Chad Brey isn’t just a champion climber. He also isn’t just the guy in our ear pestering us about safety all the time. Or the Certified Arborist. Or the Certified Tree Worker that takes pride in every climb and cut. Nope, Chad ALSO runs a TreeCircus.

Yea, what?

Every year since 2009, Chad and his buddy Timmy Womack host “TreeCircus” at the California State Fair for 17 days straight. The mission of TreeCircus is to awaken the world to the fun possibilities of urban forest tree care.

He kicks it off with a 5 second speed climb to the ceiling, 32 ft and 7 in up. Then 30 min of high energy education before they strap people up and let them fly.

They’ve taken over 6,000 people aloft. Children as young as 6 years old can experience the love of the climb, harnessed in and using the traditional moving rope system and Blake’s hitch.

One of the most touching stories he shared is about a girl named Delaney. Delaney is blind and attended her first TreeCircus at 8 years old.

Chad asked her, “What do you want to do?”

She answered, “Go to outer space.”

So he tied her in and gave her verbal instructions on how to “lift off” the ground. She slowly pulled herself to the top, felt around until she found the bell, and rang that thang with excitement and fervor.

That was 10 years ago, and she’s come back almost every year ever since. No instructions needed.

These are the many joys behind their work and mission. Because ANYONE can climb trees and be a kid for life.