BMC Student Safety Seminar 2026

We know that travel may prohibit access to Friday evening activities for some, but for those who are able, please join us at Plas y Brenin.

Evening Activities at Plas y Brenin (optional) 6pm – 7pm

• Informal session in the PyB climbing wall. Bring your own shoes, chalk and harness. 7-8pm

• Better Belaying workshop 1 7 – 8pm

• Classroom-based session looking at equipment for leading or being in charge of a group of climbers, hill walkers or mountaineers. 8.15-9.15pm

• Better Belaying workshop 2 8.15 – 9.15pm

• Classroom-based session looking at equipment for leading or being in charge of a group of climbers, hill walkers or mountaineers.

Registration: 8.50-9.15am

Morning Part 1

• Club Support & The BMC

• Training Opportunities

• Duty of Care & Creating a safe culture in your club

• Risk with Responsibility: Understanding risk within hill walking, climbing, and mountaineering.

• Mountain Rescue: a pragmatic understanding of incidents in the mountains

Morning Part 2 (options) Choose one option:

1. Choice, Care and Maintenance of Pooled Climbing Equipment: Logging, examination, and selection of pooled climbing equipment.

2. Managing Behaviours: Conflict resolution

3. Incident Management: Preparation, anticipating problems, group equipment and practical exercise.

4. Assessing Risk on Club Events: Looking at risk assessments and how they apply to mountaineering club’s and their activities.

Lunch provided at Plas y Brenin

Afternoon (options) Choose one option:

5. Rock Climbing (Indoor Wall Skills) Introducing climbers to the indoor wall environment. We’ll cover warming up properly, efficient movement, bouldering tactics, and the core rope skills — belaying, leading, tying in, and choosing the right kit. We’ll also look at how to climb safely and confidently in mixed-ability groups, so no one gets left hanging (literally). Is this the right workshop for you? If you’re a regular visitor to the indoor wall scene and starting to guide new members to the wall, this will give you a good idea on the skills you need and the responsibilities you have, and what are the progressions of starting to lead.

6. Rock Climbing (Outdoor Crag Skills) Taking clubs outside. Learn how to choose the right crag, warm up on real rock, manage ropes, belay safely, and select appropriate helmets and harnesses. We’ll focus on adapting indoor skills to the outdoors and managing groups with a range of experience.

Is this the right workshop for you? Trad, Sport or Bouldering, if you are a regular to the outdoor scene and will be taking more responsibility in your club, you should have a good understanding yourself of the skills to look after yourself outside, but now it’s time to think how do you share that information.

7. Mountain Incidents and First Aid Hands-on, practical first aid for the mountains and crags. Learn how to manage common injuries, stabilise casualties, and adapt first aid to outdoor environments. Expect realistic scenarios, practical exercises, and skills you’ll hopefully never need — but will be very glad to have. Will also look at emergency procedures. Is this the right workshop for you? If you’re a regular outdoor hill walker, climber, or mountaineer, and want to know how to look after others in the mountains.

8. Introduction to Navigation Get to the basics of maps, compasses, and the pros and cons of online software. An introduction to simple navigation tips that will help you in tricky terrain. This will be a mix of an indoor and outdoor session. Is this the right workshop for you? If you are completely new to navigation, or get lost walking to the crag this is a good intro.

9. Introduction to acing belays and start problem solving Start to have all the confidence in your belays, in reach out of reach and the advantages of slings and ropes, this will lead to be able to start problem solving, hoists, lowers, ascending a rope. Perfect for those wanting to get more into big multipitch routes. Is this the right workshop for you? If you’re a confident trad climber, confident at building belays in a range of scenarios, and already take a lead in running sessions, also a good start if you are thinking about joining the multipitch days on Sunday!

Evening Meal provided at Plas y Brenin

Evening

Orienteering competition & Bouldering competition (optional)

The Student Seminar Quiz (optional) Prizes available!!

All Day (options) Choose one option:

10. Problem solving in Steep Ground Moving into steeper terrain beyond walking, what are the movement skills, route finding, effective spotting and basic rope work for moving efficiently through steeper ground. (ML rope work skills, on a short journey). Is this the right workshop for you? You need to be confident is steep ground and thinking how do you take beginners into this terrain

11. Mountain Day (Hill Walking) A full day putting navigation into practice. Route planning, map interpretation, pacing, bearings, and smart decision-making in the hills — all while moving as a group and managing different abilities. Perfect for consolidating skills in a real mountain setting. (For those with basic navigation experience.) Is this the right workshop for you? If you’ve spent a bit of time walking in the mountains as peers you might now be taking up more responsibilities in the club.

12. Single Pitch Anchor Building (Sport and Trad). Learn how to run a crag safely and efficiently. We’ll cover placing natural protection, assessing rock quality, building solid personal belays, top-roping, bottom-roping, and managing groups at busy venues. A must-do for aspiring leaders and future trip organisers. Is this the right workshop for you? If you’re a confident climber and can build your own personal belays, you might be starting to take a lead with the club when going to singe pitch venues.

13. Multipitch Management (Trad) Learn how to choose routes, read guidebooks, manage stances, belay leaders and seconds, build belays, and get off the crag safely. Designed for climbers ready to step into bigger mountain routes and long days out. Is this the right workshop for you? Confident in leading trad in the mountains and sea cliffs, and maybe you’re now starting to take new people on that journey, need to be slick at belays, and have good navigation skills.

14. Rock Climbing for All An inclusive workshop exploring how climbing can work for people with a wide range of abilities. Learn about adaptive approaches, inclusive thinking, and how to make climbing more accessible for everyone. Is this the right workshop for you? If you regularly support other club members at an indoor wall, and you are keen to learn how to adapt sessions to be more accessible and inclusive then this is the workshop for you.