Sports Studies, Recreation and Athletics (SSRA) Climbing Classes

Kids’ Classes

Kids 6-12 years old will have the opportunity for a fun introduction to climbing through basic coaching and games! A class is held at the beginning of each semester.

• Registration: closed
• When: 4 sessions on Fridays from 3:30—5 p.m.
• Pricing: $88-child*

The next kids' class will be held Fall 2025.

Contact Climbing Center Manager, Kenzie Bay, at baym@whitman.edu and Owen Buckley at buckleyo@whitman.edu for current information and questions

Private Lessons

Offered at any time for kids or adults.

• Instruction: 1 to 4 people**, tailored to their individual skills and goals, 1-hour session.
• Pricing: $25 for the first person per hour; $15 for each additional person** per hour.

* Includes gear and entrance ** Max 6 people (4 is recommended)

Contact Climbing Center Manager, Kenzie Bay, at baym@whitman.edu and Owen Buckley at buckleyo@whitman.edu to set up a private lesson.

Sports Studies, Recreation and Athletics (SSRA) Climbing Classes

Whitman offers a number of courses through the SSRA (Sports Studies, Recreation and Athletics):

*Reference course catalog to see fees

137 Beginning Indoor Rock Climbing (Fee - no trip required)

138 Rock Climbing (Fee - trip required)

226 Glacier Mountaineering (Fee - trips required)

237 Intermediate Indoor Rock Climbing (Fee - no trip required)

238 Intermediate Rock Climbing (Fee - trip required)

300 Outdoor Sport Climber (Fee - trips required)
The following climbing-related courses are offered less frequently and count for the number of academic credits indicated:

248 Climbing Wall Instructor
This course provides instructors and potential instructors with an in-depth and standardized understanding of the skills essential to teaching climbing in an indoor setting. It is the first step in a sequential approach to professional climbing instructor development. The course reinforces the importance of teaching technically accurate information and debunks many common climbing myths. The course emphasizes the presentation of sound fundamental skills to climbing gym participants, the use of deliberate and effective instructional methods, the formation of risk assessment and risk management skills and basic problem-solving skills such as belay transitions and on-wall coaching and assist techniques. Participants will be assessed on both their core knowledge and their ability to effectively teach and coach related skills. Graded credit/no credit. [Fee]

265 Climbing Movement and Technique 
This course is intended for current climbers interested in improving their movement skills and technique. This course will have a heavy bouldering and movement emphasis but will do some roped climbing as well. Attention will be given to both footwork and hand and arm techniques. Advanced movement skills such as crack climbing, off-width technique, knee bars, drop knee, flagging, monkey hangs, and much, much more will be covered along with taping and injury prevention techniques. Graded credit/no credit. Prerequisite: SSRA 137, 138, 237, 238, or 248, or instructor consent. [Fee]

267 Route Setting for Climbing
This course is intended for climbers interested in learning how to do effective route setting. There is a lot to good route setting and this course will cover risk management and safety concerns with route setting along with artistic elements. This course will have a heavy bouldering route setting emphasis but will cover how to do vertical route setting as well. Attention will be given to route setting so as to reduce the likelihood of athletic injuries and overuse injuries. Hold types, frequency and locations for holds to reduce and prevent certain common overuse or athletic climbing injuries with be covered. Graded credit/no credit. [Fee]

268 Traditional Climbing
Traditional (or trad) climbing, is a style of rock climbing in which a climber or group of climbers place all gear required to protect against falls, and remove it when a pitch is complete. This course is intended to teach students how to place trad gear, build trad anchors and lead climb while placing that gear. Prerequisites: SSRA 237 or 238 or 248 or consent of instructor. [Fee]

300 Outdoor Sport Climber
This course is intended to build upon the skills developed in the Intermediate climbing class and prepare students to lead climb single pitch bolted sport routes outdoors. Anchor building, cleaning & rappelling, with a variety of techniques and materials will be covered. Site and equipment considerations, risk management and additional lead climbing techniques will be covered. This course includes three field trips (April 4, 19, and 25 2025). Graded credit/no credit. Prerequisite: SSRA-237, 238, or 248; or instructor consent.

338 Improvised Rock Rescue Systems 
This course is designed to train skilled lead climbers in improvised self-rescue systems for technical rock climbing. It is useful for both single-pitch and multi-pitch climbers. It is especially useful for instructors and advanced climbers to help them both analyze and mitigate potential hazards and problems. It also will enable them to initiate self-rescue through a variety of tried and true systems that can be combined and used in various ways. Ascension systems, escaping the belay, passing a knot, lowering systems, raising systems, counterbalance rappels, assisted rappels and other rescue concepts will be covered. Prerequisites: SSRA 238 or 387 or consent of instructor. [Fee]

387 Advanced Climbing: Single Pitch Instructor Course 
This course is designed for strong climbers interested in becoming climbing instructors and managing an institutional single-pitch climbing site. Emphasis will be on developing an awareness of liability concerns and how to mitigate risk. Topics that will be covered include movement on rock, knots and rope systems, anchors, protection placement, rappelling, belaying, lead climbing, following, single-pitch rescue techniques, teaching techniques, route setting and climbing wall management. Prerequisite: consent of instructor. [Fee]