Leader Badges

A listing of the different types of Leader Badges in The Mountaineers, including what they mean and how to get them! Typically, members take courses, enhance their skills, and then "pay it forward" by leading trips, activities, seminars, and courses of their own for new members. Learn how to become one here!

Leader Badges acknowledge our members' initiative, skill, and donation of time to our organization. Typically, members take courses, enhance their skills, and then "pay it forward" by leading activities and coordinating or teaching courses, clinics, and seminars! For additional information about leader permissions and benefits, please visit our Leader Resources page.

Here are the leader badges that describe the skills of our leaders who have met our training and leadership qualifications. Please contact us at info@mountaineers.org if you have any questions or suggestions.

Outdoor Leadership Course

This badge represents successful completion of our Outdoor Leadership Course.

Past Activity Committee Chair

Activity committee chairs serve as the administrative leader of activity programs at their branch. This badge recognizes past activity committee chairs for their invaluable service to the club.

Past Branch Chair

Branch chairs serve as the administrative leader of an entire Mountaineers branch. This badge recognizes past branch chairs for their invaluable service to the club.

Past Branch Officer

Branch officers to one of our Mountaineers branches. This badge recognizes past branch officers for their invaluable service to the club.

Peer Glacier Climb Leader

Peer Glacier Climb Leaders can coordinate glacier climbs that are within their technical abilities for intermediate students and above, but not for basic students, graduates, or other novice climbers. The purpose of this role is for aspiring leaders to develop their skills and grow as leaders without taking on the responsibility of leading those with little experience.

Peer Rock Climb Leader

Peer Rock Climb Leaders can coordinate rock climbs that are within their technical abilities for intermediate students and above, but not for basic students, graduates, or other novice climbers. The purpose of this role is for aspiring leaders to develop their skills and grow as leaders without taking on the responsibility of leading those with little experience.

Photography Leader

The holder of this badge has been approved to lead photography-related trips and activities for The Mountaineers.

Qualified Youth Leader

This badge represents successful completion of The Qualified Youth Leader Training Course, a background check and basic education about mandatory reporting, child abuse/neglect, and principles of safe supervision.

Qualified Youth Leader: Camps

This badge represents the successful completion of the QYL: Camps training

Qualified Youth Leader: Family Programs

This badge represents the successful completion of the QYL: Family Programs training.

Qualified Youth Leader: Kids Clubs

This badge represents the successful completion of the QYL: Kids Clubs training.

Qualified Youth Leader: Partner Programs

This badge represents the successful completion of the QYL: Outreach Programs training.

Qualified Youth Leader: Teen Clubs

This badge represents the successful completion of the QYL: Teen Clubs training.

Qualified Youth Leader: Youth In Adult Programs

This badge represents the successful completion of the QYL: Youth In Adult Programs training.

Rock Climb Leader

Rock Climb Leaders can lead alpine rock climbs that are within their technical abilities and can include basic students and other novices in their groups. This leader cannot lead any climbs involving glacier or significant snow travel.

Rock Climb Rope Leader

Rock Climb Rope Leaders function as assistant leaders on alpine rock climbs that are within their technical abilities. Rope leaders are typically in charge of a rope team on climbs.

Sea Kayak Leader

The holder of this badge has been approved to lead Sea Kayak trips for The Mountaineers

Skipper

The holder of this badge has been approved to lead sailing trips for The Mountaineers.

Snow Climb Conditioning Leader

The Snow Climb Conditioning Leader is an extension of the Climb Conditioning Leader. This leader runs trips on snow in low-risk terrain with minimal avalanche concerns. The Snow Leader helps students with conditioning, learning to travel confidently in snow, and use of snow and glacier gear properly.

Sport Climb Leader

The Sport Climb Leader runs single pitch sport climbing trips. They must be able to lead and manage all aspects of the sport climbing crag experience, including anchor setup and cleaning, rope management, rappels, belaying, and an ability to manage groups with little to no experience in a sport climbing setting.

Stewardship Leader

The holder of this badge has been trained in skills that advance the stewardship mission of The Mountaineers.

Trad Climb Leader

The leader runs single pitch traditional climbing trips. They must be able to lead and manage all aspects of the trad climbing crag experience, including the use of gear anchors and cleaning, rope management, rappels, belaying, use of traditional protection systems, and an ability to manage groups with little to no experience in a trad climbing setting.