Flash Foxy Education Program
presented by Arc’teryx
Our goal is to provide accessible, standardized learning opportunities for climbers to learn from accredited AMGA-certified instructors, centering the experience of women and genderqueer folks, and creating a program that responds to the unique needs of all marginalized genders. In order to stand by our commitment to making education accessible, all Flash Foxy Education Courses are offered on a sliding scale. Additionally, full scholarships are available for most courses. This program is possible thanks to generous support from our presenting sponsor, Arc’teryx.
At this time, our education courses are only open to participants who identify as women or genderqueer climbers. Select programs may be open to allies and will be specifically noted.
Types of courses
What kinds of courses does Flash Foxy Education offer? So many! Check them out via the button below. Note: not all courses currently available.
scholarships
Courses are offered on a sliding scale starting at $50. To ensure our programs are financially accessible, full scholarships are also available.
fAQs
Got questions? Maybe we have the answer! If you don’t find the answer here, email us at education@flashfoxy.com.
Upcoming Courses
presented by Arc’teryx
*Please note schedule is always subject to change. All events are rain or shine. Lodging is not included.
COST Flash Foxy Education courses are offered on a sliding scale.
Full scholarships are available for most courses.
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Thanks to our generous sponsor Arc’teryx, all Flash Foxy Education Courses are offered on a sliding-scale! To ensure our programs are financially accessible, full scholarships are also available for most courses.
It’s up to you how much you pay, but here are some things you can keep in mind when deciding what price is best for you.
The average cost of a 2-day guided course is about $350.
All the tuition payments go right back into this program so that we can run more courses and provided more full scholarships!
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Here’s a loose guideline to help you decide where you might fall on the sliding-scale:
It can be hard to pay rent and cover other basic necessities > Apply for a scholarship!
I can pay for basic necessities, but I do not have extra income for things like a climbing gym membership > Apply for a scholarship!
I can pay for basic necessities and some luxury items like a climbing gym membership > $50-$100
I am able to afford or save up for occasional weekend trips and the costs associated with that (rental car, park fees, owning gear, etc) > $100-$200
I can afford regular weekend trips and the costs associated with that (rental car, park fees, owning gear, etc) > $200-$300
I am financially comfortable and able to help support scholarships for future course participants > $300-$400
*Please also consider that income is not the same as wealth. Income is the amount of money you make. Wealth is passed down from generation to generation and usually takes the form of inheritances, land ownership, and/or earning power. We ask that you take into account not only your income but also your wealth when choosing your price point within our sliding scale.
How gear works, lead belay techniques, and bolted anchor basics
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Flash Foxy’s Trad Climbing 101 course equips climbers with the skills they need to explore the adventurous practice and spirit of traditional climbing whether you're new to the craft or trying to refine the skills you already have. We’ll cover the essentials like learning how to place stoppers and cams, and we’ll also have candid conversations about risk and how to manage it when the variables start to add up. We'll practice lead belay techniques on tube-style and assisted breaking belay devices, and finish up with the basics of building and cleaning anchors on bolts. Most of our course time will be spent working on skills with very little rock climbing, so come prepared to spend time hanging in your harness!
This course will be a mix of ground-school skill building and time to climb outdoors!
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Must know how to belay someone on top rope. Participants have top-roped a minimum of ten climbs on at least three separate occasions (indoor or outdoors). Experience sport climbing (indoors or outdoors) and/or following trad climbs is helpful but not required.
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Have a working knowledge of key equipment, including climbing shoes, harnesses, helmets, chalk, climbing rope, slings/cordelette, carabiners, quickdraws and alpine draws, cams and stoppers, and belay/rappel devices.
Experience and participate in common practices, including stretching, warming up, reading a route, and working a route.
Practice (mock) belaying a lead climber with an assisted-braking device, including setting up to belay, managing the rope, taking and giving slack, and lowering a climber.
Practice (mock) leading up and lowering down a route, including tying-in with the figure eight follow-through, placing and clipping gear, finding and maintaining stances, managing the rope, and doing system checks with their belayer.
