• Autism Climbs empowers

    individuals with autism

    and their families.

    Explore. Bond. Climb!

  • Support our Work

    We remove obstacles that keep kids from climbing, including financial obstacles.

    Please consider supporting us!

     

    Your donation will be used to keep our Sunday Family Event ("FUN Family Climb") FREE, and other programming extremely affordable.

     

    Thank you!

     

    Autism Climbs is a Tax-exempt 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization.

    Our Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) is 47-4680885.

    All donations are tax deductible.

  • 9/14 Estes Park

    Let's spend a day in Estes Park, have a picnic and climb with Mike Caldwell!

    Let's drive the whole family up to Estes Park and climb, have a picnic and go for a hike!

     

    We provide gear, an AMGA certified guide as site leader (Mike Caldwell), and one volunteer per two climbers.

     

    Bring water, a healthy snack, sunscreen and a raincoat.

     

    Let us know if you'd like to carpool!

     

    We need to give our volunteers a few days' notice, please sign up as soon as you can!

     

    Registration closes September 12th.

     

    Saturday, September 14th

    10:00 am in Estes Park

     

    Performance Climbing Park

     

  • Autism Climbs Certification

    eCourse: Teaching Climbing to Kids with Autism

    Prepare on the spot

    Look up games, tips and tricks whenever you need them

    PC or mobile app

    Study at home or on the go

  • e-Learning and certification

    Our eLearning just went live!

    Gym offer
    36.00
    After the first four users, we offer a 25% discount.

    Please purchase four full price users first, then add as many users as you'd like here at the discounted rate!
    Quantity
    Coming soon
    eCourse: Teaching Climbing to Kids with Autism
    48.00
    Autism Climbs Certification
    One year unlimited access
    Self-paced, 2-3 hours
    Understanding autism
    Teaching kids with ASD
    Sensory benefits of rock climbing
    Game ideas, tips and tricks, and scenarios
    PC or mobile app
    Quantity
    Coming soon

  • Certified Gyms

    Here are our Autism Climbs Certified Gyms, where climbers of ALL abilities experience inclusion. These Gyms went the extra mile to learn about autism and related sensory issues. They actively strive to understand, include and support climbers on the spectrum.
    Welcome, y'ALL!

    All the Salt Pump instructors did our eCourse and can't wait to put their knowledge to good use!

  • Autism Climbs in-person staff training

    Autism Climbs offers staff trainings that help climbing gyms to efficiently serve the autism population.

    The staff trainings include practical advice, ideas for meaningful accommodations and sensory teaching materials for truly inclusive climbing gyms. Each participant, as well as the facility, will receive the Autism Climbs Certification.

     

    Autism Climbs Certified Gyms offer private lessons geared toward pre-climbing activities and preparation for group instruction, along with a variety of thoughtful accommodations for climbers on the spectrum.

    Autism Climbs Certified Gym

    ABC Kids Climbing

    1960 32nd St, Boulder, CO 80301

    All the staff at ABC has attended the training 'Climbing for Kids with Autism'.

    "At ABC Kids Climbing, we create an inclusive environment for all of our students. We ensure equal access for children with conditions such as autism or ADHD and provide our instructors with relevant training. Taking part in the workshop "Teaching Climbing to Kids with Autism" was part of this effort. Our instructors found it helpful and inspiring, and our young climbers benefit from our more inclusive environment and targeted instruction." - Karla Lankford, ABC Kids Climbing

    Autism Climbs Certified Gym

    evo ROCK + FITNESS Louisville

    At evo ROCK + FITNESS Louisville, climbers on the spectrum will experience compassion and inclusion.

    Autism Climbs Certified Gym 2018:

    Climbing for ALL abilities

    Autism Climbs Certified Gyms display this certification on their website, social media and in their facilities.

  • Fundamental family climb

    Register below to be notified when we settle on a date for our next FUN!

