The UCSB Adventure Programs Climbing Staff invites you to join them for the opportunity to learn how to climb and enjoy all the excitement that rock climbing has to offer. We offer a comprehensive and progressive climbing program. Our series of classes will keep you challenged as your skills improve. The number one prerequisite for enrolling in our classes is your desire to learn and have fun!
Quarterly Offerings
Climbing For Fitness
This class is designed for those wanting an unusual alternative for a full body workout or simply needing to gain strength and endurance for rock climbing. If you find yourself bored with the same old workout or struggling to get into the gym and stay motivated, this class could be your answer. Climbing is an unconventional and fun way to get exercise that even satisfies a need for adventure! Build forearm, bicep, back, abdominal, and leg strength and learn why experts recommend climbing as a way to target multiple muscle groups at the same time.
Top Rope Belay Clinic
In this clinic, you will learn the basic principles of belaying for indoor or outdoor climbing. The goal is to prepare participants for the belay test required for top rope use in the Climbing Center and other gyms. More specifically, you will learn how to belay using the “BUS” system, manage slack in the rope, catch a climber’s fall, how to tie a figure eight knot, and proper communication skills in rock climbing.
Lead Climbing Clinic
On lead, it is your sole responsibility to bring the rope to the top and protect yourself along the way. This 3-hour clinic teaches proper techniques for clipping into pieces of protection, falling and belaying a lead climber. It also includes an hour of follow-up practice with a qualified staff member. Come test your body and mind by climbing without the security of a top rope and see what it's like to be on the sharp end of a rope…
Prerequisite- Pass an Adventure Climbing Center Belay Check before you sign up. You should be very comfortable with top rope belaying.
Lead Clinic 2 - Outdoor Sport Techniques
Prerequisite: Lead I or Adventure Climbing Center Lead Certification. To teach the basic principles of outdoor lead climbing in a controlled gym environment with an acceptable level of risk. To make climbers competent and confident enough in both setting up a bolted anchor and rappelling or lowering from a climb under various scenarios that might be encountered in an outdoor setting. This course will give you the building blocks to take your lead climbing skills from the gym to the crag.
Outdoor Rock Climbing - Level 1
This is your introduction to rock climbing. The class focuses on the fundamentals of climbing. You will be instructed in knot tying, basic movement techniques, belaying, rappelling and basic climbing equipment. We start the class in our indoor climbing facility during the evening session. The full day lab takes place at one of the local climbing areas in the mountains behind Santa Barbara.
The fee includes instruction, climbing equipment and climbing shoes. Transportation is by carpool. This class has a maximum enrollment of eight.
Outdoor Rock Climbing - Level 2 - Intro to Anchor Building
Prerequisite: Rock I or equivalent and passed belay test at the Adventure Climbing Center. Recommended several months of climbing experience. This class is an introduction to Top Rope Anchor Systems designed to introduce you to the technical side of climbing outdoors. This class focuses your attention towards understanding top rope systems, belay systems, anchor construction and climbing techniques. Students often repeat this class so they can master the many skills involved. The class will meet in our indoor climbing facility for the evening session. Please come ready to do some climbing in the evening. The full day class will be held on the rocks in the Santa Barbara area.
The fee includes instruction, climbing equipment and climbing shoes. Transportation is by carpool. This class has a maximum enrollment of six.
Outdoor Sport Climbing - Gym to Crag
In this class we will help participants transition from lead climbing in the gym to the outdoors. Our goal is to make climbers competent and confident enough in both setting up a bolted anchor and rappelling or lowering from a climb under various scenarios that might be encountered in an outdoor setting, while also covering the considerations and equipment needed when climbing as well. This course will give you the building blocks to take your lead climbing skills from the gym to the crag.