Groups and training for women in tree work

This page lists groups and programmes that describe themselves as being for women in tree work. It states what each page says and nothing more. Dates and fees are only the ones the organisers' pages show. None of these groups is connected to ArboNation.

United States

Women's Tree Climbing Workshop

The Women's Tree Climbing Workshop, or WTCW, says it is a women-owned, Vermont-based organisation, established in 2009. An ISA feature says the workshop began in 2009 and grew from one day to three. It quotes a co-founder saying more than 700 women were trained over its first decade, and that many participants come from outside arboriculture.

The WTCW courses page lists three-day workshops for novice, intermediate and experienced climbers. For 2026 it lists Texas in February, Brooklyn in May, Massachusetts on September 18 to 20 and North Carolina on November 20 to 22. The Massachusetts date is marked as open to all genders. It also lists an experienced climbers workshop on Catalina Island in November, one-day climbing experiences, chainsaw safety, gear inspection, first aid and aerial rescue classes. It says all of its events can earn continuing education units. See the WTCW courses page.

The Green-Wood Cemetery page for the Brooklyn workshop says the workshop includes food, instruction, use of gear, networking and 19.75 ISA continuing education units, and that lodging is not included. It says all gear is provided, and that climbers who bring their own must bring their gear inspection documents. See the Green-Wood event page.

The Western Chapter of ISA lists a Women's Advanced Tree Climbing Workshop on Catalina Island for March 20 to 23, 2026, in partnership with WTCW. The page says it is for established climbers and that registration has prerequisites. See the Western Chapter event page.

Scholarships

WTCW says it offers scholarships to its workshops, funded by industry professionals, past participants and supporters, with proceeds from its shop going to the fund. Its page lists scholarships awarded for each 2026 workshop, from 3 to 9 per event. It also points to the New England ISA Diversity and Inclusion Fund as another source of help. Current terms are on the WTCW scholarships page.

ISA and TCIA

ISA's site carries a Women in Arboriculture series of profiles, including a feature on WTCW. See the ISA WTCW feature.

Canada

The ISA Prairie Chapter has a group called Prairie Chapter Women in the Trees. Its page says it was founded in 2022 and works on networking for women in the arboriculture industry, both working arborists and people who want to become one. The page lists a Women's Tree Climbing Weekend planned for 2027 at Olds College in Alberta, with the date to be announced. It describes the weekend as hosted by women, open to women of all climbing levels, with climbing equipment available for beginners and up to 10 continuing education units for ISA Certified Arborists. The page lists earlier weekends in 2021, 2023 and 2025. See the Prairie Chapter Women in the Trees page.

The Prairie Chapter also awards a CA$500 scholarship to a student in an arboricultural programme in Alberta, Saskatchewan or Manitoba. It is not aimed at women only. Its competition page, described in the guide to climbing competitions, also says that 12 places in its 2026 women's competition were held back for a time.

United Kingdom

The Arboricultural Association runs a Women in Arboriculture group. Its page says the group was set up to promote the industry at entry level, support women already in it, and support a culture change on diversity. It lists a support network, careers advice, mentor guidance and work on everyday issues such as kit fit. It also says the group is not only about being female and wants an inclusive working environment for all. It runs a forum for questions and shared knowledge. Its page gives a contact address. See the Women in Arboriculture about page.

A headline on the Association's news page reads "Women's ArbCamp turns 10".

Australia

Arboriculture Australia has a general Diversity and Inclusion page. The site lists no women-specific network. The ATCC policy says the competition committee will prioritise gender equity when it issues wildcard and guest seats, in line with ISA and Arboriculture Australia diversity and inclusion policies. See the diversity and inclusion page and the ATCC policy.

New Zealand

Women and Trees NZ describes itself as the first advocacy and support group for women in New Zealand arboriculture, and as a subcommittee of NZ Arb. Its page says its first two-day camp in April 2025 had 26 women, and that as of 2018 only 60 women were recorded as working in the industry nationwide. It also describes a second camp, dated April 24 to 27, 2026, at Eastwood Hill Arboretum in Gisborne, at NZ$150 per person. The fee covers food, three nights of accommodation, 8 or more workshops and skills sessions, and facilitated conversation among women. The page says the camp is aimed at women in the industry, and that family may come along but there is no extra room to sleep them. The page gives a contact address. See the Women and Trees NZ page.

At a glance

Country	Group	What it lists
US	WTCW	Three-day workshops, scholarships
Canada	Prairie Women in the Trees	Networking, climbing weekend
UK	Women in Arboriculture group	Network, mentoring, forum
Australia	No women-specific group listed	General inclusion page
New Zealand	Women and Trees NZ	Camp, support group

The workshops above are run by their own organisers, who set the fees, prerequisites and rules.

For other bodies and reading, see associations and reading. For course choice, see choosing a climbing course.