The big idea

Big Canopy Campout is an open, international platform connecting people and projects dedicated to protecting native forests.

In a coordinated annual event gathering hundreds of people around the world to campout locally over a chosen weekend, BCC is both a celebration of our forests and a global protest against their destruction.

Meet the Team

  • Forests fascinate me. I had the privilege of spending time in the amazon rainforest of Ecuador and meeting the local communities there during my Zoology degree. I believe these experiences are the foundation of why these areas and the people are so pivotal in my life today. Now as a professional climber in both rope access and arboriculture I use the practical skills of accessing these areas to bridge the gap between science, research and working at height to better our understanding of these areas in the hope we can use it for their future protection. For me Big Canopy Campout represents the wonderful world of people and their different ways of how to connect and experience forests. I am delighted to have this opportunity to get to know more people and continue fighting for the protection of forests worldwide.

  • As a professional tree climber in arboriculture, I’ve been afforded the privilege of basing myself in rural Scotland where myself and my wife now raise our little baby boy, Bodhi. Work farther afield in Europe and South America continues to provide amazing challenges and adventure within the tribe like group of characters in which the art of tree climbing pulls together. Having focussed my studies and practices in veteran tree management, I am passionate about the ecological impact and future development of ancient arboreal landscapes with the vast biodiversity contained. For me, being a part of Big Canopy Campout is an opportunity to further engage with individual’s, communities and works with established foundations to protect old growth forests so valuable to our fragile and uncertain future.

  • Tree climbing without connection to nature can easily turn into just another kind of sport.

    That was the reason why the TreeWalkers project was born - to make this practice full of new emotions, ethics, knowledge and technical experiences. We are here to discover new horizons that we could observe from the canopies and inside our souls. That is the way to unite new friends around forests and trees regardless of borders, religion or race.

    We are all connected via the wood wide web and there's no any secret password beside your own desire to try something new. You are welcome to log in!

  • Resident artist/herbalist and self-titled “The BCC Ghost” because I like to work mostly behind the scenes and the camera when it comes to my role here in the company, I also like to make spooky noises in the dark when I fancy it.

  • I always try and be a stones throw away from somewhere beautiful, happily making myself at home in the hills and forests. It's not something I can do all the time, but such is life.

    Taking photos and videos of the natural world makes for a fun challenge, and always a welcome one, giving me the perfect excuse to get out amongst it all for a while.

    The chance to join BCC this year is very exciting for me. Not only to be part of a fantastic team, engaging in an incredible cause, but having a great time doing so too.

  • Life is better in trees. Not as far as to reject humanity and return ape, but still. Climbing trees since day one, working in trees since 2008.

    Trying to understand everything there is to know about trees but probably not even halfway there so might as well keep on learning. The plan is to keep on doing it from the most beautifull region in the world: the Flemish Ardennes.

    I travelled South America for quite some time and that´s when I understood that the Amazon is one of the last, and for sure the biggest Front of Nature. When it fails, where will it end?

    Big Canopy Campout´s goal is to maintain rainforests and therefore every single tree and shrub that is connected to it, so I am proud to be part of that commitment.

  • With two foresters as parent I grew up being surrounded by nature. Growing up with many trees around me made me see them as an enormous playground. I quickly started respecting them as giant living organisms.

    I became addicted to heights and as a teenager started rock climbing, getting out on the rock whenever the weather was good and taking every opportunity to explore new places.

    One day I saw two arborists working and from that moment I knew that would be my goal! For me becoming a professional treeclimber and arborist is the most wonderful thing that could have happened. 

    Can’t wait to be a part of this amazing project and explore some new territories with this awesome team!

How Big Canopy Campout started

Big Canopy Campout was dreamed up by UK Tree Climbers in 2017, born out of a passion for trees, climbing, science and exploration. We wanted to open up a platform to bring together and celebrate all the different people who are protecting the world’s forests in such wonderfully different ways.

As tree climbers with over 40 years experience between us, we have had the privilege of working within some of the most incredible forests and witnessing these complex, beautiful but fragile ecosystems from a completely unique perspective. We have met countless brilliant individuals struggling with the crucial work of protecting our rapidly diminishing forests yet without the resources to share their knowledge.

The power of social media allowed us to bring many of these people together to celebrate native forests and the people and projects protecting them. The connections between people, places and projects expands the unique and different ways we interact with our natural world.

At our current rate, all rainforests will be gone in 77 years and with only 18% of the world's forests on land protected from deforestation every effort is needed to preserve these crucial areas. We need a network of solidarity to continue fighting for the future of our trees.

We grew from 11 countries to  36 countries world wide taking part in the annual event in 2022. We raise money for grassroots initiatives, share stories and knowledge, and hope to

develop better ways to support those who are carrying out this meaningful work. 

“Big Canopy Campout has given me the huge privilege of meeting people (both in person and virtually) from all around the world, with different jobs, perspectives and backgrounds, who, nevertheless share the same understanding that forests are key to the future of the planet and to our happiness and health

- Vicki Tough, Co-founder Big Canopy Campout