Club Benefits
Being a member of the climbing club has some great perks which we encourage everyone to take full advantage of. Arguably, any one of these benefits alone is worth more than the club dues, and you can take advantage of all of them! This is clearly the best deal on campus! A membership in the club includes:
· Callout- Our climbing trip to Jackson Falls in southern Illinois (absolutely no experience required, for more info see the Callout page)
· Gear Rental- We have a large selection of gear including harnesses, helmets, ropes, quickdraws, traditional climbing gear, crash pads, and much more. This gear is available at no charge to members on a weekly basis. For a list of gear, check out the Club Gear page.
· Gear Discounts- The club has a gear order once a semester which can get you some serious deals on climbing gear.
· Networking- The club provides an easy and effective way to find climbing partners and resources.
· Social Events- Social events include the Reel Rock Film Tour (a film tour with world-class climbing videos), bar crawls, potlucks, and theme parties.
· Clinics- The club occasionally offers a clinic (at an additional cost) to teach certain climbing techniques to those interested. For the past few years, there has been a traditional climbing clinic once a year, but these are tentative, based on the availability of an instructor and interest from members.
Information on the club's membership can be found on the Get Involved page.
· Callout- Our climbing trip to Jackson Falls in southern Illinois (absolutely no experience required, for more info see the Callout page)
· Gear Rental- We have a large selection of gear including harnesses, helmets, ropes, quickdraws, traditional climbing gear, crash pads, and much more. This gear is available at no charge to members on a weekly basis. For a list of gear, check out the Club Gear page.
· Gear Discounts- The club has a gear order once a semester which can get you some serious deals on climbing gear.
· Networking- The club provides an easy and effective way to find climbing partners and resources.
· Social Events- Social events include the Reel Rock Film Tour (a film tour with world-class climbing videos), bar crawls, potlucks, and theme parties.
· Clinics- The club occasionally offers a clinic (at an additional cost) to teach certain climbing techniques to those interested. For the past few years, there has been a traditional climbing clinic once a year, but these are tentative, based on the availability of an instructor and interest from members.
Information on the club's membership can be found on the Get Involved page.
FAQ
Do I have to be a student to join?
No. Anyone is welcome to join the club, regardless of whether or not you are a student.
Do I have to have experience to join the club or go on callout?
Nope! Everyone has to start somewhere, and the club is a great first step if you want to get into climbing. The club is dedicated to getting new climbers interested in the sport and there is no need to worry about being judged. You’ll find a ton of club members who will be more than willing to give you tips and encouragement no matter what level you’re at.
Do I need to have a lot of upper body strength and be able to do a lot of pull-ups to climb?
Contrary to popular belief, proper climbing is very focused on using technique and leg strength. While upper body strength could be helpful in certain situations, becoming a good climber is much more about improving technique, balance, and knowledge.
Are there tryouts?
No way! The Climbing Club is not a team or competitive entity of any kind. It is simply a group for people who climb or who want to try climbing.
Is climbing dangerous?
Yes and no. Climbing is an inherently dangerous sport and there is always the possibility of something going wrong, possibly resulting in injury or even death (although this is quite rare). That being said, if proper safety measures are taken, climbing can be quite safe. The club is dedicated to teaching and encouraging the use of safe climbing practices so that you can climb with minimal risk.
Wait, you guys go climbing for real? Like, outside?
We sure do! There is an official club trip once a semester called Callout (for more info, see the Callout page) where anyone can experience outdoor climbing, regardless of experience level. Besides that, almost any weekend with nice weather you can probably expect to see someone from the club going on a climbing trip. The club is a great way to network with other members so you can go on your own climbing adventures!
So, do you ONLY climb outside, then?
No. Many members regularly climb at the ARC climbing wall or go to other indoor climbing gyms. In fact, many of the staff at the ARC wall are climbing club members. The ARC wall is a great place to train and meet fellow climbers of all levels.
Do I have to go to meetings?
