CCQ5 2016 – Itinerary and Travel

Itinerary Overview and Travel Information:
What you will be doing and how to get there…
• Rock Climbing Instructor Development Course
Welcome to Colorado Outward Bound! Come explore the wild vertical world with us. The Rock Climbing
Instructor Development Course you’ve enrolled in is designed to give you the skills and experience necessary to
begin a career in professional rock climbing instruction. Whether you foresee yourself guiding clients on long alpine
climbs, or working with youth at a summer camp, this course is a great step! This is also a great course for anyone
who wants to broaden and deepen their personal climbing skills. With your experienced Instructors, you will explore
technical aspects of safe, efficient rock climbing. You’ll also develop other skill sets that all wilderness instructors
need: leadership, communication, community living, camp craft, environmental responsibility, and gear care.
Technical climbing and outdoor living are incredibly rewarding experiences. They’re demanding, too. It can literally
take every waking moment to get to the top of a climb, while learning exciting techniques along the way. From
getting up early to pack your bags and cook breakfast, to hiking with a loaded backpack for hours, to climbing
vertical rock features, be ready to push your mental and physical limits. Past students and Instructors agree that
arriving physically fit will enhance your experience and ability to do well on the course, ultimately allow you to take
full advantage of the opportunities that you will be presented with. They also advise that you arrive with an open
mind and ready to work with diverse demographics. For some, the social dynamic can be the main challenge of
course, which is a reality that any leader must embrace! You don’t need to have previous camping or rock climbing
experience. We will teach you the skills you need, from climbing techniques to camp life; from leadership
considerations to group living systems. Your course will unfold in the surreal and beautiful Vedauwoo area of
Southeastern Wyoming.
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COURSE AREA
Vedauwoo, Wyoming – In an untamed corner of Wyoming’s Medicine Bow National Forest, the granite jewels
of Vedauwoo (pronounced “vee-dah-voo”) beckon committed rock climbers. This surreal land features
phenomenal formations of rock nestled into aspen and pine forests. Herein lays the perfect mix of wilderness
and classroom . An expansive spectrum of beginner to advanced crack and face climbs exist. From your bird’s
eye view atop granite domes, look for moose, elk and beaver doing their wild animal thing in the lush forests
and lakes below.
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For more info:
Wikipedia overview of Vedauwoo
Climbing-specific info on Vedauwoo
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COURSE ACTIVITIES
Upon your arrival to Vedauwoo, you will get settled into an established campsite that will be used for the
course. Your instructors will introduce you to rock climbing essentials and beyond, from self-care to technical
skills to risk management. Instruction in rock climbing will be hands-on and experiential. You will learn
movement on rock and climbing technique, spotting techniques, belaying, rappelling, and anchor building. See
below for a more specific curriculum.
While the majority of your time will be spent actually climbing, you will hike each day to and from the climbing
crags throughout Vedauwoo. Each day will be physically and mentally challenging, so come prepared for long
days of climbing, hiking, and learning.
You will camp with at a nearby campsite. You will not be moving camp with backpacks, so you may bring
heavier camping gear than you would on a backpacking trip.
You and your course mates will be doing your own cooking, cleaning and camp set- up. As we say at Outward
Bound, you’ll be crew, not passengers.
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SAMPLE ITINERARY
The following is an example of what your itinerary may look like. Your actual course plan will vary according
to weather, your group’s skills and abilities, and your Instructors’ preferences.
Day 1
Course Start – Meet your “crewmates” and your Instructors, get settled in to camp, and
get your gear organized. If time allows, you might head out for your first taste of
Vedauwoo rock climbing.
Days 2 - 7
Rock Climbing, Technical Skills, and Instruction – You’ll spend each day outdoors at a
variety of climbing sites. Teaching sessions will be heavy on application and experiential
learning. Evenings will be a great time for debriefing the day, enjoying the company of
similarly passionate folks, and preparing for what’s next. Leadership, communication and
risk management considerations will be interwoven throughout the day.
Day 8
Expect some kind of culminating challenge that tests your application of technical skills,
physical ability, ability to lead and teamwork skills.
Day 9
You and your cohort will say goodbye to Vedauwoo and hello to your future in the
professional rock instruction world. How you apply the skills you learn on course will
ultimately dictate how much you gain from your course!
CURRICULUM
The curriculum of the Rock Climbing Instructor Development Course strives to set you up to teach and
facilitate rock climbing experiences in a single-pitch setting. It is also designed to give you the impetus to go
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home and continue practicing and growing as a rock climber. A more detailed curriculum can be provided
before course, and will be provided at course start.
Belaying
• Top-managed
• Bottom managed
• Use of assisted braking and autolocking devices
Rescue Skills
• Ascending to and lowering a stuck
climber
• 3:1 Pulley Systems
CLIMBING SKILLS
Climbing Technique
• Foot and hand techniques
• Efficiency
• Crack and face techniques
Lead Climbing
• A leader’s mindset
• Belaying a leader
• Placing protection
Leave No Trace® Principles
• Minimizing impact to the
environment and other users
Top Rope Set Up
• Establishing a top rope climbing
• Top-managed and bottom-managed
systems
Rappelling
• Safely and efficiently getting
yourself back to the ground
• Self-rescue techniques
Releasable Rappel Set Up With
Back Up Belay
• Safely manage beginners rappelling
Traditional Gear Placement
• Natural, active and passive
protection
• Assessing quality of gear
Gear Care and Gear Quality
• Retirement guidelines
• Gear types
• Proactive and reactive gear care
Anchor Building
• Equalization, redundancy,
masterpoint placement
• Side to side anchor building
Next Steps
• Professional & personal goals
• Future training opportunities
• Professional opportunities
SAFETY & RISK
MANAGEMENT SKILLS
Big Picture Site Management
• How to safely and efficiently
manage a group at a climbing site
Weather Considerations
• Lightning, Precipitation, etc.
