Over a period of 3 days, 16 training experts from the ERCA-certified training bodies, the master trainer team and five new aspirants got together. We would like to take this opportunity to wish the new aspirants a speedy and successful admission.

For all those who already knew each other, it was a joyful reunion. In this relaxed atmosphere, the representatives of the newly certified training bodies and the aspirants quickly felt welcome. It is great that everyone has been so energetic with great ideas, willingness to exchange knowledge and professional respectful cooperation in the work on our projects. A big thank you goes to everyone involved and to Angela (ERCA Training Manager) who made this meeting possible, who planned and led it.

The first part of the meeting focused on the further development and standardisation of the ERCA-certified train-the-trainer courses. The master trainer team worked hand in hand with the aspirants to optimise existing training modules and to harmonise them across countries. In the following weeks and months, the adapted training plans will be put to practical use when the trainers train the aspirants and the mutual exchange of knowledge is lived out live in the courses.

The second part of the programme focused on the training courses for ropes course instructors and rescuers, which are offered by the ERCA-certified training bodies. Assessment checklists were developed for the cross-national standardisation of exams. Furthermore, the new eLearning tool was introduced for use in the training courses.

In addition, a working group will revise the rescuer qualifications, rename them and add more details. Moreover, Henning and Georg will offer 2 pilot courses for trainers in construction of temporary high ropes courses. Another goal is to revise the syllabus in the area of adventure park and traditional instructor training.


Many thanks for the super exchange and the lively association work, as it should be (alphabetically by first name):
• Angela Matheußer, ERCA Training Manager
• Antony Reed, Zip World Ltd. (online, UK)
• Bernd Strobach, faszinatour GmbH (DE)
• Daniela große Sextro, Seilgarten Salzgitter gUG (DE)
• Dietmar Kübler, Rotfuchs (DE)
• Dominic Albert, Seilgarten Salzgitter gUG (DE)
• Eddy Young, Vertex Instructor Training Ltd. (UK)
• Emma Robson-Parrott, Technical Outdoor Solutions Ltd. (UK)
• Georg Schmitz, Delphi Trainergruppe GbR (DE)
• Henning Böhmer, KEJ e.V. (DE)
• Jim Bacon, Vertex Instructor Training Ltd. (UK)
• Jo McCarthy, Castlecomer Discovery Park (Gast, IE)
• Michaela Knotte , Natur Bewegt e.V. (DE)
• Paolo Fubini, Arrampica Ltd. (UK)
• Pit Bangerter, Ropetech GmbH (CH)
• Rick Jansen, Edurope (NL)
• Thomas Woesthoff, Seilschaft uG (DE)