SCHOOLS

Denver Group Adult Education Program

For new members and those interested in an overview of the program

Introduction to the Denver Adult Education Program

Documents useful to students and members

Policies, planning guides and other school-related documents

Click on any of the PROGRAMS or SCHOOLS below to learn more
Hiking and Camping Program	Mountaineering and Climbing Program	Skiing Program	Safety Program	Fly Fishing and Photography Program
Wilderness Trekking School	Alpine Scrambling Course	Backcountry Nordic Ski School	Introduction to Hiking Safety Seminar	Fly Fishing School
Backpacking School	Technical Climbing School	Telemark Skiing School	Wilderness First Aid	Fly Tying School
Winter Camping School	High Altitude Mountaineering School	Ski Mountaineering School	CPR	Photography School
Quick Start Schools	Advanced Crevasse Rescue Seminar		Wilderness Survival School
	Knot Tying School		Avalanche Terrain Avoidance
			Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain (AIARE Level 1)
			Trip Leader School

HIKING AND CAMPING PROGRAM

Learn the range of skills needed to hike and camp safely in the backcountry. Hiking and camping courses are taught on easy to moderate terrain, on and off trail. All are non-technical courses (no ropes).

Wilderness Trekking School (WTS):

Overview: The Wilderness Trekking School is CMC’s comprehensive introduction to hiking in the backcountry. It teaches the full range of skills you need to safely and confidently enjoy day trips in the backcountry. It is often the first course members take.
Content: essential gear, off-trail travel techniques, navigation skills, handling an unexpected night in the backcountry, among others
Frequency and when offered: offered twice a year, beginning in April and September
Number of classroom and field days: five evening classroom sessions and five day-trips
Prerequisite needed to register: none
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: satisfies the prerequisite for the Backpacking School, Alpine Scrambling Course and a requirement for a C classification

Backpacking School (BKPS):

Overview: The Backpacking School is for members interested in extending their time in the mountains beyond day trips. Backpacking School builds on the basic skills learned in the Wilderness Trekking School and adds the skills for camping overnight in the backcountry in the spring, summer and fall.
Content: gear, clothing, campcraft, cooking, water treatment, organizing a trip, staying warm, among others
Frequency and when offered: offered once a year, beginning in June
Number of classroom and field days: four evening classroom sessions, one day trip and three overnight trips
Prerequisite courses needed to register: Wilderness Trekking School or equivalent experience
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: none

Winter Camping School (WCS):

Overview: Winter Camping School is for those who want to learn the skills and enjoy the pleasures of backpacking in the winter and other times when it is cold and there is snow on the ground. You will learn to use the equipment and techniques that will keep you warm and dry on an intentional overnight stay in a cold environment. This is not a survival course.
Content: clothing, traveling on snow, setting up a campsite, cooking, sleeping comfortably, building snow shelters, among others
Frequency and when offered: offered once a year, starting in February
Number of classroom and field days: three evening classroom sessions, two day trips for equipment checkout and snow shelter construction, and two overnight trips
Prerequisite courses needed to register: none
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: none

Quick Start Schools (QSS):

Overview: “Quick Starts” are a series of seminars that highlight topics about recreating in Colorado. They’re a great place to learn something new, or refresh something familiar! Seminars are held at the American Mountaineering Center, local open spaces, or hosted by CMC outdoor community partners. Cost is $10 for CMC members / $15 for non-members

MOUNTAINEERING AND CLIMBING PROGRAM:

The Mountaineering and Climbing program offers training in a range of activities, from semi-technical scrambling, technical rock, ice and snow climbing and expeditions to climb high glaciated peaks. Together, they offer a range of experiences, from introductory to advanced skills.

Alpine Scrambling Course (ASC):

Overview: Alpine scrambling is a form of mountaineering that involves off-trail travel on rugged terrain, with sections of moderate exposure, which usually includes moderately steep rock or snow. This is a semi-technical course where ropes and climbing equipment will be carried but not anticipated to be used. This course is for people who want to learn scrambling, and for people who want to build skills and confidence to advance to full-on technical climbing.
Content: rock scrambling techniques, route-finding, navigation, snow travel skills (ice axe) refresher, basic emergency techniques and gear, and more
Frequency and when offered: offered once a year, starting in May
Number of classroom and field days: two evening classroom sessions and four day trips
Prerequisite courses needed to register: Wilderness Trekking School and a Denver Group C hiking classification
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: none

Technical Climbing School (TCS):

Overview: Technical Climbing School is a program of 17 short courses that cover a range of technical climbing and mountaineering skills. They include rock climbing, snow climbing, ice climbing, sport climbing and related mountaineering skills such as navigation. The courses range progressively from basic skills for new climbers to advanced skills.
Content: see individual courses for details
Frequency and when offered: Most courses are offered multiple times throughout the year. January through October.
Number of classroom and field days: Each course includes a small number of evening classroom sessions and a small number of field days.
Prerequisite courses needed to register: none for basic courses. Advanced skill courses require completion of basic skill courses or equivalent experience
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: High Altitude Mountaineering
School

