BSA Climbing Instructor Training

Sept. 15-16, 2017: Level 1 Basics, Tower operations

Oct 13-14, 2017: Level 1 Natural Rock operations

March 2018: Level 2/Advanced

Completion of all three sessions is required for a Level 2 Climbing Instructor card. L2 Instructors learn additional/advanced techniques and organizational/operational skills. Level 2 Instructors can direct the activities of Level 1 Instructors as event organizers (initially under the oversight of a more experienced Level 2 or a Climbing Director). Level 2 training is current for 3 years and can be renewed as necessary with continued participation. You must be 21 to be carded as a Level 2 Instructor. Del-Mar-Va Council is one of few local Councils that is approved to offer L2 Instructor training.

Our instruction is all skills based. If you come in with a significant climbing background, you may advance through skills assessments quickly. If you are new to climbing, you may need some hands-on time at climbing events to develop, demonstrate, and practice skills. The Sessions should be taken in sequence, but you don’t need to take all three in one season. We expect to offer all 3 Sessions each year, so you can sequence at a pace that makes sense for you.

Cost: $35/session to cover material duplication costs, meals, facility and equipment use, and other supplies.

Registration: Click on the links above to register for each session. If you are not already a registered member of BSA, you will need to complete a form at the first evening session and pay a $15 fee to join. You will also need to complete a BSA medical form (doctor signature is not required-fill it out and attach a copy of your last physical exam from a physician). Click the link on the online registration page for this form.

Locations: All sessions are held at Camp Rodney near North East, MD, about 45 minutes west of Wilmington, DE, 400 Rodney Scout Road, North East, MD (driving directions are available on www.delmarvacouncil.org. Session 2 Friday evening will be at Camp Rodney and at Rocks State Park (45 minutes west of Camp RBSA Climbing Rodney) on Saturday, for an all day session on the rocks.

Creature Comforts: Bunk in the cabin (bring your own pillow and sleeping bag) on Friday night, or bring a tent if you prefer. We provide a “cracker barrel” type snack Friday evening, and a simple breakfast and lunch for Saturday. We keep the food simple so we can spend more time on climbing.

What to bring: All equipment is provided, but you may bring your own helmet, harness, and climbing shoes. Bring a hot beverage cup, 1 or 2 refillable water bottles, a short piece of climbing rope or accessory cord, and a length of 1” tubular webbing for knot practice if you have it, and a pencil/pen.

What You’ll Learn:

Equipment and cordage inspection, marking, care, storage, and retirement;
Climbing, rappelling, bouldering, spotting, belaying, and belay commands;
Climbing knots (water knot, figure 8 follow-through, double fisherman’s knot, Prusik, alpine butterfly, Munter hitch/mule knot) and how and when to use them;
Anchoring systems and belay anchor construction for natural rock and for climbing towers;
Good safety practices, including age-appropriate activity levels for youths;
Leave No Trace policies for Climbing;
Intro to program administration- BSA National Standards, teaching skills, climbing event planning and coordination, development of emergency plans, and climbing program record-keeping (Level 2);

Working ahead: You should study ahead by doing the following:

Study the Climb On Safely, BSA COPE and Climbing/Rappelling National Standards. These documents are available in electronic form on the Del-Mar-Va Council Climbing Team’s website, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/dmvcclimb/
Knots: Go to http://www.animatedknots.com, and learn the climbing knots indicated above. Things will go much faster if you prepare in advance of arrival.

Other Questions? Contact Terry Bliss, BSA Climbing Program Manager, 678-361-6904 (cell) or email at tlbliss@aol.com. A more complete syllabus/agenda is available.