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Beginner Rock Climbing (Day Camp) - Session 1 (Grades 6-12): June 23-27, 2025

Climbing & Youth Program

Beginner Rock Climbing (Day Camp)

In this course, you will learn about outdoor safety, climbing equipment, knot tying, belaying and rappelling, and will experience this all in a small, supportive environment facilitated by highly skilled instructors.

Contacts

Placeholder Contact Profile
Alec Backhus
Leader
Placeholder Contact Profile
Hana Hamilton
Leader
Take your summer to new heights with Outdoor Rock Climbing!  This program is tailored for participants with little to no rock-climbing experience. In this course, you will learn about outdoor safety, climbing equipment, knot tying, belaying and rappelling, and will experience this all in a small, supportive environment facilitated by highly skilled instructors. We’ll start the week learning essential climbing skills, such as safety checks, belaying, and knot tying. After mastering these basics, the next four days will be spent honing skills at various climbing sites around the Front Range. There, you will be taught about outdoor climbing safety and etiquette, Leave No Trace wilderness ethics, practice rappelling, and learn techniques for various types of rock climbing. Spend a week challenging yourself with a new skill, making new friends, and exploring some of the beautiful parts of Colorado’s Front Range! Youth who participate in this course will gain the skills and confidence to join our advanced climbing courses.

  • Age: For youth going into grades 6th-12th

  • Dates: June 23-27, 2025

  • Location: Each day, we will meet and start our day at Rooney Ranch Elementary at 2200 S Coors St, Lakewood, CO 80228. This is a week-long day camp. We will depart daily from Rooney Ranch Elementary. Transportation from Rooney Ranch to offsite locations in the front range is provided.

  • Cost: CMC Family Members - $635/week, Non-Members - $685/week. CMC Members with a Family Membership receive $50 off. Learn about all the benefits of becoming a CMC member. 

  • Please note, if you have an individual membership and wish to sign up your child, you will need to create a separate guest account with a different email. You can also choose to upgrade your individual membership to a family membership to be able to register your child on your account and receive the discount.

  • Course fees include instruction, shared group gear (ex: ropes), harnesses, helmets, shoes, transportation from the Rooney Ranch Elementary to/from the trailheads, snacks, and backcountry permits.

  • AT CMC, WE BELIEVE THE OUTDOORS ARE FOR ALL. If you need financial assistance for our camps, click here to apply! If you would like to set up a payment plan to finance your next adventure, email us at youth@cmc.org.

  • Refund/cancellation policy: After registering, you will receive a confirmation email with more details and information about the camp. If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact us!
Program Requirements

This program has no scheduled activities.

Roster
Required Equipment

CMC Will Provide the Following:

  • Snacks
  • Medical/First Aid Kits
  • Safety Equipment (GPS devices, etc.)
  • Climbing Gear – harnesses, shoes, helmets, ropes, belay devices, etc.***
  • Permits, maps, guidebooks

Participant Packing List:
If you are unable to bring any of the items below, please let us know. CMC does have a few extra items that we are happy to loan out for the week.

  • Clothes (comfortable clothing for climbing and hiking):
    o Loose fitting pants or shorts
    o T-shirts and a long sleeve shirt
    o Closed-toe, sturdy hiking shoes
    o Sweater and/or warm layer
    o Rain jacket
    o Brimmed hat
    o Sunglasses
    o Warm hat and gloves (for hiking trips)
    o Bandana or buff
  • Mask (optional)
  • Bug spray (must be labeled with child's name)
  • Sunscreen and lip balm (must be labeled with child's name)
  • Water bottle (at least 1 liter)
  • Lunch and snacks (in a sack)
  • Backpack large enough to carry all personal essentials for a day hike/climb
  • Personal medications (inhaler, EPI pen, etc.) – please have all containers and
    bottles labeled and also listed on the medical form
  • Journal, pencil, pen, books (optional)
  • Camera (optional)
    **Cell phones, gaming devices, tablets, and iPods are NOT allowed on this course.

***Participants are allowed to bring their personal climbing gear – harnesses, shoes,
helmets, etc. Please note this is optional. (CMC instructors will inspect all personal
gear/equipment before use).

Program Materials

You must register for this program to see program materials.