Tree climbing
What to expect
Tree climbing’s not a new activity – if you ask grown ups, many of them will remember giving it a go when they were younger. You’ll need to find a good tree with plenty of strong, well-spaced branches before you take on the challenge.
Tree climbing’s only fun when everyone stays safe. Only climb trees where you can do it safely without the need for ropes or safety equipment, and where the risk of injury from a fall is minimal. No one should climb higher than they feel comfortable with, or beyond the limits an adult has set.
What you’ll learn
You’ll need to be agile as you balance on branches and plan your path through the treetops. Along the way, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to get up close and personal with nature from the tree itself to the insects that call it home.
Fun facts
It’s estimated that there are just over three trillion trees in the world! That’s more than there were 40 years ago, as people have been making a real effort to plant new trees outside.
Handy hints
- Check the tree. Make sure it’s not rotten (so you know it’s safe to climb) and that you won’t disturb any nesting animals. Nesting season’s usually between February and August, but you should always check before you climb, no matter the time of year.
- Leave your stuff on the ground. It’ll be easier to climb without a bulky backpack or coat tied around your middle, and you’re less likely to damage stuff too.
- Take it in turns. Generally, it’s best to make sure only one or two people climb at once so the tree doesn’t get crowded or damaged. Taking it in turns also makes it easier for people to climb at their own pace without feeling pressured.
Safety
You must always:
- Complete a risk assessment
- Have the right ratios of number of adults to provide suitable supervision
- Set up an InTouch process
- Know what to do in an emergency
- Share information with parents and carers with an activity information form
- Get approval from your Lead Volunteer.
Be safe outdoors:
- Check the weather forecast
Other activities:
- Where an activity is not covered by any other rules members must follow rule 9.1 and assess the risk, ensure that members can be kept safe and that all equipment is suitable for its use.
This activity can be led by you or someone else in Scouts
You can go to a centre or use an activity leader who is not part of Scouting:
You must find a suitable provider who meets the following requirements:The provider must have public liability insurance.
Guidance
Reflection
Tree climbing encourages people to value the outdoors. What did people do before they climbed? They should’ve checked to make sure the tree wasn’t rotten or home to nesting animals. Did tree climbing help people feel connected to nature? They could think about what they noticed with different senses, from the texture and patterns of the bark to the smells of resins and flowers.
Tree climbing’s also one way to be active. Did it take more or less energy than people expected? It can be hard work to life yourself up into the branches. What different parts of their body did people use to help them climb? People may have used their legs to push themselves up, hands to cling on, and their head to plan a route. How did people feel when they reached the top of their climb, however high they got?
You may be able to make tree climbing more accessible, for example, by encouraging people to offer tips from the ground, reminding people to take it at their own pace, or choosing a tree that’s well-suited for climbing. However, because tree climbing is about relying on natural resources without systems such as ropes, it won’t be accessible for everyone.
If it’s not accessible for your whole group, do something else instead. If you want an adventure, why not arrange to go to a centre who’ll adapt adventures like climbing so everyone can take part? You can also use the tool to find other tree-themed activities (like Bark worse than their bite) or ones perfect for your local park (like Mother Nature’s ID challenge).
All Scout activities should be inclusive and accessible.
Why not add to the number of trees by planting your own? Perhaps it’ll end up big and strong enough for someone to climb in the future.