Rock Climbing

Both indoor and outdoor rock climbing activities require a COAA form complete with all associated safety plans. The COAA is required to be submitted to the Group Commissioner for approval.

Indoor Rock Climbing

We have had all Sections go to various indoor rock climbing venues including Climb Base5 in Coquitlam. If the facility is listed on the approved list of places who have accepted the Scouts Canada Indemnification agreement, so waivers are required to be signed. Helmets are required for climbing.

Outdoor Rock Climbing

Outdoor Rock Climbing on natural rock cliffs is not covered under the Scouts Canada “ZIP LINES, CLIMBING WALLS, CHALLENGE AND ROPES COURSE STANDARDS” (http://wptest.scouts.ca/policy-26/) as it is intended to apply only to either temporary climbing, high-ropes, high adventure structures that are set up for Scouts Canada activities. Unfortunately, the new Scouts Canada BP&P does not really address this activity, so the following based on the April 2015 BP&P and is our Group standard to ensure a safe program is offered.

The following guidelines must be followed for any Outdoor Rock Climbing.

(i) - General:

1. Scouters must be familiar with the climbing site and have inspected the routes before participants climb. Scouters must investigate the climbing site to determine the current conditions. Because environmental conditions can change familiar terrain, a site inspection must be conducted to confirm whether or not to use the routes on a given program day. Considerations include, but are not limited to: new rockfall, loose rocks, blowdown trees, nesting birds, or stinging insects such as bees.
2. Scouters who are supervising participants must have led the climbs themselves.

(ii) – Leadership and Training:

1. Scouters need to be trained to belay and have completed the xxxx course.
2. The routes selected must be appropriate for the level of participant’s skills. The training area and routes selected must be within the physical and psychological readiness of the participants.
3. Adequate supervision must be provided for top rope climbing. Scouters must contact with participants that will allow them to confirm that knots, harnesses, belaying, and anchors are being used properly.

(iii) - Planning and Research:

1. Adequate instruction must be provided for top rope climbing. Participants are instructed how to spot for each other when appropriate. Because learning how to support and protect someone’s head and upper body when he/she is falling can prevent serious injury, this technique must be taught before any climbing is done unroped and, therefore, unbelayed. The maximum height for climbing above the spotter is at the spotter’s shoulder height. Participants must also be taught the difference between spotting and catching.
2. Appropriate knots must be used for all tie-in situations.
   1. Climbing knots appropriate for the ends, middle, and tying two ends together must be used. The knots used must be appropriate for the application and the material being tied. Participants must be tied in correctly.

1. 1. Rope must be tied in directly to a properly fastened harness. The climbing rope must be properly threaded through the harness and tied with a figure eight follow through and back-up knot or other appropriate knot and back-up. In certain situations, a bowline on a coil may be used to tie directly into the rope.

(iv) - Equipment, Nutrition and Hygiene:

1. Participants must have, or are provided with, a list of appropriate items required for the activity. This includes, but may not be limited to: food, clothing, footwear and equipment, etc. Helmets are required for climbing. Manufactured harnesses, slings, carabineers, and any other gear must be designed for climbing. Nylon webbing may be used for harnesses and slings, but must have adequate tensile strength.
2. Scouters must have demonstrated the ability to properly select, use and maintain equipment appropriate for the activity. Care of ropes and slings includes, but is not limited to:
   1. storing in dark, dry place;
   2. avoiding unnecessary exposure to light;
   3. using only for climbing activities;
   4. protecting ropes from sharp edges and contact with corrosive and acid-based products;
   5. protecting ropes from abrasion from dirt and avoiding stepping on ropes when possible;
   6. washing ropes regularly; and
   7. ropes are not left tightly knotted or stretched longer than necessary.
3. Participants must be taught to check ropes for damage when coiling.
4. Rope logs report shall be kept on the ways in which the rope was used, i.e. date first put into service, date of use, type of activity, falls, etc.

(v) - Conducting The Activity:

1. Participants climb at an appropriate level of control and speed. This includes, but may not be limited to, ensuring that participants climb no faster than the belayer can take in rope.
2. If programming is conducted in diminished conditions, it shall be limited to appropriate times and appropriate safety precautions are in place.
3. Appropriate safety procedures are followed for top rope climbing. Safety procedures include, but are not limited to:
   1. attention to falling objects or climbers;
   2. spotting techniques;
   3. assessment of competency with rope and belay systems;
   4. helmet use;
   5. assessment of effective harness use, harness tie in;
   6. participants tying in if needed;
   7. walking ascent and descent of the climbing site; and
   8. edge behaviour and appropriate boundaries.