AMI is offering American Mountain Guides Associations Single Pitch Instructor courses and exams for those who are interested in working in the climbing industry as a climbing instructor for a guide service, camp, or institution.  This course is a nationally recognized course by the AMGA and sets the standards for instruction in the single pitch setting.  Patrick Weaver is licensed by the AMGA to conduct both the courses and exams for certification.  Individuals who successfully complete both the course and exam will obtain AMGA SPI Certification.

AMI Instruction

AMI offers the SPI courses and AMGA SPI exams both in Kentucky and North Carolina.  What you will receive from AMI is quality instruction, supporting material and unique learning experience sure to develop your climbing instructional skills.  All courses are taught by Patrick Weaver, who is has 13 years of instructional experience.  Patrick holds a MA in Risk Management in Adventure Education and is a certified AMGA Rock Instructor.  AMI typically keeps the ratios low on course to maximize learning.  And each participant will receive a SPI manual plus additional materials for future reference.

Locations

In North Carolina, courses are offered in the Brevard and Linville area.  Each has a unique quality and lessons to be learned.  Kentucky offers a prime example of SPI terrain, with traditionally protected routes and opportunities to instruct.  In Kentucky, course will be held in the Red River Gorge and lodging can be arranged.  AMI also teaches the SPI Course and Exam in the Red River Gorge and Seneca Rock West Virgina.

Course Tuition

AMGA SPI course      $475
AMGA SPI exam        $295

Pre-requisites for Course

In order to take this course, one must meet the following qualifications
•    Have a genuine interest in rock climbing and instructing novices on single pitch crags.
•    18 years of age
•    Have 12 month climbing experience.
•    Active traditional climber placing artificial protection on lead
•    Have lead 15 separate traditional routes of any grade
•    Are capable of comfortably climbing 5.8 on top rope

To take the exam

• Must have successfully completed the AMGA Single Pitch Instructor course.
• You must have traditionally lead 40 independent rock routes at 5.6 or higher grades
• Must be comfortable leading 5.6 gear protected routes (placing protection on lead).  You WILL be required to lead on the exam.
• Comfortable top roping 5.8 routes
• Bring proof of current AMGA membership

The course format is three days (27 hours) and will be conducted both in the field and in classroom settings.  Each day will begin with an orientation and instruction of material.  Day one focuses on SPI and AMGA programs, equipment, knots and hitches belaying, climbing site, risk management, teaching skills and anchors and protection.

The exams are a two day format.   Day one will begin with orientation, and exam lead climbing and top roping and the technical components.  Day two will exam group management and teaching components.

Course Schedule

AMI can offer group sessions if your organization has three individuals needing training or certification exams.  Please contact the office regarding your organizations needs.

Reserve Your Course or Exam Today

View the Course Calendar for details

Testimonials

The folks at AMI are true professionals. Patrick is an amazing instructor and I would recommend his services to anyone seeking that next level of professional development and enhancing your technical skills. He has a gift of being able to analyze your skills, offering suggestions and demonstrating multiple ways of executing skills but acknowledging that there is not just one way to do things.

Brian Clark  EKU

What makes Patrick stand out as a teacher and a guide is that he adopts his teaching to the way you learn as an individual. He has endless approaches for teaching one technique and can quickly assess which teaching style would work best for you. Aspects of the SPI process that were a challenge for me are not now because they were presented in a way in which habits become ingrained, not just practiced.

Mike Reardon

Patrick Weaver is simply the best outdoor instructor I have ever learned from. His technical knowledge, presentation style and teaching methods are outstanding. The course is fun too!

Sean Corbourn

Patrick Weaver is a very thorough and well prepared instructor. I was impressed not only with Patrick’s professionalism, but also with his approach to maintaining a learning environment throughout the exam. I would recommend AMI to anyone interested in pursuing AMGA Single Pitch Certification.

Derrek Anderson

My AMI instructor was able to present the information in a variety of ways, tailoring the course to each student’s individual needs and ensuring that we all completely understood and could perform the material he taught. I learned more in three days than I have in the past seven years I’ve spent climbing.

Jim Toman

Patrick was one of the most technical yet personable climbers/instructors I have ever met. It is evident that he takes great pride in his profession. I learned more from him in three days than I have learned in a long time, and I hope more people will get to experience the same. He was patient, explained the material in full detail when needed and was always concerned with the student’s full understanding of the material.

Daniel Brothers

Patrick was an outstanding assessor. He was extremely thorough, took extensive notes and observations, and provided valuable feedback. While doing all that, he also worked to keep the “stress level” down among the participants.

Ernest Waaser