Rock Climbing Instructor Qualifications
Level 4 Rock Leader
Scope of Leadership
- This qualification will provide the outdoor recreation sector with individuals who are able to operate independently under indirect supervision, and lead participants in a specific outdoor activity, where the emphasis is on safety, in low technical yet dynamic outdoor environments.
- Graduates of the Rock Climbing strand will be able to carry out single pitch rock climbing, including rock climbing rescue skills;
- plan for and lead groups in the rock climbing skills required for a positive introductory experience, including appropriate use and care of equipment.
Learning Outcomes
- Assess and respond to a rock climbing emergency
- Demonstrate personal skills in rock climbing
- Develop a plan for leading an outdoor experience for a group within defined operating scope
- Lead an outdoor activity under indirect supervision within an organisation safety management system
- Review and evaluate leadership of an outdoor recreation experience
Qualification Delivery
Self-directed online learning
Teacher-directed online learning
Teacher-directed in-person training
Assessment Tasks
Prepare a plan to lead a group.
Demonstrate leadership skills
Demonstrate personal skills
Review and evaluate leadership
Prerequisites
The following outlines hours and experience that must be completed for the qualification to be awarded. We recommend participants start with all of these conditions met. You will need to provide a plan that clearly shows how you will demonstrate these conditions before the final date of the qualification.
− climbing, single pitch, on at least 20 routes (any grade) while on a top rope at either indoor or outdoor venues and have at least an additional five days experience as a co-leader or assistant leader, providing assistance with the setup and management of group climbing at indoor and/or outdoor venues;
− top roped climbing to Grade 14.
Sites must meet the following parameters:
− set up single pitch top rope climbs where haul lines are in place and regular checks of anchors are completed by the organisation managing the venue; or there are fixed anchors bollards, trees or threads; and
− where the candidate has visited the site previously and had their set up approved by a Rock Climbing Instructor or senior instructor; and where personal safety can be set up simply using fixed anchors.
Level 5 Rock Instructor
Scope of Leadership
- This qualification will provide the outdoor recreation sector with individuals who are able to operate independently and provide instruction and leadership for participants during specific outdoor activity. The emphasis of this qualification is on developing participants’ competence through safe, sequenced, learning experiences in dynamic outdoor environments.
- Graduates of this qualification are able to work independently and contribute to the daily operation of, and work under, a Safety Management System (SMS).
- Graduates of the Rock Climbing strand will be able to instruct participants in the single pitch rock climbing skills required for a positive experience through effective planning, delivery and evaluation.
Learning Outcomes
- Apply knowledge of personal safety in rock climbing
- Use appropriate equipment and systems in rock climbing
- Select and use appropriate emergency equipment when responding to an emergency in rock climbing
- Demonstrate environmental responsibility and kaitiakitanga including respect for tikanga and Kawa of local iwi and hapū when engaging in rock climbing activities
- Apply an organisation’s safety management system while leading rock climbing and abseiliactivities
- Instruct participants in the skills required for safe educational rock climbing and abseiling experiences
- Manage a group to safely experience rock climbing and abseiling
- Evaluate rock climbing and abseiling leadership and review the planned program
Topics Include
- Inspect and explain equipment used for rock climbing activities
- Belay systems and techniques
- Safe anchor points for personal climbing
- Personal safety and edge protection
- Emergency equipment used for non-routine situations and rescues
- Responding to non-routine situations
- Responding to emergencies and rescuing participants
- Pre activity tasks and checks
- Procedures and management techniques for preparing to lead rock climbing activities
- Preparing and checking equipment and a venue
- Instructing participants to use rock climbing Equipment
- Safety roles for instructors and participants
- Instructing participants to safely manage themselves at a rock climbing site
- Facilitation, communication and teaching techniques
- Monitoring and managing Needs of participants and participant behaviour
- Cultural awareness
- Minimum impact principles for rock climbing activities
Qualification Delivery
Self-directed online learning
Teacher-directed online learning
Teacher-directed in-person training
Assessment Tasks
Prepare a plan to lead a group.
Demonstrate leadership skills
Demonstrate personal skills
Review and evaluate leadership
Prerequisites
The following outlines hours and experience that must be completed for the qualification to be awarded. We recommend participants start with all of these conditions met. You will need to provide a plan that clearly shows how you will demonstrate these conditions before the final date of the qualification.
At least 40 days rock climbing experience, which must include at least 20 days personal climbing and at least 10 days instructing rock climbing, including at least five sessions instructing abseiling. Instructing experience can include being a co-instructor or assistant instructor.
− rock climbing experience at a minimum of three different climbing areas of different rock type. A rock climbing day must be at least four hours climbing and no less than four pitches climbed;
Level 6 Rock Advanced Professional Practice
Scope of Leadership
- This qualification will provide the outdoor recreation sector with individuals who are able to lead, mentor and educate developing leaders, guides and instructors in specific outdoor activities. These individuals can also instruct and/or guide participants in high hazard and/or technically complex outdoor or recreational environments.
- This qualification will further extend the instructional competence of individuals who already hold extensive applied instructing experience in dynamic, multiple-hazard outdoor activities.
- Graduates of this qualification are able to work independently and contribute to the daily operation of, and work under, a Safety Management System (SMS).
- Graduates of the Rock Climbing strand will also be able to:
○ instruct in multi-pitch rock climbing skills required for a positive rock climbing experience;
○ teach other leaders, instructors and guides how to instruct in rock climbing
Learning Outcomes
- Teach and critique leaders and instructors in leading and instructing multi-pitch rock climbing
- Demonstrate personal multi-pitch rock climbing skills on routes up to Ewbank Grade 20, and apply advanced weather interpretation and forecasting skills for multi-pitch rock climbing
- Demonstrate preparing to lead and leading a group multi-pitched rock climbing
- Critique and manage group safety procedures and systems for multi-pitch rock climbing
Topics Include
- Multi Pitch climbing on routes up to grade 20
- Multi-pitch climbing rescues
- Teaching multi-pitch skills
- Weather interpretation and forecasting
- Preparing to lead a group in exposed in open water’
- Managing a group In multi-pitch climbing
- Apply safety management planning For a multi-pitch climbing
- Embedding cultural and environmental awareness into instructing and training other instructors
- Training sea kayak instructors
- Teaching and learning theory
- Establishing learning outcomes
- Scaffolding learning and skills development
- Selecting appropriate teaching methods
- Interpersonal skills to successfully transfer knowledge
- Engage participant learners in positive learning experiences
- Giving feedback and mentoring instructors to improve practice
Qualification Delivery
Video-Based Learning Platform https://www.outdoorleadertraining.com/pages/home
Online group teaching and tutorials
Mentor/Tutor Support
Workshop option
Assessment
Develop a training plan
Skills assessment
Leadership demonstration
Managing a emergency scenario
Prerequisites
New Zealand Certificate in Outdoor Leadership (Instruction) (Level 5) (Any Strand) [Ref: 3661].
at least 80 days rock climbing experience, which will include at least 50 days personal lead climbing including multi-pitch and using placed protection; and at least 10 days experience instructing or assisting instructing groups and lead climbing on placed and fixed protection;
lead climbing up to and including Grade 20, using placed protection, at a variety of crags.
