BASIC COURSE
- It is designed to teach all the skills necessary to climb a large tree using double rope technique (DRT)
- Information about selecting a good climbing tree and assessing the condition of the tree is presented.
- Safe tree pruning techniques
- Simple rigging of hammocks and tree chairs.
- You will learn to tie knots, repeating each knot many times to instill *muscle memory*.
- You will learn how to access a tree, rope advancement within the canopy, rope and throw line retrieval, ascending using DREC, descending procedures, rope check and storage and basic equipment. IT IS RECOMMENDED FOR YOU NOT BUY YOUR OWN EQUIPMENT BEFORE THIS CLASS. We provide rental equipment (included in cost) and further educate in the “best equipment choices.”
- You will also learn rules for safety, as well as guidelines to respect and care for the trees you climb.
- Upon satisfactory completion of solo climb and written test student will be provided with EJ certificate.
- This course is designed for anyone wanting to recreational tree climb, tree services, hunters, arborists, certified arborists needing CEU's, parents, and anyone wanting to learn a fun and unique skill.
- This class is 18-20 hours and is usually held Friday-Sunday. We also can flex the duration of class dates and times. Please call to design your class and for availability.
This class does not qualify you to teach the knots or to facilitate kids or other adults into the trees. You would need to take the Facilitator and Facilitator Internship then qualify into the Instructor Program.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT TO LEARN
BASIC TREE CLIMBING COURSE
INTRODUCTIONS/LUNCH TIME DISCUSSIONS
A. Waiver forms
B. Climber information
a. Manual
b. Class Agenda/Schedule
c. Safety Rules and Procedures
d. Equipment Discussion
e. Philosophy and Disclaimer
f. Course Objectives
g. Environmental Principles
h. Personal Precautions
i. Shout Calls
j. Language of Tree Climbing
k. Equipment recommendations
C. Common Problems While Tree Climbing
D. Tree Health and Hazard Talk
KNOT CRAFT
A. Saddle Connecting Knot
B. Bridge Knot
C. Blake’s Hitch
D. Stopper Knot
E. Bitter End Knot
F. Modified Fisherman’s Knot
G. Prussic Knot
H. The Bridge
I. Number times tied: __________
ACCESSING THE TREE BY THROW BAG
A. Anchors/Pitch
B. Cambium Savers
C. Line to Throw Bag
D. Point and Shoot
E. Slip knot in Throw line
F. 2 Hand Cradle
G. 1 Hand Cradle
H. Bender Throw
I. Throw line to Rope
J. Throw line to Throw bag
ACCESSING THE TREE VIA CLIMBING ROPE
A. Self Release
B. Open Fist
C. Vertical Loop
D. Rolling Loop
DRT (Double Rope Technique)
A. Initial System
CLIMBING TECHNIQUE
A. Foot Loop
B. Foot Lock
ROPE ADVANCEMENT WITHIN THE CANOPY
A. Closed Monkey Fist
B. Self Release
C. Open Fist
D. Throw Bag
E. Tree Climber/A Friend
F. DRT
ROPE AND THROW LINE RETRIEVAL
A. Helix and Will Rogers
B. Boomerang
C. Friendship
D. (Throw line) Grapnel Hook
E. (Rope) Grapnel Hook
TREE PRUNING TECHNIQUES
A. Proper Pruning
B. What to Look for
C. Three Point Stance
D. Two points of attachment
E. Safe use of equipment
F. Cutting small branches
G. Cutting Large limbs
ASCENDING USING DREC/DRT
A. Bathroom Break
B. B.A.C.K.
C. Any last minute details
D. Equipment Check
E. On Rope
Descending Procedures
A. B.A.C.K. Down Check
B. Announce intentions
C. Slow Descent/No Burnouts
D. Once down, announce “off Rope”
ROPE CHECK AND STORAGE
A. Untie all knots
B. Shout call when lowering rope from anchor
C. Retrieval of Cambium Saver
D. Butterfly Coil
E. Rope Bag
CHECK ROPE FOR
A. Flat Spots
B. Foreign Matter
C. Nicks
D. Dry/Wet
E. Burns
EARTHJOY DIPLOMA CONTINGUENCY
A. Solo climb test Pass/Fail
a. Written test Pass/Fail
b. Receive EarthJoy course diploma
EMAIL Shelly@climbtreeswithearthjoy.com for price list.
FACILITATION PROGRAM LEVEL II OBJECTIVES 6-month program
After this program you will be able to:
- Confidently Facilitate Festival and Group Climbs
- Accurately access Challenge level of tree.
- Skillfully manage care of trees including taming.
- Have an invaluable repertoire of rescue/safety awareness and be able to implement as needed
- Provide a safe and secure environment in the trees for participates to express joy by successfully creating and following a safety check system.
