Dear Camp Director or Program Activities Coordinator

You may have heard of a fast growing and exciting new outdoor activity called recreational tree climbing. You may have even been contacted by individuals or companies offering to conduct climbs and/or teach tree climbing at your camp.

We are the GOTC, the Global Organization of Tree Climbers. Our organization was formed by the most experienced and specifically trained tree climbing facilitators and instructors, going back to the founding of this activity in 1983. Just the facilitators and instructors on our Board and Council have safely facilitated or instructed tens of thousands of climbers worldwide.

The GOTC was formed in 2007 for the purpose of being the voice of the recreational/experiential/adventure tree climbing community. Our facilitated program climb guidelines have been adopted by the AEE (Association for Experiential Education) as their official tree climbing standards.

Our Mission is to:
1. Promote safe and environmentally respectful tree climbing practices for adventure, education, and fun.
2. Be a unifying voice representing and supporting tree climbing organizations and individual tree climbers.
3. Encourage the joyful experience of tree climbing for people of all backgrounds and abilities.
4. Share the insight and unique connection to nature that can be found by exploring trees and the forest canopy.

Tree climbing as a fun, educational and experiential learning activity is growing in popularity thanks in large part to the efforts of GOTC members. We wish to see that growth continue in a safe, fun, and positive way.

If you are interested in investigating how to incorporate tree climbing into your program offerings, please contact the GOTC at the email address below. We are here as a resource to you should you have any questions on how to start tree climbing programs at your camp, find recognized facilitators and instructors in your area, discuss range of costs to expect, site requirements, or anything else you can think of. We are available year-round for training and consultation.

Thank you for your time.

For the GOTC,
Harv “Ponderosa” Teitelbaum, President

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