    We don't have a set date for our next FUNdamental Family Climb yet, but we'll start hosting them again once school is back in session, which is mid-August!

  • climbing Lessons at ABC Kids

    We are excited to now offer Private and Small Group Instruction in cooperation with ABC Kids Climbing. AMGA certified instructors with autism-specific experience teach a modified curriculum, incorporating kids' OT and social goals. Parents may choose their involvement level, siblings and peers are welcome to join.

     

    Contact us below and answer a few questions if you are interested!

  • volunteer sign up

    Come volunteer with us - it's a lot of fun!

    Are you a climber? Help us belay kids, clip them into the auto belay, supervise bouldering areas, keep everybody safe.

    Do you love kids, but have no climbing skills? Help us assist kids who need extra attention during our events, set up and supervise the obstacle course and pre-climbing activities, and play away!

  • Gallery

    Check out The Boulder Daily Camera coverage of our FUNdamental Climbing Workshop

     

  • Videos

    Autism Climbs actors in the Easterseals Disability Film Challenge! Enjoy!

    Community

    Rivalry, fitting in, friendship and community.

    Thank you to Ubergrippen for location, and to Flytuesday and friends for taking the time to get to really know and understand our kids!

  • Recent events

    Thank you all for coming out and having fun!

    Global Climbing Day

    8/24/19 ABC Kids Climbing

    Our biggest event yet - thank you everybody for coming out!

     

    Outdoor Climb - redirected to Earth Treks Golden!

    Planned for 7/20 at 3:00 pm, this Outdoor Climb had to be cancelled due to lightning and flash flood risk, but we found a warm welcome at Earth Treks Golden instead!

    Thank you to everybody who came out despite the crazy weather! Volunteers and participants showed flexibility and commitment when they drove back down from the canyon and regrouped in Earth Treks Golden.

     

    And so it was that our first Earth Treks event came about - thank you so much for taking us in!

     

    We ended up having a lot of fun. Mock lead climbs and belays, ninja warrior type challenges, spacious kids' area, seating where we enjoyed our snacks - this was great!

    FUNdamental at PURE Bouldering Gym

    1401 S. 8th Street, Colorado Springs, CO 80905

    Thank you, PURE Bouldering Gym and Gearonimo!

     

    This is just the perfect gym for our kids: nice outdoors area, very playful, easy as well as challenging climbs, and lots of swinging, balancing, and enjoying the sunshine. You can take your kids climbing there any time, and members get 24/7 access to the gym - the joys of being a PURE bouldering gym.

     

    The adjacent store Gearonimo sells used and new gear, bikes, shoes, skis, boats and whatever you may need for your next adventure. When you go, make sure you say hi to the dog and the dragon...

     

    Thank you Colorado Springs folks, y'all are awesome!

  • More past events

    FUN at ABC Kids Climbing, Boulder, 6/2/19

    FUN at PURE Bouldering Gym, Colorado Springs, 5/14/19

    FUN with the ASBC - Autism Society of Boulder County, ABC Kids Climbing, Boulder, 4/14/19

    FUNdamental Family Climb, ABC Kids, Boulder, 2/17/19

    Climb on Friday Night, ABC Kids, Boulder, 2/8/19

    Solace Healthcare Holiday Climb, Ubergrippen, Stapleton, Denver, 12/9/18

    Friday Kids' Night Out, ABC Kids Climbing, Boulder, 11/9/18

    FUNdamental Family Climb, PURE Bouldering Gym, Colorado Springs, 10/28/18

    FUNdamental Family Climb, ABC Kids Climbing, 10/21/18

    Outdoor Climbing Clinic - Tunnel 1, Clear Creek Canyon, 10/6/18

    Mobile Climbing Wall at Walk with Autism, Denver, Sloan Lake, 6/10/18

    FUNdamental Family Climb, ABC Kids Climbing, 5/20/18

    FUNdamental Climbing Workshop, ABC Kids Climbing, 2/18/18

    FUNdamental Climbing Workshop, EVO Rock + Fitness

    1754 Dogwood St, Louisville, CO 80027

    December 2017

    Übergrippen hosting Autism Climbs for Solace Healthcare - Family Christmas Climb

    December 2017

    FUNdamental Climbing Workshop, ABC Kids Climbing, Boulder, 11/5/17

    Outdoor Climbing Clinic - Pilot

     

