Arbor Day Tree Climbing Event

This year the Park Ridge foresters approached our Ecology Club about hosting a tree climbing event with them for Arbor Day.  We were intrigued and had several meetings to learn about Tim Lynch's company North Branch Tree Climbing and walk around campus to find the right oak tree for the climb. Tim is a Des Plaines fire fighter and has always been into exploring the outdoors with his three girls.  He started up this company a little over a year ago.  The tree we chose was inspected, prepared (pruned), and tested (3-hour long test climb) before the day of the event.  And we had about eight students go up in the tree that day over a 3-hour period. 

Here is a news article about the event.  And another.

And here is a photo album.

I can honestly say it was exhilarating seeing the tree from above and actually walking around in the limbs at around 40 feet above the ground. You go up so slowly and hoist yourself up using a pully system with the ropes.  Several students who went up pretty far had only planned on going up 10 or 20 feet because they said they were scared of heights.  But you learn to trust the system in a very methodical way... so by the time you're 40 feet up the anxiety wasn't really there for them.  I felt the same way!  We all came down with a huge smile throwing high fives and feeling a huge sense of accomplishment.  We all agreed that in many ways it gives you a broader perspective and respect for these mighty oak trees.  We're excited to plan this again next year!