High Altitude Mountaineering School (HAMS):

Overview: The High Altitude Mountaineering School is for CMC members who are interested in developing their alpine skills to be able to safely climb high glaciated peaks, beginning with Mt. Rainier. HAMS graduates frequently go on to climb high peaks around the world, including those in Alaska, South America, and the Himalayas.
Content: roped glacier travel, crevasse rescue, and expedition planning, among others.
Frequency and when offered: offered once a year, beginning in January
Number of classroom and field days: six evening classroom sessions, three field trips, winter camping weekend, HAMS Basic Ice weekend, couloir training climbs, and glaciated peak graduation climb, e.g., Mt. Rainier
Prerequisite courses needed to register: Intermediate Mountaineering Certificate (see details at Technical Climbing School), a C classification and at least one couloir climb
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: Advanced Crevasse Rescue Seminar

Advanced Crevasse Rescue Seminar (ACRS):

Overview: The Advanced Crevasse Rescue Seminar teaches advanced techniques for crevasse rescue on a glacier. This seminar is NOT an introductory course and will NOT review basic glacier travel techniques.
Content: You will participate in realistic simulations of a crevasse fall and rescue and get the experience you need to rescue a climber from a crevasse and to mitigate your own risk if you fall into a crevasse yourself.
Frequency and when offered: offered once a year, in April
Number of classroom and field days: two evening classroom sessions and one field day
Prerequisite courses needed to register: High Altitude Mountaineering School graduate, current HAMS student or equivalent crevasse rescue experience
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: none

Knot Tying Seminar (KTS):

Overview: The Knot Tying Seminar is primarily for people preparing for climbing and mountaineering schools (Technical Climbing School courses and High Altitude Mountaineering School) to learn or reinforce their knot and rope skills and knowledge. The training is hands-on with mostly one-on-one instruction.
Content: 22 knots -how they are tied and what they are used for, webbing and knots used with webbing, how to coil a rope, design and care of modern climbing ropes, and more.
Frequency and when offered: offered once a year, in November
Number of classroom and field days: two evening classroom sessions
Prerequisite courses needed to register: none
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: none

SKIING PROGRAM:

Whether you are seeking the joys of ski touring, carving telemark turns or the excitement of ski mountaineering, the skiing program has something for you.

Backcountry Nordic Ski School (BNSS):

Overview: The Backcountry Nordic Ski School teaches the classic Nordic-style cross-country skiing technique. Students include those new to the sport and more advanced skiers who want to fine-tune their skills. Classes are small and tailored to students’ level of experience.
Content: proper gear and clothing, balance, striding, uphill and downhill maneuvers and avalanche awareness, among others
Frequency and when offered: offered once a year, beginning December
Number of classroom and field days: one interactive evening classroom session, three days on the snow
Prerequisite courses needed to register: none
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: none

Telemark Ski School (TSS):

Overview: The Telemark Ski School is for anyone interested in learning or improving their telemark skiing skills, from first-timers to advanced telemark skiers who want to refine their technique.
Content: telemark skiing skills
Frequency and when offered: offered twice a year, January and February
Number of classroom and field days: one evening classroom session and two day trips
Prerequisite courses needed to register: none, see school’s web-page for skill requirements
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: none

Ski Mountaineering School (SMS):

Overview: If you are interested in taking your skiing skills and experience to the backcountry, the Ski Mountaineering School may be for you. You will learn the skills, attitudes and awareness needed for Colorado 14er ski descents and ski traverses such as the Haute Route in the Alps.
Content: planning and preparation, gear, avalanche assessment and more
Frequency and when offered: offered once a year, beginning in March
Number of classroom and field days: three evening classroom sessions, five one-day field trips, one multi-day field trip
Prerequisite courses needed to register: none, see school’s web-page for skill requirements
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: none

SAFETY PROGRAM:

While virtually all activity-related CMC courses teach safety in the context of that activity, we also offer courses whose main focus is safety.

Backcountry Incident Management School (BIMS):

Although rare within the CMC, backcountry incidents when they do happen are stressful, confusing, and the wrong activities can potentially compound to make a bad situation even worse. For those who have always wanted a means to review, practice, and improve the skills needed to successfully manage the initial aspects of an unforeseen incident, the CMC now offers the Backcountry Incident Management School.

