1. Climbing Instructor and Committee Member Troop 89, Great Bend, PA
Jim Banko
Climbing Instructor and Committee Member Troop 89, Great Bend, PA
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2. Agenda Introductions What is Climb On Safely? Your Expectations
Climb On Safely – The 8 Points
Breaking the Chain of Bad Judgment
The Next Step
Closing
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3. Introductions Who are you? What is your regular job?
Where are you from?
What is your position with your Troop?
What outdoor activities do you regularly participate in?
Learn about each student
From this information, make metal notes about each student’s outdoor expertise and supervisory ability.
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4. What is Climb On Safely?
Climb On Safely establishes the guidelines by which BSA climbing and rappelling activities are to be directed
Standardizes the qualifications expected of adults leading climbing and rappelling activities
Patterned after the successes of Safe Swim Defense, Safety Afloat, and Project COPE
COPE – Challenging Outdoor Personal Experience
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5. Your Expectations Why are you here?
What do you hope to get out of this course?
Are the students here just for the patch?
Do the students have upcoming climbing, rappelling, or spelunking activities planned?
Find out what each student expects to learn from this course:
This is awareness training
-This is not a technical climbing skills course
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6. Climb On Safely – The 8 Points
Qualified Supervision
Qualified Instruction
Physical Fitness
Safe Area
Equipment
Planning
Environmental Conditions
Discipline
Tell the class:
Do not try to memorize these points.
Instead, as we cover each point, I would like you to think about activities in your day-to-day life that you can relate to each of the points.
The activities may have been with your Scout Troop, at work, or at home with your family.
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7. Qualified Supervision
All climbing and rappelling activities must be supervised by:
A mature adult at least 21 years old
An additional adult at least 18 years old
Groups with more than 10 youths must have one additional adult at least 18 years old for every 10 additional youths
Tell the class:
This level of supervision is in addition to the total adult leadership required to meet BSA’s two-deep leadership policy throughout the activity.
Leadership at the base camp AND at the climbing site
Coed activities
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8. Qualified Supervision
The adult supervisor must ensure that someone in the group is currently certified in American Red Cross Standard First Aid and CPR
The module “First Aid – When Help is Delayed” is also recommended by BSA
A higher level of certification is also acceptable
EMT, LPN, RN, or a licensed physician
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9. Qualified Instructors
All climbing and rappelling activities must be supervised by:
A qualified rock climbing instructor at least 21 years old
A minimum of 10 hours of instructor training for climbing and rappelling must be obtained from:
A nationally recognized organization
A climbing school
A college-level climbing/rappelling course
OR a qualified BSA Climbing Instructor
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10. Physical Fitness
The supervising adult must require evidence of fitness for climbing and rappelling activities with at least a current BSA Personal Health and Medical Record – Class I
The supervising adult must adapt his/her supervision to anticipate any potential risks associated with individual health conditions
Tell the class:
Physical fitness is a critical point.
Climbing is an aggressive activity that provides an intense, full body workout.
Understanding each participant’s physical and mental limitations is essential for a fun, safe activity.
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11. Physical Fitness
If significant health conditions are present, an examination by a licensed health-care practitioner should be required by the supervising adult BEFORE permitting participation in climbing and rappelling activities
The supervising adult should ensure that the Climbing Instructor is aware of each participant’s medical condition
Tell the class:
You are not doing anyone a favor by ignoring physical limitations
When in doubt, require a participant to get a written opinion from a licensed health-care provider
All adult leadership on the activity should be aware of any participant’s special medical conditions.
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12. Safe Area
All BSA climbing and rappelling activities must be conducted using an established or developed climbing/rappelling site or facility.
A qualified Climbing Instructor should survey the site in advance and evaluate it
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13. Safe Area
Ensure that the site is adequate to accommodate all participants within the available time
Identify an emergency evacuation route in advance
Tell the class:
During a climb or rappel, only 3 participants will be involved at a set route.
The climber/rappeller
The primary belay
The backup belay
Inactive participants become restless and can
interfere with the safe execution of the activity.
Keep participants engaged at all times
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14. Equipment
The Climbing Instructor should verify that proper equipment is available for the size and skill level of all participants
Helmets, rope, and climbing hardware must be approved by UIAA or CEN
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15. Equipment Records must be kept for all equipment
When was it put into service?
How many hard falls has it been subjected to?
