College and Climbing

[treeman82]

Huh?






I took a 1 credit climbing lab. The rest of the material was broken up between entomology, pathology, soils, botany, business, turf, drafting, different aspects of arboriculture, pesticide liscensing, etc.

Basically once you are done with the program you are going to be able to walk into the ISA test and pass no problems, plus you will be liscensed to spray pesticides. Some people prefer to climb, others prefer to do PHC work, sales, you name it.

 

[treeman82]

Well... would you rather start out climbing, or would you rather start out dragging brush? I don't know of many companies who will take somebody "green" out of college and put them right into sales. An internship is one thing, but proving yourself to be able to deal with clients in different situations is another thing. You can start out climbing if that is your thing. If you would rather do PHC work, that is a good way to work towards sales because you still have a lot of contact with the client and have more opportunities to show what you can do, due to record keeping requirements.

It's like the army... enlisting Vs. going through West Point.

 

[Jumper]

Education used to be a guarentee that you were not going to be relegated to blue collar tasks, especially a four year degree program. Speaking from personal experience, that definately is not the case anymore unless you have awfully good connections.
If it is the tree biz you want to be in, IMHO a year or two learning the ropes (pardon the pun) as a climber or pesticide applicator would prove a real asset once you move on up the corporate ladder. I just finished reading Lee Iacocca's bio, and all Ford execs used to do a full year in the plant before moving into an office situation. In my former incarnation as an Army Officer I cursed the day I had to leave the field or training roles I had and was forced into National Defence Headquarters ie Head Office. Not sure what the US Army is all about, but even as an Officer Cadet at the equivalent of West Point, I had to learn in the most basic terms what my troops' job was and had to be able to perform it if need be. This involved getting dirty, wet, dusty, and working a lot of really odd hours, but I can say my on job training as a cook, supply technician and infantryman served me well once I was deemed fully trained. I guess you gotta start somewhere, and was pointed out above, would you rather grag brush, or get paid more to do a more advanced task? Take your pick. Good luck with whatever you end up doing!!

 

[Guy Meilleur]

YOu can make more as a climber if you understand more about trees, and college is one way to get that understanding. There is an academic "club" that considers anyone who climbs or gets their hands dirty in any way to be somehow lesser than they are, but that is elitist bs, best ignored.

Colleges in MN and MY sound like they prepare you to be an arborist, others like NCSU have Forestry programs that give very little training in urban tree care or even removal. So pick your programs or your courses carefully or yes they will be a waste of time.

Education never ends, and takes many forms. If I was just starting out as a climber I'd take arbormaster training before college. After 38 years I still go back to the universities for independent study, and attend conferences when the program has stuff I need to learn more about.

I know an industry-leading arborist who's ready to slog through intro courses, spending much time and money to get a forestry degree because it's an automatic ticket to places that are hard to enter without some letters after your name. It seems a ridiculous waste, but it's a reality that if your aim is for more administrative/educational than hands-on tree work, it's best to get a degree early.

Remember--you can't climb forever; and even though I plan to it's less hours every year and you gotta make money when you're not in the tree.

 

[TREETX]

I smell a troll and envy. That is cool if you want to envy me.

 

[underwor]

Most of us, as you have said start out as climbers. Until you know the basics, it is often hard to advance in a major company even with a college degree. Most job descriptions say 5 years experience along with schooling for a foreman's position. Having worked in the profession for 36 years, starting as a climber while in college, I insist that my students take a climbing class along with the rest of the AAS program. This is their ticket to start a little above the bottom in most companies. Just had a young lady return who took the class last year, along with a couple of others. She had gotten a summer job that started at almost 3 times minimum wage and she was advanced to crew leader within a month of starting, since she had had the arboriculture, pathology and Urban Forest management classes as well. I hope she will return to finish the rest of the program, since she would make someone a very good company executive.

Over 90% of the students who are taking my online classes are doing so to advance in their current position or get a better job.

Finally, many of us still climb even with a BS, MS or PhD because we enjoy it. We may not climb as often, but hopefully we work a little smarter. If you can not enjoy what you are doing for a living, then you need to get another job. Some like to climb, some like to solve problems, some like to count beans. As long as they are happy. Education gives us a few more options to choose from to find true happiness.

Bob Underwood

 

[tshanefreeman]

My personal goal is to someday work my way into a city forester/managerial position. This has been a dream of mine for many years, but the reality of the business world is that you have to stand out.................even if the majority of society cannot understand those little letters behind your name, doesn't mean that your next potential employer can't! Therefore, I decided to complete my post-secondary education before entering the workforce on a full-time scale. And now that I have completed a four year BSc in Forestry and three, two year AAS degree in Urban Forest Technologies, Turfgrass Management, and Landscape Design I feel that I will have a better chance. Every single credential will 'wow' the employer and show that you are a serious contender....................not just another person out for a healthy pay-cheque. With the bulk of my education completed, all that I have to do is keep plugging away with the experience part and sooner or later the dream may come true!

 

[ProfessorPlum]

Good, science-based tree care requires someone or other that works for your company to be well versed in Plant Physiology, Botany, Mycology, Entomology, Chemistry, and Soil Science. Naturally, the company also requires people who can do the work and do it well, but the person that can do it all is going to be the company's biggest asset, and draw a commensurate salary.

Is that person going to be you?

I bid jobs everyday where our prices come in 10-30% above what some other tree companies bid, but we get the job anyway, because I communicate the science behind the recommendation. Sure, it's not outside the realm of possibility that I could have learned to do that just as well reading on my own and talking to people, but it's unlikely.

Having people see the credentials on your business card doesn't hurt either.

 

[Nickrosis]

The simple truth is that a college degree doesn't start people better off. It gets them to the top faster, though. Every one of my classmates is told to expect to work from the ground up but to expect to move faster than if they didn't have a degree.

Some recent graduates landed city forester positions right out of college, but most work they're way up. I'm in a unique position being in a family business, but I also don't expect to stop at a bachelor's degree. I didn't go to college so I could get a job because I have one now and always will if the company is around. I went to college to learn and to become a better person, which I believe I have. Money is a horrible rationale for anything.

Nickrosis

PS: It was great meeting some of you for the first time at TCI. I'm shopping around to spend the $150 I won in the Student Career Days.

 

[Stumper]

Good to see you posting Nick.-We've missed you around here!