New River Mountain Guides

Do the scouts in your troop want to get their Climbing Merit Badge? Let our qualified Merit Badge Counselors help your troop achieve their goal. This class will cover all necessary skills needed for their Climbing Merit Badge (except First Aid). Your troop will gain confidence and knowledge while enjoying the natural surroundings of the New River Gorge National Park.

Cost: Based on number of participants, Please call for a price quote 1-800-73-CLIMB

NRMG is headquartered in Water Stone Outdoors, in Fayetteville WV, a retailer for Boy Scouts of America accessories. 

Climbing Merit Badge Requirements
(NRMG's Merit Badge Counselors cover all of the following EXCEPT the First Aid Requirements)

1. Show that you know first aid for injuries or illnesses that may occur during climbing activities, including hypothermia, blisters, sprains, snakebite, abrasions, fractures, and insect bites or stings.
2. Identify the conditions that must exist before performing CPR on a person. Demonstrate proper technique in performing CPR using a training device approved by your counselor.
3. Present yourself properly dressed for belaying, climbing, and rappelling (i.e., appropriate clothing, footwear, and a helmet; rappellers must wear gloves).
4. Location. Do the following:
   1. Explain how the difficulty of climbs is classified, and apply classifications to the rock faces or walls where you will demonstrate your climbing skills.
   2. Explain the following: top-rope climbing, lead climbing, and bouldering.
   3. Evaluate the safety of a particular climbing area. Consider weather, visibility, the condition of the climbing surface, and any other environmental hazards.
   4. Determine how to summon aid to the climbing area in case of an emergency.
5. Verbal signals. Explain the importance of using verbal signals during every climb and rappel, and while bouldering. With the help of the merit badge counselor or another Scout, demonstrate the verbal signals used by each of the following:
   1. Climbers
   2. Rappellers
   3. Belayers
   4. Boulderers and their spotters
6. Rope. Do the following:
   1. Describe the kinds of rope acceptable for use in climbing and rappelling.
   2. Show how to examine a rope for signs of wear or damage.
   3. Discuss ways to prevent a rope from being damaged.
   4. Explain when and how a rope should be retired.
   5. Properly coil a rope.
7. Knots. Demonstrate the ability to tie each of the following knots. Give at least one example of how each knot is used in belaying, climbing, or rappelling.
   1. Figure eight on a bight
   2. Figure eight follow-through
   3. Water knot
   4. Double fisherman's knot (Grapevine knot)
8. Harnesses. Correctly put on at least ONE of the following:
   1. Commercially made climbing harness
   2. Tied harness
9. Belaying. Do the following:
   1. Explain the importance of belaying every climber and rappeller.
   2. Belay three different climbers ascending a rock face or climbing wall.
   3. Belay three different rappellers descending a rock face or climbing wall.
10. Climbing. Do the following:
    1. Show the correct way to tie into a belay rope.
    2. Climb at least three different routes on a rock face or climbing wall, demonstrating good technique and using verbal signals with belayer.
11. Rappelling. Do the following:
    1. Using carabiners and a rappel device, secure your climbing harness or tied harness to a rappel rope.
    2. Tie in to a belay rope set up to protect rappellers.
    3. Rappel down three different rock faces or three rappel routes on a climbing wall. Use verbal signals to communicate with a belayer, and demonstrate good rappelling technique.
12. Demonstrate ways to store rope, hardware, and other gear used for climbing, rappelling, and belaying.