Waterfall Canyoning Course - A - BIPOC

The world-class aquatic canyons of the Pacific Northwest might be our best kept secret. The BIPOC Waterfall Canyoning Course will teach skills needed to safely descend PNW canyons and join one of the fastest-growing canyoning communities in the world. 

The Mountaineers is proud to offer the first BIPOC Waterfall Canyoning Course in North America. Many of us in The Mountaineers Canyoning Committee have benefitted from empowering affinity spaces, and we're excited to be able to offer this course.  The course is taught by experienced BIPOC canyon instructors and is designed to increase the representation of BIPOC individuals in the canyoning community and ultimately, in canyoning leadership, guiding, and industry. This course is open to folks who identify as BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) who are interested in learning the sport of canyoning. No previous canyoning experience is required.

SCHOLARSHIPS

The Mountaineers is committed to making the outdoors accessible to all. In addition to providing gear at no cost during the course, we aim to reduce financial barriers by providing scholarships. Our scholarships are funded by donors who believe in The Mountaineers’ mission to help folks get outside and to preserve our wild landscapes. If your current financial situation limits your access to the outdoors, we encourage you to complete a scholarship application here. 

REQUIRED FORMS

Within 2 weeks of registering, students are expected to complete the participant questionnaire found in course materials.

COURSE OVERVIEW

This 8-day canyoning course covers the most up-to-date canyoning skills, knowledge and techniques, that have been developed by highly-experienced instructors with vast experience in recreational and professional canyoning and international canyoning exploration. The course focuses on techniques specific to the aquatic canyons in the Pacific Northwest and internationally. You will be equipped to explore our local canyons as well as canyons in many other areas of the world.

IMPORTANT NOTE ABOUT BIPOC AND MIXED SPACES

The vast majority of instruction during this course occurs in BIPOC spaces, but there is some content that is provided in mixed spaces due to course quality or safety considerations, including:

• Pre-Course Seminar: Canyoning Fundamentals 
• Course Day 5: Personal Movement in Water & Incident Management
• V7 Academy (online companion course)

COURSE REQUIREMENTS

Fitness Requirements: 

• You should be able to hike 2 miles with 1000' of gain and a 25lb pack in 90 minutes.
• You should be able to swim 20 meters without flotation

Complete Online Pre-Learning at v7academy.com levels 1 and 2

• Each activity within the course will specify which sections of V7 will need to be completed in advance. Be sure to check with enough time to complete the pre-work.

Complete the required 1-day seminar: Waterfall Canyoning Pre-Course: Canyoning Fundamentals

• This seminar teaches rappelling and knotcraft. Those who have previous experience can optionally test out in the morning. Those who are new to rope work are encouraged to attend multiple days.
• Additional optional evening and weekend pre-course sessions will be offered, and we encourage you to attend!

Attend all course sessions - no exceptions.

Pass the movement and technical assessments.

• There will be an opportunity at the end of the course to take the assessments. Those who wish to have more practice can schedule an assessment later in the summer.