Tree climbing is an adventure. It
starts with placing a rope high in a tree and tying a series of knots. Then
you're ready to climb. But your journey is just beginning! When you get to your
first branch, it's time to place your rope over a higher branch. You can go to
the top or as high as you like! Climbing requires skill, patience, energy, and
a certain amount of courage. But the fun and rewards of your accomplishments
will compensate you well for your efforts.
If you find that once you've
climbed high in a tree you're eager for more time up there, you may want to
take advanced training. TCI offers a series of courses
designed for the student to learn the most basic to the most advanced
techniques and then how to teach others. You will learn different skills
sequentially, and, starting at the basic level, your proficiency will be tested
in climbing and written exams. Our classes and programs are described below.
Beginners' (Introductory) Climb -- Fun on a Sunday!
The TCI Beginners' Climb is meant for the person with no tree climbing skills. We make it safe and easy! You will love the "Peter Pan" effect of floating on air while suspended from a rope! All equipment is supplied; all you need is loose clothing (T-shirt and long pants recommended), light shoes (closed-toe preferable), and some extra energy. In the Fall when temperatures start start to cool down, please dress in layers that can be shed as you start to warm up with exercise. Make sure to bring a camera--your family and friends will want to see pictures!
When you arrive, the instructors will have looped all the ropes over
branches and tied all the knots. We'll demonstrate how to move the
knots in sequence, how to tie a safety knot, and how to descend safely.
Then, all you have to do is slip into a harness and helmet and up
you'll go! Once aloft, you'll be able to get to those first few
branches and "hang out" with no trouble at all!
Do you think you won't be able to climb because you're out of shape?
Think again! There have been only a small number of first-time climbers
who couldn't get up into Nimrod and Dianna. Take a chance and do
something different!
TCI public beginners' climbs are held at the "TCI Founder's Grove" at 290 Arizona Avenue in Atlanta (look here for
directions) from 2 to 5 p.m. on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of every month except December, January and February.
If it's raining or too cold, we will post a cancellation on our
homepage on the morning of a public climb day. No reservations
are required, but please call us if you have a group of 6 or more for a
Sunday afternoon. The cost is $15 per climber. Anyone over the age of five is welcome to participate.
The TCI school is located in Atlanta, Georgia. Coming north or south on I-75 / I-85, get on I-20 going east. Exit I-20
at Moreland Avenue, going north. Take Moreland Avenue 1.4 miles,
where you'll come to a stoplight at McLendon Avenue ("Zesto's" on the corner),
turn right. Go about a mile to Arizona Avenue, which is two blocks past Clifton Road,
a well-marked intersection with a stoplight. Turn right on Arizona and go to the end
of the street. Right before the cul-de-sac is the school on the right;
you'll see this sign at the top of the school
lot. Park free in the cul-de-sac.
If you are using Google Maps, MapQuest, or GPS, please note that the side of Arizona Avenue where the TCI school is
located does not intersect with DeKalb Avenue. To get to the TCI School, you
must access Arizona Avenue from McLendon Avenue.
Group Events for Beginners
The TCI group
climb is a special event for birthday parties and scouts, school, camp, community and
church groups—anyone who wants to organize a few hours of tree climbing for a large
number of participants. It can be scheduled any day of the week except when other
classes are held, depending upon the availability of our instructors.
Group climbs are held at the TCI Founder’s Grove.
Private group
climbing events are just like our Sunday afternoon Introductory Climbs. When you arrive,
all ropes will be set up. You'll get brief instruction with a climbing
demonstration. Then you’ll put on harnesses and helmets and be ready to climb!
Our group climbs are staffed with TCI-trained instructors who want each participant get
the most out of their climbing experience. It’s a fun day for everybody!
Cost:
2 hrs @ $20.00 per climber $175.00 (minimum) up to 12 climbers ($100 deposit)
3 hrs @ $20.00 per climber $275.00 (minimum) over 12 climbers ($200 deposit)
The balance will be due on the day of the event. Please make the deposit check out
to Tree Climbers International and send it to:TCI, PO Box 5588, Atlanta, GA 31107-5588.
In the unfortunate event of rain, we will work with you to reschedule your group.
Upcoming Courses in Atlanta: The Basic Tree Climbing Course will be taught in Atlanta on the following weekends:
June 7-8
June 28-29
July 12-13
August 9-10
September 23-24 (just prior to the 2008 Rendezvous)
If these dates don't fit your schedule, please contact us and we will work with you to try to set up another class.
TCI's BTCC is a two-day course designed to teach all the skills
you need to climb a large tree on your own using the double rope technique (DRT).
