Friends Select Upper School’s Rock Climbing Club had its first ever Climbing Day at Movement Callowhill on Sunday, December 7th. The event hosted students, families, and community members to try rock climbing, fun challenges, and a variety of other activities. There were plenty of options for both new and experienced climbers with safety briefings, guided climbs, and interactive games like a candy hunt and traverse challenges.
The idea for the event was created by the club and its student leader, Isaac Shane ‘27, who started climbing in middle school. Isaac, who previously competed on climbing teams before an injury, which forced him to shift his focus more on coaching. He explained that the goal was to unite new and experienced climbers. “We wanted to do this FSS day so that more members of the community could get to know each other, specifically people in different divisions. Some people who had been climbing for a long time, and some people who had never done it before…just to get to know each other through a sport,” he said.
Rock Climbing Club member Mira Brodie ‘27 said, “The best part of the event was getting to connect with people I hadn’t met in the Lower School and Middle School. We got to try climbs together, and I learned a lot from them. I’ve been climbing for a while, but I’m still a beginner, and every climb feels like a new challenge. The other members of the club were so generous in helping me with lower-grade climbs, and I really appreciate that it’s a space for people of all skill levels. I love that the club creates opportunities for everyone to learn and support each other, whether you’re just starting out or more experienced,” she said.
Faculty support was also important in the success of the day. History and Religious Thought Teacher Jared Levy, who has been climbing since childhood, helped organize and oversee the event. Jared highlights student-led activities and supporting shared interests. “One of the things I love about the independent school world, specifically the schools I’ve taught at, is that I’ve often found the activities where I get a lot of joy, there’s a lot of joy with students. There’s a lot of learning that seems to come out of these…pretty organic moments,” he said.
Approximately thirty participants attended, including teachers, students in all three divisions, and parents. The turnout for the event also showed the growing interest in rock climbing at Friends Select School. Jared highlighted that the event was able not only to introduce more students to the sport but also helped strengthen collaboration and engagement in the school community.
Looking forward, the Rock Climbing Club hopes to continue hosting events that bring together new and experienced climbers and promote physical activity and social interaction. The success of the first FSS Climbing Day emphasizes that with student initiative, faculty support, and shared interests, extracurricular activities can offer opportunities for community building outside of the classroom.
