Crowning Achievements: Back to Forestry School
The Forestry and Landscape Management Program (FLMP) at Kent Roosevelt High School has been in existence for over 20 years and, as you can imagine, its tree climbing equipment has experienced a lot of wear and tear during this time. Climbing gear must be replaced frequently to remain safe, and this requires a great deal of expense. Through their 2018 Ohio Chapter ISA Education Grant administered by TREE Fund, “Setting Young People Up for a Future in Arboriculture,” Kent Roosevelt’s FLMP has been able to purchase five new, complete climbing sets. Additional support from TREE Fund’s 2019 Education Crown/Diamond Partner and campus neighbor, The Davey Tree Expert Company, greatly expanded their grant budget bringing the total number of new sets up to 15!
This modern gear has already taught 18 high school students safe, efficient climbing techniques and skills. Throughout the school year students use the new gear to work on community tree care projects, and share their passion for trees and climbing with fellow students and parents by giving climbing demonstrations. Tree care companies and institutions of higher education benefit greatly from having access to high school students who are already trained as productive climbers and arborists. Kent Roosevelt is known for assisting its forestry students with finding careers in the industry and tree care companies have become accustomed to recruiting from them. Many FLMP alumni have continued their arboriculture education at colleges such as Ohio State ATI, Kent State University, Cuyahoga Community College and the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, before entering the tree care industry. Read more about the impact of this grant on Kent Roosevelt High School’s FLMP here.
The Ohio Chapter ISA Education Grant supports arboricultural education programs or projects within the State of Ohio for people over 16 years old. If you have a tree project in Ohio that could benefit from this type of grant, you can research it here.
Click here for the complete, August 2019 issue of TREE Press.