The success of the AAC/CAM over the last 15+ years is due to the collective synergy of all it’s elements. First and foremost it is energised by the young climbers it serves – their response to opportunity and responsibility. It requires the trust of parents, for the club to develop their children’s potential, through adventure learning, with its assumed risks. The club’s volunteer team are drawn to it because they get back from the young climbers in spades what they give. The local climbing walls, the Indy and the Beacon, especially the Indy, Jon Ratcliffe and his team, allow the club to operate where young climbers are developed to manage their activity and associated risks. This is backed by TOP support, and coach education support that develops volunteer potential.
Ian Henderson, Bari Jones, Pete Edwards and Gaz Davies are the core of the club’s volunteers. The Indy is our home. Without them there is no AAC/CAM.
For my part, I simply strive to share my passion for climbing, communicate, and drive the club’s ethos, “climb like ninja’s and share your climbing,” that and “adventures are out there.” Paradoxically the club spends many hours “in there” but therein lies the development of the foundations for success “out there.” By this I don’t mean simply climbing adventures, it’s the attitude to face life challenges with inner confidence, self-esteem and efficacy.
Some life stories over the past 15 years
Aled Edwards, TOP’s first Anglesey Outdoor Development Officer, offered 2 taster sessions, at the Conway Centre’s climbing wall, to Year 9 Ysgol David Hughes. My son Joseph went to both sessions and I lent a hand. February 2006? Further sessions were arranged at the Indy Wall.
Tudur Owen took over the Anglesey ODO role and between us we got the AAC/CAM going. I was nominated Chairman, and have been ever since.
For many years I taught at Birmingham’s Ogwen Cottage and this ensured I could commit to regular Friday evenings for the club.
Other key volunteers, Ian and Bari, were soon on board and we were running 40+ sessions a year, mostly at the Indy, but the Beacon and outdoors too.
With support from Ogwen we offered club members summer weeks, one at Ogwen Cottage and several annual trips to Pembrokeshire. A number of members also got assisted places on courses at Plas y Brenin.
A few stories of shaping lifescripts:
Bari Jones – amateur climber and parent volunteer, now owner/operator of Ropeworks Active, Llanberis.
Jill Reinsch – Bangor University undergraduate, 5 years an AAC volunteer, Masters degree, teacher, MCI and now a Tutor at the Conway Centre.
Lewis Perrin-Williams – joined at 13, BTEC at Coleg Menai, bringing a bunch of students to volunteer. A leading climber in North Wales and BMC Youth Volunteer award.
Megan Bown – Coleg Menai volunteer at 16, now on the Glenmore Lodge Instructor Development Scheme.
Alis Jones – joined at 11yrs old, UK top 10 in the BMC Youth Climbing Series at 16. Just graduated from Harvard, and I’ve written her reference for the Civil Service fast track. Before she went to United World College, Hong Kong, at 17, we climbed A Dream of White Horses at Gogarth.
Pete Edwards – volunteered with the club when he was working in the stores at Plas y Brenin. One of the club’s key volunteers, now with a Masters degree in coaching performance and runs Prowess Coaching.
I guess it’s all about sharing a passion for climbing.
