TCI vrs GOTC ?

[JesseHuffman]

So it seems that if one wants to become a recreational treeclimbing facilitator, then there are two organizations that offer accrediations. TCI in Georgia and GOTC in Colorado. I was just curious about the differences in the two. Any input on this would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Blinky]

Yeah... they like money, generally in large bundles.

 

[Raven]

Or just start your own accreditation process. I'll give you a good reference (;>

What legal body recognizes their accreditation anyway? The rec climbers court?

 

[DanHouse]

Those few who answer I hope will refrain from sly comments and innuendo.

You do not have to choose one or the other because the best answer is to join both. Sift thru what you like about each one and toss the parts that you feel doesn’t fit your business plan.

I joined TCI in 1997 when Peter trained/taught/reviewed Joe Maher, Hope Winters (Abe’s daughter) and myself. And then I was a GOTC board member and secretary for five years until I could not take the slow progress any more. Many well-known instructors are still involved with GOTC but many have resigned.

The opposition by the GOTC board to recognize that a graduate of a Basic Tree Climbing Course conducted by a GOTC recognized Instructor is in fact a Basic Tree Climber is a contradiction that I cannot abide. All their guidelines are composed to create safe solo climbing individuals. As they learn new skill levels you can progress upward from Novice to Solo Climber to Facilitator to Instructor. But they refuse to recognize skill levels that have to start with the Solo Climber. The reason people take classes is so they can go out and climb on their own recognizance.

TCI has 29 years of skill level recognition with great success. The Skill Reviewer process will allow an Instructor to confirm a student at various levels as documented in their guidelines. TCI offers these classes and while the process is somewhat regimented it works and is well worth the time and money.

Your business will be better with memberships in both since each has potential to generate students thus income. Your insurance provider and the state do not require any proof of skill and will gladly take your money regardless of memberships or even ability.

There are many facets to this question to consider and I doubt that they all can be covered via a message board at a mostly professional arborist site. You may want to post also at the TCI forum and the Tree Climbers Coalition site.

Good luck to both your and Laurie.

See you at the top, Dan House

 

[moss]

[ QUOTE ]
Yeah... they like money, generally in large bundles.

[/ QUOTE ]

Anyone who offers services likes to be paid yes? Of course I'm stupid and volunteer my rec climb facilitation services and work many long hard hours for no financial compensation. Very rewarding in other ways though.

Anyway, kudos to those who can succeed in running a rec climbing instructional business, not an easy row to hoe.
-AJ

 

[moss]

[ QUOTE ]
What legal body recognizes their accreditation anyway? The rec climbers court?

[/ QUOTE ]

As far as I know there is no legal standing for accreditation for any instructors in any recreational outdoor skills like caving, rock climbing, ropes course, zipline, etc. "Accreditation" is given by professional organizations or associations for any of those activities. Same for rec tree climbing. For example professional experiential educators (incudes a wide range of outdoor activities like ropes courses etc.) have at least two professional organizations they could seek accreditation from.

TCI and GOTC represent two efforts to form professional organizations/associations to provide consistent criteria and guidelines for attainment and assessment of skill levels for rec tree climbing instructors.

I know many rec climbing instructors associated with either organization and I can only say good things about their abilities as instructors.

So... Jesse I don't think you can go wrong (agree with Dan) working with instructors from either group.

For pro climbers some of the protocols and gear used by rec instructors might seem strange compared to what you do in a work environment. I know several very good pro climbers who've gone through the TCI program. The upshot is they learned a lot from rec instructors who've put hundreds if not thousands of newbies on rope. Lots of wisdom in what they've found out doing that. The rope climbers then took that and enhanced it with what they already know from all their hours in trees on the pro side, it's a win-win.

Teaching rec climbing is not for everyone, it's harder work than you might imagine. Beyond everything you already know about tree climbing, a lot of it is people management mixed with the sheer logistics of rigging trees with large numbers of ropes and running the whole circus smoothly and safely towards a bunch of happy climbers at the end of the day.
-AJ

 

[moss]

[ QUOTE ]
So it seems that if one wants to become a recreational treeclimbing facilitator, then there are two organizations that offer accrediations. TCI in Georgia and GOTC in Colorado. I was just curious about the differences in the two. Any input on this would be greatly appreciated.

[/ QUOTE ]

What Dan said, they both come out of the same "skill tradition" started up by Peter Jenkins in Georgia so the skill set and protocols for teaching are very similar per organization. I think it comes down to what individual instructor you'd like to work with, not so much which organization they're affiliated with.
-AJ

 

[DanHouse]

Well said Andrew.

Stan and I are gearing up for a fantastic meld of pro and rec climber now at Portland and then next year in Toronto. Let me think August heat and humidity here in Kansas or on Lake Ontario? You pick one.