2026 Mentor Application Form: Rock On Collective

Rock On Collective (ROC) is now accepting applications to the 2026 climbing mentorship program. The program takes place in Okanagan, BC and is running May - October, 2026. Through peer-to-peer learning, this program aims to cultivate a space of belonging, respect and community where we engage with each other, the sport, and the land in a reciprocal way. All climbers, experienced and aspiring, gain technical skills, knowledge and confidence in an environment that promotes safety and mutual support. Our mentorship program is for people who are committed to growth and skill development and is offered to all equity-deserving genders. This includes people who identify as Two-Spirit, nonbinary, transgender, agender, genderqueer, genderfluid, other gender minorities, as well as women. Please make sure you have read and understood the program structure and time commitment (at least 1 outing/month with your group) to participate. Find helpful items on our website such as: ROC Program Info page, FAQ, Application Guide. To learn more about Rock On Collective as a whole, please see our website. Last day to fill out this application form is March 31st, 2026 at 11:59 pm. If you have any questions or need assistance with your application, please feel free to send an email to info@rockoncollective.com, or send us a DM on Instagram @rock.on.collective or Facebook @rockoncollective - we would love to hear from you! Collection Notice: The personal information is collected under the authority of the British Columbia Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA). Personal information is collected for the purposes of administering rock climbing programs and collecting statistics for impact reports. If you have any questions about the collection of personal information, please contact us.

What is your preferred name? (First and Last- legal name not required) *

Pronouns *

Email *

Please enter your primary email address. We will be sending out important information over email on a regular basis if accepted. Please ensure you are checking this email to keep up to date with program events and information. You will not receive marketing emails.

Date of birth? (Month-Date-Year) *

Participants must be 19 years of age by the start of program (May).

UTC

Did you apply for the 2025 Rock On Collective mentorship program? *

Yes

Have you attended any other ROC programming (community courses or community events)? *

Yes

What's your primary phone number? *

In what city will you be located during this program: May-October 2026 *

Do you have a car or other way to get yourself to/from climbing meet-ups? *

Yes, all the time

Sometimes

Never

What has motivated you to apply to Rock On Collective (ROC) as a Mentor? *

All participants must commit at least 1 outing per month with their mentorship group (May to October). This does not include optional workshops or social climbs organized by Rock On Collective. Do you commit to this? *

I commit to this

I can't commit to this (explain in next question)

Explain previous question if required.

Please Self- Describe in regards to your racial and ethnic identity *

We strive to make climbing accessible to people facing systemic barriers and to have an anti-racist and anti-oppressive approach to our program design. By understanding the social identities of our participants, we can better design inclusive programs that are relevant for all. However, we understand that some people may not want to reveal their identities and that is totally OK - if so, just write "I rather not say."

Do you identify as a member of any of the following equity-denied groups? *

Select all that apply. We strive to make climbing accessible to people who are faced with structural barriers and to have an anti-racist and anti-oppressive approach to our program design. By understanding the social identities of the participants, we can better design inclusive programs that are relevant for all. That being said, we understand that some people may not want/feel safe to reveal their identities and that is totally OK - if so, just choose "I rather not say."

2 Spirit, Trans or Gender-diverse

Woman

2SLGBTQIA+

Racialized identity (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour)

Indigenous or Métis identity

Immigrant, refugee or newcomer to Canada

Person with disability

Neurodiverse

Low income

I rather not say

Do you experience other barriers to participate in climbing that you would like us to know about? (e.g history of trauma, chronic illness, weight, mental illness, etc.)

Tell us a bit about yourself. *

Interest/background/anything else you'd like to share! Recommended 1-3 sentences. Returning mentors can write "refer to last year."

Do you hold previous knowledge about gender-inclusive language (e.g. they/them, etc.) or gender diverse experiences? *

Rock On Collective has a gender-inclusive focus and works with many people who identify outside of the gender binary (e.g. non-binary, gender queer, trans, etc.). All participants are expected to never make assumptions, and be prepared to learn and grow. If you don't have experience with this, but are willing to learn, please explain that and do your homework on pronouns, inclusive spaces and being an ally before arriving. We expect people to make mistakes (we all do!), but to rock with us you need to be willing to accept and learn from those mistakes.

How many years of climbing experience do you have? Specify indoor/outdoor/sport/bouldering/other *

If you're new to climbing, apply as a mentee.

How often do you climb? Indoor/outdoor? *

What grades do you usually climb comfortably outdoors? Specify if leading or top-rope. *

This doesn't affect your ability to be a Mentor!

How comfortable are you doing the following outdoor climbing skill: Top-rope climbing *

How comfortable are you doing the following outdoor climbing skill: Top-rope belaying *

How comfortable are you doing the following outdoor climbing skill: Sport lead climbing *

How comfortable are you doing the following outdoor climbing skill: Trad lead climbing *

How comfortable are you doing the following outdoor climbing skill: Lead belaying including catching falls *

How comfortable are you doing the following outdoor climbing skill: Setting up a redundant top rope anchor *

How comfortable are you doing the following outdoor climbing skill: Cleaning a top rope anchor *

How comfortable are you doing the following outdoor climbing skill: Rappelling *

How comfortable are you doing the following outdoor climbing skill: Multi-pitch systems *

How comfortable are you doing the following outdoor climbing skill: Bouldering safety *

Do you have any specific goals for this climbing season? What are some skills that you would like to learn or develop? *

This doesn't have to be technical skills, but could include leadership/mental/social/other.

What does safety and ethics mean to you in regards to climbing (and/or other outdoor environments)? How will you promote safety and ethics for yourself and others? *

Returning Mentors can include anything new they've learned.

What is important to you when being grouped with other mentors and mentees for you to feel safety and belonging? *

E.g. being grouped with people of similar identities, anything that makes you feel empowered.

Describe how you plan to create a foundation of trust & create psychological and physical safety with your fellow mentees and mentors, both before you head out to climb and throughout the season. *

Returning Mentees are encouraged to include anything new they learned last season.

What discipline(s) of climbing do you feel comfortable to mentor in? *

Select all that apply

Top-roping

Sport Lead Climbing

Trad Climbing

Sport Multi-pitch Climbing(intermediate skills required)

Bouldering

What experience level do you prefer your mentee be? *

Select all that apply. - Never-ever: Someone who's never climbed before or started very recently (learning climbing basics, belaying and top-roping) - Outdoor beginner: Someone who's bouldered indoors before (learning to belay, may progress through beginner skills quicker) - Intermediate: Someone who is moderately experienced in the sport (comfortable with gear & top-roping, and looking to advance certain aspects of their climbing- i.e learning to lead, clean, multi-pitch, etc.) - Advanced: Someone who is experienced in the sport and is looking to push themselves climbing in difficult terrain (i.e climbing 5.10+ or harder, progressing multi-pitch & trad skills)

Never-ever

Outdoor beginner

Intermediate

Advanced

What type of mentorship configuration would you prefer? *

Note that we can't guarantee everyone's preferences will be met.

Small-group (2 Mentors, 2-3 Mentees)

1-on-1

No preference

Do you have any lived experience supporting people with the following experiences? Select all that your answer is "yes".

We ask this because we want to do our best to pair folks, who in other settings may be stigmatized, with mentors who feel comfortable and able to support their learning styles or life experiences with love and understanding.

Mental illness (anxiety, depression, etc.)

Neurodivergence

People with a history of trauma

People with substance abuse issues (only select if you can support without judgement)

Chronic illness

People living with physical disability

PEERs (people excluded due to their ethnicity or race, also referred to as BIPOC)