Above the Bushline

• Route Finding
  
• Emergency Shelters
  
• Travel in Steep Terrain
  
• Scree Travel


• Weather Interpretation.

Abseil

Abseil courses have been established to train operators and instructors from the basics through to preparation for an assessment for a qualification in abseiling.

The Council has an Abseil Training Scheme which is a formal training system that takes the participant through a series of training steps to a level of competency to run a safe abseiling session. This course covers a series of 3 training sessions over a period of 5-6 weeks.

Alpine

Alpine - introduction
An introductory alpine course covering snow travel and snow safety. No experience necessary but you must be over 18 to participate.

Course includes:

• Equipment use
• Walking on snow with & without crampons
• Ice axe handling
• Self arresting
• Glissading
• Maintaining a group
• Energy requirements - food
• Fitness levels - preparation for mountaineering
• Risk management

Alpine - basics
This course further develops techniques to prepare you for moderate snow climbing. Alpine introduction is a pre-requisite for this course.

Course includes:

• Harnesses
• Belay techniques
• Knots
• Rope management
• Anchors
• Mountain weather
• Navigation
• Emergency shelters
• Emergency procedures

Alpine - intermediate
Provides moderately experienced climbers with an introduction to the specialist techniques required for safe climbing in glaciated terrain. Alpine basics is a pre-requisite for this course. Some additional climbing is also preferred.

Course includes:

• Knots and rope management
• Z pulley systems
• A review of snowcraft part 1 and 2 by observation and correction
• Multi-pitch climbing (anchors and pitch climbing)

Avalanche

MSC has offered avalanche awareness training for over 25 years.  Avalanche Awareness courses are for skiers, boarders and climbers and provide a first step to gaining an appreciation of the avalanche phenomenon and what is needed to make decisions about personal safety when travelling in avalanche terrain.

As a second step, MSC offers a Backcountry Avalanche course for those interested in developing more advanced observation and route finding skills for winter recreation in the mountains.

Both courses focus on avoiding the need for avalanche related rescue, but also dedicate time to learning the technical skills required for companion or small party rescue.

The Avalanche Awareness course is a prerequisite for the Backcountry Avalanche course.

The Avalanche Awareness course involves both a lecture and a field day and covers:

• Mountain weather
• Identification of avalanche terrain
• Basic route finding and decision making
• Companion rescue
• Safety equipment (including use of transceivers)

The Backcountry Avalanche course is provided over two weekends and covers:

• Characteristics of avalanche phenomenon
• Snowpack factors (layers, crystal ID, basic metamorphosis)
• Observation techniques
• Human factors
• Group travel in avalanche terrain
• Small party search and rescue

Course content for both programmes was developed and is moderated by MSC to ensure national standards.

Lectures
A lecture is held in the evening prior to each field day, and lasts around two and a half hours.  Attendance is a prerequisite for the field days, and attendees are encouraged to bring a notepad.

Field Days
Field days focus on practical aspects and last all day. For Avalanche Awareness a ‘Certificate of Attendance’ is issued by the provider. 

For Backcountry Avalanche a ‘Certificate of Completion’ is issued following an assessment which is registered with NZQA.

Click here to view all 2008 Avalanche courses

Avalanche – Whakapapa

Avalanche – Turoa

Bushcraft

A wide range of bushcraft courses are run throughout the country. They cover all the bush-related topics in a variety of combinations and levels, from basic to advanced.

• Navigation


• Weather


• River Safety


• Trip Planning


• Survival


• Leadership


• Clothing and Equipment


• Coping with Emergencies.

NZMSC "Bushcraft - Outdoor Skills for the NZ Bush" manual.

Firearms

In New Zealand, any person who wishes to own or use a firearm must have a firearm licence. The applicant approaches a Police Arms Officer at any Police Station to obtain a copy of the Arms Code and make an appointment to attend a NZMSC firearm safety lecture.

The applicant must attend the lecture and pass the test before the Police will issue a licence.

The test covers safety aspects of handling firearms, all of which are covered in the Arms Code.

Run by: Branches, generally at Police Stations. Contact the Police Arms Officer in the first instance.

Certificate: NZMSC Firearms Safety Training Programme Certificate of Examination.

HUNTS

• Essential bush skills


• River safety


• Firearm safety in a hunting context


• Practical shooting and hunting ballistics


• Hunting techniques


• Species knowledge


• Game utilisation (skinning, butchering etc)

MSC “HUNTS Training Manual”

MSC PRE-CONFERENCE TRAINING

Outdoor First Aid

The Outdoor First Aid course is designed to equip outdoor users with the skills and knowledge necessary to manage accidents and sudden illnesses in the outdoor environment for a minimum of 24 hours.

You will complete a minimum of six hours of practical work in the outdoors treating, along with others in your group, people injured in mock accidents.

The course is divided into 16 modules, each with its own set of competencies. A course workbook is issued.

Candidates successfully completing this course may apply through New Zealand Mountain Safety Council to register the following unit standards 424, 6400, 6401, 6402.

All participants must have an OFA certificate which is dated no less than two years previous.

Outdoor First Aid - Refresher/Reval

The course is skills-based, ‘hands on’, involving scenarios and practicals, aimed at updating the holder of a current OFA certificate with the recent changes in protocol and to refresh their skills. Skill erosion is a recognised factor that develops if a first aider is not exposed to actual first aid incidents.

All participants must have an OFA certificate which is dated no less than two years previous.

Outdoor Leader

• Prerequisites
• Environmental care
• Clothing and equipment
• Outdoor Skills
  ° Moving with a group
  ° Navigation
  ° Weather
  ° Campcraft
  ° Water Safety
  ° Trip Planning
  
• Leadership
  
• Presentation Skills
  
• Risk and Crisis Management
  

Outdoor Training Scheme

This is a basic level course that introduces novices to all the bush-related topics needed to get started for tramping and bush walking. It is based on modules, which are intended to be as practical as possible with plenty of hands-on experience for participants.

It is not a leadership training course.

• Introduction to NZ Mountain Safety Council


• Clothing for different seasons and environments


• Equipment for day-walks and overnight trips


• Stoves and how to use them


• Food and cooking in the outdoors


• Mapwork and basic navigation


• Leadership - styles for differing situations


• Basic first aid


• Trip planning for a day walk


• Shelter - huts, tents and flysheets


• Loss of route/survival


• Safety near water


• Route finding, including compass use
• Overnight trip using the above skills

Risk Management

Risk management is defined as "the process of reducing potential loss to an acceptable level". Participants learn how to apply risk management principles in outdoor activities and test their ability to cope with emergencies.

Risk management is an integral part of all outdoor activity.

• Principles of risk management


• Introduction to Risk Analysis Management System (RAMS) analysis


• Perception of risk and competence when leading risk activities in the outdoors


• Coping with emergencies - theory and practical


• Practical participation and teaching of selected outdoor activities.

River Safety

Three critical decisions must be made whenever a group considers a river crossing - Should we cross? Where do we cross? How do we cross?

• Crossing assessment
• Suitable clothing
• Preparing equipment
• Three ways of crossing
• The recovery technique

NZMSC "Bushcraft" manual, chapter 16.
NZMSC videos "Do you need to cross"

Though rivers and crossing techniques vary, there are three basic principles which always apply. These will influence your choice of a crossing place and the technique for crossing.

1. Use mutual support methods. The more people in the party, the more strength there is for crossing and for supporting anyone who slips or falls.
2. Use the power of the current to help you across. Move diagonally with the river rather than waste energy by trying to go straight across.
3. Anticipate what might go wrong. Recognising and avoiding potential problems increases your safety factor.

Top Rope Rock Climbing