Meeting attendance is not a requirement. It is good to note, however, that meetings allow you to help make your voice heard in the club as well as giving you an opportunity to meet people and catch up on club happenings, so they are a great thing to attend if you’ve got the time.
You guys seem sooooo cool and the club sounds like a ton of fun! How do I join?
Thanks, we try! In order to join the club, all you need to do is fill out our waiver and pay the annual $25 club dues. The club is aiming to digitize the collection of release forms and make transactions paperless, with more information on the Contact Us page. Otherwise, the easiest way to turn these in is at a meeting, but if that is not possible, other arrangements can be made. Another good option is to take a look at who the officers are and give the waiver/dues to one of them if you find them at the ARC climbing wall, since they often climb there. It is also encouraged, but not required, that you attend the first meeting of the year, since it is an informational meeting where you can learn about the club and get any questions answered that you might have.
How do I stay informed about upcoming events?
We send out announcements about major events, gear rental, discounted gear orders, and callout via email. You can join the mailing list here. Information about impromptu get-togethers, meeting reminders, and other informal activities are posted on our Facebook page.
No. Anyone is welcome to join the club, regardless of whether or not you are a student.
Do I have to have experience to join the club or go on callout?
Nope! Everyone has to start somewhere, and the club is a great first step if you want to get into climbing. The club is dedicated to getting new climbers interested in the sport and there is no need to worry about being judged. You’ll find a ton of club members who will be more than willing to give you tips and encouragement no matter what level you’re at.
Do I need to have a lot of upper body strength and be able to do a lot of pull-ups to climb?
Contrary to popular belief, proper climbing is very focused on using technique and leg strength. While upper body strength could be helpful in certain situations, becoming a good climber is much more about improving technique, balance, and knowledge.
Are there tryouts?
No way! The Climbing Club is not a team or competitive entity of any kind. It is simply a group for people who climb or who want to try climbing.
Is climbing dangerous?
Yes and no. Climbing is an inherently dangerous sport and there is always the possibility of something going wrong, possibly resulting in injury or even death (although this is quite rare). That being said, if proper safety measures are taken, climbing can be quite safe. The club is dedicated to teaching and encouraging the use of safe climbing practices so that you can climb with minimal risk.
Wait, you guys go climbing for real? Like, outside?
We sure do! There is an official club trip once a semester called Callout (for more info, see the Callout page) where anyone can experience outdoor climbing, regardless of experience level. Besides that, almost any weekend with nice weather you can probably expect to see someone from the club going on a climbing trip. The club is a great way to network with other members so you can go on your own climbing adventures!
So, do you ONLY climb outside, then?
No. Many members regularly climb at the ARC climbing wall or go to other indoor climbing gyms. In fact, many of the staff at the ARC wall are climbing club members. The ARC wall is a great place to train and meet fellow climbers of all levels.
Do I have to go to meetings?
Meeting attendance is not a requirement. It is good to note, however, that meetings allow you to help make your voice heard in the club as well as giving you an opportunity to meet people and catch up on club happenings, so they are a great thing to attend if you’ve got the time.
You guys seem sooooo cool and the club sounds like a ton of fun! How do I join?
Thanks, we try! In order to join the club, all you need to do is fill out our waiver and pay the annual $25 club dues. The club is aiming to digitize the collection of release forms and make transactions paperless, with more information on the Contact Us page. Otherwise, the easiest way to turn these in is at a meeting, but if that is not possible, other arrangements can be made. Another good option is to take a look at who the officers are and give the waiver/dues to one of them if you find them at the ARC climbing wall, since they often climb there. It is also encouraged, but not required, that you attend the first meeting of the year, since it is an informational meeting where you can learn about the club and get any questions answered that you might have.
How do I stay informed about upcoming events?
We send out announcements about major events, gear rental, discounted gear orders, and callout via email. You can join the mailing list here. Information about impromptu get-togethers, meeting reminders, and other informal activities are posted on our Facebook page.
Sponsors
We have been fortunate to have some great sponsors to help us provide prizes for some of our fundraising events. We would like to recognize the generosity of these fine companies (click on the logos for more info):
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