San Francisco Bay Area and Pacific Skyline Councils present:

Rock Climbing and Rappelling
Training for Instructors.

Applicants must first have a telephone conversation with the Course Director prior to submitting an application.  Contact information is contained in this registration form: 

Click here for registration form [1]

 

Course Dates: Indoor Session: Sunday October 21st, 2012 - 1001 Davis Street, San Leandro 94577

 

Outdoor Sessions: Saturday November 3rd & 4th, 2012.

Course Fees: $125.00 Indoor and Outdoor Sessions
$50.00 Indoor Session Only

A 3-session course is offered for adult leaders in Scout units actively participating in climbing and rappelling activities, generally twice each year (Spring and Fall). Satisfactory completion of Session 1 and demonstration of the skills presented qualifies the participant to assist in instruction sessions at The Rock, an excellent, realistic artificial climbing wall at the Youth Leadership Training Center in San Leandro.

Successful completion and demonstration of the skills presented in all three sessions of the course qualifies for the BSA-trained card as a Climbing Instructor or Lead Climbing Instructor. This card allows the person to assist or lead unit-level climbing and rappelling sessions or to assist in District or Council-level climbing and rappelling activities under the supervision of a BSA-trained Climbing Director.

Prerequisites for the course are prior climbing experience on natural rock, including basic knowledge of climbing knots, climbing and belaying procedures, and safety practices, plus holding a current Climb On Safely card (obtained by taking the on-line Climb On Safely course at https://myscouting.scouting.org [2] within the past 2 years).

A current BSA medical form is also required. [3] Candidates should be familiar with Leave No Trace principles and practices. This is a course in How to Instruct Youth in Climbing and Rappelling. It is NOT a course in how to climb!

Session 1- at SFBAC Youth Leadership Training Center in San Leandro:

Topics covered are how to introduce climbing grades, teaching basic climbing knots, teaching belaying skills, and teaching basic climbing moves. Candidates will be familiarized with which activities are age-appropriate in terms of bouldering, climbing, rappelling, and belaying. Completion of this session allows you to act as assistant instructor at the YLTC wall.

Session 2 – at a local rock climbing area:

Topics covered are anchoring skills for the instructor to set up for a climbing session in a natural setting (including placement of protection and checking anchors), familiarization with proper rope handling and care techniques, more advanced climbing knots, instructing rappelling skills, and introduction to emergency procedures. Anchors will include fixed anchors, natural anchors, and placement of artificial protection. Procedures for conducting a climbing and rappelling session in a natural setting will be gone over in detail, including helmet zones, and dealing with potential behavior issues.

Session 3 – at a local rock climbing area:

Further instruction in instructional skills and techniques appropriate to youth in the Scouting environment, including realistic scenarios. Candidates will demonstrate their skills in setting anchors and instructing youth in belaying, climbing, and rappelling. Candidates will also participate in realistic emergency and rescue scenarios. A written test will supplement the actual demonstration of candidate skills.

For further information, contact Bill Straka, Council Climbing Director, Pacific Skyline Council (ph 650-856-8380, email alpinistbill-climbinstr@yahoo.com [4] )

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