Safety is TCI's highest priority: safety for our students and safety for our instructors. The good news is that the TCI Tree Worker Program is taught outdoors, and distancing is pretty easy. The bad news is that because the number of people getting sick or dying from coronovirus is not yet under control, easing up on restrictions is very risky.

To ensure that our students and instructors are safe while you're with us in Atlanta, TCI has instituted the following rules.

• Students must guarantee that while you are in class and on your own time, you will follow the mask and social distancing guidelines recommended by Dr. Fauci and the CDC.
• Unfortunately, only one person will be able to stay in the TCI Clubhouse during each course, usually the student who does not have a driver's license. Other students will need to stay offsite and provide your own transportation. We can make recommendations for motels nearby.
• Dining-in at restaurants, even with social distancing in place, is not safe. Take-out meals are a must. There are many restaurants open for take-out meals within walking distance of the teaching trees and local lodging options.

We will be forced to eject from class anyone who is careless with these guidelines. Thank you for your cooperation.

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 day of class.

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.

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 your plans change and 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 will 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.

In Atlanta, lodging is comfortable and convenient at the TCI Clubhouse. The Clubhouse kitchen is fully stocked for cooking, and linens are provided. Many restaurants and grocery stores are within easy walking distance. Two days of the program are taught here. The cost is $50 per person per night. Students who take this program in Atlanta and stay at the TCI Clubhouse do not need to rent a car for transportation. Talk to us about details.

In Jacksonville, we recommend the Aloft Hotel (how about that name?!) close to the Jacksonville airport at 751 Skymarks Drive (904-714-3800). Rates vary depending upon the season. Grocery stores and restaurants are nearby. If you want to share a room with another student, let us know and we will try to help you arrange it. The tree worker class is taught at Cedar Bay Retreat at 1030 Baisden Road in Jacksonville, about 5 miles from the hotel.

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, please bring it with you.

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!

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

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 workers. It is not necessary to read this book before coming to class.

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

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

Here are some photos of an aerial rescue class.