- Express your uniqueness by calling forth your creativity and own ingenious to design techniques that enhance play, community and connectivity to nature and others
- Confidently communicate your connection to nature and trees
- Stand your ground gently when dealing with “Behavioral Problems”
- Clearly set your intentions for yourself before each climb
- Continually evolve your facilitation techniques by listening to yourself, debriefing each climb and seeking out continuing education
- Gaining visibility- Learn how to attract your ideal clients/tree community
- Discovering the bridge between your clients and nature/trees.
- Be a 3:1 Facilitator Intern
- Complete EarthJoy Facilitator Apprentice Program (handout)
DAY 1
Practicing Rescue Techniques/Scenarios. Review DRT/how to pick out perfect facilitation tree.
A. DRT review
B. Tree site prep
1. Assessment/Inspection of a tree
2. Taming a wild tree—pruning, surrounding site
3. Certified arborist assessment
4. Mulching/Protecting and caring for your tree.
C. Assessing challenge level of tree for participants
1. Challenge I-IV descriptions.
D. Types of Rescue (handout)
1. Ground Rescue
2. Aerial Rescue
3. Non-aerial rescue
4. 15 minute rescue
5. Assisting in Speed Climb
E. Rescue Equipment
F. Assimilated Rescue
G. Homework Value Clarification Exercise
H. Recommended books to read
1. “Tree Climber’s Companion” by Jeff Jepson
DAY 2
Rigging for an Event or Festival Climb
A - setting the climbing lines
1 - from the ground
2 - from within the tree
3 - friction/cambium savers
4 - natural anchor points
5 - height
a. High settings; advantages, disadvantages
b. Low settings; advantages, disadvantages
6 - branch and trunk route climbing
7 - choosing safe anchor points
a. Aerial inspection for live healthy branches
b. Minimum 6" diameter out to mid-point of branch
c. Personal experience with various tree species
B - activities in tree
1 - monkeys
2 - tree traveling
3 - wind surfing
4 - branch walking
5 - swinging off trunk or branches
6 - synchronized climbing
7 - spidering
8 - tree boat/sky chair
9 - overnight camping
10 - quiet time, reading a book, observing/connecting to nature
11 - group initiatives/team building
12 – journaling/centering
C. Recommended Books to Read
1. “Animal Speaks” by Ted Andrews
2. Keep a Nature Journal
DAY 3
Running a Group Climb with Facilitator Trainee Assistance
A - rigging tree with climbing ropes
B - tying the knot system
1. Sequence of knots used on climbing rope
2. All knots tied, dressed, and seated
3. Bridge length suitable to age/size of climbers
4. Safety noose knot tied once climber is on rope above head of facilitator
C - paperwork
1. Waivers signed
2. Medical forms filled out and signed
3.Photo release signed.
4. Rental fee collected.
D - equipment check
1. Harnesses
2. Carabineers
3. Helmets
4. Foot loops
5. Gloves
6. Rescue bag and first aid kit
E - introduction of facilitator(s) and group members
1. Brief discussion of history of tree climbing
2. Discussion of tree climbing rules and safety concerns
3. Demonstration climb to illustrate methods; ascending and descending
4. Facilitator trainee(s) assist in-group climb
5. Branch walking and other activities in tree
F - lunch and debrief morning climb
First supervised climb lead by facilitator trainee(s) with instructor observing and advising where needed
A - repeat all stages of morning climb
B - debrief at day's end
1. What happened?
2. Positives/negatives
3. Improvements
C. Recommended Books
1. “Secret Lives Of Bees” by Monk
2. Movie “BIGFISH”
DAY 4 and 5
- Second Supervised Climb Lead by Facilitator Trainee(s) with Instructor Observing and Advising Where Needed
A - repeat all stages of previous group climbs
B - debrief over lunch
1 - what happened?
2 - positives/negatives
3 - improvements
C - work on what needs facilitator trainee(s) have outstanding
D - examination
E - closure
1 - set date for evaluation of grove and go over Preceptor program (handout)
2 - log 25 personal climbs in 8 different trees of at least 5 different species
3 - log 12 small group climbs (3:1 ratio) with all first time climbers
a. Can be done with Earth Joy climbs
b. Dawes in April
c. Hocking Hill tours
4 - complete 3-guided climbs
5 - maintain equipment, event and personal climbing logs
6. Set up monthly 30 min 1:1 phone coach call for next 6 months.
a. Tracking progress
b. Support/encouragement
c. Problem solving
d. Climber’s log review (this is also mailed or faxed to EarthJoy monthly)
7 - apprenticeship requirements must be completed with 18 months, but not
Less than 6 months.
What you’ll get from EarthJoy!
· Unique 1:1 attention from 2 instructors! . Bill’s Mr. Tree OSHA Standards. Shelly’s enthusiasm and zest for life.
· Basic Certification Class included as part of this program. So you first go through Basic class described above!
· Continuous encouraging support throughout apprentice
· 1:1 30 min monthly coach calls providing you with insights, tips and strategy
· Invites to as many EarthJoy climbs as needed to assist with fulfilling Facilitator apprentice
Email Shelly@climbtreeswithearthjoy.com for price list & course cost.
INSTRUCTOR PROGRAM by request
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