Where Are They Now?

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Jason Davidov

Written By Carly Schleider Photographed By Justin Tsucalas

Jason Davidov, Beth Tfiloh Dahan Community School Class of 1994, is a modern day Tarzan. As the owner of J.D. Outdoors LLC, a local tree service and landscaping company, he spends much of his daylight hours perched in green canopies, wrestling with delicate branches and surveying his hometown from unthinkable heights. When he’s not struggling to find his balance, Jason enjoys time at home with his wife, Jamie, and their two daughters, Hannah, 16 months, and Kayla, 4. He also spends free time hiking with his two Labrador companions, Cassiopeia “Cassie” and Andromeda “Andy.”

iNSIDER: Were you outdoorsy growing up?
Jason: Yes. I was a Boy Scout for about nine years and an Eagle Scout.  I was the first one at Beth Tfiloh to make Eagle.

I also got into climbing at BT Camp, where I worked on the ropes staff for a few years and helped to build the climbing walls and challenge course.

Are you a risk-taker?
There was definitely a time when I was a risk-taker. I am not so much a daredevil as I was since I got married and had kids.

How did you get involved with landscaping and tree work?
After college, I took a job at a landscape company in Eldersburg that does tree work and cuts grass. I hated cutting grass. I basically begged them to put me in with the tree crew and that’s pretty much how I started. Once they found that I was not afraid of heights and that I had knowledge of the climbing equipment. … they had me in the trees in no time.

Do you feel a spiritual connection with nature?
You’re dealing with a living thing, you know? With plants and trees and things, everything is connected. But on a totally different level, there have been times that I’ve been in the tree and … I don’t want to say ‘impromptu prayer,’ but when the wind starts to blow and the tree starts to sway and I’m up there tied into it, sometimes I find myself talking to the tree and saying, ‘God, what am I doing here? Just keep an eye on me for another minute and let me finish what I was trying to do.’ So some of it’s spiritual; some of it’s a little borderline religious.

How do you give back to the community?
I do volunteer work with several local organizations. I have provided assistance to several Eagle Scout service projects. I have also personally unblocked roads after storms in the area and helped the police to cut and move tree debris.