Rock Climbing Lessons

Cornell affiliation is required for access, and lessons are available for those who seek affiliation.

If you are interested in our PE classes, for more in-depth indoor instruction or to gain outdoor experience, see COE's PE Course offerings.  

Learn to Climb

This class will focus on the basics of rock climbing movement, including warming up and hold identification, to proper grip, body positioning, and footwork techniques. Students will learn how to appropriately challenge themselves on the bouldering wall and get an introduction to top rope climbing as well. Though belayed climbing will take place, the instructor will not focus on belay technique.

The class consists of a single two-hour session, no prior climbing experience is necessary. The ratio is 1 instructor with up to 4 students. The course fee includes all of the necessary equipment (harness and shoes), as well as 1 free day pass, including equipment, for a future visit.

This class is appropriate for all ages, children under 13 must have a parent participating as well.

Learn to Belay

This class will focus on the skills necessary to safely protect a climber on Top Rope, and prepare you for our Belay Proficiency Test. We will introduce the gear and systems at work, how to verify the system is set up correctly, and how to belay and lower your climber safely. Though climbing does take place during the class, the instructor will not focus on climbing technique.

The class consists of a single two-hour session, no prior climbing experience is necessary. The ratio is 1 instructor with up to 4 students. The course fee includes all of the necessary equipment (harness and shoes), as well as 1 free day pass, including equipment, for a future visit.

This class is not recommended for young children under the age of 10, children under 13 must have a parent participating as well.

Beta Buster

This class will focus on intermediate rock climbing movement, including identifying areas of improvement, and introducing more technical grip and footwork techniques. Topics covered in class are based on student-identified goals. Students will learn how to appropriately challenge themselves on the bouldering wall or on Top Rope, though belay instruction will not typically be a focus of the class.

The class consists of a single two-hour session. The course fee includes all of the necessary equipment (harness and shoes), as well as 1 free day pass, including equipment, for a future visit. This class is appropriate for all ages, children under 13 must have a parent participating as well.

Learn to Lead

This class will focus on the skills necessary to safely manage the inherent risks of lead climbing and lead belaying in the gym environment, and prepare you for our Lead Proficiency Test (see below). We will teach clipping techniques, how to avoid clipping and climbing hazards, how to give a dynamic belay with an assisted braking device, and how to take and catch lead falls. Though lots of climbing does take place during the class, the instructor will not focus on climbing technique.

The class consists of two three-hour sessions, for a total of six hours of instruction. The ratio is fixed at 1 instructor and 2 students. Top Rope belay certification is required and we recommend you can comfortably climb at least 5.9 on our tall routes (see below). The course fee includes all necessary equipment (harness, shoes, belay kit, lead rope), though having your own shoes and harness will also be much more comfortable.

Class participants must be 15 years old for climbing and belay skills, unless special permission is given for participants ages 13-14 years of age for climbing only instruction.

Are You Ready? When you take the Lead Proficiency test, you will need to be able to climb a tall 5.9 to its top, take a fall, then climb back to the top and clip the anchors. To see if you have the endurance, you can simulate this on top rope, pausing with a stance to wave a hand over each clip as you encounter them. Then at the top have yourself lowered 3 clips then climb back up again. If you can do this with some energy to spare, you may be ready for the class!

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