rcwild
03-24-2004, 10:16 PM
One of the goals of the American Canyoneering Association is to raise the technical and professional standards of canyoneering guides in the United States to an international level. The ACA believes that guides can play an important role within the canyoneering community by serving clients, providing education, helping to preserve the environment, building positive relationships with land managers and setting a good example for others to follow.
In support of our dual goals of (a) promoting a high level of professionalism among canyoneering guides and (b) serving the canyoneering community at large, we believe:
1. Professional canyoneering guides provide a valuable service for people with limited time and those who lack sufficient technical skills to safely go it alone.
2. All canyoneers will benefit from raising the technical and professional standards of canyoneering guides in the United States to an international level.
3. Guides should strive to educate their clients by providing technical instruction, teaching low-impact travel skills to preserve the environment, and by setting the example for competence, safety, responsibility and ethics.
4. Guides should strive to build strong positive relationships with land managers in order to (a) help canyoneers better understand the issues faced by land managers and (b) help communicate to land managers the needs and concerns of canyoneers.
5. Guides must recognize that many of the clients they introduce to a canyon will return with friends, who will return with more friends, and visitation will increase exponentially. Therefore, they should exercise judgment in determining which canyons are appropriate for guiding. The same applies to guide book authors and publishers of canyon beta web sites.
6. Guides should never hoard permits that would prevent, restrict or limit access to recreational canyoneers. Guides should avoid operating in popular areas where permits are issued on a limited basis.
7. Guides tend to be highly visible within the canyoneering community. Therefore, they should set a very high standard for themselves, knowing they are setting an example for others to follow.
In support of our dual goals of (a) promoting a high level of professionalism among canyoneering guides and (b) serving the canyoneering community at large, we believe:
1. Professional canyoneering guides provide a valuable service for people with limited time and those who lack sufficient technical skills to safely go it alone.
2. All canyoneers will benefit from raising the technical and professional standards of canyoneering guides in the United States to an international level.
3. Guides should strive to educate their clients by providing technical instruction, teaching low-impact travel skills to preserve the environment, and by setting the example for competence, safety, responsibility and ethics.
4. Guides should strive to build strong positive relationships with land managers in order to (a) help canyoneers better understand the issues faced by land managers and (b) help communicate to land managers the needs and concerns of canyoneers.
5. Guides must recognize that many of the clients they introduce to a canyon will return with friends, who will return with more friends, and visitation will increase exponentially. Therefore, they should exercise judgment in determining which canyons are appropriate for guiding. The same applies to guide book authors and publishers of canyon beta web sites.
6. Guides should never hoard permits that would prevent, restrict or limit access to recreational canyoneers. Guides should avoid operating in popular areas where permits are issued on a limited basis.
7. Guides tend to be highly visible within the canyoneering community. Therefore, they should set a very high standard for themselves, knowing they are setting an example for others to follow.