Boy Scouts of America
Merit badges for Climbing
Qualified Supervision
Qualified Instructors
The Climbing merit badge
Climbing is one of the most exciting merit badges available and it is also one of a dozen badges attainable where counselors and supervisors must have special qualifications to provide the activity.
Before reading any further (as there is a lot of technical information below) please keep in mind: The day we spend together is about the scouts having an experience they won’t soon forget. Fun, exciting and rewarding are just a few descriptive words that apply.
To aid troop leaders in making the decision to join us, we adhere to the principles outlined in a piece written in “Scouting Magazine” from September/October of 2018 and the bylaws within Climb On Safely: A Unit Guide to Climbing and Rappelling, referenced lower down on this page*.
Our offering as a guide service is to provide the supervisory role for everything that comes with climbing in an outdoor setting. This includes but is not limited to climbing location / routes selection, gear supply, instruction, building anchors, setting up rotes, etc. — all while overseeing the group’s activities as everyone has a stellar day at the cliffs. By having our guides oversee and manage the entire climbing day, anyone looking to attain the climbing badge can focus on learning and demonstrating the skills in a natural setting. If scouts join us solely to climb, without seeking the merit page, that’s perfectly welcome as well.
*As written in the Belay On reference manual: within the Boy Scouts of America, one adult supervisor is required for every 10 participants with a minimum of two adults for any one group. Our guide service believes a tighter ratio of 6:1 climbers per guide is prudent, and supplies guides accordingly.
Our guides are all trained in and committed to compliance with the eight points of the Boy Scouts of America’s Climb On Safely procedure.
All climbing and rappelling is supervised by professional NY State licensed Rock Climbing guides with American Red Cross CPR and First Aid (with AUD) Certifications. All of our guides are either Professional Climbing Guide Institute or American Mountain Guides Association accredited. Our guides are conscientious adults that understand the risks inherent to these activities. Our guides knowingly accept responsibility for the well-being and safety of the youth in our care.
Our guides provide local Boy Scouts of America troop members the opportunity to earn their Climbing Merit Badges by showing us they’re proficient in belaying, rappelling, and assisted rappel.
We as a guide service go even further. We teach everyone in attendance the most modern techniques for each discipline, exactly how we as professional guides are taught and why. It is not enough just to be able to belay or tie into the rope correctly. We impart on everyone the importance of each individual part within the system that keeps everyone secure.
