EY Indoor Climbing!

As the year 2021 comes to a close, we’ve been wrapping up our fall programming in a strong way with 3 weeks of back to back indoor climbing opportunities for nearly all of our partner programs! 

Throughout this school year so far we have been meeting weekly with West End House Boys & Girls Club in Allston, the James W. Hennigan school in Jamaica Plain and the Thomas J. Kenny school in Dorchester. We have also been working with the Boys & Girls Club of Dorchester and the Cambridge Parks Program on a regular basis. 

For all 5 of these groups we have been able to organize at least 2 indoor climbing trips, and for a few we've been able to do 3 or more trips per group which, on its own, is a huge logistical accomplishment (thank you very much to our program coordinator Cam Regan!) 

Another reason we are so stoked to have been able to organize so many repeating indoor climbing trips for these groups is because there is a lot to be said for recurring practice in the sport of climbing.

For a large majority of our students, these trips to the gym are the first time they ever try climbing, and anyone’s first day climbing always provides a steep learning curve (no way to ignore the perfect pun there). 

When students are able to then return to the same or similar climbs the following week they are really able to see and feel the inevitable progression they've made. And that is something that Elevate Youth aims to provide for kids as often as possible. Students building confidence in themselves through learning new and challenging nature oriented activities is one of the core purposes of why we do what we do. 

We're so happy we’ve been able to continue working with Rock Spot Climbing Gym to make these trips possible throughout this fall season. They have provided so many opportunities, indoors and out, to get as many kids climbing as possible. 

We have also partnered more recently and very successfully with Brooklyn Boulders Somerville (or better known within the climbing community as BKB). Their staff has been really great to work with and we’re looking forward to many more trips with them. 

As this chaotic year comes to a close we want to send lots of love and thanks to all of our partner organizations. We’re super grateful for the work and time they all put in to make these trips fun and memorable for everyone involved. 

We hope y’all enjoy the winter holidays!