New Jersey Tree Climbing Competition: organiser, place, schedule, judging and path to the world final
The annual state tree climbing competition of the New Jersey Arborists Chapter of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA): the June 2026 place and schedule, the 30 professional climbers, how judging and the Masters' Challenge work as the chapter's press release describes them, and the rule book the chapter points to.
Checked against the sources at the bottom of this page on October 9, 2026. Rules, fees and pay change: the source has the last word.
This page reports what the New Jersey Arborists Chapter (NJAISA) says on its competition page and in its 2026 press release, and what ISA says about its rule book. The national and regional events are in the table of championships. This page names no climber because the chapter's results are on its own site.
Where and when
The press release places the 2026 competition in Central Park of Morris County, on Friday, June 12 and Saturday, June 13, 2026. The competition page links a map pin for the site and says it is held in a public park. It describes a family-friendly event, with most families attending on Saturday, June 13, 2026, and says a drop zone marked with tape surrounds each event that spectators may not enter. The NJAISA says it provides a Licensed Tree Expert and an ISA Certified Arborist to answer visitors' questions about trees.
Schedule as listed
| Day | What the competition page lists |
|---|---|
| Friday, June 12, 2026 | Registration, release waivers and gear check from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The Belayed Speed Climb and Ascent events from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM. |
| Saturday, June 13, 2026 | Breakfast for competitors and volunteers at 7:00 AM and a walk-through of events at 7:45 AM. The Work Climb, Throwball and Aerial Rescue events start at 8:30 AM, with lunch at noon and events continuing until complete. Preliminary winners and the top 3 New Jersey climbers are announced, then the Masters' Challenge is held and the New Jersey champion is announced. |
Climbers, judging and the path to the world final
The press release says thirty professional arborists from across New Jersey and beyond compete in five preliminary events and a final Masters' Challenge that decides the 2026 New Jersey champions. Each event is timed and scored by a team of five volunteer judges under the rule book of ISA's International Tree Climbing Committee, while a team of administrators tracks scores. The competition page says registration was closed for climbers and that a waiting list could be joined by contacting the chapter. It lists no fee.
The release says the top three New Jersey competitors are escorted away from the site while the Masters' Challenge is prepared, and that the champions of that round earn the right to represent New Jersey at the International Tree Climbing Championship in St. Louis, Missouri, in October 2026.
Rule book and forms the chapter points to
The competition page links the 2024 to 2026 rule book, the official scoresheets, a gear inspection form to fill in before Friday, and the mechanical device list from ISA's International Tree Climbing Committee. ISA's rule book says it was revised on October 2, 2024 and is valid until October 1, 2026, when a new set of rules is to be released. The page also says volunteers get lunch, and it links a sponsorship guide for the event.
Results
The chapter lists its press release, rules and forms on one page. See the NJAISA competition page for them.