TREETOP EXPLORER
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About Treetop Explorer

PictureCurt & Jennifer started Treetop Explorer in 2016.
Treetop Explorer experiences cultivate personal connections to the natural world and foster a better understanding of one's true self.

Our climbing experience
 ignites the spirit of exploration & discovery in the hearts of adventurers (young and old) and inspires a lifelong appreciation for the beauty of trees. 

Through professionally-guided experiences, we provide an exciting and engaging activity that draws people outdoors, creates lasting memories, develops self-reliance, builds self-awareness, and boosts self-confidence.

Climbing trees has tremendous developmental, physical, and emotional benefits. As you begin your ascent,
external distractions fade away as focus turns inward. Rising ever-higher, time and perspecive change.

​Upon reaching your destination in the branches above, you are energized yet at peace. Positive emotions abound and self-appreciation flourishes. That is the power of tree-time.


Our climbing experiences enable you to explore the world above the ground in a fun, encouraging, and accepting atmosphere...so you can discover the impact tree-time will have on you.


Treetop Explorer is proud to actively support organizations focussed on fostering love and appreciation for the natural world and providing a healthy environment for the growth and development of our youth:
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JOIN OUR TEAM!
Are you interested in blending an exciting avocation with the reward of taking others into the trees?

Meet Our Tree Climbing Adventure Guides

Curt - GOTC master instructor & tree climbing facilitator
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Having climbed trees for much of my childhood, I was in awe the day I first saw people climbing into tall trees I never could have imagined being able to climb. I climbed into my first tall tree as a professional in 1995. It was a large, majestic white oak and I still have vivid memories of the experience.

As rewarding
as working as a climbing arborist was, climbing outside of work is where I found deeper  connection. Climbing mature trees provides peace and rejuvenation unlike any of my other outdoor pursuits.

While I had taken friends and family up to enjoy this unique experience for many years, I did not "discover" recreational tree climbing until relatively recently. Realizing people outside of my circle of friends were also hungry for the exhilaration of the tree climbing experience, a new path was revealed in my journey through life and career.

The drive to provide outdoor experiences that have positive impacts on individual's health & well-being materialized with the creation of Treetop Explorer. Having hosted  thousands of climbers since then, it is inspiring to see how each person's experience is as unique as the individual.


Outside of my time playing in the trees, I continue to provide consulting, educational lessons, and diagnostic support to professional tree and landscape maintenance contractors.

Spending time outdoors plays an integral role in my daily life, even outside of work. I enjoy a variety of experiences that get me around trees and forests; like hiking, forest bathing, camping, paddling, and exploring National Parks & Forests. I also enjoy fitness walking, half marathons, and gardening. 
​
- RTC Master Instructor - Global Organization of Tree Climbers
- TCIA Qualified Instructor - TCIA Tree Care Academy
          Academy Certifications:​ Aerial Rescue, Tree Climber Specialist, SRT Climber, Tree Care Specialist, Plant Health Care Technician
- RTC Lead Facilitator & Master Instructor - Global Organization of Tree Climbers
- Certified Forest Bathing Guide & Certified Nature Connection Specialist - Forest Therapy Hub

- Consulting Arborist & Trainer - Tree Health Specialists
- Board Certified Master Arborist #MW-0433B - International Society of Arboriculture
- Certified TreeCare Safety Professional #2345 - Tree Care Industry Association
​- graduate: Davey Institute of Tree Sciences 
(Highest academic achiever, Class of 1997)
member:
- Global Organization of Tree Climbers (GOTC)
- Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE)
- Society of Outdoor Recreation Professionals (SORP)
- Wisconsin Arborist Association (WAA)
- Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA)

- International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)

proud to serve

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Global Organization of Tree Climbers
Board of Directors member at large (past president), Industry Sponsor, individual member 
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Waukesha Civic Theatre
Board of Directors member at large, volunteer, corporate sponsor

Jennifer - tree climbing facilitator
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My first ascent into the trees was in a beautiful white oak in Indiana almost 20 years ago. Sitting on top of a ridge, the view from high in the canopy stretched out for miles across rolling wooded hills.

Little did I know the course our lives would take to bring us to today. With the desire to create a better work-life balance, Curt and I are fortunate to be able to actively pursue our dreams; one of which being to create a lifestyle that keeps us active and outdoors.

