Does your club have a training programme for new cavers?

[hannahb]

Thinking mainly about SRT and ladders (although other thoughts are welcome) I'm wondering:

- How many caving clubs have training programmes or some other formal arrangement for members who are new to caving?

e.g. a structured or ad-hoc training programme delivered by specific people in the club (either on set dates or when needed), or perhaps compulsory attendance on external training courses, or a set progression through specific caving trips, and so on

- How many clubs provide training in a more informal way?

e.g. new cavers joining relatively easy trips and being taught/guided/supervised by other members, or perhaps by visiting an SRT training facility with other members.

I realise individual answers won't be representative of clubs but I can't think how else to ask the question

 

[CavefestUK]

As an MCG member, I can say that our club does support new cavers with training.
I believe we offer both relaxed informal and more specific training programmes.

 

[Steve Clark]

Mountaineering club with a handful of caving members. Traditionally folks have started on easy trips with a bit of informal guidance, picking suitable trips as people gain experience. Flexible and friendly. It has it's disadvantages - folks don't get to see a wide variety of things, people learn how the previous generation learnt etc.

Improved recently with people taking some external training. Some private, some with the excellent CNCC courses and some progressing into cave leader training for work. Techniques learnt outside the club filter back into the members, particularly when it makes something easier.

 

[cavemanmike]

We cherry pick the trip’s to suite the ability of the group and we also put on a basic rope awareness coarse for noobies and refresher coarses

 

[KizzTW]

Basic rope awareness course is what we offer new members in North Wales before allowing them to attend SRT club trips