A new feature on the lineup at GIE+EXPO will put a 40-foot tree inside the Kentucky Exposition Center and give attendees the opportunity to learn arborist techniques from a group of women who are experts in their field.
Three certified arborists, Melissa LeVangie, Bear LeVangie and Rebecca Seibel-Hunt will provide climbing instruction while aloft in a tree set up within the expo center’s Freedom Hall. During eight sessions — which are included with trade show registration — attendees can expect to learn basic techniques and systems accepted within the industry to safely, efficiently and effectively perform tree care operations.
The LeVangies developed the Women’s Tree Climbing Workshop in 2009 with a mission “to create a safe, encouraging, and empowering learning environment for women to climb trees” and have hosted workshops across the country for both women and men.
“Davey Tree is excited to present the ‘Climb Trees, Expand Your Horizons’ program at GIE+EXPO, in collaboration with The Women’s Tree Climbing Workshop, and with support from SHELTER Tree,” said Alex Julius, employee development and safety training specialist at Davey. “We think this is an excellent opportunity to highlight women in arboriculture and share basic industry-accepted climbing techniques and systems. It should be a great time, and we hope lots of arborists — new and experienced — are able to attend.”
The GIE+EXPO is set for Oct. 16-18, 2019.
Session dates and times are listed below.
Wednesday, Oct. 16
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Intro to Climbing: Job Briefing, PPE, Purpose and Approach
4:45 – 5:45 p.m.
Basic Climbing Techniques: Climbing Equipment and Systems
Thursday, Oct. 17
10:00 – 11:00 a.m.
Tree Entry: Throwline, Rope Installation and Tie-in-points
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Access, Ascent (Closed vs. Open System) and Movement
2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Movement & Work Positioning
3:30 – 4:30 p.m.
Safety, Descent, and Equipment Management
Friday, Oct. 18
9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Tools of the Trade
10:30 AM – 12:30 p.m.
Climbing Systems: Stationary and Moving Rope Strategies and Basics of Rigging
