TCI has two outstanding programs for professional climbers.

In our five-day "TCI Climbing Program for Entry-Level Tree Workers," students learn the fundamentals of tree climbing, tree climbing safety, and other basic skills for tree work. No experience is needed. Read more

In our one-day "Aerial Rescue for Arborists" program, students learn how to perform a simple and a complex aerial rescue to get a victim out of a tree as quickly and safely as possible. Read more

Tree work is difficult and very 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.

PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR WORKING CLIMBERS

LEARN SPIKELESS CLIMBING TECHNIQUES. No tree climbing experience necessary!

Most of our students have never climbed a tree with a rope and saddle. No worries. First you'll learn and practice everything you need to climb safely. Then we'll teach you more advanced techniques and skills that 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, you'll get plenty of individual help.

Download the Tree Worker Program Outline

YOUR INSTRUCTORS

TCI's Tree Worker Program instructors are known for their vast knowledge and experience, patience, and ability to communicate clearly.

If you don't see any open dates on our calendar, please contact us with inquiries or to register. Make sure to include your phone number!

IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT OUR PROGRAM: Please read it all the way through!

• Cost

  The cost for this 5-day program is $1,200. We take a $400 deposit by credit card with course registration. The balance is due by cash or check on the first morning of class.

• Scheduling

  TCI's class schedule is shown on our calendar. Most of our classes fill up quickly after we announce them. If you see an open class that you can attend, we urge you to sign up for it quickly. Call us to register — we do not register students by email.

  Sometimes we can schedule a class upon request. Call to see what's possible. A minimum of two students is required for a class to be confirmed.

• Safety from Covid-19 and its Variants

  Safety is TCI's highest priority: safety for our students and safety for our instructors. Fortunately, protection against Covid-19 and its variants is pretty easy, since the TCI Tree Worker Program is taught entirely outdoors.

  Our instructors are vaccinated, and it will be best if you, too, are vaccinated when you come to take our training. If you are not, we may require masks during the periods when students and instructor need to be within close proximity to each other. 

  We will be forced to eject from class anyone who is careless with Covid-19 precautions. Thank you for your cooperation.

• Cancellation Policy

  CANCELLATION POLICY - PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW THOROUGHLY

  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 and on people who are waiting to take our training.

  With that in mind, TCI has the following cancellation policy:

  If you need to cancel, you must call us at least three weeks ahead of time. (We prefer to know as soon as you know.) 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 $50 cancellation fee.

  If you cancel fewer than three weeks ahead of time, you will forfeit your entire deposit unless you or we are able to fill your slot with someone else. In that case, we may refund your deposit minus a $50 cancellation fee.

  In the event of a health or family emergency (for which we may require documentation), we will refund your tuition deposit minus a $50 cancellation fee.

  TCI reserves the right to deny future program participation to students who cancel without adequate notice.

• Location

  Class meets at the TCI Clubhouse, 1290 Merry Lane NE, Atlanta, GA 30329, on the first morning. After orientation, you will go up to Blackburn Park, where days 1, 2, and 4 of the class are taught.

  In Jacksonville, class is taught at 8101 Fort Caroline Rd., 32277 during the cooler months of the year.

• Lodging

  Most of TCI's students stay at the TCI Clubhouse, where two days of the program are taught. The house has room for four people in two bedrooms. Accommodations are clean, comfortable, and casual. Linens and towels are provided, and the kitchen is fully furnished. Several restaurants and grocery stores are within easy walking distance. The cost is $55 per night per person. You may be asked to stay in a room with a stranger (of the same sex). Proof of vaccination against Covid-19 is required for lodging at the Clubhouse.

         If you plan to stay at the TCI Clubhouse, car rental may not be necessary. When you register, we will talk with you about transportation details and how to get to the Clubhouse from the Atlanta airport.

        
  

• 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 you'll need and use. We have all the gear for your training, including all the gear in the TCI Climbing Kit for Entry-Level Tree Workers sold by WesSpur and American Arborist Supplies. However, if you own a saddle that you are comfortable in and a helmet, please bring it/them with you.

• Certificate

  Upon satisfactory completion of our program, students will be given a certificate signed by your instructor. Show this to a potential employer along with the course outline, and you are sure to get a job!

