The young enthusiasts attended four two-hour classes late last year with instructors Larry Mathison and Bob Brauchler. The classes also featured DNR officer Chuck Nelson, Steve Stang from the Paynesville Ambulance Service, and Paynesville Police Office Kent Kortlever.
Several members of the Koronis Hills Snowmobile Club assisted with the training. Because of lack of snow, they waited until Friday to set up a figure-eight course and tested the students on their driving and on using proper hand signals while stopping, yielding, and turning.
A total of 36 students, between the ages of 11 and 18, attended the course.
As of October, anyone 18 years or younger must have a valid snowmobile safety certificate to operate a snowmobile.