Courses, workshops and lectures with the BMC in 2023

3 days ago

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There are a range of courses, lectures, workshops and training opportunities that the BMC organises to bring the best value possible to its members.

The details below will give you a flavour of what is on offer and each has a link to another page which contains more details and booking information for the event.

Getting youths into the outdoors

The BMC has teamed up with the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI) to offer 1 day outdoor sessions in areas of England and Wales. These compliment the 2 day Rock Skills courses offered through Mountain Training.

Sport climbing for young people

Already leading at the wall and want to learn how to sport climb outside?. These courses are open to 11-17 year olds who are confidently leading on indoor climbing walls and are designed to teach you what you need to know to safely climb bolted routes outside.

Trad climbing for young people

With our trad climbing courses for 11-17 year olds you can learn some key skills for climbing outside. The courses aim at giving young people the skills needed to progress to traditionally protected rock climbs.

For 11 to 17 year olds who have done quite a bit of climbing and wish to improve further there is also:

Performance sport climbing for young people

These courses are for 11-17 year olds who are leading indoors, F6b or harder and wish to gain outdoor sport skills and coaching guidance under the eye of Ian Dunn.

Rock Skills

Get the skills you need to become a confident, independent climber on one of these Mountain Training courses. The minimum age for attendance is 12 and there are four courses:

There are four Rock Skills courses:

1. Rock Skills Introduction (1 day course, min age 12)

2. Rock skills Intermediate (2 day course, min age 13)

3. Rock Skills Learn to Lead Sport Climbs (2 day course, min age 14)

4. Rock Skills Learn to Lead Trad Climbs (2 day course, min age 14)

Registration is free for U18s and £20 for adults. Course prices are set by the provider.

Hill & Mountain Skills

Get the skills you need to become a confident, independent walker on one of these Mountain Training courses. The minimum age for attendance is 12 and there are two courses:

Hill Skills – ideal for new hill walkers and those who want to learn some basic skills.

Mountain Skills – ideal for walkers who want to learn how to look after themselves in the mountains.

Courses are delivered over a minimum of two days by approved providers across the UK.

Registration is free for U18s and £20 for adults. Course prices are set by the provider.

If you would like to lead, coach or instruct others, Mountain Training offers a range of qualifications from Indoor Climbing Assistant to Mountaineering Instructor and from Lowland Leader to International Mountain Leader.

Club Leader, Officer & Committee Member Training courses

How to Train Novice Members in your Club

This popular training series is aimed at experienced members of affiliated clubs which accept novices and who wish to support these members whilst they gain experience, develop skills, and become competent climbers, walkers and mountaineers in their own right.

The weekends 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 weekends are spent on practical skills. There is a weekend that includes options for climbing, hill walking, scrambling and navigation skills, our Next Steps weekend covering multi-pitch climbing, sea-cliff climbing or more advanced scrambling and a weekend on practical winter skills.

Student Safety & Good Practice Seminar

This Seminar is a must if you’re involved in running a student climbing, hill walking or mountaineering club. It gives university club members the opportunity to improve their club practices and ensure safer enjoyment of our cliffs and mountains. The weekend, held in early October, comprises a mixture of lectures, discussions and practical workshops.

Training Days for Committee Members

Run across the UK, usually in the Autumn and Winter, these courses are for committee members, club officers and leaders within BMC-affiliated clubs. There is no charge to attend (and lunch is provided!) and you will cover a variety of topics such as support from the BMC, insurance and liability, accessing funding, and recruiting members.

Improve your skills

BMC Training Essentials

This is a series of one day training courses for BMC members running on the weekends throughout England and Wales. The courses, run by experienced and qualified instructors develop skills in climbing, hiking and mountaineering.

Ready to Rock, for adults

Ready to Rock courses are designed to help indoor climbers make their first moves onto rock by having a fun day out as well as covering the use of some key skills and equipment. These are for people aged 18 or older.

Womens Ready to Rock Courses

Women Ready to Rock courses are designed to help women who are indoor climbers make their first moves onto rock by having a fun day out as well as covering the use of some key skills and equipment. These are for people aged 18 or older.

Climbing Movement Masterclasses

Give your climbing a kick start with these Masterclasses, covering climbing movement skills: footwork precision, economy of movement and the utilisation of existing strengths.

Alpine Skills Lectures

The alpine season has a habit of creeping up on us and being here before we know it. Advance planning is the smart way to make your alpine dreams come true. Refresh your skills at a BMC Alpine Skills Lecture covering all things alpine with practical demos and audience participation.

Winter Skills Lectures

Are you a would-be winter warrior? Don’t miss the BMC Winter Skills Lectures: the ideal way to get set for the season. These inspirational lectures are set to inspire any budding winter mountaineers out there and will cover the following topics: equipment and clothing; navigation; footwork; route planning; avalanche awareness; climbing and much more.

Route Setting Workshop

For anyone new to setting or who already sets at climbing walls, the workshop is appropriate for a wide range of people, including teachers who want to set problems to teach different techniques, coaches seeking to widen their skills and climbing wall staff. The do’s and don’ts of good route setting are discussed and how to set interesting climbs for young people is a key part of the day. The workshop is very practical in nature, with participants setting grade specific problems and traverses.

BMC/BMMS Mountain Medicine Weekend

A weekend of mountain medicine workshops for anyone who would like to learn more about first aid on the hills, mountains and crags. Workshops will look at altitude illness, use of hyperbaric bags, frostbite prevention and treatment, first aid kits, hand injuries, foot care, trips in the Covid Era and more.

Coaches and Instructors

Coach Education & FUNdamentals

The BMC coach education workshops are aimed at anyone who is considering coaching climbing, or who already coaches or leads climbing sessions, indoors or outside. They also form part of Mountain Training’s coaching award.

Whether you’re a parent or youth worker, a full-time climbing coach, a SPA or CWA award holder or an MIA / MIC working out on our high mountain crags, or guiding in the Alps, these workshops will be useful to you. They will broaden your knowledge and provide valuable personal and professional development.

Mountaineering instructor qualifications

An introduction to the qualifications administered by Mountain Training for walking, climbing and mountaineering leaders, instructors and coaches.

Safeguarding and Child Protection

This course is free to BMC volunteers involved in youth events, youth competitions as well as Area Youth Co-ordinators and those who help with the Junior Teams. It is also free for those in BMC affiliated clubs who support activities involving under 18s and it is especially helpful for Club Safeguarding Officers and Youth Officers.

Other providers

Mountain Training

Mountain Training’s aim is to educate and train people in walking, climbing and mountaineering. To make this a reality, they have developed a range of nationally-recognised mountain leadership, instruction and coaching awards, as well as skills courses.

Plas y Brenin

Nestled deep in the heart of Eryri (Snowdonia), Plas y Brenin has been running courses and holidays in outdoor activities, introducing newcomers to the outdoors, helping outdoor enthusiasts improve their outdoor skills and training outdoor instructors for over 60 years. Courses cover a wide range of activities including hill walking, rock climbing, mountaineering, scrambling, mountain biking, road cycling, white water kayaking, sea kayaking, canoeing and first aid.

Active Partnerships

Local sport and activity partnerships based in each county of England may offer training for coaches/instructors and for club members. Courses include volunteer training, first aid, working with young people, child & adult safeguarding.

The Outdoor Partnership

The Outdoor Partnership provides support to individuals and clubs engaged in outdoor activities across North Wales and four areas in England.

WATCH: BMC Student Seminar on BMC TV:

We’re making it easy for you to connect with friendly climbing and walking clubs in your area. Fast friends and fun-filled weekends guaranteed. Take a look at our latest project: Find Your Adventure.