Guide mentorship

program

Guide mentorship

Program

$:FREE

Advanced

Colorado

Full Day- Multiple Days

Smile Mountain Guides is paying our experience and education forward by offering mentorship events to guides seeking support before, during, or after the certification process through the American Mountain Guides Association.

Depending on the type of mentorship you're seeking, we'll try to work in an environment that best suits your goals. Our group events will engage specific pre-set goals, where one-on-one mentorship works more closely with your interests.

  • Smile Mountain Guides is paying our experience and education forward by offering mentorship events for those seeking support before, during, or after the certification process through the American Mountain Guides Association.

    Depending on the type of mentorship you're seeking, we'll try to work within an environment that will best suit your goals. Our group events will engage specific pre-set goals, where one-on-one mentorship, which may be extended works more closely with your interests. Mentorship is an ongoing process that stays alive with the interests of the mentee/mentor relationship but could be limited to one group event/outing if that is what is needed.

    Our Goals:

    +Reduce informational, educational, and financial barriers candidates may face during their AMGA training.

    +Open up a safe and positive environment for those who do not have ways to access qualified mentors.

    +Encourage and engage more instructors and guides to learn from peers, mentors, and mentees.

  • Your Part:

    +Must be an AMGA Member. They are the leader in education, standards, and advocacy for professional guides and climbing instructors.

    +Come mentally and physically prepared for guide-level training and practice.

    +Be available for and engaged in online and in-person planning and instruction.

    +Be active in the Mentorship, not passive and show a want to keep pursuing the relationship.

    +Write a google review of the experience for Smile Mountain Guides. We appreciate you showing some honest love and also showing others why this may be a worthwhile experience!

    +Create a social media post tagging Smile Mountain Guides documenting the experience. This shares the program with more people and offers a way for us to showcase the process.

    Mentors Part:

    +Provide high quality and professional education, with a clear plan for the mentee

    +If accepting the mentoring responsibilities, be active in the Mentorship, not passive, and show an interest in pursuing the relationship.

    +Teach within Scope of Practice.

    +Define a timeline of completion and follow-through with Mentee expectations.

Mentoring days

+ The Art of Short Roping, March 22nd, Eldorado Canyon State Park

+ Rock Rescue, April 17th, Tiers of Zion, Golden

+Women’s Mentoring Day w/ Heidi Wirtz and Meg Nickman, Front Range May 27th

+Makings of the Alpine Guide, June 4th, Kieners RMNP

+ AMGA Rock Rescue Drill, August 26th, Eldo

+Rock Guiding 2:1 Practice, Sep 16th, Eldo

+SPI Exam Prep, October 24th, Boulder Canyon

+Rock Guide Exam Prep, November 4th, Red Rock, NV

PREPARATIONS FOR THE MENTORSHIP DAYS

Technical Experience

Technical climbing experience is required for this program. Must be an AMGA member with previous instruction or guiding experience or signed up for a AMGA program.

Fitness

Excellent physical fitness is recommended. Climbers should be able to be outside for approximately 8-10 hours while staying engaged with teaching topics and climbing.

Meet Your Instructors

  • Jeffrey Mascaro

    AMGA Certified Rock and Alpine Guide, SPI Provider

    Bio

  • Meg Nickman

    AMGA Assitant Rock and Apprentice Alpine Guide

    Bio

  • Heidi Wirtz

    AMGA Certified Rock Guide, SPI Provider, Apprentice Alpine, and Ski Guide

    Bio

  • Brent Smith

    AMGA Certified Rock Guide, CWI Provider

    Bio

  • Mike O'Connor

    AMGA Certified Rock and Alpine Guide

    Bio

  • Jesse Selwyn

    AMGA Certified Rock and Alpine Guide

    Bio

FAQ’s

guide mentorship QUESTIONS

The answers to our most commonly asked questions about Mentorship Days.

  • Smile Mountain Guides can provide technical gear, however as an instructor and/or guide mentee should most have their own kit.

  • Smile focuses on small groups and ratios that meet the professional mountain guiding standard. These programs have a 4:1 ratio.

  • If you are enrolled in a guide track exam, our team will build a custom prep day with you, pending availability, at no cost.

    If you would like 1:1 custom mentoring outside of the above situation, it is customary to hire a guide for further education.