NSS Vertical Training Commission: �Developing a National �Vertical Training Program �for US Cavers

Ron Miller, Hazel Barton, and Jenny Tison

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June 2022

NSS Vertical Training History

• Vertical Section Nylon Highway (1974 - )
• On Rope (1987 and 1996)
• VS vertical training materials
• VS vertical techniques workshops �(NSS conventions)
• Grotto vertical training programs

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Motivation

• Caver concerns - lack of consistency in vertical techniques and safety among US cavers
• Recent caving accidents related to vertical training issues
• In 2019-2020:
• 16 reported vertical caving accidents
• 10 vertical training related
• 2 fatalities, both �vertical training related

How did VTC get formed?

• Ad hoc committee on vertical education (April 2021)
• Survey of vertical training preferences
• Enthusiasm for national training program
• No accepted teaching standards
• Recommended new NSS commission
• Vertical training transition �committee (Aug 2021)
• Drafted VTC charter & posted online
• Held online townhall and solicited written comments (87 comments)
• Charter approved (Dec 2021)

VTC’s Charge (from Charter)

1. Create a training curriculum to help interested individuals obtain the appropriate and sufficient competencies, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills needed to be safe while using vertical caving techniques.

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VTC’s Charge (from Charter)

2. Develop and maintain a vertical training program that provides hands-on experience and training through vertical training courses that are accessible, attainable, and understandable to people of diverse knowledge sets and backgrounds, while maintaining minimal costs and bureaucratic processes.

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VTC’s Charge (from Charter)

3. Train competent, safe, and active vertical trainers to be proficient in teaching VTC educational materials.

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VTC Charter Preamble

• “Our trainers recognize that the best teachers are always learning from their students and will use the best practices in education for effective training.”

VTC Charter Preamble

• “Our goal is to improve vertical safety for cavers, while resisting efforts to develop vertical training certifications as a mechanism to limit or restrict cave access.”

VTC is VOLUNTARY!

• Mission is to support NSS grottos, NOT supplant them.
• Local, grotto-based vertical training minimizes costs.
• VTC trainer and training courses not intended to be mandatory.
• Grottos may continue their own training programs!

Why VTC?

• High quality, up-to-date curricula and training
• Support to trainers
• Vetting of trainers
• Risk management resources
• Access to gear resources

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Train the Trainer Model

VTC Training Course Progression

• Level 1 – Basic vertical techniques
• Understand use, care, and inspection of ropes and vertical equipment
• Rappel and ascend a rigged rope with expected obstacles
• Deal with unexpected obstacles or problems while on rope
• Level 2 – Rigging and intermediate techniques
• Understand principles, strengths, and hazards of cave rigging
• Complete basic rigging
• Navigate complex technical rigging
• “Level 3” – Advanced courses on special topics

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• Aid or lead climbing in caves
• Expedition rigging�
• Vertical survey
• Bolting

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VTC Structure - Board

• 3 national officers and 8 regional coordinators
• Overall oversight of VTC affairs
• Reviews and approves curricula developed by curriculum committee
• Develops/implements qualification criteria for trainers
• Coordinates training events

Curriculum Committee

• 5-7 members, led by Education Coordinator
• Develops curricula for VTC courses, including master-trainer and trainer courses

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Advisory Board

• Serves as informal advisory resource for the VTC board and curriculum committee

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Webmaster

• Builds and maintains the VTC website

Initial Staff Selection

• Online application process yielded 73 applications
• Ad hoc committee led by NSS AVP Adam Weaver made initial selections
• Selection process completed in March 2022

VTC Board – Officers

Ron Miller

National Coordinator

Jenny Tison

Secretary-Treasurer

Hazel Barton

Education Coordinator

VTC Board – Regional Coordinators

Jessica Van Ord

Northeastern

Anmar Mirza

Central

Philip Rykwalder

Southeastern

Kurt Waldron

Eastern

VTC Board – Regional Coordinators

Geary Schindel

South Central

Georgia Schneider

Rocky Mountain

Annelisa “EC” Moe

Western

Eddy Cartaya

Pacific Northwest

VTC Curriculum Committee

Hazel Barton

Emily Davis

Derek Bristol

Reilly Blackwell

VTC Curriculum Committee

Jesse Houser

Tim White

Jeremy Weremeichik

VTC Advisory Board

Pat Kambesis

Gary Holliday

Bruce Smith

Devra Heyer

VTC Staff - Webmaster

Aaron Irons

Interim Webmaster

Progress to Date

• Submitted NSS FY2023 budget request in March 2022
• Adopted bylaws in May 2022
• NSS News article in June 2022
• Website live in June 2022
• vtc.caves.org
• (site is still in development!)

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Progress to Date

• Curriculum committee is developing curriculum for Level 1, master trainer, and trainer courses

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Progress to Date

• Board task forces working on key priorities
• Trainer qualifications procedures
• Operational procedures
• Risk management strategies

Next Steps – Training Courses

• Finalize / adopt trainer qualification procedures – July 2022
• Select initial trainer / master trainer candidates – August 2022
• Complete and pilot Level 1 curriculum �– Fall 2022
• Complete and pilot trainer / master trainer curricula – Fall 2022
• Offer initial Level 1 training courses �– early 2023

Next Steps – Organizational Development

• Complete operational procedures
• Develop an outreach program
• Evaluate approaches necessary to maximize opportunities for caver training
• Develop a data management system
• Undertake a strategic planning process

Next Steps – Risk Management

• Context: We know that personal and organizational liability exposure concerns have created reluctance among vertically competent cavers to do vertical training
• Our goals:
• Help VTC achieve its mission of maximizing accessibility of high quality vertical training
• Embed a holistic risk management approach into VTC’s culture (and into what we and our students take out into the world)
• Next steps: Develop risk management strategies to:
• Maximize safety (e.g. policies, procedures)
• Minimize liability exposure (e.g. insurance, waivers)

Next Steps – Financial

• Funding needs:
• Initial costs (curriculum build-out, site fees, course gear cache, insurance)
• Scholarship program – help ensure that financial limitations don’t preclude caver access to high-quality vertical training
• Funding sources:
• NSS: partial initial operating support - $6,000 through Mar 2023
• Fundraising: keeps course fees low and build scholarship fund
• Students: fee for training

Get Involved!

• Donate cash - $15,000 Convention fundraising goal
• $5,000 for initial course gear cache
• $10,000 “seed funding” for VTC scholarship fund
• Limited edition VTC hats for $1K donation!
• Donate online at vtc.caves.org �(checks OK too!)
• In-kind donations or discounts (new only, please!)
• Rope and webbing
• Rigging hardware

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Get Involved!

• Volunteer
• Trainer and master trainer applicants still needed
• Many other types of volunteer support will be needed
• Applications available on VTC website
• Talk to your regional coordinator

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Acknowledgments

• Vertical section
• Ad hoc vertical training committee
• Vertical training transition committee
• NSS board of governors
• Participants in VTC charter development process
• Applicants for VTC initial positions
• Current VTC board, curriculum committee, and staff
• Shout outs: Hazel Barton, Adam Weaver, and Geary Schindel

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Thank you!

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Contacts:

• Ron Miller – national@vtc.caves.org
• Jenny Tison – s-t@vtc.caves.org
• Hazel Barton – education@vtc.caves.org

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