Question
I have a huge tree in my front yard with pea pod things hanging from it. The leaves are really dark green, fan shaped like leaves. It is a good climbing tree for kids. It's branches are very thick. I live in southwest kansas.

Answer
Without a picture I would guess that this is a catalpa tree. There is a Southern and a Northern species but both are similar. Yours is more than likely the Northern Catalpa, Catalpa speciosa

Here is information with pictures of both.

Southern
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melaleuca

Northern

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_Catalpa