People of Color Southwest Climbing

Grow your climbing skills in a supportive community

Expand your outdoor skills and pursue your climbing dreams with fellow people of color. Head to Arizona’s Cochise Stronghold for nine days of immersive, experiential learning at a world-class climbing destination. Explore the area’s granite domes, jagged spires, and winding desert canyons. Work toward new goals at the crag and build community in a POC affinity space.

This expedition begins with the basics of outdoor living and climbing. Start out by getting to know your equipment and setting up a base camp where your team will camp for the duration of the course. Diving into the climbing curriculum, learn the fundamentals of moving on rock, including communication, rope handling, belaying, and rappelling. As your skills and the course progress, move on to more advanced topics, like anchor building and mock lead climbing.

Along the way, grow your leadership skills. Practice effective communication and problem solving as you work with your teammates to climb a new route. Learn to assess and manage risk in a dynamic environment. Identify and develop your personal leadership style. Return with the experience and skills to lead in the outdoors and beyond.