Practice building and cleaning common single pitch anchors, including via lowering + rappelling.
Be knowledgeable about trad climbing jargon.
Connect with other climbers interested in trad climbing.
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Genevive Walker & Cat Runner
This is an Exam for prospective AMGA Single Pitch Instructors.
AMGA spi exam
in partnership with Sportrock Climbing Guides
Friday 10/24 - Saturday 10/25
Washington, DC area
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The Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) Program teaches climbing instructors to proficiently facilitate and instruct the sport of rock climbing in a single pitch setting. The SPI is the only internationally recognized single pitch climbing instructor certification program in the United States. It was developed to fit in the AMGA Rock program.
It significantly improves the instructor’s skill sets and integrates into the next level of training, which includes the AMGA Rock Guide Course and the Multi-Pitch Instructor certification.
The program is for current, active rock climbers who have a real desire to teach rock climbing to novices in a single pitch setting.
The SPI Course is a 27-hour training course that normally runs as three consecutive nine-hour days or day classes with evening sessions.
The SPI Assessment is a minimum of 16 hours run over a two-day period.
Certification lasts for three years as long as the candidate keeps current AMGA Membership and First Aid Certification.
After three years current SPI’s can re-take the SPI Assessment to regain the SPI certification.
Successfully completing or passing any higher level AMGA Course also recertifies the SPI certification for another three years.
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Identify as a woman or genderqueer climber.
You are a current member of the AMGA.
You have successfully completed an AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Course within the past 2 years. For those renewing, their SPI certification must be valid or within 1 year expiration.
You have led a minimum of 40 traditional routes, most of which should be 5.6 and on a variety of rock types.
You are able to comfortably lead 5.6 traditional routes, which means you place protection.
You are able to comfortably climb 5.8 on top rope.
The SPI Assessment can be taken directly following the SPI Course if the candidate successfully completed the course and meets the assessment prerequisites. However, it is highly recommended that the SPI Course candidate take time practicing and consolidating the skills learned on the course before assessment (3-6 months).
You do not need First Aid training to take the course or assessment. However, it is your responsibility to hold appropriate medical certification for the location that you are working in.
Click here for more details on the AMGA Single Pitch Instructor Program
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Sean Taft-Morales (they/them)
*Scroll through the calendar to see both upcoming and past programs!
*Wondering what course is right for you? Check out our Guide to Courses!
(Some of) Our Instructors
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Carlin Reynolds (they/them)
AMGA Assistant Rock Guide, AMGA Certified SPI, Wilderness First Responder
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Lor Sabourin (they/them)
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Marian Perez (they/she)
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Lou Bank (they/he)
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Narinda Heng (she/her)
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Hann Smiley (they/them)
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Thomas Bukowski (he/they)
AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide, AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Genevive Walker (she/her)
AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide, AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Cindy Su (she/her)
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Sean Taft-Morales
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Provider, AMGA Certified Rock Instructor, AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Alexis Krauss (she/her)
AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide, AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Aid
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Lizzy Redlich (she/they)
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Sunni Ford (they/them)
Assistant Instructor
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Shelma Jun (she/her)
AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide, AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Jess Pleyel (she/her)
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Zivia Berkowitz (she/they)
AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide, AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Danielle Johnson (she/they)
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness FIrst Responder
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Nina Kendall (she/her)
AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide, AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Kat Grajales-Betancur (she/her)
Assistant Instructor, Wilderness First Aid
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LB Gunter (they/them)
Assistant Instructor
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Jenny Legaspi (she/they)
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Madison Brandt (she/her)
AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide, AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Sarah Yun (she/her)
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Lydia Comart (she/her)
AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Hannah Ashby (she/her)
AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide, AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Responder
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Sam Haines (they/them)
AMGA Apprentice Rock Guide, AMGA Certified Single Pitch Instructor, Wilderness First Respnder
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Bennett Rahn (she/her)
AMGA Certified SPI, Wilderness First Responder
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Jessie Pouchet (she/they)
AMGA Certified SPI, Wilderness First Responder
