Guide courses

I. Competencies and Qualifications

The canyon guide program is designed to form professional canyon guides. The BACP elaborated an extensive curriculum containing not only high level technical training but also professional and educational training and necessary theoretical background. Objective of the course is to provide the students with the necessary training to:

• ensure the technical and professional competencies within the field of canyoning
• understand the characteristics and organization of the canyoning sport
• know the rights and obligations associated with the function of canyon guide
• acquire the necessary knowledge and skills to perform the profession of canyon guide under safe conditions and in accordance to local and international regulations

This course leads to the title of Canyoning Guide and meets up with the international standards of the guiding community. A BACP certified guide is allowed to conduct clients into canyons of all levels and teach technical skills to recreational canyoneers and aspirant canyon guides.

II. Professional profile

The canyoning guide as a professional is able to:

• guide groups in canyons of all levels in a safe and efficient way
• gather the most up-to-date information about the canyon, to analyze this information properly and to anticipate weather changes

The canyon guide as a manager is able to:

• establish a canyoning activity according to the interests and abilities of the participants respecting thereby safety procedures;
• manage the logistics of the activity, know the local and international regulations and apply them.

The canyon guide as a didacticus is able to:

• guarantee a positive dynamic within a group and to treat the participants in an emphatic and respectful manner
• assess the different characteristics of participants in an outdoor activity and to act accordingly

The canyon guide as a care provider is able to:

• act in a preventive way to avoid the most frequent injuries and accidents;
• deal with an accident properly and efficiently.

III. Prerequisite

• Outdoor experience
• Good level of physical fitness
• Medical certificate

IV. Topics

• Human physiology and anatomy
• Didactics
• Canyoning gear
• Canyon environment
• Technical skills
• Legislation, safety and risk management

V. Course overview

	Theory	Practice	Total hours
LEVEL I: GENERAL OUTDOOR	158	104	262
Module1: Physical education	80	28	108
– anatomy & physiology	16	0	16
– general didactics	28	20	48
– excercise therapy	24	0	24
– first aid & prevention	12	8	20
Module2: Outdoor specific	48	16	64
– work area	4	0	4
– safety in the outdoors	36	12	48
– outdoor environment	4	8	12
Module3: Outdoor professional	22	0	22
– business management	18	0	18
– legislation	2	0	2
– risk-analysis	2	0	2
Module4: Outdoor experience	0	60	60
Examination Level I: general	8	0	8

	Theory	Practice	Total hours
LEVEL II: CANYONING SPECIFIC	102	142	244
Module1: Canyoning technical	24	66	90
– equipment	8	12	20
– technical rope skills	8	24	32
– wildwater	4	6	10
– anchor: checks & placement	4	8	12
– rescue technics	0	16	16
Module2: Canyon environment	24	4	28
– geomorphology	6	0	6
– hydrology	6	0	6
– ecology	6	0	6
– topografy	6	4	10
Module3: Canyoning guiding	44	48	92
– preparation & communication	16	24	40
– progress in the canyon	16	24	40
– legislation & insurance	12	0	12
Module4: Safety management	10	16	26
– accidents and incidents	2	0	2
– hazards	2	0	2
– accident assessment	4	8	12
– first aind kit	2	0	2
– canyon specific first aid	0	8	8
Examination Level II: specific	0	8	8

	Theory	Practice	Total hours
LEVEL III: WORK PRACTICES	0	300	300
LEVEL IV: THESIS	40	0	40
Canyoning guide course	Theory	Practice	Total hours
TOTAL HOURS	300	546	846