  

• ISA CEUs

  This program qualifies for 32.5 ISA CEUs in the Practice, Climber Specialist, and Certified Arborist categories.

• Recommended Reading

  TCI teaches Jeff Jepson's P.R.E.P. system of preparing for tree work. We highly recommend his book, The Tree Climber's Companion, which many arborists consider the "Bible" for tree climbers. It is not necessary to read this book before coming to class.

  We also suggest Jepson's three other excellent books, To Fell A Tree, Knots at Work, and (new!) Groundie. In addition, we recommend the ISA's excellent publication, The Art and Science of Practical Rigging by Peter Donzelli and Sharon Lilly.

  All five books are available onsite in Atlanta and in our website store.

• See for yourself!

  Here are a simple outline and some photos to give you an idea of what you'll be doing each day in our program.

Here's what you can expect each day of the Tree Worker Program.

Any emergency situation in a tree could become the one in which you save someone’s life. Performing an aerial rescue is not difficult, but knowing how to do it right is an essential skill on every job site.

This class requires that students be within three feet of each other to practice the techniques.  Due to Covid-19, we cannot teach it until we are assured that our students will be safe.  We will announce here when we are ready to resume this training.  Please check back or give us a call.

CLASS DESCRIPTION

In this one-day class, climbers will learn how to prepare for and perform simple and complex aerial rescues safely and efficiently, following well-established rescue protocols and procedures. Repetition is the building block of success. You will practice low-to-the-ground rescue techniques as many times as necessary until you have the procedures locked into “muscle memory.” When you understand and can perform the basic steps involved in each type of rescue, you will be well equipped to improvise and handle most rescue emergencies.

This class is also appropriate for recreational climbers.

Class Schedule (8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.)

• Scheduling & Cancellation

  TCI's Aerial Rescue class is scheduled upon request. We can teach in hot or cold weather, rain or shine. Call us to see what's possible. A minimum of two students is required for a class to be confirmed. 

  CANCELLATION POLICY - PLEASE READ THE INFORMATION BELOW THOROUGHLY

  The success of each TCI class depends upon every student's participation. We register 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 and the other students in the class.

  With that in mind, TCI has the following cancellation policy: If you need to cancel, you must call us at least three weeks ahead of time. (However, we prefer to know as soon as you know.) If you can send someone else in your place, we will refund your entire tuition. If not, we will refund your tuition minus a $50 cancellation charge.

  If you cancel fewer than three weeks ahead of time, you will forfeit your entire tuition. In the event of a health or family emergency (for which we may require documentation), we will refund your tuition deposit minus a $50 cancellation fee.

  TCI reserves the right to deny future program participation to students who cancel without adequate notice.

• Course Instructor

  Peter Jenkins, the founder of TCI, is an ISA-Certified Arborist with 25 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. Peter no longer climbs for a living. In addition to teaching, he now performs residential tree inspections for health and risk as a Tree Risk Assessment Qualified (TRAQ) tree inspector.

• Course Materials

  When you register for class, you will be emailed a detailed article that you must read prior to class. Because we want to make sure you are familiar with the material before you learn the practical techniques, you will also take a written multiple-choice quiz based on the material before attending class. Bring your answers with you. Quizzes will be corrected onsite. Other course materials will be distributed during class.

• Gear

  Please bring your own saddle and helmet. TCI will provide the rest of the gear required for training. At the class, you will receive discount coupons for the Aerial Rescue Gear Kit put together by TCI and sold by TreeStuff.com and for pick-off straps sold by OnRope1.

• Course Graduation

  To pass this course, you must have read the short Manual and passed the quiz. You also must be able to perform a simple and a complex rescue safely and efficiently, without guidance and according to the rescue protocols. Students will receive a “Certificate of Graduation” following course completion.

• ISA CEUs

  The following ISA CEUs are available for this course: BCMA Practice: 2.75, Management 3.75, Climber Specialist: 6.5, Certified Arborist: 6.5, Municipal Specialist: 3.75; Aerial Lift: 6.5

• See for yourself!

  Here are some photos of an aerial rescue class.