Texas A&M Rec Sports has launched Outdoor Adventures’ Adaptive Climbing Clinics, a program designed to make rock climbing accessible to all at the Student Recreation Center’s Indoor Climbing Facility (ICF).

Adaptive sports modify the experience of an activity to match a person’s abilities through different equipment, tools, or other adjustments. Climbers already use sticky shoes and ropes to aid in climbing, and adaptive climbing introduces additional equipment or rigging to make the sport accessible to climbers who may not have thought it was possible.

The two-hour clinics offer a personalized adaptive climbing experience through one-on-one sessions with staff, tailored to each participant’s ability. Climbers define their own challenges and determine how they want to engage with the sport, resulting in a collaborative process to test a harness setting or rigging setup to retain the right amount of challenge.

Registration for six clinics is open now. Anyone interested can sign up on the Outdoor Adventures page on the Rec Sports website.

Student Inspired

The clinics started as an idea for Sierra Hill ‘24, a meteorology major who has experienced the benefits of adaptive sports firsthand. She shares how climbing has helped her with tasks such as writing for extended periods of time.

“Going into college, I was trying to figure out what works and what doesn’t,” Hill said. “I joined the climbing team because I loved climbing and wanted to try competing. Through my time on the team, I adapted practices on an individual level for myself, but I wanted a space where other people could try a sport without any judgment.”

Hill joined the climbing team in 2022 and served as vice president for the 2023-24 academic year, during which she founded the clinics.

“I spent my first year and a half getting acclimated and really focusing on honing my skills as a climber,” Hill said. “Then, my last year was spent giving back to the club as an officer and creating this wonderful space for [climbers with disabilities] through Adaptive Climbing Clinics.”

Hill brought her idea to Rec Sports through Sport Clubs Program Director Keith Joseph and Outdoor Adventures Program Director Todd Grier, who joined Hill to pilot the program.

“With adaptation, we are not taking away the challenge of climbing,” Hill said. “There is still a significant amount of physical and mental effort. We are just scaling it so that students can participate in a safe manner.”

“During the clinics, people seem to be enjoying climbing and the atmosphere,” Hill said. “A lot of people are in awe of how much they can do and are excited to keep coming back and improving.”

Hill also emphasizes the physical benefits of adaptive climbing, which can improve strength and endurance.

“There are so many benefits to physical activity for anybody,” Hill said. “It is a great way to reduce stress and get away from an academic environment. Additionally, climbing is a full-body sport, so it allows you to build up strength in both big and small muscles.”

Growing Adaptive Sports In Aggieland

Rec Sports isn’t the only Texas A&M initiative in adaptive sports. In April, the university hosted the U.S. Paralympics Cycling Road Open, welcoming elite athletes to the RELLIS Campus in Bryan. More than a quarter of the competitors were military veterans, many of whom suffered injuries during combat deployments.

Hill highlights that the program reflects Texas A&M’s Core Values.

“We foster respect, integrity, and excellence through climbing,” she said. “It brings adaptive sports to Rec Sports, which opens doors to many students on campus. Texas A&M University should be proud as an institution to have adaptive sports that aid in diversifying higher education, a matter that is critical as we grow together.”

Any climbers with current skills check or climbing memberships at the Indoor Climbing Facility are encouraged to reach out to Grier if they are interested in supporting or attending the clinics. Registration links below are intended for climbers who seek adaptations to the climbing experience.

To view the fall 2024 Adaptive Climbing Clinics schedule, visit the Rec Sports Outdoor Adventures page. For questions, contact, contact  Grier at tgrier@rec.tamu.edu or 979-862-1999.