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Tree Climbing Championship Takes Competitors To New Heights

An oak tree at the U.S. National Arboretum set up for a “fun climb” — it’s smaller than the trees used in the competitive climbs. (Carmel Delshad/WAMU)
An oak tree at the U.S. National Arboretum set up for a “fun climb” — it’s smaller than the trees used in the competitive climbs. (Carmel Delshad/WAMU)

Arborists make their living caring for trees. But for some, tree climbing is more than a vocation.

Carmel Delshad (@cdelshad) of Here & Now contributor WAMU attended the International Tree Climbing Championship in Washington, D.C., over the weekend and discovered climbing trees can take skill, strength and a passion for nature.

The winners of this year’s championship are two returning champs, both from New Zealand: James Kilpatrick is the men’s champion, and Chrissy Spence is the women’s champion.

Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.

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Federal funding is gone.

Congress has eliminated all funding for public media.

That means $2.1 million per year that Connecticut Public relied on to deliver you news, information, and entertainment programs you enjoyed is gone.

The future of public media is in your hands.

All donations are appreciated, but we ask in this moment you consider starting a monthly gift as a Sustainer to help replace what’s been lost.