    Solace Healthcare at Ubergrippen
    Regis University Service Learning
    Outdoor Clinic
    Outdoor Clinic
    Outdoor Clinic
    Outdoor Clinic
    Outdoor Climbing Clinic
    Outdoor Clinic
    experiencing success - at ABC Kids Climbing in Boulder, FUNdamental

  • Thank You to our sponsors and contributors

    You make it all possible!

    Autism Speaks

    https://www.autismspeaks.org

    Autism Society of Boulder County

    http://www.autismboulder.orghttp://www.autismboulder.org

    Dime Bags

    https://dimebags.com/

    UpaDowna - unleash your adventure

    Thank you for sponsoring our mobile climbing wall at the Autism Walk Colorado, Sloan Lake

    http://www.upadowna.org/

    ABC Kids Climbing / Boulder

    http://www.abckidsboulder.com/

    PURE Bouldering Gym

    https://pureboulderinggym.com

    Ubergrippen Indoor Climbing Crag

    https://ugclimbing.com

    Regis University

    https://www.regis.edu/About-Regis-University/University-Offices-and-Services/Service-Learning/RHCHP-Service-Learning.aspx

    University of Denver

    http://www.du.edu/

    Access Fund

    https://www.accessfund.org

    Cook St. Productions

    http://cookstproductions.com/

    Tandem Design Partners

    http://tandemptnrs.com/

    Thank You to Precision Plumbing, Heating & Cooling!

    This made our FUNdamental Climbing Workshop 2/19/17 in ABC Kids possible!

    Precision is giving back to the community - through $ 1000 hugs each month, with their "Precision Hugs" program. And the recipient in November was us!

     

    Thank You, Precision!

     

    http://www.precisionplumbing.com/guarantee/precision-hugs-awards.html 

    Paul Derda Recreation Center, Broomfield

    http://www.broomfield.org/Facilities/Facility/Details/42

    Twisted Pine Brewing

    http://twistedpinebrewing.com/

    Wonderland Brewing

    http://wonderlandbrewing.com/

    BrainSong - Our kids deserve to experience the arts

    http://www.brainsong.net/

    Autism Society of Colorado

    http://www.autismcolorado.org/

    Denver Social Climb

    Lyons Regional Library

    http://lyons.colibraries.org/

    McGuckin Hardware

    https://www.mcguckin.com/

  • Dog leash fundraiser

    It's about time Dustin Dynamite von Schnitzel got involved in our fundraising efforts. After chewing through fences, harnesses and leashes, this escape artist and avid climber settled on a rope leash.

     

    Swipe for more info >>>

    Dog leash details

    We make rope leashes from retired climbing ropes. They look good, feel good and are great for strong dogs on long hikes.

     

    At 7 ft long and $20, they are longer and cheaper than most leashes we found in stores. Shipping included. Leash up your pup!

     

    Btw, we are always looking for retired rope. If you have one sitting around unused, let us know! Free leash for rope donations!

  • Doggy Gallery

    These dogs approve of our leashes! Email us a pic of your pup and we'll feature it here!

  • Shop on amazon smile and support us

    You can support your favorite charity by using Amazon Smile.

    Next time you shop, please use Amazon Smile and choose to support Autism Climbs!

    Amazon will donate 0.5% of your purchase.

  • Our Mission

    Autism Climbs empowers individuals with autism and their families through

    climbing activities, leadership development, and positive breakthroughs.

     

    Autism Climbs is a Tax-exempt 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

    What we do

    We invite families affected by autism to try out rock climbing. We offer events indoors, as well as 1:1 private lessons, kids night out programs and outdoor clinics.

