Pre-Conference Sessions
Maximize Your Learning
Pre-Conferences:
Maximize Your Learning
Find The Pre-Conference That's Right For You
The CWA is excited to bring back a robust lineup featuring pre-conference sessions designed to maximize your learning at the 2024 CWA Summit.
We are offering a wide variety of certification courses and workshops that will help take your business and career to the next level!
Search All Pre-Conferences:
NOTE: All sessions must hit a minimum registration threshold by a pre-determined date to ensure the session will be held. We will notify you as soon as physically possible about your session and whether it will not occur if that is the case.
To register for a pre-conference session, you must purchase a registration to the CWA Summit. If you have already purchased a ticket, you may purchase additional pre-conference sessions.
Day | Session Name | Track | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
May 13 (Mon.) | Climbing Wall Instructor - Provider Course | Routesetting | $850 For Members |
May 13 (Mon.) | Work at Height Level 1 Certification Workshop | Routesetting | $750 For Members |
May 14 (Tue.) | Work at Height Level 2 Certification Workshop (Purchased as Combo for Members) | Routesetting | $1250 For Members |
May 14 (Tue.) | Professional Routesetting Level 1 | Routesetting | $600 For Members |
May 14 (Tue.) | Developing A Business Plan For Funding A New Climbing Gym | Future Owners | $350 |
May 14 (Tue.) | Crafting a Comprehensive Onboarding Program Workshop | Future Owners / Gym Owners | $350 |
May 14 (Tue.) | Building a Coaching Team | Coaches/Trainers | $150 |
May 14 (Tue.) | Coaching and Cueing Movement Skills for Advanced Climbers | Coaches/Trainers | $150 |
May 14 (Tue.) | Mental Training for Climbing Professionals | Coaches/Trainers | $175 |
May 15 (Wed.) | Injury Prevention and Rehabilitation for Climbing Wall Workers | Routesetting | $150 |
May 15 (Wed.) | Lean Gym, Quality Hires: The Efficiency and Automation Masterclass | Sr. Managers/Gym Managers | $200 |
May 15 (Wed.) | 101 Climbing Games and Activities: Revolutionizing Your Youth Programming | Coaches/Trainers | $125 |
May 15 (Wed.) | Delivering Creative and Fun Climbing Programs Using an Experiential Approach | Coaches/Trainers | $275 |
May 15 (Wed.) | How to Use a Spray Wall or Training Board for Coaching High-Level Youth Athletes | Coaches/Trainers | $200 |
Certification & Routesetting Course Information
CWA Climbing Wall Instructor - Provider Course
- May 13 | 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Members Only, Must Attend Full Conference
- Requires pre-event virtual meetings
- Space is limited
CWA Work at Height Courses
- Level 1: May 13 | 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Level 2: May 14 | 9:00am - 5:00pm
- Level 1, 2, and Combined Offered
- Members & Non-Members Allowed
- View Event Details for Required Pre-Requisites
- Space is limited
Injury Prevention for Climbing Wall Workers
- May 14 | 1:00pm - 5:00pm
- Instructor: Dr. Jared Vagy, "The Climbing Doctor"
- The workshop takes an interactive approach, equipping participants with a systematic strategy for injury prevention and rehabilitation
CWA Professional Routesetting - Level 1 (NEW!)
- May 14 | 9:00am - 4:00pm
- Members & Non-Members Allowed
- Designed for new to routesetting or those with an interest in becoming a routesetter. This course will cover elements of risk management when setting, creating movement, use of tools for the job and a review of next steps and opportunities to future education.
- Space is limited
Future Owners, Current Gym Owners & Sr. Managers/Gym Managers
Crafting a Comprehensive Onboarding Program Workshop
- May 14 | 9:00am - 4:00pm
- Instructors: Chris Stevenson and Marisa Hoff, Empower Group
- This workshop is crafted to guide you through the essential elements of onboarding, providing insights into the modules that should be integral to every onboarding training.
Developing a Climbing Gym Business Plan Workshop
- May 14 | 9:00am - 4:00pm
- Instructors: Bob Richards & Dave Mullins, Climbing Wall Advisors
- Learn how to develop and present the information that will assist you in obtaining the financing you will require for developing your new climbing gym. For those interested in opening a climbing gym or considering expanding.
Lean Gym, Quality Hires: The Efficiency and Automation Masterclass
- May 15 | 9:00am - 1:00pm
- Instructor: Kristin Horowitz, The Pad Climbing
- Unlock the next frontier in gym management with our masterclass, 'AutoGym 2023: Attract Talent and Boost Efficiency with Automation.' In a rapidly evolving industry where time is money, outdated hiring and operational methods are no longer an option. Discover the ground-breaking hiring and automation process that has revolutionized The Pad Climbing, delivering high-quality talent in record time.
Coaches & Trainers
101 Climbing Games & Activities Workshop
- May 15 | 9:00am - 1:00pm
- Instructor: Hailey Caissie, Program Manager, The Crag
- This hands-on session will teach you 50+ climbing games to bring back to your gym and how to build play-based games of your own!
Building a Coaching Team
- May 14 | 1:00pm - 5:00pm
- Instructor: Steve Bechtel, Climb Strong
- This dynamic session is for coaches and managers who want to learn actionable steps on how to build an effective coaching team.
Coaching and Cueing Movement Skills for Advanced Climbers
- May 14 | 1:00pm - 5:00pm
- Instructor: Kirby Kahl, Movement Gyms
- This session will be a hands-on clinic focused on developing skills as a movement coach to instruct advanced climbers. We will discuss how to teach, coach, and cue movement skills with youth and adult athletes.
Delivering Creative and Fun Climbing Programs Using an Experiential Approach
- May 15 | 9:00am - 1:00pm
- Instructor: Patrick Brehm, Headwall Group
- Explore how the principles of experiential education can provide a structure that can improve your youth program and give you tools that make your job as a coach easier, while learning new activities that can engage climbers of all ages and skill levels.
How to Use a Spray Wall or Training Board for Coaching High-Level Youth Athletes
- May 15 | 9:00am - 1:00pm
- Instructor: Marisa Romero, Team Texas/Movement Gyms
- This session is for coaches of advanced and elite athletes and will focus on how to effectively use a spray wall. Often overlooked, these powerful tools are especially beneficial for youth teams, offering versatility and alleviating gym congestion. Attendees will learn keys to coaching on a spray wall and will actively participate in hands-on drills targeting climbing movement and power endurance.
Mental Training for Climbing Professionals Workshop
- May 14 | 1:00pm - 5:00pm
- Instructor: Sevve Stember, The Warrior's Way
- This course takes gym employees through an experiential curriculum to develop resilience in their careers and learn to share the basics of mental training with others. This session teaches gym employees proper falling technique, coaching principles for youth teams and adult programming, how to define yes fall zones, a risk assessment protocol, and more.
