• Autism Climbs empowers

    individuals with autism

    and their families.

    Explore. Bond. Climb!

  • Climbing for kids with autism

  • volunteer sign up

    • Certified guides and wall instructors to ensure safety and teach basic skills such as buckling harness, tying into rope and belay technique. 
    • Professionals and students dedicated to serving the autistic community. 
    • People inspired by our mission interested in contributing their time and talents.

  • 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!

  • Autism Climbs certification

    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 2018:

    Climbing for ALL abilities

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

    Partner Gym

    evo ROCK + FITNESS Louisville

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

  • 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!

  • Gallery

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

     

  • Coming up:

    OUTDOOR CLIMBING CLINIc

    Golden

    Saturday, Oct.6th

    Tunnel 1, Clear Creek Canyon

    10:00 am to 2:00 pm

    It's time to climb outdoors before the cold kicks in!

     

    We'll take a small group of climbers to Tunnel 1. We partner up with Climbing For Life, a Denver non-profit who takes at-risk youth rock climbing.

     

    We'll provide competent volunteers, an AMGI - SPI certified site leader, and free rental gear.

     

    While we do everything we can to keep our climbers safe, please note that climbing is an inherently dangerous sport and please use your own best judgement!

     

  • Coming up:

    FUNdamental Family Climb

    Boulder

    Sunday, Oct. 21st, 6:30

    ABC Kids Climbing

    1960 32nd St, Boulder, CO 80301

    A free event for families affected by autism - bring the whole family, siblings and friends!

    No gear, no experience necessary.
    All ages, all abilities are welcome!

     

    ABC Kids has something for everybody, climbing as well as pre-climbing and related activities: tall walls with ropes, short walls over thick mats, a slide, a zip line, a tread wall, an obstacle and balancing course, everything from super easy to real challenge.

     

    Our climbing volunteers all have passed ABC's belay assessment, and they'll get you all set up with harness and shoes and coach you throughout the event.

    We are looking forward to climbing with you and your kiddos!

     

  • Coming up:

    FUNdamental Family Climb

    Colorado Springs

    Sunday, Oct. 28th, 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

    PURE Bouldering Gym

    1401 S 8th St, Colorado Springs, CO 80905

    A free event for families affected by autism - bring the whole family, siblings and friends!

    No gear, no experience necessary.
    All ages, all abilities are welcome!

     

    Our climbing volunteers all are avid climbers, they will help you stay safe and enjoy the gym.

     

    PURE Bouldering Gym has lots of climbing-related activities such as balancing, obstacle course, ropes etc. It is purely a bouldering gym, meaning, there is no top rope ( = tall wall, climbing on rope). Here, we climb on shorter walls over thick mats ( = bouldering).

    We are looking forward to climbing with you and your kiddos!

     

    RSVP on top of this page!

  • Coming up:

    Friday kids night out

    Friday, November 9th, 7:00 to 9:00 pm

    ABC Kids Climbing

    1960 32nd St, Boulder, CO 80301

    This is our pilot event for Kids Night Out!

     

    Drop your kids off at ABC and let them have fun with Autism Climbs volunteers and ABC staff, while you get to enjoy some adult time off.


    Ages 7 and up

    Fee: $ 12/kid, $ 20/pair of siblings, $ 24/three or more siblings

     

    Our climbing volunteers all are avid climbers and have passed ABC's belay assessment.

     

    We will provide fun activities, games and a short outdoor movie for the kids to enjoy.

    We are looking forward to climbing with you and your kiddos!

     

    RSVP below!

  • recent events

    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

     

    Outdoor Clinic
    Outdoor Clinic
    Outdoor Clinic
    Outdoor Clinic
    Outdoor Climbing Clinic
    Outdoor Clinic
    experiencing success - at ABC Kids Climbing in Boulder, FUNdamental

  • 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

  • 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!

     

    This is a fundraising effort, and payment is considered a 501(3)(c) tax deductible donation. You will receive a donation receipt per email.

    The button below will take you to the donation interface, you'll have the option to share your address and leave us a note.

     

    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!

  • 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

  • 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.

  • Thank You to our sponsors and contributors

    You make it all possible!

    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 

    UpaDowna - unleash your adventure

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

    http://www.upadowna.org/

    Twisted Pine Brewing

    http://twistedpinebrewing.com/

    Dime Bags

    https://dimebags.com/

    Cook St. Productions

    http://cookstproductions.com/

    Tandem Design Partners

    http://tandemptnrs.com/

    ABC Kids Climbing / Boulder

    http://www.abckidsboulder.com/

    Wonderland Brewing

    http://wonderlandbrewing.com/

    Paul Derda Recreation Center, Broomfield

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

    ASBC - Autism Society of Boulder County

    http://www.autismboulder.org/

    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/

    University of Denver

    http://www.du.edu/

    McGuckin Hardware

    https://www.mcguckin.com/

  • 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.

  • Support our Work

    While being an all-volunteer organization, we do incur costs. Please consider supporting us!

     

     

  • 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