2008 Eckart Roder education funds awarded By Olga Kopcha The Board of Directors of the Colorado Mountain Club and the Eckart Roder Advisory Committee proudly announce the recipients of the Eckart Roder education funds for 2008. This year marks the second time the fund has been able to grant multiple awards. Three CMC recipients have been given funding to assist and/or enhance educational projects in their respective schools.
Ski Mountaineering School This project will fund the first year of an incentive program for instructors in winter schools, allowing them to enroll in the American Institute of Avalanche Research and Education (AIARE) level 1 and 2 avalanche courses. Level 1 and 2 avalanche courses are now recommended by the AIARE as preparation for instructors and trip leaders for winter backcountry recreation. The preparation now required to instruct in an AIARE level 1 course consists of five years experience with leadership and decision making in backcountry avalanche terrain, completion of a level 2 course, observation of a level 1 course, and completion of a level 1 instructor training course. The ultimate goal of the Ski Mountaineering School is not only to raise the level of AIARE avalanche training of senior instructors, but also to encourage other CMC schools to adopt program in order to enjoy its benefits.
Technical Ice Climbing School Funding from the Roder fund will make possible the certification of three Tech Section instructors as “Single Pitch Instructors” through the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA). The AMGA is the premier climbing instruction and guiding organization in the United States. AMGA training and certification for our instructors will improve the quality of instruction, help to coordinate instruction among the various classes, and improve the reputation of the CMC within the climbing community. This certification will help the Tech Section reach its goal to have the CMC recognized for its professional level of climbing instruction. The section hopes to provide highcaliber training and guiding through Rock Climbing trips and to offer more rock climbing opportunities for members.
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The Rock Seconding School intends to promote the highest level of safety and knowledge, which will be passed on and taught in the CMC/Tech Section classes. By providing this level of instruction to our leaders, we are promoting awareness of involvement in the Tech Section and providing our volunteers with a chance to become better educated in this field and pass it on to others. The Eckart Roder Education Fund was organized in 2003 to honor Eckart Roder, a long-time member of the Colorado Mountain Club. Eckart exemplified the values of mountain safety, responsibility, and courtesy. These are the values that we wish to pass on to our fellow members in Eckart’s memory. Contributions to the Fund are continuously accepted. They can be made to the Colorado Mountain Club Foundation in Eckart’s name, 710 10th Street, Suite 200, Golden, CO 80401. Donations may be given at the time of membership renewal in the contributions section under Eckart Roder Fund or on our website under Support. The Fund is also listed under Tomorrow’s Needs. For more information on how to apply for funding for 2009, or how the Fund works, please contact Olga Kopcha at (303) 996-2764 or olgakopcha@cmc.org. Look for upcoming events to raise funds on our website at www.cmc.org under What’s New. The next fundraiser will be October 18, 2008, during Mountain Fest at the American Mountaineering Center. Please visit the Eckart Roder Bake Sale booth, meet Eckart’s sons, and enjoy some home made baked goodies while contributing to a worthwhile education fund. Congratulations to all the 2008 recipients and thank you for carrying on with the values Eckart bestowed on so many of us. P Eckart Roder
Rock Seconding School Roder Funding will make possible instruction for Lead and Assistant Instructors through a licensed AMGA guide. The training will cover techniques to teach rock climbing skills, modern anchors systems, updates on lowering/rappelling systems, and management of belay stations with multiple pitch climbs. Other training areas include updating and improving instructors’ skill level to enhance their climbing skills. This will make them more knowledgeable instructors as well as provide up-to-date techniques that are safe and recognized by the rock climbing community as best practices.
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