Educational Skills: We're not just good guides, we're good teachers too! Our guides have over a hundred years of combined teaching experience.

A perfect highlight to a group experience!

Acadia Mountain Guides offers economical half day, full day, or multi-day programs to organizations that wish to incorporate climbing into their group's activities. All courses provide the basic skills necessary for climbing. Guided by skilled instructors, we encourage participants to experience varied aspects of climbing including movement, belaying, and rappelling as well as teamwork. We provide the safest, most enjoyable learning experience that one can have in the mountains!

LEADERSHIP & SAFETY
Acadia Mountain Guides is committed to providing safe, state-of-the-art instruction and guiding that maximizes the group's experience and minimizes risk and environmental impact. The owners of Acadia Mountain Guides have over fifty years of combined climbing experience and over thirty five years of guiding experience in addition to an extensive education in mountain guiding, outdoor leadership training and wilderness rescue. Beyond an extensive personal climbing resume, senior guide Jon Tierney has been instrumental in helping to set the direction for mountain guiding and wilderness medicine. He is one of a handful of certified guides in the U.S and is a paramedic specializing in backcountry rescue. Jon recently developed a top rope instructor training program for the American Mountain Guides Association that has become the national standard. We are leaders in the sport who climb and teach year-round whether it be on rock or ice, in the backcountry, or on high alpine peaks.

Acadia Mountain Guides Climbing School has been accredited since its inception by the American Mountain Guides Association and employs several AMGA certified guides. Additionally, all guides have participated in extensive internal and external guide training, wilderness medical and technical rescue training, and peer reviews. All of our guides are at least Wilderness First Responders with many being trained as wilderness EMT's. Finally, our guides must serve an apprenticeship during which they are observed and coached on technical, interpersonal, and group management issues. We believe we can offer your group the best climbing instruction available in Maine and possibly New England. Our specialties are large group rock climbing instruction and small group guided climbs. Choosing to climb with Acadia Mountain Guides allows your group to integrate climbing programs into trips without the liability, training and financial commitment of running your own climbing program.

SETTING UP A COURSE
If you would like to set up a group course please contact us as far in advance as possible to discuss your proposed dates, goals and how we can customize your group's experience. The price is usually 60$ per person for a full day, with a 250$ minimum. Call us for prices for multi-activity and other types of courses.

WHAT'S EXPECTED OF YOU
We require that your organization provide transportation to and from the climbing site for group members and have at least one chaperone per six participants. Each participant must also fill out a medical and waiver form prior to participation. Participants under the age of eighteen must have these forms signed in advance by a parent or guardian.

CANCELLATIONS
If there is substantial precipitation the day before or the day of your course please call our office. In some circumstances, courses may be cancelled due to wet or rainy conditions at the cliff. If we feel that the weather will disrupt a safe and supportive learning environment then we will cancel the course and attempt to reschedule. If we cannot fit you in during the remainder of your stay then your deposit will be fully refunded. If your organization chooses to cancel a course for any other reason, then the deposit remains non-refundable. No refunds will be made in anticipation of inclement weather.

SUGGESTED EQUIPMENT
We ask that participants bring hiking shoes or sneakers (we discourage sandals) for the approach and wear comfortable pants or shorts and a shirt that provide freedom of movement. Extra clothes should be available as coastal weather frequently changes. An ample lunch and water should be brought. We can arrange a boxed lunch if you prefer. Sunscreen and insect repellent may be useful. All technical equipment and climbing shoes are provided.

SHOP DISCOUNTS / OTHER SERVICES:
All participants receive a discount coupon for 10% off store purchases following guiding or instruction. Through a cooperative with other outfitters in ME, NH, and VT we provide assistance in setting up multiple activities and can offer you a discount on them.

LOCATIONS AND PERMITS
All instructional climbing activities in Acadia National Park require a permit and fee. Acadia Mountain Guides holds all required permits, land use agreements, and is fully insured for guiding in Acadia as well as the following locations. You can come to us or we can come to one of these locations nearest you.