Portland Community College | Portland, Oregon

This course has a demonstration-based format of technical skills and concepts.  Students will practice skill-building under the supervision of the instructor.  The majority of required climbing equipment is provided. 

Upon completion of the course students will be able to:

• Assess trees and worksite scenarios for pre-climb safety  and task execution.  
• Skillfully configure and operate current industry standard climbing systems.
• Execute safe climbing techniques and skills appropriate to the most common industry tasks.
• Apply knowledge of applicability and safety in gear selection, inspection, and configuration.
• Apply the ISA and ANSI industry standards and best practices appropriately.

• Exhibit persistence, self-motivation and personal responsibility.
• Reflect upon, assess, and identify one's own strengths and limitations.
• Explore, develop, and monitor appropriate professional goals.

Demonstration-based format with skill-building practice by students with instructor supervision.

• Attendance, punctuality and jobsite preparedness
• Participation and engagement in class discussions and activities
• Completion of assigned field exercises
• Demonstrated competency of field knowledge by skills tests and observations

Themes:

• Goal Setting
• Decision Making
• Confidence
• Safety

Concepts:

• Critical thinking

Issues:

• Potential liabilities to decision making

Skills:

• Perform a worksite set-up and a pre-climb assessment.
• Recognize and report dangerous site hazards and tree defects.
• Install a climbing line using a throw line.
• Ascend into the tree canopy.
• Advance the climbing line.
• Perform lateral movement to access the outer canopy.
• Work positioning
• Spur climbing
• Gear selection, configuration and inspection
• Practice personal safety by using proper protective gear.
• Apply principles of equipment and tool safety to worksite.