CLUB TRAINING WEEKEND: How to support novice club members
This popular training event is for experienced members of BMC-affiliated club to learn about training novices in climbing, scrambling and hill walking.
2024 date to be confirmed
This weekend event takes place at Plas y Brenin in Eryri (Snowdonia), and it's only £75 to attend including accommodation, instruction and some meals.
The weekend is aimed at the experienced members of affiliated clubs that support less experienced members whilst they gain experience, develop skills, and become competent climbers, walkers and mountaineers in their own right.
Many clubs offer training sessions with experienced club members instructing novice or less experienced members. This may be on a formal basis at specific training meets or informally at any club meet, and whilst it is not necessary for club members to hold any formal qualifications in order to deliver training to other members within their club, some may wish to be better informed on current good practice.
Training weekend
The weekend will include theory sessions on the principles of teaching and learning skills in the outdoors, issues around duty of care, insurance implications and good practice all delivered by experts in their field. The majority of the weekend will consist of practical sessions on the teaching of climbing, hill walking, scrambling and navigation skills.
The course fee includes self-catering, shared accommodation at Plas y Brenin for the weekend, three-course meal on the Saturday evening, all group kit and all instruction.
When booking your place you will need to choose which practical sessions you wish to participate in. The four choices are:
Saturday afternoon: Single pitch rock climbing, & Sunday: Single pitch rock climbing
Saturday afternoon: Single pitch rock climbing, & Sunday: Scrambling
Saturday afternoon: Hill walking, & Sunday: Scrambling
Saturday afternoon: Hill walking, & Sunday: Hill walking
On Saturday morning everyone will be together doing indoor sessions. The content of the practical sessions will be tailored to the needs of the participants, but you can expect it to cover
Saturday (afternoon)
Single Pitch Rock Climbing - teaching movement skills, footwork, balance, crag safety, wall to rock
Hill-walking - teaching navigation skills
Sunday (all day)
Single Pitch Rock Climbing - teaching safe belaying, supervising lead climbers, crag choice
Hill-walking - more advanced navigation, group management, route choice, safety
Scrambling - route choice, group management, safety
All prices include all instruction, group equipment, tea and cakes after the practical session on Saturday & Sunday plus a three-course meal on the Saturday evening. The accommodation is for Friday and Saturday night on a self-catering basis in the bunkhouse.
Total cost for the weekend is £75. This rate is significantly subsidised by the BMC.
En-suite rooms may be available in the main house for you to book if you would prefer private accommodation - please contact PyB directly to do this (www.pyb.co.uk / 01690 720214)
If training novices in the winter is more your thing then check out:
BMC WINTER CLUB WORKSHOP
Some feedback from course participants
"An excellent course - interesting and informative. Great staff"
"A very well presented and useful course. Holding it at PYB using their instructors was the icing on the cake. Very good."
"All round this was an excellent event that far exceeded my expectations. We can return to the club with new levels of optimism. Many thanks for organising it."
Please note
It is expected that all participants are competent in the skills appropriate to the practical session options that they have chosen.
You must be a current member of a BMC-affiliated club to attend this course
Places on this course are not guaranteed until payment has been received.
Cancellations within 14 days of the course starting will not be eligible for a refund.
Cancellations 15-28 days prior to the course starting will get a 50% refund.
Cancellations more than 28 days prior to the course starting get a full refund.
In case of cancellation we can sometimes transfer your booking to another course if you wish and there is space.
If the course is cancelled by the BMC a full refund will be offered or the option to transfer your booking on to another course, whichever you prefer.
For queries about this programme contact Jane Thompson via email or phone: jane@thebmc.co.uk / 07885 910606
WATCH: Training Novice Members Workshop
Related Content
Clubs
Join us on Monday 18th November at 7.30pm to look at using social media to promote your club
Clubs
Join us on Thursday 21st November at 7.30pm to look at good practice in maintaining gear.
Clubs
This is a BMC webinar for student climbing, hill walking and mountaineering clubs to discuss how to get the best relationship between their club and Student Union and will be focussing on sharing issues and solutions.
Clubs
We’ve selected ten university locations in England and Wales to take a closer look at that are considered good or even ‘the best’ for climbers and walkers. Some are listed for their proximity to crags, hills and mountains and others for their specialised outdoors courses.
Indoor Climbing Articles
Not sure which training method to choose? Or how to fuel you body? Come along to our new workshop to learn best how to periodise your training, or those you may coach, to greatest effect.
Indoor Climbing Articles
BMC FUNdamentals of climbing 3 is a course developed by Katherine Schirrmacher and Tom Randall.
Indoor Climbing Articles
This workshop is for any climber or coach wishing to further their knowledge of physical training.
Indoor Climbing Articles
If you want to learn about the fundamentals of route setting, then we've got the workshop for you.
Indoor Climbing Articles
For all climbing coaches, this workshop is delivered by the BMC, Plas y Brenin, Mountaineering Ireland and the Mountaineering Scotland.
Clubs
This is the contents page for all articles for clubs regarding GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation)
Clubs
This popular training event offers support to experienced club members who take less experienced club members out in winter conditions.
Rock Climbing
A look at when you do, and don't, need hillwalking qualifications, and what training is available for professionals and individuals wanting to improve their skills.
Indoor Climbing Articles
Check out our coaching children workshop for those who regularly work with young people aged between 6 and 18?
Clubs
The BMC Student Safety Seminar is for any students who are involved in running a climbing, hill walking or mountaineering club at their University. Find out about this seminar.
Huts
Climbing and mountaineering clubs have huts in locations across the England and Wales, including the Lake District, Yorkshire, the Peak District, North and Mid Wales and Cornwall. But what is it like to stay in a hut?
Indoor Climbing Articles
For all climbing coaches, this workshop is delivered by the BMC and Mountaineering Scotland. This workshop forms part of the training pathway for Mountain Training's Climbing Coach award.