Tickle the Sky

"Just tie some knots in a rope, and you're up a tree," says Peter Jenkins, the founder of Treeclimbers International, "it's that easy." Of course, most people associate tree climbing with the more carefree, skinned-knee days of childhood, but as this film shows, it's a sport for every age. Popular author Robert Fulghum (All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten), himself an avid treeclimber, is the genial host, who introduces us to every aspect of this fast-growing form of recreation. With just a few ropes, some rock climbing/rappel gear, and a lot of enthusiasm, anyone can delve into this fascinating hobby. From county fairs, where kids excitedly pull themselves up to dangling soap bubble bottles, to the giant sequoia forests of California, where adults take several days to ascend some of the world's tallest trees, it's clear that the joy of treeclimbing is contagious and irrepressible. Why climb? There are many reasons: for a different perspective, for relaxation, to shed "adultness," to learn respect for nature, to build self-confidence, but most of all--for the sheer fun of it. The film boasts high production values, and although it runs a bit long, one can't help but want to scramble up the nearest tree after viewing. Aud: H, C, P. (E. Gieschen)