How to train novice club members in winter skills | Club training weekend

This popular training event offers support to experienced club members who take less experienced club members out in winter conditions. The event will be returning in early 2025

2025 date to be confirmed

This training event takes place at Plas y Brenin in Eryri (Snowdonia) to offer training and support to experienced club members who take less-experienced club members out in winter conditions.

Costing only £85 for the weekend, this course is for the experienced members of affiliated clubs who support novice members whilst they gain experience, develop skills, and become competent in winter walking and mountaineering skills.

Many clubs offer training sessions with experienced club members instructing novice 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 club members, some may wish to be better informed on current good practice.

This weekend will include theory sessions on the principles of teaching and learning skills specific to winter conditions, the planning of training days, issues around duty of care and minimising risk, avalanche awareness and winter navigation all delivered by experts in their field.  The majority of the sessions will be delivered in a practical setting so expect to head outdoors on both days.

Saturday

• Minimising the risk & the insurance protection
• Session structuring for novices
• Teaching movement in winter conditions
• Planning a day out in winter conditions
• Winter navigation
• Avalanche Awareness

Sunday

• Out on the hills putting the skills covered on Saturday in to practice

More information

The price include all instruction, group equipment, free parking on site or free transfers from Llandudno Junction station, 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 at PyB.

Total cost for the weekend is £85. 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).  The weekend fee is the same regardless of whether you chose overnight accommodation elsewhere.

Plas Y Brenin is the National Outdoor Centre at Capel Curig in Eryri (Snowdonia).  The centre specialises in providing training in mountaineering, mountain biking and paddling for individuals wishing to progress their personal skills and for those who wish to move along the instructor pathway.  For more information about the centre please check out www.pyb.co.uk.

Please note

Due to weather conditions the content on each day is subject to change

It is expected that all participants are competent in the skills appropriate to the practical sessions

You must be a current member of a BMC-affiliated club to attend this course

This course will not cover ice climbing skills

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: clubs@thebmc.co.uk / 07885 910606

If you like the sound of this course you may be interested in the 'summer' version where we cover rock climbing, hillwalking and scrambling:

CLUB WORKSHOP: Training novice club members