Milwaukee Recreation is thrilled to announce the inaugural season of the Rock Climbing Club! Age-eligible young people are invited to try a new adventure and build new friendships this year alongside like-minded peers and qualified coaches.
Read more below to find additional details about this new opportunity.
Who is eligible to participate?
Milwaukee Recreation's Rock Climbing Club is open to all city of Milwaukee residents, including both MPS and non-MPS students. Participants must be of high school age and currently enrolled in high school, and cannot attend a school that already has a designated team within the Wisconsin High School Climbing League (WHSCL).
How do I register?
Register online here.
During the 2024-25 school year, three rock climbing sessions are available:
- Fall: Oct. 2 - Oct. 31 ($35)
- Winter: Nov. 1 - Jan. 31 ($105)
- Spring: Feb. 3 - April 30 ($105)
Participants can register for all three sessions at once, or just one at a time (please use the registration link above). Please note: participants must be registered by the first day of each session to participate in that specific session.
Registration for any session of the Rock Climbing Club includes the following benefits:
- A full membership to Adventure Rock during the time period of the session(s).
- An opportunity to practice with the coach(es) and team(s) of your choice.
- Discounted registration fee for WHSCL competitions ($10 instead of $30).
- Access to three facilities and fitness and yoga classes.
Practice Opportunities
Rock Climbing Club participants are invited and are welcome to practice at either location on any day of the week. Participants can also attend multiple practices each week. Please note: WHSCL rules state that participants must compete on behalf of the high school they attend (a student can be the only individual to represent their high school in competitions).
Three MPS high schools have existing rock climbing teams with coaches that have a designated practice date and location, but all participants are welcome to join any practice.
Mondays
- Coaches: Tory Kress, Hannah Murphy, Vicente Delgado (Rufus King)
- Practice Day: Mondays, November 2024 - April 2025
- Practice Time: 7-9 p.m.
- Home Gym: Adventure Rock - Milwaukee (2220 N. Commerce St.)
Thursdays
- Coach: Matthew Sanders (Reagan)
- Practice Day: Thursdays, October 2024 - April 2025
- Practice Time: 6-8 p.m.
- Home Gym: Adventure Rock - Walker’s Point (613 S. 2nd St.)
Fridays
- Coach: Hunter Resler (MSL)
- Practice Day: Fridays, October 2024 - April 2025
- Practice Time: 6-8 p.m.
- Home Gym: Adventure Rock - Walker’s Point (613 S. 2nd St.)
Locations
Practices will typically be held at the home gym locations listed above. Please note that coaches may choose to occasionally hold practice at a different location. Stay in touch with your coach to make sure you know where practice will take place each week.
Adventure Rock Milwaukee features both ropes climbing and bouldering. Adventure Rock Walker’s Point is a bouldering-only gym.
Gear
Indoor rock climbing requires a few pieces of basic gear including climbing shoes (for bouldering, auto-belay climbing, and top rope climbing), a harness (for auto-belay and top rope climbing), and a belay device (for top rope climbing). Gear is not included in registration, but can be rented from Adventure Rock on a daily ($6) or monthly ($25) basis. Alternatively, participants may consider purchasing their own equipment from local retailers or online.
If you plan on renting equipment through Adventure Rock, please use one of these links (Adventure Rock Walker's Point rentals and Adventure Rock Milwaukee rentals).
Competitions
Rock Climbing Club members are encouraged, but not required, to participate in competitions hosted by the Wisconsin High School Climbing League (WHSCL). A schedule of these events is available online and will be discussed in further detail during practices.
Support the Program
Are you interested in supporting the club via a donation? Milwaukee Recreation relies on donations and fundraising to keep the club running, which lowers student fees so everyone can participate in the program. If you are interested in a monetary donation or you want to donate old equipment, we are certainly able to work with you.
Please email Matt Goodwin at Matt [at] mkerec.net to discuss how your donation can help the team. All donations are tax deductible.
To submit a monetary donation, please make a check out to Milwaukee Recreation with the Rock Climbing Club in the check memo. Mail to: Milwaukee Recreation Rock Climbing Club, 5225 W. Vliet St. Rm. 56, Milwaukee, WI 53208. You can also donate via credit card; to do so, please call our office at 414-475-8812.