ARISF sponsors UIAA Global Youth Summit camp in Guillestre, France

Emma, 17, celebrates ie climbing in Guillestre, France (Photo: FFCAM)

Sixteen young people from across Europe gathered in in Guillestre, France (8-14 February 2015) for the first ARISF sponsored International Youth Ice Climbing Camp organized by the French Alpine Club (FFCAM).

The youth from France, Germany, Switzerland and Belgium learned how to use different kinds of ice climbing equipment including ice screws, ice axes, crampons, and techniques to climb safely and try their hand at “dry tooling.”

Instructors from FFCAM included Camille Marot, a 22-year-old who is a member of the FFCAM national alpinism team.

A video of the camp including a guide to organising ice climbing training camps is being made by mountain guide Romain Wagner and will be released online this year.

Funding by ARISF allowed a reduced price for international participants.

The Global Youth Summit is a series of UIAA youth events where young mountaineers from around the world come together to climb, promote peace and cooperation between countries and work on the protection of the environment.

If a UIAA member federation is organising a youth event such as a climbing camp or an ascent of a mountain, a trek or an environmental event in your country, they are eligible to be part of the Global Youth Summit. The UIAA encouraged members to include certain themes and aims in the event programme, such as crag development, local ethics and traditions, improving individual performance, environmental awareness and climbing for peace.

The UIAA does not set restrictions for the events such as age limits or what kind of activities Federations should organise. However organizers of Youth Commission events  must follow our criteria and recommendations. The events should be open to youth from other countries, giving young people the opportunity to form friendships across borders.

Please click here for more information on these and other Global Youth Summit Events which take place throughout the year.