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NRRT 253 - Rock Climbing Leadership

  • 1 credit
This course includes developing skills in intermediate rock climbing techniques on a variety of rock media; rope handling; knots; rappelling and rescue techniques; safety procedures; rock site management; top rope and lead climbing anchor placements; top belay; traditional gear use and mock-lead climbing; equipment care, use, and maintenance; and communication, group handling, and judgment in the context of rock climbing. Students will also develop knowledge, techniques, approaches, and methodology for teaching and leading all aspects of rock climbing expeditions. Emphasis will be on safety and judgment in teaching and leading rock climbing activities. The course meets online for several sessions and in person for one weekend. Students should be have basic rock climbing experience, such as, belaying, harness fit, and tying rope to harness. Students evaluated on a pass fail/basis.

Important Information

This is a partial semester, 1 credit course with 3 weeks of online content followed by a two full days of field based learning. Dates and times for online sessions will be April 6, 13 and 20 from 5-7pm each evening. The two field based days would be April 25th and 26th from 9am-5pm. Field days are held in Fort Collins.

Instructors

Ethan Billingsley
Ethan Billingsley

9704914994 | ethan.billingsley@colostate.edu

Ethan Billingsley is an alumnus of the Warner College of Natural Resources – earning his B.S. in Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism and his M.S. in Human Dimensions of Natural Resources. He served as Director of Undergraduate Programs in the college from 2008-2018. He currently leads and instructs in the Wilderness Leadership program at CSU.

Prior to joining CSU, Ethan worked as both an outdoor educator and guide in various capacities, primarily with youth. He has led single and multi-day whitewater rafting trips for the last 25 years. He has climbed all 58 of Colorado’s 14,000ft mountains and led many CSU groups to those summits as well. He has also spent many seasons working at summer camps and environmental education centers. Additional experience has included work as a rock-climbing instructor, horse-packing guide, backpacking guide, and sea-kayaking naturalist. He carries certifications in wilderness medicine, swiftwater rescue, avalanche rescue and whitewater travel. Ethan loves learning about the ecology of an area as much as he likes adventuring in it. He believes that time spent outdoors contributes to positive attitudes and behaviors related to the environment, as well as, enhanced physical and mental well-being. In his free time, Ethan loves spending as much time as he can with his wife and three kids in the outdoors.