Basic Instruction

Basic Knots & Harness (Flat Land)

 

Teach: Overhand, figure 8, figure 8 on a bight, figure 8 follow through, water knot (ring bend). Dressing knots, appropriate amount of tail, tying off excess tail. Fitting, putting on, checking harnesses.

 

Rope & Knots 2 (Flat Land)

 

Reteach & Review: Basic knots and dressing, putting on harness and tying in.

 

Teach: Characteristics & care of rope, webbing, carabiners. Stacking and coiling rope. Throwing rope. If time or some idle kids, add butterfly, double-fisherman knots.

 

Belay Signals 1 (Flat Land)

 

Check: basic knots, harness tie-in; review where necessary.

 

Reteach & Review: Care of rope, webbing, and carabiners; stacking & coiling

 

Teach: anchor tie-in and basic belay. Signaling system.

 

Belay 2 (Flat Land)

 

Test: basic knots, harness tie-in.

 

Check: Care of rope, webbing, and biners; stacking & coiling. Review where necessary.

 

Re-teach: Anchor tie-in, basic belay and signal system.

 

Movement 1 (Rock gym or local area)

 

Test: Care of rope, webbing, and biners, stacking & coiling

 

Check: Anchor tie-in, belay and signal system. Review where necessary.

 

Teach: Classification system, bouldering, spotting, basic technique, lowering.

Do first top-roped yo-yo climb on something easy, with experienced belayer and student second-belayer.

 

Movement 2 (Rock gym or local area)

 

Test: Anchor tie-in, belay & signal system. Top-roped yo-yo climbs with student belayer and experienced second-belayer.

 

Re-teach: Classification system, bouldering, spotting, basic movement, lowering.

 

Teach: Beginning hazard evaluation, more technique suitable for climbs being done.

 

Rappel 1 (Flat Land/short building wall)

 

Teach: Rappel principles & rules, carabiner brake setup, signals, bottom belay.

Rappel with belay off short (1 story) drop.

 

Climb 1 (Local area)

 

Teach: Intro to anchor systems, evaluating anchors. Hazard evaluation.

Top-roped climbs with scout belay and experienced second.

 

Re-Teach: Rappel principles & rules, carabiner brake setup, signals, bottom belay.

Rappel with belay.

 

Check: Classification system, bouldering, spotting, lowering.

 

Rappel 2 (Short building wall or climbing area)

 

Check: Carabiner brake, rappel principles and signals, bottom belay.

 

Teach/Practice: Rappel tie-offs, rappelling overhangs, unusual attitudes.

 

Climb 2 (Local area)

 

Test: Carabiner brake, rappel principles and signals, bottom belay

 

Check: Basic hazard evaluation; review as necessary.

 

Re-teach/practice: rappel tie-offs, overhangs, unusual attitudes.

 

Re-teach: anchor system principles, evaluating anchors.

 

Teach: Single-rope rappel.

Regular top-rope climbs with scout belay & backup.

 

Climb 3 (Local area or weekend)

 

Test: Basic Hazard Evaluation

 

Check: Rappel skills / unusual attitudes, anchor evaluation.

 

Reteach/check: Single-rope rappel.

 

Teach: Alternate brake systems/devices for belay & rappel.

 

Climb 4-6 Local area or away week-ends

Review, practice, and test everything! Checkout for Climbing MB happens after boys have reached proficiency in the skills demonstrated by comfort and alertness on and near rock.

 

[Scouts who pass the checkout for Climbing Merit Badge, including all of the Troop 8 expectations, are "basic climb certified" for us. That means they are approved for unsupervised belaying without a second belay & rappels without belay, and are generally trusted to handle themselves & watch out for others on a climbing outing. They may be used to help teach basic skills. They also proceed to the next level.]