How to get skilled up, tooled up and clued up. We're sending out BMC membership cards to all BMC affiliated student club members along with these top five tips which we thought we'd share with you all...

1. Get the skills

First off there's the annual BMC Student Seminar, designed to give university club members the opportunity to improve their club practices and ensure safer enjoyment of our cliffs and mountains. Unfortunately as the event is so popular we have to limit it to two people per university club - make sure someone from your club attends!

WATCH: Find out what happens at the BMC Student Seminar on BMC TV

The BMC runs a popular range of alpine and winter lectures as well as climbing movement masterclasses. We also run a variety of seminars and courses nationwide throughout the year. Keep your eye out on the BMC website for event listings.

Here on the BMC website, there is a wealth of skills articles from how to go deepwater soloing and how to go hut to hut trekking in the Alps, to how to build a belay and how to spot a bad bolt, alternatively take a look at the BMC TV skills playlists.

Plas y Brenin delivers the Jonathan Conville Memorial Trust courses in Scotland during winter and the Alps during summer. A must for aspiring young mountaineers. Find out more about the Conville courses.

WATCH: Explore the Alps with the Conville Trust on BMC TV

2. Save when you shop

A BMC membership card will get you discounts in over 700 outdoor shops, and discounts with a whole host of accomodation, training and other companies including 10% off YHA bookings.

BMC members also save an average of 10% off the RRP in the BMC online shop.

You can find more money saving tips here.

If you're not already a BMC member, find out whether your university has a BMC affiliated club or join as an Individual (student) member for just £18.35.

3. Get connected

You can sign up for the BMC email newsletter, tune into BMC TV, find us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to keep up to date with news, events, offers, new publications and competitions.

Tweets by Team_BMC

Want more Summits? BMC members can access digital copies of the BMC's magazine for free on their tablet or smart phone by downloading our Summit app.

4. Watch where you climb

Not sure if you can climb there? The BMC access team does a great job of negotiating access to climbing areas with landowners. They have created the Regional Access Database (RAD), which is a great source of information from bird nesting restrictions and parking advice to sensitive approaches and advice on local ethics.

To make it even easier for you, there's a RAD smartphone app so that you can check for restrictions whilst on the go.

The access team has also put together the Green Guide to the Uplands. Download the guide here for free.

If you're involved in organising meets for your club you may also want to read our guidance information here.

5. Think about your future

If you fancy a career in the outdoors, Mountain Training offers a wide range of coaching, leading and instructing qualifications. The James Brownhill Memorial Fund provides bursaries to support university students wishing to undertake Mountain Training qualifications delivered by Plas y Brenin.

We want to say a big thanks to every BMC member who continues to support us through the Coronavirus crisis.

From weekly Facebook Lives and GB Climbing home training videos, to our access team working to re-open the crags and fight for your mountain access, we couldn’t do it without you.

Did you know that we've launched a U27 membership offer for just £1.50 / month? And with full membership from £2.50 / month, it's never been easier to join and support our work: 

https://www.thebmc.co.uk/join-the-bmc-for-1-month-U27-membership

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