The 79th Reading Scouts climbing team has been running since July 2005. We have our own 30-foot / 10-meter mobile climbing tower with five climbing positions, allowing us to teach climbing and belaying skills to large groups.
We run climbing events for Beavers, Cubs, Scouts and Explorers from our group and other Scouting and Guides groups in the Pang Valley and wider Berkshire area. The climbing wall is also hired out; we attended many Scout camps, school fetes, shows and other local events raising both funds for our group and awareness of Scouting in our area.
Scouts and Explorers climb belayed by instructors, and over time learn to belay one another under instructor supervision, and are of course, supervised, helmeted, harnessed and roped at all times. Cub sections climb with the same safety equipment with qualified instructors belaying and giving instructions. We have also run abseiling and crate stacking from the wall.
Beaver sections boulder around the lower section of wall, as an introduction to climbing. This involves working their way around the lower section of the wall, rather than climbing up it. This is done without ropes, but with helmets, crash mats and with one to one adult supervision.
The popularity of the climbing tower has increased as we are seen more and more out in the community at schools, fetes and events. This has resulted in an increased number of requests, which require us to go further and further afield. In order to overcome this, we now have a flexible rule, whereby, we will not travel more than 10 miles from the 79th Reading Scout Hall in Tilehurst.
The instructor team are all trained and hold a Scout rope leader or supervisor permit, and also hold a First Aid qualification. New instructors with equivalent national qualifications or those wishing to learn are welcome to join, get free training and work under supervision until they are qualified. Occasional helpers are also welcome, either to put on harnesses or support a single event.
We currently have a pool of 15+ instructors. Due to the increase in demand we need more people to volunteer to help as this means less pressure on each individual to attend all bookings. The team is very friendly, and all training can be carried out in a structured but relaxed way. All we ask is for you to help when, and only if, it is convenient to you. So if you enjoy climbing and would like helping young people to learn something new, or If you would like some more information, then please click on the “Contact” button on the screen and fill in the details, we look forward to hearing from you.
