CALVIN CLIMBING CENTER

FALL SEMESTER, INTERIM, SPRINGS SEMESTER HOURS

Fall Semester (Labor Day-December 15), Interim, and Spring Semester (Feb 1-May 15)

MONDAY	3-6PM OPEN CLIMBING 6-9PM WOMEN'S OPEN CLIMBING
TUESDAY	3-9PM OPEN CLIMBING
WEDNESDAY	3-9PM OPEN CLIMBING 6-9PM ORGANIZED GROUP CLIMBING (BY RESERVATION)
Thursday	3-9PM OPEN CLIMBING
Friday	2-7PM OPEN CLIMBING 5-7PM ORGANIZED GROUP CLIMBING (BY RESERVATION)
Saturday	9AM-12PM FACULTY, STAFF, AND FAMILY CLIMBING 12-5PM OPEN CLIMBING
Sunday	1-4PM OPEN CLIMBING (Fall Advising Break-Spring Break)

SUMMER HOURS

Tuesday	4-7PM OPEN CLIMBING
Wednesday	4-7PM OPEN CLIMBING
Thursday	4-7PM OPEN CLIMBING

Calvin Climbing Center Closures

FALL STAFF TRAINING	CHRISTMAS BREAK	SPRING BREAK
FALL ADVISING WEEKEND	INTERIM BREAK	SPRING ADVISING WEEKEND
FALL SEMESTER EXAM WEEK	WINTER STAFF TRAINING	SPRING EXAM WEEKEND

*NEW BELAYER INSTRUCTION:  All climbers must participate in a 20 minute instructional period that includes equipment orientation, necessary knots, belay technique, basic climbing movement and belay check.  This instructional period is free and required to all who are new to climbing or need a refresher.  All New Belayer instruction will take place “on the hour” 4pm, 5pm, 6pm, 7pm, and 8pm.  There will also be New Belayer Instruction offered Saturday at 12noon and 1pm.  No sign up is necessary, but instruction will be limited 12 new climbers at each session.  If you have previous belay training/climbing experience, you can show up at any Open Climb time and a staff person can check you off or recommend that you return for New Belayer Instruction Period.

**LEAD CLIMBING:  If you are an experienced sport climber or would like to learn to lead climb, please sign up at the wall for “NEW LEADER INSTRUCTION”. All aspiring sport climbers should be top rope climbing proficiently at a 5.10 level displaying poise, solid footwork, and sound technique.  If you are working up to 5.10’s on top rope, you are welcome to come a receive instruction and “drag” a practice rope.  Those with previous “lead” experience will need to go through a refresher and lead check to lead on the Calvin Wall.    All lead climbers will need their own 30-50 meter lead rope.

***ORGANIZED GROUP CLIMBING:  Wednsday nights are designated for Calvin Groups!  If your dorm, floor, team, organization, or department would like to schedule a night to climb, please contact Connie Porte at clp3@calvin.edu.  Group time is scheduled in advance from 6-9pm and is limited to approximately 24 Climbers.

****FACULTY/STAFF CLIMBING:  Healthy Habits sponsors faculty/staff climbing times on Saturdays from 9am-12noon..  Saturday mornings are especially for faculty/staff and families.  No sign up necessary.  A parent must be present to belay their dependent.  Climbing is limited to children 8 and older.  Please note that there is very limited equipment for those less than 12 years of age.  Please note that Healthy Habits will offer 5 week climbing courses to faculty and staff each semester.  Please contact nhubers@calvin.edu to sign up.

*****CLIMBING COURSES:  Calvin Climbing Center staff and Full-time Faculty/Staff will host not for credit courses aimed at improving technique and mastering technical systems. 

IMPORTANT NOTICE FOR OUTSIDE GROUPS, CHURCHES, AND ALL NON-STUDENTS:  Due to liability issues regarding the Calvin Climbing Center, the facility is only open to faculty, staff, and students with current Calvin ID’s.  All people entering the Spoelhof Complex are required to display current Calvin ID.

 

 

General Climbing Policies

• Climbing Facility is open only during program hours and when staff person is present

• All climbers must check in with staff person and “register” before climbing

• All climbers must gain instruction, display sound “palm down” belay technique, dressed tie figure 8 follow through knots, and proper equipment use, and be checked off by a staff person before climbing

• Before each climb: Check for

  1. figure 8 tie in knot,
  2. double backed harnesses, and
  3. proper loading of belay device/carabineer

• Belayers will take out “rope stretch” to prevent “ground falls”

• Climbers can climb “un-roped” up to 5 feet; spotter and crash pads are recommended anytime feet go above 3’

• Maximum number of climbers/boulders at any given time: 20 (open sessions) or 24 (organized group sessions)

• No iPods or personal MP3 players; all music played at facility will be discerned and non-offensive

• All climbers and belayers will exercise behavior that maintains a positive and safe climbing environment

• Only climbers who have participated and passed a Calvin Sport Leading course can lead at Calvin College. All lead climbers will wear helmets. Please see a staff person to sign up for lead instruction.

Climbing Wavier

Download, print and sign Calvin's Climbing Wavier (26KB, PDF)

Questions?

If you have questions, comments, or are interested in employment at the Calvin Climbing Center, please contact Ryan Rooks at rmw3@calvin.edu.