While pursuing our respective careers, we also worked hard at our previous business to provide a comfortable and engaging atmosphere in our Irish pub. The enjoyment and pleasure of providing a quality customer experience is addictive.

With the reward of achieving many milestones and successes with that business, soon after selling it we found ourselves at a point where we were once again ready to take a turn and head down the unpaved path. Treetop Explorer materialized from pairing our love of the outdoors and the desire to provide a unique and rewarding experience.

Climbing trees can be energizing and therapeutic, which is very much welcomed at the end of a hectic work week. It also fits right in with my other interests of yoga, hiking, reading, camping, traveling, and finding new ways to relax outdoors.

As I continue the pursuit of my personal career, it is a pleasure to be able to host climbers at as many of our climbing events that my schedule allows.


- RTC Lead Facilitator - Global Organization of Tree Climbers


Connor - tree climbing facilitator
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Connor attends the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse where he is studying Psychology & Sociology. He joined the Treetop team in the summer of '24 and quickly developed his tree climbing and facilitation skills.
 
​Connor also enjoys rock & rock wall climbing and working at Adventure Rock.

in the news:

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Our climb near the new Century School Park & Art House 360 caught the attention of freelance writer Samantha Christian.
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The Verona Press stopped by our July Rec Climb to learn more about why our tree climbing program is so popular!
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The Waukesha Freeman stopped by our September Beginning Tree Climbing Class to see what it was all about.
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Alex Corradetti stops by during her CBS58 Hometowns visit to downtown Waukesha
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With the popularity of our tree climbing offerings and growth of our company, we utilized the services of the Waukesha Small Business Development Center.
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Michael Schlesinger from CBS58 returns to the trees with us for a morning climb in Wauwatosa.
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Brian Kramp from Fox6's WakeUp spent the morning checking out all the fun to be had in Waukesha County Parks this summer, including recreational tree climbing.
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Journalist & mother reminisces about climbing trees when she was younger. JSOnline/Metroparent


The Climbing Tree  
by Curt Andrews


​I do not recall the species of my first climbing tree. Ash, elm, oak, I couldn’t say. The memories, however, are still vivid in my mind.

At first, I had to ask my older brothers to give me a boost. As they hoisted me high, I stretched my scratched, bruised summer-time kid arms up to the lowest limb and pulled myself up with an “umph” to sit on the worn branch. In time I grew and was able to jump up and touch the limb. Not much longer after that, I was able to jump up and grab the limb all on my own! That was the climactic day that I could finally get myself into the tree relying solely on my own strength and skill.

By that time, I had already been climbing higher into the canopy and further out on branches. My older brothers had shown me where to hold with my hands and where to place my feet so I could discover different spots in the tree. They encouraged me to challenge myself until I could confidently reach out to the two swinging limbs- limbs you could hold onto with both hands and let yourself hang and swing and yell out wild calls into the canopy.

We had many adventures in that tree. We schemed harmless heists and mused over the standard philosophical school boy chatter. The tree served as our fort where we would plot our neighborhood mischief for the day. Even though it was our fort, we never used a single nail or board. The number of branches and the perfect sitting areas throughout the crown of the tree served as the ideal fort for us.

Oftentimes I'd head up alone on a hot summer day to lay back on one of the limbs that held me as if they had grown for just that particular purpose. Other times I would climb to the "crow's nest", a point where five branches emerged at the same point and curved upward to create a seat which cradled my upper body.

It was here that I could read a book, while swinging one leg lazily between limbs or doze off in the calmness and serenity of the canopy, as thousands of emerald leaves twisted and turned around me in a soft summer breeze. I had discovered
tree time.

Treetop Explorer, LLC.    -     620 Maple Avenue, Waukesha, Wisconsin 53186    -     (262) 894-4949.    -     [email protected]

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© 2025 Treetop Explorer, LLC.
​ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
  • Climb With Us
    • Open Climbs
    • Open-Advanced Climbs
    • Girl Scout Climbs
    • Rec Department Climbs
    • Group/Private Climbs
  • Learn to Climb
    • Intro to Climbing Systems
    • Beginning Tree Climbing
    • Advanced MRS Climbing
    • Intro to SRS Climbing
    • Tree Climbing Facilitation >
      • BTC Climbing & Facilitation
  • Learn More
    • The Climbing Experience
    • FAQs
    • Testimonials
    • Health & Safety
    • Blog
    • Gift Cards
    • About Us
    • Work With Us
  • Calendar
  • Contact