Introduction to Hiking Safety (IHS):

Overview: Learning how to be safe in the backcountry is a major reason many members join the CMC. So we’ve developed a one-evening seminar especially for new members and others who want to learn the basics of hiking safety. You will learn the many aspects of safety you need to be aware of.
Content: subjects such as lightning, avalanche, animal encounters, getting lost (or staying found), being stranded overnight, the many other safety courses offered at the CMC, and much more
Frequency and when offered: 2017 Schedule: March, May, June, July, September
Number of classroom and field days: one evening classroom session
Prerequisite courses needed to register: none
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: none

Wilderness First Aid (WFA):

Overview: The Wilderness First Aid course presents the nationally certified training program for first aid, focusing on the kind of first aid needs common to wilderness activities and circumstances in which professional help may be a long time and distance away. Offered as a full program and a re-certification program.
Content: patient assessment, weather (heat, cold) and altitude related illness, trauma, medical emergencies and more
Frequency and when offered: offered twice a year, spring and fall
Number of classroom and field days: full program -two all-day classroom sessions; re-certification program -one all-day classroom session
Prerequisite courses needed to register: none
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: Trip Leader School and D hiker certification

CPR:

Overview: This is nationally recognized CPR and AED (automated external defibrillator) course including their use in wilderness environments. Also included is how to relieve choking victims. A two-year CPR/AED certificate is provided upon completion of the course
Content: CPR, AED and choking
Frequency and when offered: twice a year, spring and fall
Number of classroom and field days: one evening classroom session
Prerequisite courses needed to register: none
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: none

Wilderness Survival School (WSS):

Overview: The Wilderness Survival School is designed to provide the skills and confidence to increase the odds of survival in an unexpected stay in the wilderness.
Content: Topics include preventing survival emergencies, shelters, signaling, fire-craft, hypothermia and other medical emergencies, and perhaps most important, the psychology of emergencies and survival.
Frequency and when offered: offered once a year, in May
Number of classroom and field days: three evening classroom sessions and one overnight trip
Prerequisite courses needed to register: none
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: none

Avalanche Terrain Avoidance seminar (ATA):

Overview: The Avalanche Terrain Avoidance seminar is a basic course to help you recognize when and where avalanche danger may exist and how to avoid it.
Content: methods for planning avalanche-safe routes and sources of information. This seminar will not teach you about beacons, probes or avalanche rescue.
Frequency and when offered: offered three times, in November, January and February
Number of classroom and field days: one evening classroom session with an required field day
Prerequisite courses needed to register: none
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: none

Decision Making in Avalanche Terrain – Level 1 (AIARE 1)

Overview: The American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education’s (AIARE) Level 1 course is the North American standard for anyone who participates in winter/spring activities that can take you into potential avalanche terrain such as climbing, hiking, snowshoeing, skiing, or ice climbing.
Content: This course will provide a basic understanding of avalanches and teach you a framework for decision making and risk management in avalanche terrain.
Frequency and when offered: offered twice a year, beginning in December and March
Number of classroom and field days: three combined classroom and field days
Prerequisite courses needed to register: none
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: satisfies a co-requisite for the High Altitude Mountaineering School certificate, required for certification of CMC Denver backcountry winter trip leaders

Trip Leader School (TLS):

Overview: Trip Leader School is the training program for Denver Group trip leaders. Completing this program is a requirement for becoming a certified trip leader and to lead Denver Group trips.
Content: You will learn CMC policies, legal and risk considerations, trip planning, group dynamics, incident management and will participate in a field trip during which you will engage in scenarios that simulate the kind of challenges trip leaders can encounter.
Frequency and when offered: offered twice a year, in the spring and fall
Number of classroom and field days: ½ day morning classroom session followed by a ½ day afternoon field trip
Prerequisite courses needed to register: Wilderness First Aid course, plus CMC membership for a minimum of one year and having gone on three CMC club trips.
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: none

FLY FISHING AND PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAMS:

The Fly Fishing Section, which promotes the aquatic habitat of the Colorado Rockies through the art of Fly Fishing, conducts schools, seminars, clinics, fishing trips, monthly meetings with guest speakers, service projects and social events. For more information, check the Fly Fishing Section web-page. Learn more.

Fly Fishing School (FFS):

Overview: The Fly Fishing School is designed for beginners to learn the basics of fly fishing, and may also be useful for those with more experience.
Content: basics of fishing gear, clothing, knots, stream structure, fish behavior and casting.
Frequency and when offered: offered once a year, beginning in March
Number of classroom and field days: three evening classroom sessions and two field days
Prerequisite courses needed to register: none
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: none

Fly Tying School (FTS):

Overview: The Fly Fishing School is designed for beginners. You will learn to tie eight versatile patterns for trout.
Content: You will learn the materials, tool handling and basic techniques of tying your own flies.
Frequency and when offered:
Number of classroom and field days:
Prerequisite courses needed to register: none
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: none

The Photography Section is committed to helping people improve their outdoor photography skills and provide photographic opportunities through meetings, classes, social events and photo hikes and events. The Photography Section provides two hours of instruction each month, plus day long schools for both beginners and experts covering photographic and post processing techniques. For more information, check the Photography Section web-page.

Creative Outdoor Photography (COP):

Overview: This course is appropriate for people at all levels of experience and all types of cameras including point-and-shoot, phone and DSLR.
Content: There will be hands-on training addressing camera settings, various photographic techniques and some photo editing. You will learn about managing a variety of common wilderness situations as well as composition, color, light and dark and much more.
Frequency and when offered: offered once a year, in the spring
Number of classroom and field days: one classroom session and one field day
Prerequisite courses needed to register: none
Other schools for which this serves as a prerequisite: none