Rock Climbing and Rappelling Instructor Training

Scouts BSA and Venturing Crew members can participate in Rock Climbing and Rappelling on natural rock faces at S bar F and Giant City State Park (Makanda, IL) and our climbing towers at Beaumont, Camp Lewallen, and Camp Warren Levis. Units must provide trained leaders to facilitate Rock Climbing and Rappelling. Cub Scout members may climb only (not rappel) on GSL Scouting properties’ climbing towers. See separate flyer for Tower-only training.

The Wednesday night and weekend training course is required to become a Qualified Rock Climbing/Rappelling Instructor for the Greater St. Louis Area Scouting sites. You will receive site specific training for the natural climbing areas at S Bar F Ranch and Giant City, and for the climbing towers at Beaumont, Camp Lewallen, and Camp Warren Levis. Climbing training qualifies you to take your unit climbing at our Greater St. Louis Area Scouting climbing program sites and to lead rappelling on the Beaumont Tower (Scouts BSA or Venturing only, Cub Scouts are not permitted to rappel on towers or natural rock sites). S bar F Scout Ranch has permanent anchors installed for climbing and rappelling.

Wednesday evening we will meet at Emerson Center in the Theatre room. If you can’t make the Wednesday evening training session you will still be able to take the weekend training, but you must contact the Climbing Training Director.

We’ll meet at 7:30 am on Saturday at the Castle Rock parking lot at S bar F Scout Ranch. Training on the cliffs at S bar F will finish around noon on Sunday. The training will reconvene 60-90 minutes later at the Camp Lewallen (Spring Training) or Beaumont Climbing tower (Fall Training). In both Spring and Fall Training, you will learn the operations of the Beaumont, Camp Lewallen and Camp Warren Levis towers. We plan to finish up by 4pm.

If you can’t make the Wednesday evening training session you will still be able to take the weekend training, but you must call the Climbing Training Course Director. That Wednesday, everyone will receive knot training, a detailed equipment list, and training about equipment and what to bring for weekend training and the Saturday camp at the climbing area. 

Training Dates:

Spring Session - Wednesday Night Meeting

Beaumont Scout Reservation

Wednesday 05-27-2026 7:00 PM  to 9:00 PM 

AND

Spring Session - Weekend Outdoor Training

S-F Scout Ranch

Saturday 06-06-2026 7:30 AM to Sunday 06-07-2026 4:00 PM 

OR

Fall Session - Wednesday Night Meeting

Beaumont Scout Reservation

Wednesday 08-12-2026 7:00 PM  to 9:00 PM 

AND

Fall Session - Outdoor Training

S-F Scout Ranch

Saturday 08-22-2026 7:30 AM  to Sunday 08-23-2026 4:00 PM 

NOTE: By signing up for the Wednesday night meeting you will automatically be signed up for the Weekend Outdoor Training as well.

For more information please check out the attachment on each registration.

Late Sign-ups: the on-line registration system does not allow registrations starting the date of the Wed. night meeting. If you want to sign up for the training course after that date please contact the Training Director below. They will be able to give you the needed information.

Questions? Contact Brent Keil 314.681.5042, gslac.climbing.director@gmail.com or Bob Becker 314.852.0682, gslac.cc.training@gmail.com