Mentorship Program
Mentorship is a two-way relationship for mentors and mentees to grow valuable skills by being vulnerable and open-minded while committed to learning.
Who can apply to our mentorship program?
Our rock climbing mentorship program is for people 19+ in the Okanagan and is offered to all equity-denied genders. This includes people who identify as Two-Spirit, nonbinary, transgender, agender, genderqueer, genderfluid, other gender minorities, as well as women. Events are intentionally designed to increase inclusion for gender-diverse people.
Although there are typically more fem-presenting individuals in the program, we encourage and welcome participation from folks whose identities are not fem-presenting and people assigned male at birth. We strive to grow our community with representation from all climbers seeking an inclusive community.
If you don't identify as one of the above, our Community Events are open to the wider community!
At program intake, we consider other barriers and strive to make our programming safe and accessible for people who navigate multiple systems of oppression. This includes, but isn’t limited to, racialized and Indigenous individuals, the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, immigrants, people with disabilities, neurodivergent individuals, and financially challenged individuals.
Program Structure
Mentees
A mentee is someone who has a desire to learn and grow their climbing skills, whether that be getting started in the sport or focusing on growing a certain aspect of climbing. A mentee asks questions, engages in problem-solving with the mentor and is open to learning, refining and advancing their climbing skills and knowledge.
Mentors
A mentor provides guidance, shares knowledge and feedback and engages in problem-solving with the mentee. A mentor finds value in ethical and safe practices at the crag but they don’t need to know all the answers or be climbing hard grades. If you are confident in your skills to safely manage anchor and belay systems, explain gear choices, and communicate clearly, then you already have a lot to offer to a mentee! As a mentor, you will likely realize through the process that you have more knowledge and insight to offer than you might think.
Who
What
The Okanagan offers top-rope, sport, trad, multi-pitch sport climbing, and bouldering at all grade levels. The type of climbing will be dependent on the interests of mentees and availability of mentors. Typically, most of our participants are interested in rope climbing. There is the possibility of mentor groups engaging in multiple types of climbing as desired. This program is not for multi-pitch trad.
When
Our program runs once a year from May to October. We ask that all participants commit to attending at least 1 outing per month with their mentorship group. In addition, you will be able to attend optional courses with certified guides as well as social climbs and other events organized by Rock On Collective.
Where
Most of the climbing courses happen in tu?ikən (Skaha Bluffs). Please be prepared to travel to Penticton for these. Participants are not restricted to the Skaha Bluffs and we do our best to match groups based on the participants’ location. For informal meetups with your mentorship group you may choose to go to another climbing area that better suits their needs or the weather. Note: applications from outside of the Okanagan will not be considered, unless your home base will be the Okanagan for the duration of the program.
The program runs from May to October and requires monthly commitment. This includes climbing outings with your mentorship group, competency-developing climbing courses, land stewardship workshops and social climbing events. The ROC team will put together mentorship groups based on applicants’ self-expressed experience, goals, location, availability, and other factors. Through peer-to-peer learning, we are looking to cultivate a space of belonging, respect and community where we engage with each other, the sport, and the land in a reciprocal way.
Program Structure
Mentees
A mentee is someone who has a desire to learn and grow their climbing skills, whether that be getting started in the sport or focusing on growing a certain aspect of climbing. A mentee asks questions, engages in problem-solving with the mentor and is open to learning, refining and advancing their climbing skills and knowledge.
Mentors
A mentor provides guidance, shares knowledge and feedback and engages in problem-solving with the mentee. A mentor finds value in ethical and safe practices at the crag but they don’t need to know all the answers or be climbing hard grades. If you are confident in your skills to safely manage anchor and belay systems, explain gear choices, and communicate clearly, then you already have a lot to offer to a mentee! As a mentor, you will likely realize through the process that you have more knowledge and insight to offer than you might think.
Who
What
The Okanagan offers top-rope, sport, trad, multi-pitch sport climbing, and bouldering at all grade levels. The type of climbing will be dependent on the interests of mentees and availability of mentors. Typically, most of our participants are interested in rope climbing. There is the possibility of mentor groups engaging in multiple types of climbing as desired. This program is not for multi-pitch trad.
When
Where
Most of the climbing courses happen in tu?ikən (Skaha Bluffs). Please be prepared to travel to Penticton for these. Participants are not restricted to the Skaha Bluffs and we do our best to match groups based on the participants’ location. For informal meetups with your mentorship group you may choose to go to another climbing area that better suits their needs or the weather. Note: applications from outside of the Okanagan will not be considered, unless your home base will be the Okanagan for the duration of the program.
Our program runs once a year from May to October. We ask that all participants commit to attending at least 1 outing per month with their mentorship group. In addition, you will be able to attend optional courses with certified guides as well as social climbs and other events organized by Rock On Collective.
The program runs from May to October and requires monthly commitment. This includes climbing outings with your mentorship group, competency-developing climbing courses, land stewardship workshops and social climbing events. The ROC team will put together mentorship groups based on applicants’ self-expressed experience, goals, location, availability, and other factors. Through peer-to-peer learning, we are looking to cultivate a space of belonging, respect and community where we engage with each other, the sport, and the land in a reciprocal way.
With respect and gratitude, Rock On Collective would like to acknowledge that the land across which we live and climb is the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the syilx and nlaka’pamux Peoples. Furthermore, we recognize tu?ikən (Skaha Bluffs) as a culturally and spiritually significant site for the Okanagan Nation and commit to our role in respecting and interacting in a reciprocal relationship with tmixʷ (the land and all life forms which interact on it).