- Location
- Baltimore, MD.
I’m sure many are familiar with ACRT in Akron, OH, but people new to arboriculture (like me) may not be. Since, just this past Friday, I completed the advanced arborist class there, I thought I would share my experiences with and impressions of the company from a training perspective for the benefit of those who are also new.
Arborist I
Last October I completed the basic class at their training center in Akron. It was very intense. About 50% of your time is spent in the classroom and the other 50% in the trees. In class, they started with knots, knots and more knots. Everyday we practiced knots. We also learned about ANSI standards, CODIT Theory of Decay in Trees, felling cuts, pruning techniques, use of chainsaws, maintenance of equipment, and safety in all aspects of arborist work.
In the field, all climbing was done using DdRT with a tautline hitch. The first climbing venture was a closed climbing system on the afternoon of the first day. I mean I work out, but I found new muscles that week!!! For the second and subsequent days we used an open climbing system with a split-tail, again with a tautline hitch. Emphasis was safe ascent, safe descent, and safety while in the trees. We also learned to double-crotch and experimented with limb walking, did limb removals, and learned to use spurs (not my favorite). Toward the end of the week, we did a complete tree removal using a bull line and pulley system to drop the limbs. Finally, as part of our final exam we had to perform an aerial rescue
Arborist II
What a great class! The advanced class is about 30-35% classroom and the rest in the field. Each field activity was prefaced by appropriate classroom lecture and/or video(s) that pertained directly to the field assignment to be performed subsequently. Time spent in the classroom was excellent preparation for the field.
On the first day, after lecture, we went to a local park to do some climbing. The instructor started us out with footlocking, just to demonstrate that we could do it, or, in my case, learn to do it. (Actually, I didn’t have any problems with it, but I think that was because I have been using a Pantin so much, and when I do, I place my left foot on top of my right for extra leverage.) After that we got to try out different type of ascenders, such as handled ascenders and the mar-bar system. We also got to try out different advanced hitches, like the VT and Knut using a cord, instead of a split-tail with a more traditional hitch. On another day, in the morning, post classroom time, we did some pruning on about a dozen trees around the property. In the afternoon, we studied tree cabling and bracing installation using both the dynamic and static cabling systems. I got a kick out of learning, among other things, to put an eye splice in the end of a metal cable (Nick, you’d be proud). Also as a part of the class, we got to take down two trees: one an approximately 75 foot tree using a speed-line system, the other an approximately 95 foot tree using a crane to drop the limbs. On the last day, we studied tree liability and hazard assessment and performed an assessment on a local tree.
For both classes, I only highlighted a selection of topics, but there was a lot more information covered. I just thought it would helpful for people new to arboriculture to get another newbie’s impressions of his training experiences. Having now taken down a grand total of 7 trees (guess I’m still a newbie, huh?), I can say that the training I received was definitely apropos to the tasks with which I was faced. I would recommend ACRT to anyone wishing to expand on their skills. Everyone there I found to be friendly, helpful, competent, well educated, and very experienced.
Here’s a link to their web site: http://www.acrtinc.com
Jim
Arborist I
Last October I completed the basic class at their training center in Akron. It was very intense. About 50% of your time is spent in the classroom and the other 50% in the trees. In class, they started with knots, knots and more knots. Everyday we practiced knots. We also learned about ANSI standards, CODIT Theory of Decay in Trees, felling cuts, pruning techniques, use of chainsaws, maintenance of equipment, and safety in all aspects of arborist work.
In the field, all climbing was done using DdRT with a tautline hitch. The first climbing venture was a closed climbing system on the afternoon of the first day. I mean I work out, but I found new muscles that week!!! For the second and subsequent days we used an open climbing system with a split-tail, again with a tautline hitch. Emphasis was safe ascent, safe descent, and safety while in the trees. We also learned to double-crotch and experimented with limb walking, did limb removals, and learned to use spurs (not my favorite). Toward the end of the week, we did a complete tree removal using a bull line and pulley system to drop the limbs. Finally, as part of our final exam we had to perform an aerial rescue
Arborist II
What a great class! The advanced class is about 30-35% classroom and the rest in the field. Each field activity was prefaced by appropriate classroom lecture and/or video(s) that pertained directly to the field assignment to be performed subsequently. Time spent in the classroom was excellent preparation for the field.
On the first day, after lecture, we went to a local park to do some climbing. The instructor started us out with footlocking, just to demonstrate that we could do it, or, in my case, learn to do it. (Actually, I didn’t have any problems with it, but I think that was because I have been using a Pantin so much, and when I do, I place my left foot on top of my right for extra leverage.) After that we got to try out different type of ascenders, such as handled ascenders and the mar-bar system. We also got to try out different advanced hitches, like the VT and Knut using a cord, instead of a split-tail with a more traditional hitch. On another day, in the morning, post classroom time, we did some pruning on about a dozen trees around the property. In the afternoon, we studied tree cabling and bracing installation using both the dynamic and static cabling systems. I got a kick out of learning, among other things, to put an eye splice in the end of a metal cable (Nick, you’d be proud). Also as a part of the class, we got to take down two trees: one an approximately 75 foot tree using a speed-line system, the other an approximately 95 foot tree using a crane to drop the limbs. On the last day, we studied tree liability and hazard assessment and performed an assessment on a local tree.
For both classes, I only highlighted a selection of topics, but there was a lot more information covered. I just thought it would helpful for people new to arboriculture to get another newbie’s impressions of his training experiences. Having now taken down a grand total of 7 trees (guess I’m still a newbie, huh?), I can say that the training I received was definitely apropos to the tasks with which I was faced. I would recommend ACRT to anyone wishing to expand on their skills. Everyone there I found to be friendly, helpful, competent, well educated, and very experienced.
Here’s a link to their web site: http://www.acrtinc.com
Jim
