Fleming College

City of Kawartha Lakes ON – (April 5, 2017) – Every April, Fleming College Arboriculture students compete against each other in five time-based events as part of the Fleming Tree Climbing Competition.

This year’s competition will take place on Tuesday, April 11 beginning at 9:30 a.m. at Frost Campus at the Outdoor Education Center, west of the Heavy Equipment building.

The students will compete in Tree Rescue, Throw Line, Belayed Speed Climb, Secured Footlock and Work Climb events.

Many of the students will go on to compete at the provincial and national level with the International Society of Arboriculture’s Tree Climbing Championships.

Thanks to community support as well as support through the arboriculture industry, prizes are awarded to competitors with grand prizes for the men’s and women’s division champions. Many of the judges at the event are past Fleming tree climbing competitors and current industry leaders.

Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come out and watch the events. Prize contributions are always welcome.

Here is additional information on the five competitive events:

Tree Rescue: A climber must ascend a tree and rescue a 200-pound ‘dummy’ in distress. The student rescuer must adhere to a set protocol based on a specified emergency. This is a time-based event, points are awarded or deducted according to the protocol and emergency.

Throw Line Event: This event is timed and tests the contestant’s ability to accurately place a throw line and climbing line into the tree at heights between 12 and 20 metres.

Belayed Speed Climb Event: Each contestant is timed climbing up a tree from the ground to a height of approximately 15 metres where they will ring a finishing bell.

Secured Footlock Event: The contestant must vertically ascend 13 metres in a tree by using the footlock technique. This is a timed event.

Work Climb Event: This event tests the contestant’s ability to quickly and efficiently move about in tree to perform various tasks. At each station the contestant rings a bell. Bonus and penalty points are awarded based on safety, performance and competence.

About Fleming College
Located in the heart of Central Ontario, Fleming College has campus locations in Peterborough, Lindsay, Cobourg and Haliburton. Named for famous Canadian inventor and engineer Sir Sandford Fleming, the college features more than 100 full-time programs in Arts and Heritage, Business, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, General Arts and Sciences, Health and Wellness, Justice and Community Development, Skilled Trades and Technology, and Continuing Education. Fleming College has more than 5,900 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and 71,000 alumni.

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Media, for inquiries or more information please contact:
Laura Copeland
Communications Officer
laura.copeland@flemingcollege.ca
705.749.5530 x 1370