GOTC Recognized Instructor Program

Thank you for your interest in the
GOTC-Recognized Instructor Program!

For a long time, the recreational tree climbing instructor community has considered various methods of recognizing qualified instructors. As a non-profit umbrella organization, comprised of numerous tree climbing instructors from around the US and world, the Global Organization of Tree Climbers (GOTC) has published guidelines for various tree climbing activities and courses. GOTC has now taken a significant step towards a recognition process for tree climbing instructors, by creating a recognition program.

By creating guidelines for professional tree climbing programs and instructors, the tree climbing community can direct itself, rather than have regulations forced upon it by various external entities. GOTC strives to align its guidelines and the 2012 recognition process with best practices common in adventure and experiential education while balancing the unique needs of recreational tree climbing.

In this packet you will find the following supporting materials:

• Application Coversheet
• Checklist for Submitting Materials
• GOTC-Recognition General Process Guidelines - 2012
• Supplemental Guidelines:
  -Experience Requirements
  -Rescue Assessment Criteria
  -Reviewer Arrangements and Fees
  -Appeals Process
• Sponsorship Request Form
• What does it all mean? - The Experience Requirements
• Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Steps to for applying to the GOTC-Recognized Instructor program:

1) Please download and read the supporting materials:
Application and Information
General and Supplemental Guidelines
Sponsorship Request Form

2) Assemble as many of the all the required documents as you can before contacting us - this will make it easier for us assist you in the process. (At the moment, contact us before seeking sponsors, as we are still finalizing the list.)

3) Contact the GOTC-Recognition Committee at: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with any questions you have.

4) The committee will work with you to determine the next steps such as an in-person review.

Other materials which might be helpful:

• GOTC Tree Climbing Portfolio Template - one example of many ways to create a portfolio representing your experience.

We will be carefully rolling out the process on our end to work out issues as they are encountered, so your patience with this is appreciated.

Sincerely,
GOTC-Recognition Committee
Sam Johnson
Bill Maher
Harv Teitelbaum

Welcome!

About the GOTC: In 2007, a group of some of the most experienced tree climbing instructors and facilitators came together with the goal of creating an inclusive and democratic organization to serve our growing community. From that initial meeting arose the GOTC, an organization dedicated to serving the recreational, adventure, experiential and educational tree climbing communities.

The GOTC Board and Council are made up of instructors, facilitators, and individual climbers representing a diverse range of tree climbing related communities and interests. Our areas of focus include:

• Promoting safe practices for rope and harness tree climbing*
• Providing learning opportunities and services for individual climbers
• Increasing access for tree climbing
• Facilitating professional growth and accreditation for instructors and program leaders
• Forging links with outdoor experiential organizations and the public
• Fostering wilderness, environmental and climber ethics

* Please note: The GOTC will not set standards for individual, independent, solo climbers operating outside the formal arena of program, facilitated, or instructional climbing. The GOTC acknowledges that a vast array of techniques and styles exist for those climbing at the personal and informal level, some of which may be inconsistent with those employed in more formal programmed settings.

Please feel free to contact the GOTC for further information, or with any questions on membership, programs or tree climbing, at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

We hope you will stop by often to check out continuing additions to this site. Thank you for visiting!