Tips on teaching

[DeAvilaTree]

Looking for some tips on teaching a younger kid that works for me to be a climber, I've put him up into some smaller trees (40' or under) he's not to bad. But maybe I'm expecting to much out of him. Any ideas, or tips to make this any easier?

 

[fishercat]

patience,

Looking for some tips on teaching a younger kid that works for me to be a climber, I've put him up into some smaller trees (40' or under) he's not to bad. But maybe I'm expecting to much out of him. Any ideas, or tips to make this any easier?

time and patience.

 

[tree md]

It can be frustrating. Teach him all of his knots on the ground and make him be able to show them to you and tie them on request before you turn him loose. I had one a couple of years ago who was a natural climber. He got his knots down and had been working with a handsaw. I turned him loose with a 192 to do some limbing but nothing heavy. He had his knots down pretty good then one day I don't know what the hell he did. He was climbing on a prussic and did something that made it lock up when he put weight on it. I was having him leave his safety on and ease into the friction hitch to make sure it was working properly before he came down to be on the safe side. It was hard for me to inspect his knots from the ground. I don't know what he did but he got stuck. I had to have him break it down and retie it while he was tied in with his lanyard. So what I am saying is don't expect too much too soon.

Another thing is don't put too much on him. If he's a kid and he is young he don't have the same decision making capabilities as you. What seems so simple to you he is just learning. It can be frustrating at times. You need to always supervise him when he is in the tree and make judgment calls for him. It's a lot of fun to teach new guys but it can be very frustrating at times as well. Be patient and don't expect him to move too fast. He's not going to be as fast as you.

 

[climber338]

im actually learning from a guy and what has been said above is very true. Ive been climbing on my own for about a year and have been self teaching myself for about 9 months out of that. It feels really good to have somebody who can tell you exactly what to do from the ground. When i climbed on my own i didn't learn all that much but when im under or better said OVER "THE BOSS" i learned alot more in a much shorter period of time. It takes allot of time to get good and the experienced guys make me look like an old grandma up there but im catching up very slowly. Keep the attitude good as well because it does not help if your screaming at a kid who just messed up because then there confidence is shot and you will be climbing the rest of the time. I like how my boss says "well your doing good but that tree should not have taken an hour to prune but your getting better. Oh and kyle took that oak down for ya so you dont have to". I work with some of the best guys and feel like if i work with them long enough ill become as good as them.

 

[TreeTarget]

It can be frustrating. Teach him all of his knots on the ground and make him be able to show them to you and tie them on request before you turn him loose. I had one a couple of years ago who was a natural climber. He got his knots down and had been working with a handsaw. I turned him loose with a 192 to do some limbing but nothing heavy. He had his knots down pretty good then one day I don't know what the hell he did. He was climbing on a prussic and did something that made it lock up when he put weight on it. I was having him leave his safety on and ease into the friction hitch to make sure it was working properly before he came down to be on the safe side. It was hard for me to inspect his knots from the ground. I don't know what he did but he got stuck. I had to have him break it down and retie it while he was tied in with his lanyard. So what I am saying is don't expect too much too soon.

Another thing is don't put too much on him. If he's a kid and he is young he don't have the same decision making capabilities as you. What seems so simple to you he is just learning. It can be frustrating at times. You need to always supervise him when he is in the tree and make judgment calls for him. It's a lot of fun to teach new guys but it can be very frustrating at times as well. Be patient and don't expect him to move too fast. He's not going to be as fast as you.

Yep...Best advice.

Have not taken the climb yet, but am working on the knots. It takes time, no matter how motivated, to learn all that a good teacher should expect before sending grasshopper up the tree. I have told my boss I wouldn't mind learning to climb, regardless of if I climb for the business or not; but I can remember alot of things less dangerous I was not "allowed" to do until I was "certifiable."

No hurry...

 

[DeAvilaTree]

Good advice guys I like the feed back, I try to put him innthe tree when I can, mostly on jobs that are fairly simple and I'm not pressured for time. I was thinking of climbing the tree with him so he could get a better view of how i'm doing things

 

[treemandan]

Good advice guys I like the feed back, I try to put him innthe tree when I can, mostly on jobs that are fairly simple and I'm not pressured for time. I was thinking of climbing the tree with him so he could get a better view of how i'm doing things

That is a very good idea but most often impractical. So you need to take away the " job aspect" and have some time you can go up with him. Best thing is to do it at your house or something like that.

