Testimonials

"I am overwhelmed (in a positive way) by how incredible an experience it was being with the wonderful/amazing/badass humans I met this past weekend. I struggled to articulate verbally in real time how happy I was meeting and being with everyone. Learning the technical content was just out of this world FANTASTIC, SUPERB, EXCELLENT, the BEST. However, there was a second element to this experience that completely blindsided me. The kindness and camaraderie I experienced with the team and every single human who was at this training touched me in such a deep way that I felt quiet inside for the first time in a long time. For someone who has the degree of ADHD, anxiety, and PTSD that I have, it was like being able to take a deep breath for the first time. In fact, the last tree I climbed was that maple out back by the lake - at the top, I remember telling Zach C., who was up there with me, that I was the happiest I have ever been in my whole life. It felt like being a kid again; it was magical.

I quit a corporate job to work with an Arborist whom I trusted deeply, and he agreed to mentor and specifically teach me to climb. After making this life-changing and financially crippling decision, he revealed that he believed women should never be climbers. It was absolutely devastating at the time, but after this weekend, I feel validated and excited to move forward.

I am inspired to dedicate my life to spending as much time as I can to building on the skills you all have taught me so that I can get back up in the canopy again. Thank you all for being exactly who you all are, thank you for creating this space for women like me - it has changed my life."

"Say "Yes!" to the workshop! It was the most empowering and fun three days I've ever had! Even for someone like me who has never climbed trees, learning from the compassionate and highly skilled instructors propelled me to get higher each day and helped me to gain the knowledge I need to safely climb, and the encouragement and support from the WTCW team as well as from fellow participants were exactly what I needed to overcome mental hurdles. I am so grateful for WTCW and hope to go back."

"I have a different understanding of the physical nature of using a chainsaw, and how much stance and posture matter. I feel less intimidated by chainsaws, despite having gain more knowkedge about the risks. I hadn’t put nearly enough emphasis on PPE in the past, and the workshop really taught me to see this. I also learned that o need to approach each cut with consideration and not just dive in and see what happens."

"These were fabulous classes. Bear and Melissa are amazing instructors. I feel confident now in what I can (and cannot) do with a chainsaw. I feel that I have a good understanding of the machine, the dangers of it, the measures to take to protect against the dangers, and the very cool things you can do with a chainsaw. Fun classes, good mix of classroom and hands-on. Really enjoyed! I can't wait to take another one and improve my skills further."

Chainsaw Safety Level 2 @Berkshire Botanical Garden November 2024

I have probably said it a million times in this already but you are truly the best!!!! The experience yall provided for all of us was like no other, the knowledge and love shared will be carried into the rest of my life!

My weekend at the Women’s Tree Climbing Workshop was an experience of a lifetime!!! I came with a passion for climbing and it was fueled with so much knowledge and support allowing me to push my boundaries safely and confidently. Beyond the surplus of knowledge shared, there is a special kind of inspiration and empowerment felt between the amazing teamwork and atmosphere that exists within the group. I loved every second of it and take any chance I can to recommend it to others!

"This was, without exaggeration, the best weekend of my entire life. I had been looking forward to this workshop for so long and had dreamed up so many possibilities of what I would learn and experience. The reality of the weekend was better than anything I had dreamed up. Not only did I learn so much information about climbing, I gained so much more. I gained more confidence in myself and my abilities than I ever thought possible. Beyond just the information I learned, I gained a wonderful community. I don't think I fully realized before this workshop how much I missed women's spaces. Ever since entering forestry I had just become used to being one of the few women in the room. I had forgotten how much I NEEDED this. Before this, I had never met another woman climber, and it was the most indescribable feeling to meet so many talented women climbers at once. The space that Bear, Melissa, and the other instructors created was so non-threatening, supportive, patient, and free of ego. I have not stopped thinking about this workshop since I left. I have not stopped talking about this workshop since I left. To be fully transparent, I have cried EVERY time I have talked about my experience at this workshop. I'm honestly crying while writing this. This workshop struck a chord in my soul like nothing else has. I feel so many overwhelming happy, confident, amazing emotions about this workshop that I feel like I have to cry. This was amazing. I am so grateful that this organization exists and that this was something I was able to experience."  

~Lily S. from Wimberley, Texas 2024