Reducing rock climbing risks

Camping Magazine, Sept-Oct, 1998 by Aram Attarian

Managing Staff and Campers

Two of the most important resources for any organization are its employees and customers (campers). Camps are no different. Consideration should be given to establishing criteria for hiring, training, retraining, and evaluating qualified staff. Emphasis should be placed on maintaining the well-being of campers and giving them a high-quality experience.

Staff

Those involved with the supervision of a camp climbing program must be safety conscious, skilled, experienced, and able to work effectively with campers. Moreover, climbing staff should be enthusiastic, aware of their climber's abilities and needs, and eager to help them learn. At a minimum, all climbing staff members should be able to belay, establish anchor systems, execute a belay escape, rappel, and ascend a fixed rope. They should have completed first-aid training (Wilderness First Responder or equivalent) and be certified in CPR. Potential staff members should complete a comprehensive application that documents:

* Previous teaching, supervising, climbing, or instructional experience

* Certifications: Are they current? Have they been updated? Do they have documentation?

* References

* Specialized training

Your program should also take into consideration:

* Clearly defining and documenting climbing staff's responsibilities. This information should be clearly understood by all supervisors.

* Establishing an effective means of communication between staff members and camp administration.

* Initiating and sticking to a camper/staff ratio.

* Conducting staff training on a yearly or as needed basis to update current staff on new policies and technical information and to train new staff.

* Using peer evaluation, participant feedback, or direct observation from camp management. This information should be documented and kept on file.

* Developing a pro-purchase program or offering equipment discounts or specialized training to retain exceptional staff members.

Campers

A quality rock climbing program should have measures in place to ensure that participants are aware of the hazards inherent in the activity. Campers should also understand that they are responsible for their actions and behaviors, and they should agree to follow the policies and procedures designed to enhance their safety and climbing experience. To expedite participant safety and experience, consider:

* Campers' experience level. Do they meet minimum age requirements? Are they beginners needing more supervision or instruction? Are they experienced climbers looking for more challenges?

* Campers' needs. Are opportunities for bouldering, top rope, or lead climbing offered?

* Campers' knowledge. Are campers evaluated on their competency and knowledge about rock climbing? Are other evaluation procedures in place? For example, has the belayer test been successfully completed and documented?

Rock climbing programs do have hazards and despite the best precautions accidents can happen. Adopting or modifying the strategies outlined above can go a long way toward bringing risks within acceptable limits and providing your campers with enjoyable and rewarding climbing experiences.