     

    No matter how we raise our children, enjoying our time together is always the right thing to do!

  • Contact Us!

    Connect with our mission and get involved!

     

    Call Yisha at: (720) 530 - 3506

    Email us at: autismclimbs@gmail.com

    Like us on Facebook: facebook.com/autismclimbs

     

    Or send us a message:

    Submit

  • Who We Are

    We are parents of children and teenagers with autism.

    We are rock climbing enthusiasts.

    We are therapists.

    We are friends.

    Yisha Wagner

    President

    Raising three kids with lots of energy, I really enjoy Colorado. I want my children - and all children, really - to be able to experience the same kind of freedom and peace that I took for granted in my own childhood.

     

    Born in Austria, MBA from Vienna University of Business and Economics in Sinology and Commerce, exchange student in Paris - INALCO, lived in China and Sweden with husband and three kids before settling down in Colorado.

     

    AMGA certified Climbing Wall Instructor, President and Co-founder of Autism Climbs 

    Katherine Weadley (left)

    Chief Administrator

    After working as climbing instructor and raising kids with ASD, Katherine returned to her passion for books and knowledge.

     

    As Director of Lyons Regional Library she is deeply involved with the community and devoted to the creation of knowledge and advancement of technological literacy.

     

    Katherine's connection to climbing and autism communities puts her into the perfect place to connect the two.

  • What We Do

    Guided support indoors and outdoors along the Colorado Front Range

    Workshops and Lessons

    We provide families with the basic climbing knowledge they need to safely embark on their own climbing adventures, indoors or outdoors.

    • Workshops in various existing climbing gyms (Boulder, Denver, Colorado Springs)
    • Guided introductory lessons
    • Outdoor climbing 
    • Encouragement and support for families throughout their climbing development. 

    Contact us for more information

  • Our Story

    The journey to find activities that bond.

    Rock Climbing benefits children & parents.

    When parents of children with special needs meet, they have a lot to talk about. The challenges, the worries, the struggles… but what about enjoying our kids?

     

    Finding activities that benefit both children and parents, building trust, being on a team and having fun together - this is how we thrive!

     

    Caring for children with autism can be challenging and exhausting, and we all have to make our own decisions on treatments and therapies. We learned that there will never be one single answer, what works for one child might not work for another. But enjoying our precious time together will always be the right thing to do.

     

    Having understood the importance of joint activities, we tried out several sports. While every activity is beneficial, our experience with rock climbing stands out.

     

    Without many words, we are literally tied together- into the same rope. Up and down we go, again and again with a single focus. With every ascent, we strengthen our ability to take on whatever challenge comes our way, using our minds together with our whole bodies to figure out how to conquer the wall.

    We want to share rock climbing's therapeutic effect with You.

    Rock climbing keeps having a therapeutic effect on us. Knowing exactly what to do with minimal instructions provides mental relief, the undisturbed focus on our own movements and the stimulation from strenuous exercise helps us grow and thrive.

     

    Our family has benefited so much from climbing that we want to share this with you and encourage every family on the spectrum to enjoy the journey.

     

    So let’s get out, let’s explore nature, let’s push our own mental and physical limits!

     

    Climb on!


    Yisha

  • Why Rock Climbing?

    Unique Benefits

    Climbing offers many unique benefits. It stimulates the mind, strengthens the body and provides a great opportunity to build a strong bond based on encouragement, trust and success.

    New Adventures

    By presenting people with the opportunity to climb, but also teaching them safety and basic technique we encourage them to take on a new hobby and embark on their own adventures.

     

    We are confident that some kids will take it all the way to the competitive level, experiencing success and providing the autism community with an additional source of pride.

  • Climb On!

    Autism Climbs is a Tax-exempt 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization

    Our Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN) is 47-4680885. All donations are tax deductible.

Copyright  Autism Climbs 2015

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