for updates as we get closer!

Rest of May:

  • Grant / Ale / Danika / Julian @ Smithers bush camp (Jannine supervisin’; Kayla checkin’)

    • planting PIR & Lake Babine Nation trees

  • Erin / Jub / Ella @ Takysie (Hannah supervisin’)

    • planting Cheslatta & Chinook COMFOR trees

  • Rose / Courtney / Graham / @ Fraser Lake bush camp (Marlon supervisin’; Mariah checkin’)

    • planting Fraser Lake Sawmills & BL COMFOR trees

~ Smithers Camp Move & 4 day mid-season break ~ 

Start of June – end of June:

  • Danika / Courtney / *Ale @ Takysie Lake Resort (Hannah supervisin’)

    • planting Cheslatta & Chinook Community Forest, and Babine Forest Products trees

  • Grant / *Ale / Erin / Julian / Jub @ Burns Lake Bush Camp (Jannine supervisin’; Kayla checkin’)

    • planting BL Comfor trees

  • Rose / Graham / Ella  @ Fraser Lake Bush Camp (Marlon supervisin’; Mariah checkin’)

    • planting Fraser Lake Sawmills, Stellat’en FFT, BL Comfor & Cheslatta Comfor trees

Some camp specifics:

  • For crews staying at Takysie Lake Resort:

    • you will be cooking for yourselves in shared cabins and motel units (no camp costs). Get in touch with your crewboss to help organize your accommodation & cooking groups! 

    • You will need to bring your own bedding, pillows, sheets, towels etc.  as Takysie will not be providing these this year

  • There will be a crew switch happening mid-season at Takysie (see above), to ensure no one subjects themselves to a 60 day diet of Ramen and Annie’s...

  • Camp costs at the bush camps will be $25/day

  • Food will be served on days off in bush camp (and camp costs will apply) unless the entire camp opts out for some reason. 

As with many things treeplanting, this is a rough plan – Plan A, if you will. Should plans change at all, we will provide updates as the season draws near!

6. OTHER DETAILS

MAIL --

The mail address while we're planting will be:

Your Name

c/o [Your Crewboss] @ Hybrid 17 Contracting Ltd 

General Delivery

Burns Lake, BC

V0J 1E0

Mail will be picked up in town and delivered to camp by a designated town runner.

If your family is wondering, you will be working for Hybrid 17 Contracting Ltd. We have 8 clients: Lake Babine Nation, Babine Forest Products, Burns Lake Community Forest, Cheslatta Community Forests, Chinook Community Forests, Fraser Lake Sawmills (West Fraser mill), PIR (West Fraser Mill), & Silvicon (FFT contracts). 

In emergencies your family can email Lasse Lutick at lasselutick@gmail.com, or leave a message for you with Lasse at (250) 692-9495, or Sarah Winsor at (604) 355-9495. Please do not call these numbers or email for non-emergency type things. Your primary contact pre-season is your crewboss, who will help you organize and problem solve any issues you may have. After you arrive, please keep in touch with your family - every year we field calls from worried parents who haven't heard from their offspring and are wondering if they are still alive.

PAYMENT INFO --

We will be paying via direct deposit so please bring a voided cheque or your banking information to camp - this will get you paid right quick.

Preferably, you can upload a photo of your direct deposit info at the link below AND bring it with you if you are new or have changed your bank info from last year:

DIRECT DEPOSIT UPLOAD LINK

(Include your Name, 3 digit bank code, 5 digit transit code and a minimum of a 7 digit bank account number)

INTERNET! --

Our camps will have internet again this year so we can all stay in touch with our friends and family. This will also be a resource for us to have video appointments with physio and doctors if needed. We upgraded our camp internet last year (using the Starlink system) and it seemed to work quite well! Sharing satellite internet amongst a large group still has its limitations and to avoid poor speeds for everyone, please anticipate that there will not always be enough bandwidth for streaming, simultaneous video calls, large file downloading and the like.

LAUNDRY! --

There will be laundry in only one of our bush camps. The Laundry trailer will begin in the Smithers bush camp and switch to the Fraser Lake camp in June (so it is where it is needed most based on proximity to town). There is laundry at Takysie Lake resort. Our laundry trailer is equipped with 4 washers & dryers, and detergent is provided. When using our shared laundry, please be mindful of posted instructions, schedules, and operational hours!

THE BAZAAR (AKA “17-ELEVEN“) --

We won’t be running our general store in camp this year as our camps are a lot closer to town…

DINNER & LUNCHWARE --

Please bring your own Dinnerware (plates, bowls, cups, utensils) as these will NOT be provided this year! As well, bring some Lunchware (tupperware/container, utensil, thermos etc.) so we can avoid using so much plastic.

AVENZA MAPS --

Most of the treeplanting maps we get nowadays are digital and we use an app called ‘Avenza Maps’ to view and store them on our phones. If you have a smartphone and like to have a map of your block, we encourage you to download the app with the free recreational version, which will allow you to store 3 maps at a time. This should be plenty as you can delete maps you are done working with. And check out this Avenza video tutorial for tree planters!

SUMMARY OF FORMS --

Indeed, there may seem like a good number of links and forms scattered throughout the various communications we have sent. Here is a condensed summary of the forms & training we are asking you to complete ahead of time:

Training

Forms

Thanks, and see you soon!

Lasse Lutick