All About Tree Climbers International

General information about Tree Climbers International, Inc., the world's first organization for recreational tree climbers:

1284 Merry Lane NE, Atlanta, GA  30329, USA
Phone: (404) 377-3150
E-mail: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

TCI Mission Statement

TCI logoTree Climbers International, Inc. promotes tree climbing as a safe recreational activity suitable for people of all ages.

Our goals are to:

  • Discover and promote technical tree climbing techniques that are safe for people and do no harm to trees.
  • Provide qualified tree climbing instruction by highly-trained instructors.
  • Produce and distribute educational and inspiring publications to promote safe recreational tree climbing.
  • Create climbing chapters (or "groves" ) in every city, town, or hamlet worldwide.
  • Hold periodic regional, national, and international tree climbing gatherings.
  • Create a communication network of tree climbing enthusiasts through our website, publications, and social media.
  • Locate and secure access to climbing trees suitable for recreational climbing.
  • Promote respect and responsibility towards trees and the natural environment.
  • Have fun exploring the high canopy while sharing adventures with like-minded people.

TCI Membership

TCI is an organization for people who love trees and getting up into them. Members are children and adults, male and female, from all walks of life. Some of our members climb as professionals, but the majority are people who climb just for the sheer pleasure of it. Some join to meet and climb with others. Some join to learn or be challenged by new techniques. Finally, some members don't climb themselves, but they like to read about and support an activity close to the heart of someone they care about.

There are many benefits to joining Tree Climbers International.

      • Membership cardThe only member of TCI who doesn't need ropes to climb —
        she's one of our cats!
        Lifetime membership in an organization just for tree climbers!
      • A personal membership card plus bumper and helmet stickers
      • TCI website privileges: Use our secure "Climber Finder" to find other TCI members nearby or in areas to which you are traveling
      • Read and post messages on TCI's Forums (also open to registered non-members)
      • Discount coupons for gear at American Arborist Supplies, SherrillTree, TreeStuff, and WesSpur.

Lifetime membership in TCI costs $25 through our website store or by sending a check or money order (no cash, please!) to the TCI address.

Upon receipt of dues, we will mail your membership card and other materials, and we'll registration status on our website will automatically be changed to "member." Then you'll be all set to use all our great online features! Membership fees are non-refundable.

All About TCI

Tree Climbers International®, Inc. (TCI®) is a worldwide organization of people who love to climb trees. We do this safely and with utmost care for the trees we climb. TCI is also the world's first school for recreational tree climbers. We want the sport of "rope and saddle" tree climbing available everywhere so that everyone can experience the joy and wonder of seeing the world from the heights of the treetops. TCI offered only recreational climbing courses in the early days. Now TCI offers programs to both recreational and professional climbers.

  • Founder's Grove

    Founder's Grove

    Nimrod (right) and Diana (left), our original teaching trees at the TCI Founder's Grove in Atlanta's Candler Park neighborhood.

  • The Home Team

    The Home Team

    Peter (TCI Founder) and Patty (Executive Director) Jenkins at the top of a Douglas fir in Portland, Oregon, 2012. (Picture courtesy August Schilling)

  • Our Signature Slogan

    Our Signature Slogan

    TCI's "Get High/Climb Trees" slogan can be seen on T-shirtsand hoodies proudly worn by climbers all over the world.

TCI was started by Peter "Treeman" Jenkins, a retired rock and mountain climber-turned tree surgeon, and an ISA-certified arborist. Peter found that some of the the equipment used in rock climbing did not fit the needs of climbing something alive and fragile as a tree, and many of the rock climbers' techniques were downright dangerous in the treetops.

It became clear to Peter that an organization was needed which could bring together people who love tree climbing, as well as train them in the techniques necessary to ensure that they climb safely and responsibly. In 1983, he founded Tree Climbers International and opened the world's first tree climbing school in Atlanta with two big white oak trees, Nimrod and Dianna, and a Mission Statement.

Through the years TCI wrote the safety and training rules that have become standard for recreational tree climbers. Many of our protocols have been adopted by tree climbing schools around the world. Our organization's practices have made it possible for tens of thousands of people to adventure high in the treetops without injuring themselves or the trees they climb. In fact, to this day there has never been an injury where climbers use TCI techniques and safety protocols for recreational tree climbing activities.

In 2005, Peter's wife Patty took over the "operations" side of TCI. While he teaches and is the climbing expert, she runs virtually every other aspect of our operations. Patty is not a climber — she had polio as a child — but she loves what she does and the people she meets as Executive Director of TCI.

Check out some of the articles that have been written about us through the years. Take a look through our early publications, and see some of the videos that have been created about tree climbing. There is a great deal of valuable information in these materials, and plenty that will make you laugh!

 

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