It is time to get signed up to the March 2020 regional CHECC training events! Here are the details (bit of an essay but we?ve got a lot planned!):

***NORTHERN CHECC 2020***

The event will be held on the weekend of 7-8th March 2020 at Bull Pot Farm and a variety of training is on offer. These are:

RESCUE WORKSHOP
- This will be kindly run by the Cave Rescue Organisation
- Where? Clapham CRO rescue HQ.
- Start time: 10:30am Sunday
- This will cover rescue techniques, with elements of vertical but mostly horizontal, with some first aid and other usefuls.
- There will be a break between 13:00-14:00 for lunch (bring your own or buy locally in Clapham)
- Space for 20 attendees.

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
- This will be kindly run by Brendan Hall and Lydia Leather.
- Where? Meet at Bullpot Farm.
- Start time: 10:00am Sunday
- You are encouraged to bring your own equipment to train on.
- The underground location will be decided on the day (most likely somewhere in Ease Gill, Valley Entrance or Notts 2)
- There are 5 spaces available for the underground session but the morning theory session can be attended by many more.

SRT WORKSHOP
- This workshop is kindly being run by Alice Smith and friends. If you are able to help Alice with the workshop or provide kit then please get in touch!
- Where? Inglesport Climbing Wall in Ingleton
- Start time: 10:00am Saturday
- Bring any SRT kit you or your club have for you to use.
- There are 10 spaces on this workshop.

SURVEY WORKSHOP
- This workshop is kindly being run by Becka Lawson.
- Where? Meet at Bullpot Farm
- Start time: 10:00am Saturday
- The session will include the basics of cave surveying, both electronic and manual.
- There are spaces for around 10 people on this workshop. Equipment can be shared and the workshop can be done in/groups.
- You are encouraged to bring your own survey kit or borrow from your club. CHECC will have limited survey equipment to lend out for the workshop.

***SOUTHERN CHECC 2020***

The event will be held on the weekend 28-29th March 2020 at the Belfry, with a similar variety of training:

RESCUE WORKSHOP
- This will be kindly run by Mendip Cave Rescue.
- Where? Meet at the Belfry, progressing to underground later
- Start time: 10:00am Saturday
- This will cover rescue techniques, mostly horizontal, with some first aid and other usefuls.
- In the morning, you will go through the procedure of a call out, visit the store at the Belfry, and run through the theory of packaging a casualty. An underground practice scenario will take place in the afternoon
- There will be a break for lunch whilst still at the Belfry.
- Space for 20 attendees.

PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
- This will be kindly run by Mark Burkey.
- Where? Meet at the Belfry
- Start time: 10:00am Saturday
- You are encouraged to bring your own equipment to train on.
- There will be a morning theory session followed by an underground photo session with some post-processing of photos once back at the Belfry.
- The underground location will likely be Swildons or GB.
- There are 5 spaces available for the underground session but the morning theory session can be attended by many more.

SRT WORKSHOPS
- These are kindly being run by Alex Hannam, Kieran Apadoo and Oliver Ray.
- Where? Wessex Training Tower (at Wessex club hut)
- Start time: 10:00am Saturday and Sunday
- Bring any SRT kit you or your club have for you to use.
- There are 10 spaces on this workshop per day.

SURVEY WORKSHOP
- This workshop will kindly be run by Rich Smith.
- Where? Meet at the Belfry
- Start time: 10:00am Sunday
- The session will include the basics of cave surveying, both electronic and manual.
- There are spaces for around 10 people on this workshop. Equipment can be shared and the workshop can be done in groups.
- You are encouraged to bring your own survey kit or borrow from your club. CHECC will have limited survey equipment to lend out for the workshop.

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IMPORTANT:

To sign up, get in touch: checc.committee@gmail.com. Don't wait for someone else to sign you up, if you want to train, give us a shout!

Once the spaces on the workshops are gone you will be added to a reserve list.

Additionally, at both events there will be a Saturday evening Q&A/discussion on expedition caving: what the differences are from UK sport caving, how to get involved, the do?s and dont?s etc. Both of the discussions will be chaired by panels of highly experienced expedition cavers who began caving as students like yourselves. At NCHECC the panel will consist of Fleur Loveridge, Becka Lawson, Mike Butcher and Ian Peachey; and at SCHECC the panel wil be Josh Bratchley, Anya Keatley, Laura Benn and Rostam Namaghi. Thanks to all of the above for volunteering their time. If you want to get involved in one of the amazing expeditions that are open to student cavers this summer, make sure you attend, you?ll definitely learn a thing or two!

There will also be a brief talk about cave science at both events: why it matters, and how to get involved in cave science as a student caver. The talk will also aim to compliment what will be going on at the Ghar Parau Cave Science Weekend, which clashes with SCHECC. Sadly you?ll have to endure me for this part of the weekend...

Thanks all, looking forward to seeing you all there!

Wob Rotson
CHECC Training Officer

I feel there may be some confusion among UKcaving users that are seeing this post who perhaps don't know what CHECC is. Our purpose as an organisation is to facilitate student caving, so we will prioritise student attendance at the events and student participation in the workshops.

Sorry if this comes as a disappointment to anyone. If you are a member of a BCA- affiliated club, consider enquiring about workshop opportunities with the BCA and your local caving club council (CNCC or CSCC).