Glendale Middle Climbing Club

Goal: The goal of my club is to increase access for BIPOC Students in wilderness education programs, with a focus in the canyons of Utah for my students at Glendale Middle through the sport of rock climbing.

Glendale Middle school, located in the heart of central Salt Lake City, is 1.9 miles from The Front climbing gym, 20 miles from Gate Buttress boulders in Little Cottonwood Canyon, and 18 miles from Storm Mountain parking lot in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The Rock-Climbing Club would give students of color access to the mountains around them.

Our school is unique to Utah as it is a majority minority school: 91 % of the students are students of color and 89% qualify for free lunch. The ethnicity of our school is as follows: 66 % of the student population is Hispanic. 11% in Pacific Islanders. 8% Caucasian. 6% African American. 6 % Asian. 2% multi-ethnicity, and 1 % Native American Indian.

The majority of the 750 students who attend Glendale Middle have never explored the canyons of Utah in any capacity. The goals of the club are to spark an enjoyment of the outdoors, to explore the sport of rock climbing, and to teach participants to be stewards of the land while practicing the leave no trace philosophy.

I want to make climbing more inclusive by bringing more BIPOC students into this space, which has been traditionally occupied by white people. Climbing teaches the importance of being present while moving upward. Additionally, the students will learn problem-solving techniques, risk management skills, and how to push yourself outside of your comfort zone, all while enjoying the beauty of Utah and the great outdoors.

The money received will go towards: gym punch passes, crash pads, climbing shoes, chalk bags, harnesses, and ropes.