Fleming College

Fleming College’s Arboriculture students will compete in the 15^th annual Fleming Tree Climbing Competition on Tuesday, April 9.

The competition will take place throughout the day, starting around 9 a.m., at the Outdoor Education Centre (west of the Heavy Equipment Centre) at the Frost Campus, 200 Albert St. S. in Lindsay.

Students will battle it out in five events that are based on categories in the International Society of Arboriculture’s International Tree Climbing Championships, held annually.

They are:

• Tree Rescue: A climber must rescue a climber (a 200-pound dummy) in distress. The rescuer must adhere to a set protocol based on the emergency. Points are awarded or deducted according to the protocol and it is time based.
   
• Throw Line Event: This event is timed and tests the contestants’ ability to accurately place a throw line and climbing line in the tree at heights between 12 and 20 metres.
• Belayed Speed Climb Event: This is a timed event in which a contestant ascends the tree to a bell about 15 metres in height.
• 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 contestants’ ability to move about in the tree to perform various tasks. At each station in the tree, the contestant rings a bell. Bonus and penalty points are awarded or taken away. This is a timed event.

 First-place prizes are awarded to the winning male and female contestants. These prizes are donated by employers and suppliers within the Arboriculture Industry. 

Many of the judges at the Fleming Tree Climbing Competition are alumni of the Arboriculture program. As well, many of the students go on to compete in the International Society of Arboriculture’s Ontario and International Tree Climbing Championships held each year.

All are welcome to come out and watch the competition.

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 Community Development and Health, Continuing Education, Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences, Justice and Business, Skilled Trades and Technology, General Arts and Science, and Visual Arts. Fleming College has more than 5,900 full-time and 10,000 part-time students, and more than 63,000 alumni.

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For more information:                 

Joe Outram 705 324-9144 ext. 3231 or Brian Saxon 705 324-9144 ext. 3037 

Laura Copeland, Communications Officer, 705-749-5530 x 1370 or copeland@flemingc.on.ca