Participants can climb state champion tree at Earth Day Omaha

March 30, 2016

Lincoln, Neb. — One of the many activities at Earth Day Omaha on April 16 is the chance to climb Nebraska's state champion swamp white oak in Elmwood Park. Participants will be trained, secured and supervised by facilitators to take climb lines 50 feet up into the tree.

The free tree climb is hosted by the Nebraska Statewide Arboretum and sponsored by Barcel Landscape Products and other organizations. The tree will have 14 ropes, and participants can spend 15-30 minutes exploring the tree and viewing the Earth Day activities below. 

"How often do you have a chance to safely explore the top of a tree, let alone a state champion tree?" said climb coordinator Graham Herbst. "Most adults haven't climbed a tree since school days, but this is an opportunity for kids from 8 to 80 to live out a childhood pleasure most of us have given up." 

Climbs will occur from 10 a.m. (an hour before other Earth Day activities begin) to 3 p.m., with registration required. The climb will occur near the center of the eastern edge of Elmwood Park, west of 60th and Leavenworth streets. Participants must be at least 8 years old and have parental permission. Last year, 110 participants took part in the climb, ranging in age from 9 to 67.

For more information, visit http://plantnebraska.org or contact Graham Herbst at 402-444-7875 or gherbst2@unl.edu.