Climbing Wall Award (CWA)

What is the CWA? The course is designed to prepare potential leaders for leading groups on artificial climbing structures, including indoor or outdoor climbing walls, towers etc. There is a bolt-on element for abseiling and top roping, if required.

IT IS NOT AN INTRODUCTION TO HILLWALKING FOR BEGINNERS, OR A PERSONAL SKILLS TRAINING COURSE.

Before you register make sure you can answer yes to the following questions:

1: Are you at least 17 years old for the training elements, BUT be at least 18 years old for the assessments?
2: Do you have a genuine interest in supervising novices on artifical structures?
3: Do you have at least 6 months personal climbing experience on climbing walls? It is strongly recommended that you also have at least visited a natural rock climbing venue as well.
4: Have you visited a wall on AT LEAST 15 occasions, and this should include AT LEAST three different walls and public walls.
5: Are you able o lead climb on bolted climbs to at least French grae 4?

CWA Course Format
All MTLE courses follow the same format: 1) registration for the award and fulfillment of pre-requirements 2) undertake a training course (or you can apply to MLTE for exemption from training) 3) gain suitable personal and group leadership experience 4) attend an assessment course 5) continue to gain personal and group experience. For the CWA, you have the option to include the abseil/top access elements of the award or not. Each element has a training and assessment element, as describedabove.

At training you will learn such skills as: introducing a novice to a climbing wall and its hazards, good practice for leading routes to put up ropes (NOT with novices), good practice for personal climbing, correct use of a variety of equipment and belay devices, bouldering and coaching movement on climbing walls, teaching a variety of belaying methods, bottom roping with groups, very basic emergency procedures, equipment maintennace and basic inspection of fixed equiopment, climbing ettiquette, etc.

The abseil/top access section will include accessing the top of the wall, setting up and running group abseils & top ropes, group management, safety concerns, use of releasable abseils and solving simple emergncies.

At assessment you will be asked to demonstrate both the skills leaned on training and those learned from personal experience, plus have a valid 1st aid award and a fully completed log book.

Mountain Activities normally runs training or assessment courses over two days, although this can be changed to a series of evening sess if required. Courses will normally include the abseil/top access.

CWA Training
Requirements: You must register with Mountain Leader Training England (MLTE), or one of the other UK mountain training boards. You can contact them on 01690 720 314, or try www.mlte.org for online information and registration. In addition to the requirements for attending (above), you will need to be self-sufficient for personal rock climbing equipment, e.g. climbing boots, harness, & helmet. You will also need suitable outdoor clothing if we visit an outdoor wall or tower.

Other Information: Candidates need to pay their own wall entry fee, if required. Some specialist equipment is provided; certain items are available for loan if required.

CWA Assessment
Requirements: Completion of a training course (or gain exemption from training), acceptable 1st aid award, completion of logbook requirements, which include:

1. Led a minimum of 40 climbs on artifical structures, using bolt protection.
2. Assisted with thesupervision of ar least 15 sessions at a varitey of facilities & ideally with different instructors.

Other Information: Candidates are expected to be self sufficient for all gear. We try to provide a group of novices, often children, for the group climbing session on the second day. However, this is not always easy to arrange. Candidates may be required to pay their own climbing wall entry fee, where required.

Dates and Prices - CLICK HERE

For More Information Please contact us if you require any more information about these courses.