Climbing Wall Instructor Certification

Pre-Conference Workshop:
CWA Climbing Wall Instructor Certification (CWI)

Workshop Description

The CWA course offered at the 2012 Summit will be 12 hours in length and will address the basic technical skills necessary to instruct at a climbing facility. The workshop will address the following general topics: equipment and facility inspection, client orientation and instruction, top rope skills, lead skills, bouldering and spotting, and emergency procedures. We will address teaching basic climbing skills including movement, belaying with both passive and mechanical assist belay devices, bouldering and spotting techniques.

Participants will need to meet a number of prerequisites and study course material prior to the course. Participants must demonstrate proficiency in the techniques covered in the class to pass the course and be certified. All course assessment is pass/fail, with options to repeat the course if necessary. The certificate is valid for 3 years from the date of the course.

Experience recommendations for candidates include: at least one year personal climbing experience, a minimum of 20 outings indoors or outdoors, and a combination of formal training and climbing experience of 40 hours prior to the beginning of the certification course. Preparation may be required for this course. Instructor may directly contact attendees before hand. Please review Certification Program Info including pre-requisites, and certification standards.

The CWA Climbing Wall Instructor Certification Course was approved as a CWA program in late 2010 after being offered as a pilot program by the AMGA and CWA in a cooperative effort beginning in 2008. The program is now completely independent of the AMGA. The course is designed to be integrated into a gym’s existing staff training program if the owner operator qualifies as a provider.

Presenter Bios

Pat Mackin has thirty years climbing experience and have climbed or guided at numerous areas around the US and Canada. Pat started as a mountaineer in the Tetons and became hooked on the sport. He has traveled extensively to climb. In 1991 Pat assisted Nate Postma in building Vertical Endeavors Indoor Rock Climbing Facility and have been part of the organization ever since. Pat rose up through the ranks to become Director of Instruction and was instrumental in developing an outdoor guiding service called Vertical Endeavors Guided Adventures (VEGA). Pat has taken two AMGA courses and has guided for 16 years in areas such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, the South Dakota Needles, Devils Tower and Red Rocks, Nevada. Pat is currently a member of the CWA Certification Standards Committee.

Jason Noble has been deeply involved in the climbing industry since joining Vertical Endeavors in 1992. In his tenure at Vertical Endeavors, Jason managed the first climbing facility to participate in the CGA (Climbing Gym Association) Peer Review Accreditation Program, acted as an Examiner for the CGA Peer Review Accreditation Program, and was on the CWA (Climbing Wall Association) Operation Standards Committee tasked with updating the Industry Practices. Jason is currently on the CWA Operations and Climbing Wall Instructor Certification Standards Committees, which are tasked with maintaining the Industry Practices and developing a National Instructor Certification Standard. As the District Supervisor for Vertical Endeavors, Jason oversees three commercial climbing facilities. Jason is excited to contribute to the industry by sharing his knowledge and experience in order to help the industry grow.

David Schwab is the Assistant Guiding and Instruction Director for Vertical Endeavors. He began rock climbing in 1987 and has been heavily involved with the sport ever since. His experience includes numerous trips to various climbing areas including Joshua Tree, California, Red Rocks, Nevada,The New River Gorge, West Virginia, Eldorado Canyon, Colorado and his “home” climbing area of the Black Hills of South Dakota. In addition to being a certified Vertical Endeavors Guided Adventures guide, he is a nationally certified provider for the Climbing Wall Association in Boulder, Colorado and trains and certifies rock climbing instructors throughout the nation.

David is a former Federal Probation Officer who was an Assistant Firearms Instructor for the District of Minnesota and a founding member of their Intensive Supervision Unit.  He also continues to teach snowbording and is a former member of the American Association of Snowboading Instructors, Central Division Education Staff.