North American Tree Climbing Championship coming to Ohio for first time ever

Competitive tree climbing makes its Ohio debut this weekend. And yes, climbing trees can be competitive. 

From May 15-17, the 2026 North American Tree Climbing Championship will bring professional arborists from across the U.S. and Canada to The SEED Campus, a new arboriculture training and research campus operated by The Davey Tree Expert Company in Kent.

Hosted alongside the International Society of Arboriculture and its Ohio chapter, this year marks the first time the event has landed in Ohio. The 2026 competition also celebrates 25 years since women first began competing.

The competition tests arborists in events designed to mirror real-world tree care skills, including aerial rescue, ascent, work climb, belayed speed climb and throwline. Competitors earn points across each event, with the top male and female climbers advancing to Sunday’s Masters’ Challenge, where the 2026 champions will be crowned.

BROUGHT TO YOU BY

The winners will move on to compete in the 50th Annual International Tree Climbing Championship in St. Louis later this year.

“As proud ISA partners, Davey is thrilled to be hosting the 2026 North American Tree Climbing Championship at our Kent, Ohio, campus,” said Pat Covey, chairman, president and CEO of The Davey Tree Expert Company. “We’re looking forward to welcoming ISA members and the public to experience it firsthand.”

The weekend also includes an Arbor Fair, food trucks and family-friendly activities. Qualifying events begin Friday at 11 a.m. and continue Saturday before wrapping up with Sunday’s Masters’ Challenge and awards ceremony. Free parking will be available at The Davey Tree Expert Company’s corporate headquarters at 1500 N. Mantua St. in Kent, with shuttle service to the The SEED Campus.

Want to read more? Check out our print publication, (614) Magazine. Learn where you can find a free copy of our new February issue here!

BROUGHT TO YOU BY