Ropes and Climbing Activities - Being a ropes and/or climbing instructor on Summer Camp USA combines the responsibilities of leading adventure activities with being a camp counsellor. It is a fun and rewarding, yet challenging opportunity to enhance your teaching skills, develop your personal experience and have a great summer!

You are likely to be working with a team of fellow counsellors on a programme designed to enhance and develop the campers’ skills and proficiency over the summer. You may be working with children of all ages and abilities, usually in small groups according to age. Your responsibilities may also include the maintenance and upkeep of the climbing equipment or ropes/adventure course.

What are the facilities and accommodation like?

Ropes and climbing activities are offered at many camps now. The facilities vary greatly from camp to camp and go from low-element ropes courses, to zip lines, to abseil towers, climbing walls and trapeze and high-elements. Sometimes a camp will have all of the equipment and call it an Adventure Programme. Sometimes, the camp will have a ropes course or climbing wall/tower. Some camps also travel within the local area to take the kids rock climbing in the mountains.

At camp, you will live in a bunk with children and other counsellors and have all the usual bunk counsellor responsibilities involved in looking out for the campers’ wellbeing. You will also be expected to be a positive role model for the kids.

What are camps looking for?

Ropes and climbing are activities where safety is paramount, so you will be expected to be safety conscious, hard-working and motivated. You should also have a fun and enthusiastic approach to adventure activities and working with children in general.

Part of a camp counsellor’s role is to encourage and enhance a camper’s experience so directors are looking to hire staff who have a high level of personal skill in climbing or ropes, as well as experience of working with children in a supervisory role.

What experience or qualifications are required?

First and foremost all applicants need experience of working with children in a leadership position. Ropes and climbing Instructors also need to have a passion for the activity and a desire to share their enthusiasm and knowledge in a safe and professional manner.

Applicants with good experience working in ropes course elements and rock climbing activities are of interest to camp directors. Anyone with training in ropes courses or experience teaching on a climbing wall is likely to be considered for a position. Qualifications will further enhance your application.

Awards which may strengthen your application include the British Mountaineering Awards (BMC) and climbing qualifications (UKCC), although neither are essential. Good personal experience of teaching ropes and/or climbing is usually sufficient.

Camps generally run special pre-camp training sessions to qualify ropes and climbing instructors to American standards. This also provides staff in the department the opportunity to work together and plan the ropes programme for the summer. Participants placed in these areas may therefore be required to arrive at camp ahead of the general camp orientation.

What next?