WCS OUTdoors
WORKSHOPS
We have 5 fantastic workshops to choose from at WCS Outdoors.
Delivered by top-level outdoor climbing coaches, these workshops are aimed at helping new and intermediate climbers grow and raise their outside skills in a supportive, fun and safe environment.
Click on the links below for information about each of the workshops or scroll down the page to read about them all.
Indoors to outdoors
ZARA LOVELOCK (SHE/HER) AND ALICE Hydes (SHE/HER)
Take your first steps outdoor climbing, or gain a refresher if it’s been a long time! Zara and Alice will get you started with outdoor route climbing, getting to grips with moving on rock, learning some key safety skills, and knowing how to progress. You’ll be part of a relaxed and fun group environment, and it doesn’t matter if you have done a lot or a little indoor climbing before.
Equipment: in addition to the above list, you will need to bring a harness, helmet, rock shoes and belay device (you can indicate when booking if you need to hire any of this equipment)
Prior experience needed: you’ll just need to know how to tie in and belay to attend this workshop.
Zara is a Lake District based Rock Climbing Instructor currently working as an Outdoor Adventure Education Instructor. She has been climbing for 5 years and has thoroughly enjoyed trad climbing adventures in the UK. Zara is passionate about empowering others to experience the same enjoyment and benefits of climbing outdoors - particularly getting active in outstanding places, connecting with others and nature, and being part of the amazing climbing community. In her work, Zara values patience, inclusivity, facilitating positive climbing experiences and creating a supportive learning environment.
Alice started climbing as an indoor boulderer, and loved the welcoming community. From there things expanded and climbing became her life - travelling around the UK and Europe enjoying sport climbing, trad climbing and outdoor bouldering.
After having children Alice found it difficult to continue climbing, but the COVID pandemic initiated a career change and enabled her to climb more regularly again. Alice now works freelance as a Rock Climbing Instructor, and is particularly keen to support women climbers and people navigating parenthood.
She is also an open water swimmer, cyclist and walker, and is working towards her Foundation Climbing Coach qualification.
SPORT CLIMBING TOP TIPS
esther foster (SHE/HER)
Get started as a new outdoor sport climber, or refine your skills if you have already sport climbed outdoors. We’ll cover key safety skills such as rethreading anchors, equipping and stripping routes, and using outdoor venues. You’ll also get tips for climbing on rock and choosing routes. You’ll learn some key outdoor leading skills, but this workshop isn’t a full ‘learn to lead outdoors’ course.
Equipment: in addition to the above list, you will need to bring a harness, helmet, rock shoes and belay device (you can indicate when booking if you need to hire any of this equipment) You can also bring any other sport climbing equipment you own if you would like to.
Prior experience needed: This workshop is only suitable for those that can already lead climb indoors and lead belay.
One of the Women's Climbing Symposium Directors, Esther Foster has spent 20 years rock climbing and mountaineering throughout the UK and internationally. With a career coaching, guiding and instructing in both climbing and mountaineering, Esther is one of few women MCI's (Mountaineering and Climbing Instructor) within the UK and a member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors (AMI). Having seen the value of climbing and mountaineering as therapy, as skill mastery, and as simultaneously an empowering and humbling experience, Esther is passionate about removing barriers and promoting inclusivity so that climbing, and the climbing community, is accessible to all. Want to know more about Esther? We interviewed her here so check it out! Read here.
estherfoster.co.uk | IG: @esther_foster
OUTDOOR Bouldering top tips
sally Lisle (SHE/HER)
Outdoor bouldering can feel hard! Sometimes it’s tricky to know where to start, where to go, and even the warm ups feel nails! Learn crucial top tips for outdoor bouldering so that you get the most out of your sessions. We’ll look at safety outdoors, moving on rock, reading outdoor boulder problems, and how to progress.
Equipment: in addition to the above list, you will need to bring rock shoes, chalk bag, and a bouldering mat if you have one.
Prior experience needed: this workshop is suitable for those new to outdoor bouldering, or who have bouldered outdoors before but would like some coaching input.
Sally Lisle describes climbing as a harmonious obsession in her life. Expanding her abilities on the rock, and experiencing the tight bonds that form in climbing partnerships fill her heart with joy. Coaching based out of Kendal, Sally has spent the last 20 years using climbing and the outdoors to empower people to redefine their limits. A fully qualified rock climbing and mountaineering instructor (MCI) and member of the Association of Mountaineering Instructors, Sally has a first class degree in Sports Science (with Outdoor Activities) and believes in applying sports science theory in all her workshops to make them as meaningful and effective as possible. You will find her articles around the web, such as her article "Playing with Fear" on UKClimbing.com
tori Taylor-roberts (SHE/HER)
trad problem solving
Do you know how to set up your own abseil? What to do if you drop a belay device from the top of a
multipitch route? How to ascend a rope if you need to escape from a sea cliff?! This workshop is for competent trad climbers who want to expand or refresh their problem solving ropework. We’ll look at a variety of situations and show you lots of tricks for both avoiding, and managing problems when trad climbing.
Equipment: In addition to the above list, you will need to bring a harness, helmet, rock shoes and belay device. If you can, please also bring a few spare karabiners, slings, and prussicks.
Prior experience needed: This workshop is only suitable for those that are competent seconds or lead climbers on trad.
Tori Taylor-Roberts has an abundance of energy and motivation for exploring and coaching in the outdoors. A qualified teacher specialising in Outdoor Adventure and Education, Tori now focuses primarily on climbing coaching and instruction, using both indoor and outdoor venues to facilitate client development in their sport, trad or bouldering goals. Tori engages with female clients on a 1:1 basis and runs regular women-only climbing courses in the South West focusing on sport, trad and movement development - all with an emphasis on building self-believing, confident women climbers. westcountryadventures.co.uk
Pippa archer (SHE/HER)
Trad intermediate skills
Gain expert tuition on placing and judging trad gear, develop your ropework skills, and gain a better understanding of trad climbing. We’ll look at key skills for both seconding and lead climbing, and give you a clear understanding of how to progress.
Equipment: in addition to the above list, you will need to bring a harness, helmet, rock shoes and belay device. Optional: small trad rack. (you can indicate when booking if you need to hire any of this equipment)
Prior experience needed: This workshop is suitable for those that have done some trad climbing or seconding before, and want to refresh or develop their knowledge.
Pippa has been exploring wild places for as long as she can remember! From solo Scottish adventures as a teenager to first ascents in Greenland as a naïve 22-year-old, Pippa is never happier than when she is somewhere remote, questing up a rock face. For many years she juggled her love of the outdoors with a career as an Antarctic scientist and university lecturer, but has now relocated to the Lake District to work in the outdoors, introducing others to the amazing adventures that are on our doorstep.
