Here are some resources about the AMC Boston Chapter’s ‘Programs’. We define a Program as a collection of instructional sessions and activities with the purpose of taking participant beginners into an intermediate level lasting more than a single day. Boston Chapter volunteers put a lot of effort into organizing and executing our historic programs and we take great pride in them!
- Spring Hiking Program – SHP is a program that teaches hikers with minimal spring and summer experience how to most safely hike in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Sign up typically begins in mid-October. Classes normally happen on Wednesday nights in Boston, MA. After that, there is an entire summer of single day hikes and weekend long cabin adventures! You can reach the program director at shp@hb.amcboston.org
- Winter Hiking Program – WHP is a program that teaches hikers with spring and summer experience how to most safely hike in the Winter in the White Mountains. Sign up typically begins in mid-October. Classes normally happen on Wednesday nights in Medford, MA. After that, there is an entire winter of single day hikes and weekend long cabin adventures! You can reach the program director at bob.mountain.whp@gmail.com.
- Winter Backpacking Program – Info coming soon.
- Rock Climbing Program – The ‘Rock Program’ is about rock climbing outdoors, in particular learning about the rope techniques and safety systems used in outdoor climbing. The program focus is on preparing students to be safe and capable followers for trad climbs, but we teach a variety of skills that are useful for other kinds of outdoor rock climbing, such setting up top-rope anchors, cleaning fixed anchors, and so on. Program takes place on weekends in April at Quincy Quarries, with application opening around February. For more info, visit https://www.amcbostonclimbers.com/rock-program. You can reach the Rock Program Program Directors at rock@amcbostonclimbers.com
- Ice Climbing Program – The traditional AMC Boston Chapter Mountaineering Committee’s annual ‘Ice Program’ is an immersive, 40-hour instructional program designed to teach waterfall ice climbing to students with outdoor, multipitch, rock climbing skills, and winter sports experience. We focus on techniques, practices, and equipment useful on the crags and mountains of New England as well as ice climbing areas worldwide. Applications are open Nov 10-Dec 10. See here for more info about dates and requirements: https://www.amcbostonclimbers.com/ice-program. You can reach the Ice Program Directors at ice@amcbostonclimbers.com.
By the way, for the history buffs out there, you can read a wonderful article about the history of the AMC Boston Ice Climbing Program written by Bill Atkinson at this link. - Sport Climbing Program – The Boston Chapter Mountaineering Committee Sport Program teaches skills that are foundational to sport climbing. Their focus is preparing students to become self-sufficient climbers at outdoor sport crags. Along with crag etiquette & experience, route reading, and gear info, you’ll also learn about lead climbing & belaying, anchor building & cleaning, and setting up top-ropes at sport crags. The program runs for two weeks in August, with a combination of in-person lectures in Boston, MA and weekend crag days in Rumney, NH. For more information, check out amcbostonclimbers.com/sport-program. You can reach the Sport Program Directors at sport@amcbostonclimbers.com