 

[TreeTarget]

...steps up the ladder...
Tried fitting a belt today, not for purchase, just something the boss had lying around. Never had one on before today and it wasn't too bad of a fit (on the ground). Still have alot of knots to learn.
We were looking at a ascent/descent device today on youtube through some link here for climbing...can't remember the name, but will look and repost the link. Looked interesting, and possibly safer than the brake usually used. Also looked at a GRCS on youtube...damned toys cost so much...like the idea though.

 

[treesquirrel]

Just tell him if he makes a mistake that you will cut the tree down with him in it...

 

[MostShady1]

:bang:

Just tell him if he makes a mistake that you will cut the tree down with him in it...

 

[NeoTree]

I'm definately not the authority here, but being on the recieving end of the teaching, I'd say have him read the tree climbers companion a couple times.

 

[Josh777]

Confidence and problem solving skills are what makes a speedy climber speedy. The more he gets in a tree and see's some recurring situations the more he'll be able to say, "hey I've seen this before," and just get on with the work. Teach him what he needs to be safe and efficient and keep putting him up the tree. The smoother he gets the faster he'll be. Also a little patience and encouragement will go a long way. -Josh

 

[DeAvilaTree]

I figured I'd give you guys an update, I've been putting him in a few trees. He's not doing to bad, he definitly needs to build up more indurance, and he needs to think more when he's cutting. He cuts to fast sometimes and doesn't allow his face cut to do what it's suppose to do. But all in all he's not doing top bad. I let him take the top out of a 40' spruce today, it worked out pretty good because their was a maple right next to it about 8' away, so I hopped in to that so I could go up and explain things to him as he went. I have some pics I'll upload them soon

 

[Job Corps Tree]

How Old is he 24 or less? you could send him to one of the 6 Job Corps centers for Training, if he has a High School Diploma or GED He could be back with you with a full set of his own Gear in 4 to 6 months as a ISA Certified tree Worker Climber Specialist

 

[TreeTarget]

No insurance claims yet?

 

[tree MDS]

Work together on a few good sized crown cleanings as a team.

This is a good plan. I learned to rope climb (and prune properly) long before ever putting on a set of spikes.

 

[Job Corps Tree]

I was Teaching on the JOB for 10 or 15 Years and here at this Job Corps center for the past 10. I have the same odds of anyone becomming a good climber at I did on the job. Not everone is going to be a climber. We teach 56 or so new students every year & 5, 8 may do tree work but they all climb to complete this class, all the knots, all the chainsaw work & all the Safety + they (the students) run in age from 15 to 24. Some get real good, in a saddle or in a Bucket truck. But if they want to complete they will have to do the work and take the tests and the tests are not all on paper. the stuff you need to do in a tree is done in a tree. What a great place to work i do love it so.

 

[2chops]

The main thing with teaching anyone to climb is to show them only the right way to do a thing, and be patient. I have found that it's better to give them a minimum of options too. For example...if you're using drt style and are showing said newbie the climbers hitch of your choice, only show them one. Blakes for example. Don't also give them the tautline, the VT, etc. It's too much too soon.

When I was just starting out some of the "old timers" would yell and carry on if it took me 15 minutes to get up a tree that would only take them 3. And heaven forbid using your "chicken strap" while going up. Yea? Well if something goes wrong, a slip or loss of grip etc., they're not the one hitting the dirt.

Give the lad time and all will be fine.

 

[M.D. Vaden]

Looking for some tips on teaching a younger kid that works for me to be a climber, I've put him up into some smaller trees (40' or under) he's not to bad. But maybe I'm expecting to much out of him. Any ideas, or tips to make this any easier?

You aren't as demanding as "Major Payne" are you ??

LOL

 

[treeclimber101]

Work together on a few good sized crown cleanings as a team.

Great idea and your still accomplishing actual work , climbing in pairs is very enjoyable as well , theres someone to talk to for once and you can create a dialog with him so when he is working solo and your pointing things out theres good communication..