Women's climbing workshop... Who went? How was it?

Re: Women\'s climbing workshop... Who went? How was it?

It was seriously incredible!! What an amazing job of organization and delivery of the whole event. Melissa, Bear, Marcy, Jenn, Alex, Coop, Kit and Julie were an AWESOME team! Thanks Ladies!!!

30 women attended selling out the workshop! Oh, and 3 women were on the waiting list! That's huge and very exciting to see women coming from all sorts of backgrounds. The only wish I had was for it to be longer so we could have gotten to know each other more. But there is always next time.

Speaking of next time, I can't wait to take this format out West!! Hopefully making it a 2 Day Workshop. More to come on that later.
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I'm going to post a few pics for you guys. This first one is of Melissa, Bear and Marcy showing us some Climbing System advantages...
 

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Re: Women\'s climbing workshop... Who went? How was it?

Here's another showing the crowd of women climbers. I don't think I've ever seen that many in one place. The ITCC comes close, but I think this topped it.
And the cool thing is, it's only the beginning.
Thanks to everyone for making it happen. Especially all the sponsors out there. You all really made a special experience come to life, so THANK YOU!!!
 

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Re: Women\'s climbing workshop... Who went? How was it?

Here's one more pic of true happiness. Melissa and I are at the top of this gorgeous Hemlock. What a wonderful specimen at the Arnold Arboretum. We were so lucky to be able to climb in such a beautiful place.
 

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Re: Women\'s climbing workshop... Who went? How was it?

Great pics! I remember when Jen brought the idea to the NEC-ISA board last year... So cool to see this come to fruition! A few more of these and we'll have to have a separate comp for gals LOL!

Thanks for the report and pics!

-Tom
 
Re: Women\'s climbing workshop... Who went? How was it?

Jealous!!! Been to Arnold Arboretum...fantastic place.
Looks like you had fun
 
Re: Women\'s climbing workshop... Who went? How was it?

Holy cow, how do I begin... For over 10 years I have dreamed of a day in which I could either attend or even instruct a workshop to teach women how to climb trees. It was truly a dream that came true!

So many friends (men & women) asked me: "Why just for women?!" Frankly, because I have heard so many times over the years requests for the need and desires of women to learn how to climb! Oddly too, I felt the need because of all the educational workshops I have had the priveledge to attend, I see the same women present (gladly), and knew there were many more out there hiding in the shade of our trees and not feeling it was their time to step out into the sun and give it a try!

I kept hearing "Build it and they will come". The New England Chapter said yes and with the help of so many, we made it happen!

We had women from California, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts.

Our sponsors were phenominal and so supportive. (The Arnold Arboretum, Epicenter Managment, Davey Resource Group, Unique Tree & Shrub Care, Shelter Tree, ArborWear, Mayer Power Products, Samson Rope, Northeast Stihl, & the New England Chapter.)

Our volunteers were incredible! The workshop would not have happened without the following help of Jen Kettell, Julie Coop, Kit Ganshaw, Sue Pfieffer, & to the "Arborists who thou shall not be named".)

To Marcy & Bear... you are awesome instructors! Thank you for your inspiration, your knowledge, your flexibility, your fab teamwork, and your endless guidance.

I truly aspire that this workshop will become a perennial event in the Northeast. I also believe that finally we have built a workshop that other Chapters can use as a model to increase the participation of women in their Chapters.

Heck, I'm shooting for the moon: I'm hoping this might be a tool to help women gain the education they need to develop their climbing skills to offer another option in arboriculture and even maybe someday enter in their local Chapter Tree Climbing Competitions! Always good to dream right??

Photos are coming to the Chapter's website soon from Julie Macintosh... a true professional and inspirational spirit.

Thanks to everyone who made this dream come true!

~"Butterfly"
 
Re: Women\'s climbing workshop... Who went? How was it?

"We had women from California, New York, Connecticut, Vermont, Maine and Massachusetts."

Don't forget Rhode Island!!!
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-Tom
 
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