Urban Forestry Program Climbing High with Equipment Donation

Brooklyn Park, MN, May 1, 2025 – Hennepin Technical College is proud to recognize generous funding from the Hennepin Tech Foundation to purchase equipment from Minneapolis Saw, Inc., based in Columbia Heights, MN. The company recently commissioned new climbing equipment to fulfill the needs of the college’s growing Urban Forestry program—supporting hands-on training for students pursuing careers in arboriculture and tree care.

The donation includes gear that accommodates a wide range of body types, with helmets, ropes, and professional-grade climbing harnesses that allow up to seven students to climb simultaneously. Students recently put the gear to use during a safety training focused on aerial rescue procedures—learning how to assist a climber who becomes incapacitated in a tree.

“This donation makes a big difference in our ability to provide safe, industry-standard training,” said Rod Rodman, instructor in the Urban Forestry program. “It’s crucial that our students not only learn how to climb, but also how to manage emergencies and protect each other in the field.”

Hennepin Technical College’s Urban Forestry program is the only program of its kind in Minnesota, offering a career pathway into arboriculture, landscape construction, and urban tree care. With this new equipment, students will have even more opportunities to gain confidence and technical expertise in the field.

About Hennepin Technical College

Founded in 1972, Hennepin Tech is the largest stand-alone technical college in Minnesota. With campuses in Brooklyn Park and Eden Prairie, the college offers degree and non-degree courses in over 40 programs in the skilled trades and high-demand career fields. Achieving a high job placement rate, Hennepin Tech prepares students for high-paying employment opportunities.