2024 CMC Leadership Survey Results Are In!

On January 29th, the Adult Education team sent a Leadership Survey to about 160 leaders with the Colorado Mountain Club. Of that group we received 32 responses (20% response rate).  

We received responses from 9 Groups across the State which included: Denver, Western Slope Group, Pikes Peak Group, Boulder Group, El Pueblo, Roaring Fork, Gore Range, Friends of CO, Northern Colorado. 

Almost 70% of respondents are 60+ years old. 6% are under the age of 30 years old.  

Of those who responded, our volunteer leadership is 60% male and 40% female. 

Of those who responded, the majority of our volunteer leaders identify as White or Caucasian.

Our volunteer leaders have been members of the Club for many years. The average number of years per respondent was 19.  

The majority of leaders are part of the Colorado Mountain Club because of the people. 24 of the 32 responses referenced meeting like-minded people who were interested in the outdoors.  

“A real member knows that CMC is much more than a "hiking club". Those that argue about membership dues increases have misplaced thinking. CMC dues are more of a donation to the "Church of the Rockies" from those who are true mountaineers. The Sierra Club gets that message out to environmentalists. Why not CMC?” 

“I've enjoyed meeting new people who share my love for hiking and backpacking, as well as the hiking and backpacking. Many of the people I have met are older and have wonderful stories to tell. I do also enjoy the courses offered.” 

What are the biggest concerns you have about the Colorado Mountain Club: 

1. Financial issues (4) 
2. Organizational structure – Central office and outlying Groups (4) 
3. Staff turnover 
4. Permits 
5. Sustainability related to age demographics (7) 

“Modernization and public reputation. I think CMC has always wrestled with teaching traditional techniques vs modern best practices, and it often ends up being an awkward or even dysfunctional marriage of the two. I think it is critical to the future of the Club to teach current best practices and make data-based decisions, with consult from guides, about what and how to teach. For example, having a trad course that tells students that cams are unnecessary can result in new trad leaders tackling multis on all hexes and tricams, epic-ing on classic or busy routes, and when people find out they were CMC people, that gives the club a bad reputation. I believe Mountain Clubs and Alpine Clubs play a critical role in communities all over the world, helping to broaden public access and education. The health of the Club has a direct relationship to the health of our community and our local living landscape. And perhaps the best thing we can do for the health of the Club is to make our instruction evidence-based and practical, teaching first the method that is most likely to work safely. All other methods should come second.” 

What should the focus of the Club be for Courses and Education?  

1. Increase marketing (2) 
2. Decrease pricing as much as possible (1) 
3. More CMC employee participation on trips 
4. More support for Schools and Staff 
5. Increase communication (2) 
6. Modernization (2)  
7. Engage youth and younger participants (2) 

What should the focus of the Club be for Trips? 

1. Liability protection 
2. Survey membership about what types of trips they want 
3. More trips  
4. More communication with Trip Leaders 
5. Diversity of trip leaders 
6. Fix cancellation issues for trips. Too many!

On a scale of 1-10 how would you rate the training available to you through the Club? 

Which trainings have you enjoyed the most? 

• DEI 
• AIARE (4) 
• Avalanched Education (1)  
• Alpine Scrambling Course (2) 
• All of them!  
• ACS (4) 
• WTS (1)  
• WFR (2)  

On a scale of 1-10, how supported do you feel as a School Director, Section Leader or general member of the CMC? 

How responsive is CMC to your needs and concerns as a School Director, Trip Leader or Section Leader? 

Do you receive The Lead?  

Do you attend the Monthly School Directors Call? 

Do you attend the bi-annual Leadership Summit? 

Is there a need for additional marketing for your School or Section? 

 If permits are required for your School or Section, is the process clear?

How do you recognize leadership?

Is there anything else you would like to share about your school or experience as a CMC leader? Feedback for CMC state office staff? 

Appreciate all the staff does to support a wide variety of trip leaders and instructors across a wide number of tools and systems to manage the members and its offerings. Hoping Salesforce reports become easier to request and receive. I know it will take time. 

It has been a rough couple of years for the club; COVID; CMC website transition; State personnel Turnover; Changing requirements related to Trip Leaders; etc.; we have lost some instructors and trip leaders due to the above issues. I think the club is going in the right direction and appreciate the work form CMC Golden; I hope we can minimize additional significant changes and focus on providing outdoor training; education and trips. 

It seems that the remote groups away from the front range do not have the same education opportunities as the front range folks. Also the process for auto-renewal as a BPX leader is extremely time-consuming and tedious. On a positive note, the office support staff has been super responsive and helpful when I have an issue! 

Thank you to all who completed our annual survey. Your feedback is truly valued and helps us improve. As for other CMC Leaders that want to share their voice, it's not too late! We want to hear from you! You can find the survey here: https://forms.gle/sQ3w9zfjiJKxMoi87

For a copy of the full survey results, please contact CMC Education Director - Graham Ottley (graham@cmc.org).