James Savage never imagined he would become a professor, let alone a professor teaching a class on the art and skill of tree climbing.

While studying at Penn State, Savage took a summer job, which accidentally led him to become a full-time professor. Throughout his career, Savage has climbed trees all over the world. About 10 years ago, he taught a student named Maria Tranguch through a Penn State extension, who went on to become the second-best female climber in the world.

HORT 201, also known as Applied Arboriculture, teaches students how to climb trees while being efficient and safe. The climbing techniques taught in the class comply with ANSI and OSHA regulations. Students are shown how to use equipment properly, different climbing techniques, and how to care for trees.

In this class, students have to climb various trees located throughout campus. Depending on the group of students and their progress, different tree climbing spots include East Halls, Kern, Chambers, and down toward College Avenue.

“We try to teach to have a plan of where you’re going to fully go up, but that never works out. It will always change. It’s always different. And we try to do different trees and throw different problems at them,” said Savage.

Savage emphasizes the importance of safety in his class, explaining the repetitiveness found in knot-tying exercises and the intricacies of the equipment. He explains that tree-climbing equipment differs significantly from other climbing equipment. All gear is ANSI-certified and meets OSHA standards. Always being attached to the tree while climbing is a requirement; if you free climb, you are given one warning and then dismissed from the class.

Elevation can lead to elevational IQ loss, causing confusion and fear. Savage has had to remove students from trees, which is why enforcing safe practices is essential.

“I’ve watched branches quake, and you can hear it in their voice that they’re not comfortable, but that’s a big part of the class is to push you beyond your comfort zone, because the further you can push yourself, the more you can do,” Savage said.

Although the class’s primary focus is on climbing, it also includes quizzes and a final. For the first quiz, students have to climb a tree blindfolded. The final exam consists of a three-page test, divided into sections throughout a tree. Students must complete each page in the tree and then bring it down. If they bring the test down stapled, they are rewarded with a donut.

Savage feels one of his goals in teaching the class is to interest students in tree work, as companies such as the Davey Tree Corporation offer significant career opportunities. There is financial potential in the tree-climbing industry, with the Davey Tree Corporation being a $1.9 billion company.

“There’s a lot of money to work with trees, and climbing is about 10% of it, but to me it’s the hook to get people into it,” said Savage.

Savage hopes that students who take HORT 201 are pushed beyond their comfort zones and find that their confidence has grown. He believes this course is both unique and rewarding and that there is no other arboriculture class similar to it in the United States. 

Savage also hopes that students take away a new perspective on hard work and the ability to accomplish anything with dedication. During classes, you can find Savage instructing and encouraging students from the ground, accompanied by his dog Winston, the enthusiastic mascot of HORT 201.

“It’s hard, but I don’t want to hear that. I want to hear you swear your head off and get angry, and get it done because you can do it. You can do anything if you put your mind to it,” Savage said.

HORT 201 is open to all students of any major. If you’re interested in taking on adventure and scaling new heights, this class might be the perfect fit.