College Course Options Menu

When the cliffs and lakes freeze where you live the best place to rock climb is Mexico. It is safe, cheap, and easy to hire a mountain guide in Mexico who will fit all of your program's needs. Whether you want a fun week of climbing in Mexico or a week of challenges and team building, there is no better way to start a new semester than a climbing trip to El Potrero Chico. Our AMGA guides and Mexican instructors will help your students get to know each other and build lasting bonds. At El Potrero Chico Climbing School our mountain guides understand that your staff may have lots of experience as recreational climber and/or guides. We want to use and sharpen those skills. All of our college courses are custom tailored to fit your needs. Example: If you have three solid instructors and nine students then a one EPCCS guide to your nine student ratio would the cheapest option. Over a four day period every student would get to multi-pitch once. The prices are based on guide to student ratio. This depends on the experience level of the students and the involvement level of the instructors in organizing logistics. It is a good idea for one or all of the instructors to come a couple of days in advance for basic instructor orientation, to help set up the site, and to GO CLIMBING!!!

What follows is a menu of classes and logistical support that EPCCS&G can offer your school. We would be happy to work with you to design a program to meet the particular needs of your group.

Climbing Curriculum

Our courses follow a logical climbing progression emphasizing safety, judgment, skill progression, and fun. Because experience is often the best learning tool, we strive for a balance of “class time” and “climbing time.” We can start anywhere in this climbing progression, but students will be expected to show proficiency in skipped skill areas before they use those skills without direct supervision. We teach skills using the following progression:

·        Introduction to Equipment

·        Safety

·        Tying Knots

·        Belaying

·        Movement on Rock

·        Evaluating Bolt Quality

·        Anchors (building and cleaning)

·        Rappelling

·        Lead Climbing Theory

·        Mock-leading

·        Leading

·        Multi-pitching (for all skill levels)

·        Rescue Skills (belay escape, passing the knot, line ascension, hauling systems, tandem & counterbalance rappels)

·        Daily Safety Debrief

·        Climbing Ethics Discussion

·        History of Climbing

Instructors

We request that our instructors meet with yours for a pre-course teambuilding meeting. We will discuss safety standards, terminology, course vision, and teaching styles. We understand that each school has its own protocols and will work with you to create a seamless instructor team.

Click here to meet our instructors.

Non-Climbing Curriculum Choices

·        Concepts in Geology

·        Human History

·        Desert Adaptations

·        Environmental Studies Reflection Journal

·        Natural History

·        Leave No Trace (LNT)

Non-Climbing Cultural Activities

***These activities are a great way to make use of a rest day***

·        Cultural road trip to the hot springs, 1.5 hours from El Potrero

·        Guided cave trip and class on Speleology.

·        Shopping at the local street market.

·        Dinner at a local restaurant

·        Mountain Biking

Travel Logistics

·        Pick-up and drop-off at airport ·        Customs/What to expect at the airport

·        Transport to local activities

Lodging

Click here for information about camping or rooms at La Posada

Food

·        Planning food purchases and cooking schedules

Equipment

·        Click here to see rental prices for personal climbing equipment (shoes, harness, helmet).

·        All other climbing equipment is provided by EPCCS.