Rope or webbing subjected to more than 3 hard falls or that is 5 years old must not be used
Tell the class:
Never use used equipment when you do not know its history
Never use donated military equipment
Never buy equipment from surplus outlets
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16. Planning Obtain written parental consent
In the event of severe weather or other problems, share the climbing/rappelling plan and any alternate plan with the parents and unit committee
Secure permits or written permission for using private or public lands
Tell the class:
The scout and adult assigned to plan the activity should draft a permission slip that contains:
What the activity is and where it will take place
What the inherent risks of the activity are
A consent statement requiring a parent/guardian signature and date
A brief itinerary (detailed itinerary can follow later)
A contact for the parent/guardian to get answers they need before they sign the permission slip
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17. Planning Enlist the help of a qualified Climbing Instructor
Be sure the instructor has maps of the area and is aware of the weather forecast before setting out
Carrying an electronic means of communication is highly recommended by BSA
Tell the class:
The Scouts and the supervising adult can plan the What and When. Let the Climbing Instructor assist with the Where and How.
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18. Environmental Conditions
The Climbing Instructor is responsible for monitoring potentially dangerous environmental conditions
Loose, crumbly rock
Poisonous plants
Wildlife
Inclement weather
Ask the class:
What types of wildlife might you expect to find on a climb or rappel?
Snakes
Birds
Bees, wasps, hornets, etc
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19. Environmental Conditions
Use the buddy system to monitor for dehydration, hypothermia, or an unusually high level of fear or apprehension
The supervising adult is responsible for ensuring that the group adheres to the philosophy of Leave No Trace
Tell the class:
Leave No Trace applies to:
Trash
Damaging or removing natural resources
Causing erosion by hiking on steep terrain
Fire pit residue
Chalky fingerprints left on the rocks
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20. Discipline
Each participant must be oriented with Climb On Safely, and understand and respect the rules and procedures
All participants should respect and follow all instructions and rules of the Climbing Instructor
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21. Discipline
All rules should be presented before the activity and reinforced again before climbing or rappelling begins
The Climbing Instructor must be strict and fair, showing no favoritism
Tell the class:
Some unwritten rules to consider:
Leave the macho attitude at home
Attempt to relieve fear and apprehension with positive reinforcement, not dares and ridicule
Any attempt at a climb is a WIN. Not reaching the top does not make a climber a loser.
Some basic one-on-one guidance can get most apprehensive climbers up the rock…by their own choice.
Any Questions on the 8 points?
How did the 8 points relate to activities in your day-to-day life?
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22. General Comments
The supervising adult’s relationship with the youth should reinforce the importance of following instructions
The Climbing Instructor is responsible for all procedures and for safely conducting the climbing/rappelling activity
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23. General Comments
The supervising adult works with the Climbing Instructor and is responsible for all matters outside of the climbing/rappelling activity
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24. General Comments
A capable instructor has experience in teaching climbing and rappelling to youth, acknowledges personal limitations, and exercises good judgment in a variety of circumstances
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25. General Comments
Having climbing skills is not enough – the instructor must have the ability to teach and the ability to empathize with youth that may be apprehensive about climbing
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26. Breaking the Chain of Bad Judgment
While it is the responsibility of the Climbing Instructor to monitor for unsafe conditions, it is helpful for everyone to:
Be willing to recognize their own poor judgment
Be aware that a moderate level of stress may sharpen their thinking and judgment
Use problem solving strengths that optimize choices
Tell the class:
This is a concept that climbing instructors are expected to keep in front of them at all times.
I believe that it is so important that all participants in a climbing or rappelling activity should be aware of the concept.
The supervising adults should empower all participants to speak up anytime they see something questionable.
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27. Breaking the Chain of Bad Judgment
While it is the responsibility of the Climbing Instructor to monitor for unsafe conditions, it is helpful for everyone to:
Be alert for groups of poor judgments, one building on top of another
Avoid repeating errors by reviewing the original poor judgment as soon as chain has been broken
Tell the class:
Any questions on this concept?
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28. The Next Step BSA Climbing Instructor BSA Climbing Director
Topping Out – BSA Climbing and Rappelling Manual
This manual may be a valuable resource for unit leaders in complying with Climb On Safely guidelines
BSA Climbing Director
For those of you that may want to get more involved with climbing and rappelling, BSA can train you to become a Climbing Instructor or Climbing Director.
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29. Closing Did you attain what you had come here for? Any questions?
Do you have any suggestions for improving this course?
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