Getting into Training

[BEH2202]

I don't post much and many of you out there don't know me, but I am a Certified Arborist, CTSP, Certified Horticulturalist, and Aerial Rescue certified through the TCIA. Anyway, my question is how many of you guys do any training and how did you get into it? I have an interest in sharing my passion with other people and would like to get involved with training others outside of my workplace. I know the TCIA has Approved Instructors, but to become one you have to log a certain number of training events and be a CTSP. If anyone has gone through this process before how did you fullfill the previous training requirement? I want to thank you all in advance for your insights.



Brad

 

[Lulu Baker]

HI Brad- you say at the beginning that you are a CTSP, are you still? I am starting to get involved in the process

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Like any business venture having liability insurance is important.

Credentials are important. Credibility too.

I've talked with some people who started training and realized that their weak suit was in their stage presentation. Taking some acting classes helped
Them a lot

 

[mrtree]

If you want to be a trainer you need to take lots of courses in the skills etc. you want to train but much more important is the training in basic health and safety and instructor techniques. We all know the brainics who can't instruct and we know instructors who know nothing beyond the content of the specific course.

If you start out as somebody who believes they are a subject matter expert, that does not make you an instructor. I know of a company that does aerial rescue training yet none of the instructors/evaluators have any sort of training. They are modelling bad technique and passing along terrible information.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

You're right Mr Tree

For years I've heard and seen AR 'training' coming from people who don't have any sort of first aid...much less EMT level certificates. They teach good rigging skills but most ar is already know how to lower logs. In AR the decision to move is made early and victim care is most important

 

[mrtree]

Yes a very good example of experience versus expertise. I see in the AR competition portion of TCC rescue randy being brought to the ground bent over backwards, his head bouncing off branches and limbs, with no protection of the neck or spine. I realize that TCC is often about speed (and points) but these contestants are not showing a great AR, rather they are fitting in a bunch of things in the short time frame a single day competition allows. What is unfortunate about this situation is that many use it as the (only) learning experience they will share with their staff or perhaps others.

I recently taught a safety course where participants told me the first decision to make in an accident is who to treat. I suggested the first decision is centered around assessing the scene, protecting the rescuers and avoiding another victim. Surely questions of first aid techniques would be further down the list and likely follow the 911 call.

Again experience does not make a trainer.

 

[Merle Nelson]

I don't post much and many of you out there don't know me, but I am a Certified Arborist, CTSP, Certified Horticulturalist, and Aerial Rescue certified through the TCIA. Anyway, my question is how many of you guys do any training and how did you get into it? I have an interest in sharing my passion with other people and would like to get involved with training others outside of my workplace. I know the TCIA has Approved Instructors, but to become one you have to log a certain number of training events and be a CTSP. If anyone has gone through this process before how did you fullfill the previous training requirement? I want to thank you all in advance for your insights.



Brad

In addition to responses you get here, these are good questions for a specific few who may never see your original post. I would search out the best trainers and relentlessly and respectfully persue there mentorship. What could be more rewarding to a trainer than training someone who will go on to train yet others?

 

[Oroboros]

https://www.arborcanada.com/courses/Chainsaw-Train-the-Trainer/

This course would be worth while.

 

[Tony]

https://www.arborcanada.com/courses/Chainsaw-Train-the-Trainer/

This course would be worth while.

That is indeed an excellent option.

There are many paths that can lead to becoming an "arboricultural trainer." As stated above your skill set does not make you a trainer, but it is imperative that you have one and it be extensive.

What a trainer is, in loosest terms, is an individual, with an excellent skill set possessing yet another skill set in the ability to share the original skills with others. I love the wordiness there!

Too build this second skill set takes time, energy, study and practice. This cannot be gained through a course, certification or test. Those may be excellent starting points, but are by no means an end. Even the excellent course Oroboros mentioned is just the beginning.

A trainer is developed through mentorship, practice and experience.

How to get there?

- Develop that excellent arborist skill set. It took me well over 20 years. (others may be less. I am kinda stupid and slow)
- Get hooked up with the Arb Canada course or similar
- Stay involved and develop the training skills they way I described above. (Mentorship, practice and experience).
- Last, but most important. be passionate about sharing your knowledge, lest you be insincere.​

Tony