Information about
selecting a good climbing tree and assessing the condition of the tree is presented
in detail. You will learn climbing technique and how to tie all the knots, repeating
each knot many times to learn "muscle memory." You'll learn rules for safety, as well as guidelines about
how to respect and care for the trees you climb. Each class has a maximum of only three students (more when our instructor has qualified assistance)
so each student gets lots of personal attention and help.
Mother and daughters practice with throwline
When
you finish this course, you will take an exam consisting of a solo climb and a written
test. Passing both of these shows that you are ready to go out and climb
independently. You will receive a TCI course diploma from your instructor.
The BTCC is taught in Atlanta by
Peter Jenkins, founder of TCI, master tree-climbing instructor, and an
ISA-certified arborist.
Cost: $475.00. Course fee also includes TCI membership and our "Tree Climbing Basics" DVD
Time required: 2 full days (16-18 hours of instruction)
Advance registration and tuition deposit are required. For more information
and/or registration forms, please
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us (be sure to include your phone number so we can return your call) or call the TCI office at (404) 377-3150.
The TCI Rigging Class is a one-day course with lots of information geared towards recreational rigging for the basic tree climber. Students learn basic rules and procedures for hauling equipment into trees, how to set up a treeboat (a special hammock) for sleeping in trees, and basic branch walking using the daisy rope. There is a brief discussion of cat rescue.
Note: This class does not teach rigging for tree work.
Cost: $225.00
Prerequisite: BTCC
By special arrangement only.
Tree climbing facilitators are people who have been extensively trained to run beginners' treeclimbing events. In many cases, people enroll in the TCI Facilitator Program in order to open their own tree climbing "groves," or schools. Facilitators lead all different types of group events. They set up the climbing tree with multiple climbing stations, orient the group and give a climbing demonstration, and then help others to experience the joys of tree climbing for themselves.
Becoming a facilitator requires expertise in basic tree climbing techniques. It also takes patience, skill, and experience to safely manage lots of people in a tree at the same time. In the TCI Facilitator Course, the first component of our Facilitator Program, students learn how to work with individuals and groups to run safe tree climbing events. They also learn and practice detailed rescue procedures with "Rescue Randy," our rescue dummy. Facilitator Course students must pass a climbing skills test and a written exam before they can enter the Facilitator Internship, the second component of our Program.
During the Facilitator Internship, students gain experience as Facilitators while still under the guidelines of Tree Climbers International. This way, when they finish their requirements and graduate from our program, we know that they are well-prepared and ready to put others "on rope" on their own.
The TCI Instructor Program creates professional recreational tree climbing teachers. Students are required to be experienced and skilled tree climbers who have climbed in a wide variety of settings. Other prerequisites include successful completion of the TCI Facilitator Program and extensive facilitator experience.
In the Instructor Course, students learn how to teach TCI's Basic Tree Climbing Course. Rescue techniques are also reviewed and tested. Similar in structure to the TCI Facilitator Program, the TCI Instructor Program requires students to complete an internship before they graduate.
The TCI Instructor Program is taught by Peter Jenkins and Genevieve Summers.
By advance reservation only. Please contact TCI for details.
The TCI Beginners' Climb is meant for the person with no tree climbing skills. We make it safe and easy! You will love the "Peter Pan" effect of floating on air while suspended from a rope! All equipment is supplied; all you need is loose clothing (T-shirt and long pants recommended), light shoes (closed-toe preferable), and some extra energy. In the Fall when temperatures start start to cool down, please dress in layers that can be shed as you start to warm up with exercise. Make sure to bring a camera--your family and friends will want to see pictures!
The TCI group
climb is a special event for birthday parties and scouts, school, camp, community and
church groups—anyone who wants to organize a few hours of tree climbing for a large
number of participants. It can be scheduled any day of the week except when other
classes are held, depending upon the availability of our instructors.
Group climbs are held at the TCI Founder’s Grove.
The TCI Rigging Class is a one-day course with lots of information geared towards recreational rigging for the basic tree climber. Students learn basic rules and procedures for hauling equipment into trees, how to set up a treeboat (a special hammock) for sleeping in trees, and basic branch walking using the daisy rope. There is a brief discussion of cat rescue.
Becoming a facilitator requires expertise in basic tree climbing techniques. It also takes patience, skill, and experience to safely manage lots of people in a tree at the same time. In the TCI Facilitator Course, the first component of our Facilitator Program, students learn how to work with individuals and groups to run safe tree climbing events. They also learn and practice detailed rescue procedures with "Rescue Randy," our rescue dummy. Facilitator Course students must pass a climbing skills test and a written exam before they can enter the Facilitator Internship, the second component of our Program.
In the Instructor Course, students learn how to teach TCI's Basic Tree Climbing Course. Rescue techniques are also reviewed and tested. Similar in structure to the TCI Facilitator Program, the TCI Instructor Program requires students to complete an internship before they graduate.