Our Equitable Program
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Our Equitable Program offers free and low-cost climbing opportunities intentionally created for communities historically underrepresented in the outdoors.

Grounded in community care and collective belonging, our programs are led by BIPOC facilitators, mentors, instructors, and guides who reflect the communities we serve and help create spaces where participants can feel safe, supported, and connected.

How It Works

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Our Equitable Program offers two streams: Instructional Courses and Mentorship. Together, they create a pathway that can take someone from their very first outdoor climbing experience to advanced technical skills, professional development opportunities, and long-term community connection. 

Courses

Our Instructional courses are skills-based learning experiences offered in partnership with Canada West Mountain School. Courses are offered free or at low cost to BIPOC participants aged 19+.

Our flagship course, Intro to Rock, introduces participants to outdoor rock climbing in a supportive and welcoming environment. When additional funding is available we expand our offerings to include intermediate and advanced courses such as Follow the Leader, Take The Lead, and Take It Higher, which help participants build confidence, independence and technical skills for more challenging terrain.

We also offer Silver Senders, a specialty two-day course designed for women and gender-diverse climbers aged 45 and up, helping older adults stay physically active and deeply connected to community as they move through midlife and beyond.

Mentorship Cohorts

Our Mentorship Cohorts are where skills deepen and community takes root. Cohorts are small, peer-led, and intentionally organized around experience level, goals, and availability.

Participants meet with their mentors throughout the climbing season, and rope climbing cohorts also receive two additional instructional days with a certified guide. The mentorship model creates ongoing support, accountability, and opportunities for climbers to continue progressing beyond a single course.

We currently offer three mentorship cohorts:

• Beginner Rope Climbing Cohort:  for participants new to outdoor climbing

• Intermediate/Advanced Rope Climbing Cohort: for climbers looking to build mileage, develop technical systems, and explore pathways toward professional certification

• Be Boulder Cohort: a beginner-friendly bouldering cohort focused on movement skills, confidence-building, and community connection

Who We Serve

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Our Equitable Program serves BIPOC individuals aged 19 and up. In practice, our community skews toward those who face the most compounding barriers to outdoor spaces. The majority of our participants identify as BIPOC women, 2SLGBTQIA+, and BIPOC young adults between 19 and 30. 

Why It Matters

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Rock climbing is often framed as a sport for everyone, a pursuit defined by grit, skill and perseverance. Yet access to climbing and outdoor spaces has never been equal. The cost of gear and instruction, transportation barriers, and the absence of culturally welcoming environments continue to prevent many people from participating fully. These barriers have contributed to longstanding gaps in representation, leadership, and access within climbing and the broader outdoor sector, shaping who feels welcome in these spaces and who is too often left out.

Representation doesn't happen by accident. It takes sustained, intentional investment, in instruction, in peer community, in removing the financial and cultural barriers that has kept so many people from the mountains. When funders support BIPOC Rocks, they are investing in more than a climbing program. They are investing in confidence, belonging, leadership development, and a more equitable outdoor sector.

We welcome partnerships with foundations and corporate partners who share our vision. To learn more about supporting our work, visit our Get Involved page or contact us at info@bipoc-rocks.com.

Our 2026 program is made possible through the generous support of partners who share our commitment to equity in the outdoors. Thanks to the District of Squamish and the Squamish Community Foundation, we are pleased to prioritize Squamish residents in our 2026 programming. Some specialty offerings, like Silver Senders, are open to all women and gender-diverse individuals from all racial and ethnic backgrounds.