Student/Client Well Being
• Keeping those you serve healthy
and happy
Self-Care and Wellbeing
• Keeping yourself healthy and happy
Assessing Hazards and Risk
Management Options
• How to identify and mitigate the
objective and subjective hazards of
rock climbing
Basic, Climbing-Specific First Aid
• Preventing and treating common
climbing boo-boos.
LEADERSHIP AND
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
Leadership Skills:
Communication Skills:
Group Living and Management
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• Inclusive, positive group culture
• Rotating camp and leadership roles
Self-leadership and role modeling
Leadership styles
Service-minded leadership
Roles and responsibilities of the
climbing instructor
Clear, accurate communication
Listening skills
Feedback skills
Situational tone
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YOUR COURSE STAFF
Instructors are the Colorado Outward Bound School staff who teach you skills on your course. They are
expert senior staff specifically chosen for the environments in which they teach.
The Course Director (CD) oversees the entire Rock Climbing Instructor Development Course. They establish
the priorities, tone and level of performance for the instructors. Often times, the CD also instructs on the
course.
Logistics Staff (LC) – You will likely see a logistics staff member throughout the course. They help organize
the gear, food and transportation for the course.
Interns – Your course may or may not have an intern on it. Interns are aspiring instructors seeking more
professional experience.
General Information on Courses
Groupings – Your group may be up to 12 students. However, you will frequently break up into smaller groups
during the day, and then rejoin as a large group at camp. Small groups allow for more personalized learning,
hands-on practice, and focus on individual abilities and experience levels.
Mail – Because your course is 9-days long we cannot provide mail delivery service.
Equipment & Personal Belongings - Read the equipment and clothing list thoroughly and carefully consider
all that you bring. Rugged cameras, lots of batteries and memory cards, notebooks and pens are well worth
bringing.
Money –A small amount of ($20 - $100) Money will be needed. This would cover incidental costs like a meal
on the road, forgotten gear or small toiletries like sunscreen or toothpaste.
Drugs and Alcohol - Use of alcohol, tobacco, marijuana or non-prescription use of prescription drugs is absolutely forbidden
on your course. These substances detract from your performance and create significant safety issues for all
participants. Use of these substances while on course can result in your immediate expulsion. Because marijuana
is legal by Colorado state law, we want to specifically emphasize that marijuana use or possession on course is
not permitted. Please keep in mind that this course runs in Wyoming, where marijuana is illegal federally and
under state law.
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Travel Information for the specific course listed below:
Instructor Development Course – Rock Climbing – 9 Days
Course #CCQ5-621 // 7.31.16 – 8.8.16
MEETING PLACE AND TIME:
7:30 a.m. Mountain Time
Double Tree Stapleton North Hotel
4040 Quebec St.
Denver, CO 80216
(303) 321-6666
COURSE START: Courses will depart at 8:00 AM the morning of your course start date in the lobby
of the Double Tree Stapleton North Hotel. Please be in the lobby at 7:30 AM. Please eat breakfast before
getting on the bus. Check out must be taken care of prior to 8:00 AM. The bus will leave promptly at 8:00
AM. Participants not fully confirmed by their Course Advisor will not be allowed on the bus. Several
different courses may be departing at any given time and heading for different course areas so please check
with the driver prior to boarding any vehicle.
COURSE END: Your course will end and you will be transported by bus to Denver International Airport
and arrive at the airport approximately 12:00 PM on the last course day. We cannot guarantee that you will
be able to make a flight before 2:00 PM so plan your itinerary accordingly. Many students opt to stay in
Denver and fly out the next morning.
GETTING TO THE DOUBLETREE STAPLETON NORTH HOTEL:
From Denver International Airport (DIA)
Denver International Airport is the closest airport to the course start location. Ground transportation
is available from Denver International Airport to the DoubleTree Stapleton North Hotel via a complimentary
hotel shuttle bus. To catch the shuttle, go to level 5 of the airport (same level as the baggage claim). The
DoubleTree shuttle will pick up at DIA every 15 after and 45 after the hour. The shuttle service runs 7 days a
week from 5:15am to 12:45am.. Passengers should proceed to the door marked 508 (West Terminal only). Go
outside through the door and proceed to Island 3. You should look for a white DoubleTree Denver Van. You
do not need reservations. Taxi service is also available to the hotel and costs between $20 and $30 one way.
If you are driving to the hotel…
From I-70 Eastbound, take the Quebec Exit 278, turn right (south) onto Quebec. The DoubleTree Stapleton
North Hotel is a block down on the left hand side of the road. If you want more specific directions from your
location, please call the hotel.
TRAVEL PROBLEMS AND EMERGENCY CONTACT: If you encounter problems with your travel
plans that will delay your arrival to Denver we can help troubleshoot solutions so that you can get to your course
start. During office hours, call your course advisor for assistance. After hours, call our 24-hour voice mailbox
at 720.381.6589 and follow the prompts for a travel delay on a Colorado program. The mail boxes are checked
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regularly and you will receive a call back as indicated by the outgoing message, please be sure to include the
students name, course number and a return phone number. In the event of an emergency (such as a death in
the family) where you need to reach a student who is on course call 720.381.6589 and follow the prompts for
critical emergency for a student currently on a course. This will route to an on-call cell phone and you will get a
prompt return call as indicated by the message.
Photo Credits: Adam Steel, Bill Bjornstad, Shannon Lowry and Austin Gibney
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