Locals 'hang out' in tree-climbing classes
By Scott Atkinson Special for The State News The age-old adventure of climbing trees has been retooled for children in the Lansing area, with the addition of helmets, ropes and harnesses. The Harris Nature Center, 3998 Van Atta Road in Okemos, hosted a workshop in "technical tree climbing" Saturday, where they instructed participants on how to safely climb - and hang out in - large trees. Vertical Ventures Rock Climbing & Wilderness Programs, 843 Lantern Hill Drive, a company that teaches technical tree climbing, led the group through the woods of Okemos to their tree of preference - a tulip poplar with thick branches, which they estimated was more than 100 years old.