Tree Worker Program
LEARN SPIKELESS CLIMBING TECHNIQUES. No tree climbing experience necessary!
Length of program - 4 full days, 9 to 5 (or later) each day
Maximum class size — 3 students
Money back guarantee — TCI guarantees you will learn how to climb safely or we'll refund your tuition.
Practical Training for Working Climbers
Tree work is difficult and extremely dangerous. There is no middle ground when you work in the trees. What you do is either right or it's wrong – with potentially disastrous results. That's why worker safety is our first concern and primary emphasis. Throughout our program, students learn the right way to do things as well as the right things to do so they are safe and their work is competent and efficient.
Most of our students have never climbed a tree with a rope and saddle. No worries. First you'll learn everything you need to climb safely; then we'll teach you more advanced techniques and skills which are used daily on the job. While some theory is taught, our emphasis is on practical, hands–on training. Most of your class time is spent in or under a tree. And, due to our small class size of only three students, you'll get plenty of individual help.
Peter "Treeman" JenkinsYour Instructor: Peter "Treeman" Jenkins, the founder of TCI, is an ISA-certified arborist with over 20 years of accident-free production climbing experience. He has also been teaching tree workers and recreational tree climbers at all skill levels for over 30 years, with no accidents to date. Students come from all over the world to learn from him.
Prerequisites: Must be in good health, with weight appropriate to height. Must speak some English. Treeman was raised in Texas and can speak a little Spanish, but he is not fluent.
Gear: If you don't own gear, we suggest that you NOT purchase it until after you have taken our training, when you'll have a much better idea of what's needed. We have all the gear you need to train with, but if you own a saddle, please bring it with you. All of the gear taught during the course is available in the 
TCI GEAR KIT FOR ENTRY LEVEL TREE WORKERS, which is sold by various vendors around the U.S.
Cost: $1,250 per person, does not include food and lodging. Advance registration and $500 deposit are required to hold your place. Students who fly to Atlanta and stay at the TCI Clubhouse do not need to rent a car for transportation. Talk to us about details.
Scheduling: TCI's scheduled classes are shown on our calendar. Most of our classes fill up soon after we put them on our public calendar. If you see an open class that you can attend, we urge you to sign up for it quickly. We can also schedule classes upon request. Contact us (if emailing, make sure to include your phone number) to see what's possible. A minimum of two students is required for a class to be confirmed. We keep an active waiting list.
Cancellation Policy
Please read our Cancellation Policy completely.
The success of each TCI class depends upon every student's participation. We schedule a maximum of only three students per course, and we do not overbook. If you don’t show up, your absence has a major impact on us. Therefore, TCI has the following cancellation policy:
- If your plans change and you need to cancel, you must call us at least three weeks ahead of time. This gives someone on our waiting list enough time to make travel and personal arrangements to take the course. We will refund your deposit minus a standard $50 cancellation charge if we are able to fill your slot.
- If you cancel less than three weeks ahead of time, you will forfeit your entire deposit.
- In the event of a health or family emergency (for which we may require documentation), we may refund your tuition deposit minus our standard $50 cancellation fee.
- TCI reserves the right to deny future program participation to students who cancel without adequate notice.
Lodging is comfortable and convenient at the TCI Clubhouse, where some parts of the program are taught. Many restaurants and grocery stores are within easy walking distance.
Recommended reading: TCI teaches Jeff Jepson's P.R.E.P. system of preparing for tree work, and we highly recommend his book, The Tree Climber's Companion, which we consider the "Bible" for tree workers. We also recommend Jepson's two other excellent books, To Fell A Tree and Knots at Work. All three books are available onsite and in our website store (for a package price if you want all three), and by other vendors.
ISA CEUs: 32.5 for Certified Arborists, Certified Tree Worker-Climber Specialists, Certified Tree Worker-Aerial Lift Specialists, and Board Certified Master Arborists-Practice available for this program. The code for earned credits will be given to qualifying students after the course.
Contact us with inquiries or to register. PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR PHONE NUMBER!
