Climbing in the natural
environment
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Description
This activity involves climbing up or across
natural rock formations.
Forms
An Information and Consent
for Event/Activity form is required to
participate in this activity.
Who can
participate?
Open to all.
Some activity providers may have age or height
restrictions.
Ratio of adults to
girls
Normal ratios for activities away from the
meeting place are required. Guiding
Manual ratios
Regulations
- The Leader must ensure that all participants
under 18 have written permission to take part from an adult with
parental responsibility.
- The local Commissioner must be informed that
the activity is taking place.
- Carry out a risk
assessment for the activity.
- All equipment used must be of a standard
considered suitable for climbing.
- When climbing in the natural environment, if any participant is
under 18 the activity provider must be licenced by the
Adventurous Activities Licencing Authority: AALA
Additional awards that can help
you judge the quality of a provider are Adventuremark or
LotC Quality Badge for Adventure.
The above endorsements are not applicable in
Northern Ireland, where you should ask your local Outdoor
Activities Adviser to recommend an approved provider.
Instructor
qualifications
The activity instructor must hold the
appropriate level of qualification for the terrain from one of the
following:
- A Mountain Leader Training (MLT) Climbing
Qualification (SPA or higher):
- Single Pitch Award (SPA)
- Mountain Instructor Award (MIA)
- Mountain Instructor Certificate (MIC)
or
- Girlguiding UK Climbing and Abseiling
Training Scheme (Level 2 or higher).
If you are unfamiliar with climbing qualifications, consult your
Outdoor Activities Adviser or contact activities@girlguiding.org.uk
to ensure the instructor's qualification is suitable.
The instructor must
ensure:
- on multi-pitch climbs there are no more than
two participants per leader
- helmets are worn
- access permission has been gained if
appropriate, and any seasonal restrictions are observed
- rock formations with recognised
archaeological, geological or wildlife interests are avoided.
Useful Information
The British Mountaineering Council website provides
environmental guidelines which must be followed – http://www.thebmc.co.uk/.
Page last updated:
5/18/2012