Profile

• A successful graduate of the Canyon Instructor Award will be able to lead an appropriately skilled group in a commercial environment through a canyon rated above V3.A4.ii. 
• The graduate will be expertly skilled in canyon environments, demonstrating excellent anticipatory skills for reducing risk to their customers and themselves. 
• The graduate will master safe and efficient rigging solutions in the canyon environment. 
• The graduate will be able to plan, prepare and deliver the Introduction to Canyoning Award.
• The graduate will be able to teach canyoning skills to a group.
• The graduate will be a role model for canyoning and an ambassador for the UKCA.
• The graduate will be sufficiently experienced to offer technical advice. 
• The graduate will be a mentor for other professional trainees.

Working Controls

A successful candidate will be able to work alone in a canyon rated above V3A4.ii with up to 6 group members where appropriate risk assessments and management systems are in place. This can be extended to 8 group members where another Canyon Guide L2 is present. A Canyon Instructor will be a mentor for other professional trainees. A Canyon Instructor will be able to deliver the Introduction to Canyoning award programme on a ratio of 1:6.

Assessor & Trainer

UKCA Senior Training Team 

Assessment Venue

Day 1- UKCA systems and processes, teaching standard and mastery of techniques (Classroom/Training Wall)

Day 2 - Rescue, scenarios and advanced guiding techniques (Canyon)

Day 3 & 4 Course delivery (Canyon)

Duration 

4 days 

Price

£480

Prerequisites

• Must be 21 years or older.
• Hold a valid first-aid certificate (2-day minimum)
• High level of fitness, mental health and swimming ability.
• Hold the Canyon Guide Level 2 award.

Log Book

Prior to assessment, the candidate must present a logbook with a minimum of:

• Minimum of 80 canyoning days in at least 20 different canyons rated V3.A3.ii and above.
• Minimum of 80 canyoning days leading canyoning trips in a minimum of 5 technical (V2.A2.ii) canyons.
• Have shadowed 1 Introduction to Canyoning course. 

*These prerequisites are minimum requirements, extra days are recommended.

Competency Gateway

This assessment cannot be accessed directly. The candidate must have worked as a UKCA Level 2 Guide and have relevant experience in UK canyons. 

Membership

Professional Membership

Entry Test - Day 1

Test 1 - Rope Itinerary Test

The candidate will complete a rope itinerary test set out by the training team. The candidate must complete the test within 1.7 of the trainer's time. 

If the trainee makes a security error (open carabiner, disconnect etc.) they will fail that attempt.

If the trainee does not meet the time criteria on the first attempt they can retake the test directly afterwards. On the second attempt, they must pass within 1.6 of the trainer's set time; on a second fail of this test the trainee will not continue onto the Canyon Instructor Course.

*The trainer will demonstrate and complete the course setting a unique time for the specific course. The trainer will explain elements whilst undertaking the course and will not get ‘out of breath’ whilst setting the time and demonstrating the course.

• Ascend in double past a knot.
• Progress along the full void traverse line.

• Descend into a loop, in the bottom of the loop go handsfree.

• Ascend back up the loop.  

• Descend in single, past a knot.

• Stop 1 meter from the ground and convert to another vertical rope.

• Ascend single rope.

• Descend the guide line.

• Ascend guide line 

• Descend using improvised technique.

• Remove rope from harness.

 Day 4 - Final Test 

Test 2 - Counterbalance Rescue (from above) 

The candidate will descend to the victim and perform a counterbalance rescue in order to descend with the victim within 1.7 of the trainer's set time.

If the trainee makes a security error (open carabiner, disconnect etc.) they will fail that attempt.

If the trainee does not meet the time criteria on the first attempt they can retake the test directly afterwards. On the second attempt, they must pass within 1.6 of the trainers set time on a second fail of this test the trainee will not complete the Canyon Instructor Course. Indirect shadowing may be arranged by the training team post CI course.

Syllabus 

The CI course is a training and assessment course programme. The participant will be expected to show a high level of engagement and professionalism throughout the 4 day programme. Ongoing assessment will take place. Assessment criteria is listed below. 

Assessment Notes

The syllabus outlines what the content of the training and assessment will include and gives an idea of what assessment tasks the candidate will be asked to complete. All judgements on how the candidate meets the syllabus must be based on current good practice and industry standards.

Assessors use five types of direct evidence to determine a candidate’s competency:

- Questioning and discussion.

- Observation of practical tasks.

- Delivery of Content.

- Practical Times Tests.

- Observation of teaching and facilitation.

Syllabus 

Day 1 - UKCA systems and processes, teaching standards and mastery of techniques. (Classroom/training wall)

1A - Entry Test 

• Test 1- Rope progression itinerary test

1B - UKCA Standards and Processes

• UKCA professional standards and behavior
• UKCA professional working controls
• Affiliated Centre programme
• Course administration and processes
• Risk assessment and insurance
• Marketing and sales

1C - Course Management and Preparation

• Environment concerns and planning
• ‘Intro’ Course itinerary and syllabus 
• Equipment standards
• CI’s strategies and facilitation techniques
• Presentation of information and facilitation

1D- Teaching

• 10 steps of teaching process
• Common mistakes
• Reviewing tools and processes
• Mastery of techniques

Day 2 - Rescue, scenarios and advanced guiding techniques

2A - Pitch management, personal safety and belaying 

• Ci’s personal safety
• Pitch management
• Belaying

2B - Rescue

• Counterbalance rescue (from above)
• Counterbalance rescue - rope cut (from below to below)
• Breaking into a fixed/blocked system
• Direct assistance rescue

2C - Scenarios

• Common mistakes
• Team rescue
• Incident management

2D - Course preparation and feedback

• ‘Introduction to Canyoning’ course preparation
• Self assessment
• Feedback and progress monitoring

Day 3 - Course Delivery

The students will deliver the UKCA Introduction to Canyoning course Day 1. Followed by course participant assessment and feedback.

Day 4 - Course Delivery, Final Test and Feedback

The students will deliver the UKCA Introduction to Canyoning course Day 2. 

4A - Course Feedback

• Final feedback and review of the Introduction to Canyoning course

4B - Final Test

• Test 2 - Counterbalance rescue from above.