WOOSTER, Ohio - The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center campus will be the site of a tree climbing competition on June 16.
The 22nd annual event, which is free to the public, will begin at 8 a.m. in an area off Green Drive on the OARDC campus near Secrest Arboretum. The Ohio Chapter International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) is presenting the event, and is being held in conjunction with the organization's three-day arborist summer meeting.
"It's going to be a pretty fun event," said Alan Klonowski, of the Ohio Chapter ISA. "There will be a lot of skilled events and prizes given away. The winner will go on to the international tree climbing championship in Milwaukee, Wisconsin." The Ohio Chapter Tree Climbing Championship will bring together statewide tree climbers to compete in five competitions, culminating in the master climb that will determine the winner. The contests will include a variety of skilled events, such as speed climbing, rope climbing, rope throwing and area rescue. "All the contestants work for tree contracting firms around the state. They does this type of work everyday," said Klonowski.
Klonowski said the events will begin in the morning and the master climb will be held sometime after lunch. The winner of the competition will represent Ohio in the international competition on August 12, which will bring together ISA representatives from around the world, including Australia, England, France, Germany and the United States. Last year's Ohio Chapter ISA winner was Mike Fasig, from Cincinnati, OH.
The purpose of the Ohio Chapter ISA is to foster a better understanding of plants and their safe care through the education of professional arborists, and the dissemination of information to prospective clients throughout the state. Organized in 1942, the chapter is one of 33 regional or state non-profit chapters of ISA. Membership includes commercial, municipal, utility and research arborists, as well as college students pursuing related degrees.
For more information concerning the tree climbing event, contact Secrest Arboretum at (330) 263-3761.