2020 Mentorship Program
Women are significantly underrepresented in the guiding industry. We want to change that. By teaching women-specific rock climbing clinics and creating mentorship opportunities we hope to increase the number of confident female rock climbers and guides.
Becoming a guide is a huge investment of resources, both financially and emotionally. It can be an intimidating step if you’re not positive it’s the path you want to take. The purpose of our mentorship program is to provide an opportunity to explore what it means to be a guide in a supportive and encouraging environment. To create a space where you can support current instructors while having the opportunity to ask questions about the realities of becoming and being a guide.
As a participant in the program you will have the opportunity to shadow 4-8 clinics, depending on preference. Your role will be to act as an assistant to our She Moves Mountains instructors. This may include setting up top-ropes, cleaning routes, monitoring belays, coiling ropes. Depending on the clinic and your experience, the SMM instructor may also need you to participate in demonstrations.
She Moves Mountains will plan 4 meet ups and climbing clinics for mentees from April-September to discuss various topics and to teach skills that will help participants on their journey to becoming guides.
To qualify for the program climbers must:
Be expert top rope and lead belayers
Proficiently lead climb a minimum of 5.9 sport climbs
Have two years climbing experience
Identify as woman, trans, or gender non-conforming
Attend mentorship training at Smith Rock State Park
