Expert Modern Tree Climbing Instructors

Climberrhizae was a three day event where Arboriculture Canada Climbing Instructors came together in Olds, AB on Dec. 9 – 12, 2022 to discuss all things pertaining to the modern tree climbing course.

The name of this event emerged through discussion and relating the concept of mycorrhiza in trees to our course development process. All instructors bring a unique perspective and connecting this perspective to our group collective is what makes ArborCanada a unique and vibrant forest of trainers connected through the mycorrhiza of thought.

Some of our trainers are old growth. Some are saplings. One of our assistant trainers said it very eloquently at the end of the three day event when he said that he looked forward to his canopy and branches reaching towards the sky and his place developing and establishing in and amongst the forest that is Arboriculture Canada Training and Education. Each instructor’s canopy respectfully interacts and gives space for one another and our roots, or where we have come from, connect and feed one another to help grow a vibrant and resilient organism.

Resiliency is an important word and became a keyword in determining what new tool technique or method might get integrated into the curriculum of our Modern Tree Climbing Systems course.  We looked carefully at systems, components, and assemblies.  Understanding these interactions allows us to develop a set of principles. With these principles firmly in mind, we can select methods that best illustrate them for students.

The ultimate goal is to develop not only climbing systems but teaching methods that display resiliency. Physical resiliency in climbing components, assemblies, and systems that function efficiently and safely, yet intersect without interfering with each other.  Resiliency in consistent, sound principles to form the foundation of the modern tree climbing course. Resiliency through the combination of knowledge and experience brought by the passionate instructor team to create a wonderful synergistic event known as CLIMBERRHIZAE.

Arboriculture Canada held its first face to face team event since the pandemic. A lot of thought and planning went into the event as well as a certain amount of fear and apprehension.  Following the aftermath of a lockdown is challenging and spending time in isolation and connecting our team through media such as video conferencing and voice conferencing has left many of us wanting or longing for the interpersonal connection of face to face.

Arboriculture Canada decided to gather and connect our tree climbing instructors and to take time for focused conversation around the importance of consistency and curriculum as it pertains to different regions of the country. ArborCanada delivers its Modern Tree Climbing Systems course across Canada. Any of you who have worked in multiple provinces know that the trees are different not only in species but also in height, crown shape, and architecture.

The current state of tree climbing in arboriculture is one where changes and innovations are happening on what can seem like an almost daily basis. As one of Canada’s leading arboriculture training and education companies, we feel it is incumbent upon us to filter and deliver content that makes the work of tree climbing safer, easier, and more efficient.

 ArborCanada has some of the industry’s leading climbers and teachers as part of our instructional team and we value and trust their discretion in deciding what tools and techniques ought to be implemented in our Modern Tree Climbing Systems course.

It was a primary objective to establish consensus on content, methodology of teaching content, and timing of delivery of the content within the three-day model of our Modern Tree Climbing Systems course.

Leadership was provided by Tony Tresselt – the owner of Keystone Training Solutions and DJ Neustaeter – a contract instructor for Arboriculture Canada. Tony and DJ led the discussions and introduced the concept of principles, methods, and systems approach.

We decided to focus on the principles of tree climbing which are timeless.  Then use these to decide on which methods would best be suited to illustrate the principles of tree climbing. All instructors agreed that the newest, shiniest, most popular method was not the main criteria necessary for inclusion into the course curriculum.  Instead, we decided that most new gear and equipment, or even techniques are really part of the method application of tree climbing and do not affect the principles.

The principles of tree climbing are things like gear and tree inspection, force distribution, understanding why and how to test and inspect temporary anchor points, understanding the loads a climber can generate on tying points, the functional limitations of working load limits, bend radius and tree risk indicators to name a few.

These principles are fundamental to safe tree climbing and form the foundation of ArborCanada’s Modern Tree Climbing Systems course. Applying the methods that meet these principles is the next step. Methods are the systems of tree climbing that we use to ascend and/or work in and move through a tree. Systems are the configuration or putting together of various types of hardware and software to form a complete climbing system. The method used to work in trees may vary vastly due to tree type, species, geographical location, and job task, but the principles remain the same.

One of the most inspiring results of the event was the intelligent and respectful interaction that occurred between these 15 individuals who all possess a wide varying range of experience and knowledge as it relates to tree climbing.

The blending of this knowledge and experience is what enriched our time together. Conversations were conducted with respect and mutual appreciation and everyone honored the experience of each instructor. All instructors arrived at a consensus on what methods would be fundamental to our Modern Tree Climbing systems course and what methods would be supplemental to the course.

It was an honor to be part of mature and respectful interaction between colleagues and friends. While we didn’t all have to agree, we could all work together and develop a unified approach to teaching selected methods and principles of Modern Tree Climbing.

 ArborCanada is proud of all our instructos and we look forward to the next year’s deliveries of our Modern Tree Climbing Systems course as we know that the content being taught has been thoroughly vetted through a formal process at an event known as CLIMBERRHIZAE.