Removing Barriers to Climbing
On Belay Community Access Program
The Teton County/Jackson Parks & Recreation Climbing Gym is more than a recreation facility—it offers mental, emotional, and physical health benefits while dissolving cultural and generational boundaries.
None of these benefits can be realized if financial and expertise barriers stand in the way—which is why we created the On Belay Community Access Program.
Our program removes financial and expertise barriers, fostering community and well-being through the pursuit of climbing.
Join us in making climbing accessible to everyone in Teton County.
Partner Organizations
Click on the logos to learn more about our partners.
Empowering Through Climbing
The On Belay Community Access Program is an initiative by the Teton Climbers’ Coalition to make climbing accessible to all. By eliminating financial and expertise barriers, we aim to build a healthier, more inclusive climbing community.
Our program not only provides free access to the Teton County/Jackson Parks & Recreation Climbing Gym but also connects participants with certified volunteer belayers, ensuring a safe and supportive climbing experience.
Through climbing, we nurture confidence, foster social connections, and promote physical and mental well-being, creating a vibrant community that transcends cultural and generational boundaries.
Unlike traditional gyms, where workouts are often solitary and driven by a sense of obligation, climbing is inherently social: partners share the rope, encourage one another, and spend as much time connecting between climbs as they do climbing. This sense of belonging directly combats the mental health impacts of loneliness and social isolation, which research shows can be as harmful to physical health as obesity.
In Teton County, the Rec Center climbing gym offers a unique opportunity to create shared experiences and build relationships. As parents and children climb together, familial bonds grow stronger. As youth engage with positive role models on an equal footing, they gain confidence in a supportive environment. And by providing a pathway from indoor climbing to the outdoors, the gym nurtures not only climbers but also lifelong stewards and active members of our mountain community.
Program Highlights
Financial Accessibility
Our program covers the cost of entry and equipment rentals, making climbing affordable for all community members.
Certified Belayer Support
We connect participants with experienced, gym-certified belayers to ensure a safe and enjoyable climbing experience.
Health Benefits
Climbing provides physical and mental health benefits, fosters social connections and strengthens community ties, promoting overall well-being.
How It Works
Step 1
Free Access
Through our On Belay program, partner organizations receive punch cards, each granting a day pass to the climbing gym, ensuring free access for participants.
Step 2
Equipment Waivers
Participants enjoy waived rental fees for harnesses and shoes, thanks to the generous support of Parks & Rec, removing financial barriers to climbing.
Step 3
Volunteer Belayers
We connect gym-certified volunteers with partner organizations to provide belay support, ensuring a safe and supportive climbing experience for all.
Participant Feedback
“I’m a 79 year old male with Parkinson’s. It’s a diagnosis that can feel isolating, but I’ve been fortunate to find a program (UpEnding Parkinson’s) that has not only helped me manage my symptoms but has also introduced me to a supportive community.
When I first heard about it, I’ll admit I was skeptical. Climbing? At my age? With Parkinson’s? But from the very first session, my doubts were replaced by a feeling of empowerment. The program has become an essential part of my week. Every Thursday, I join a small group of fellow Parkinson’s travelers. We’re all at different ages and stages of the disease, but we’re all there for the same reason: to feel stronger and to live more fully.
The physical benefits have been remarkable. Parkinson’s can make even simple movements challenging, but climbing has helped me regain a sense of control. The constant adjustments on the wall have dramatically improved my balance and coordination, which makes me feel more confident in my daily life. I’ve noticed a significant increase in my strength—not just in my arms and legs, but also in the small muscles in my hands and fingers, which are so important for everyday tasks. The movements involved in reaching for the next hold have also helped me with my range of motion.
But it’s not just about the physical. The sense of accomplishment I feel after reaching the top of a climb is incredible. It’s a powerful antidote to the progressive nature of this disease. There’s a certain freedom in trusting yourself to make a difficult move and succeeding. This has truly helped build my self-confidence, and it’s a feeling I carry with me long after I’ve left the wall.
And then there’s the camaraderie. The folks that help us are more than just instructors and belayers; they are patient, knowledgeable, and genuinely encouraging. The bond I’ve formed with the other climbers in the group is something I never expected. We celebrate each other’s successes and support each other through our challenges. We share stories, laughter, and a profound sense of mutual understanding. A group of us are excited to go on a 3 day overnight hike to the Big Sandy Lake in the Winds in August, which was a bucket-list item which I never thought I’d be able to check off. But with my fellow travelers, on a gentle 6-mile hike, it will be amazing.
This program, with its dedicated volunteers has given me more than just exercise—it has given me hope and a community. It has shown me that despite my diagnosis, there are still new heights to reach and new challenges to conquer. I am incredibly grateful for UpEnding Parkinson’s as it has truly made a profound difference in my life.”
—Jim Lewis
Want To Volunteer?
Click the link to email our partners about volunteer belaying opportunities. Please note that all participants must have received their belay certification from the Teton County Rec Center Gym in order to volunteer.
What Our Community Partners Say
In less than a year, I’ve seen first-timers from our BIPOC Community Climb Nights progress from feeling scared to getting on the wall to lead climbing with confidence.
The On Belay Program makes Community Climb Nights accessible, so that everyone can experience the joy and growth that climbing offers.”
Alice Pang
Community Climb Nights Coordinator
The program has been, and will continue to be, a huge resource in supporting climbing access for all our community. As a collaborative program from many organizations, this effort is fully focused on accessible wellbeing by the community, for the community. This program will continue to build the steps needed to overcome obstacles that many face when utilizing indoor climbing for mental, physical, and social health benefits.“
Logan Edgeman
Teton County Rec Center Climbing Gym Supervisor
Volunteering as a belayer has been incredibly rewarding. It has deepened my connection to my community and expanded my relationship to climbing.”
Christian Beckwith
Volunteer Belayer
Join Us in Making a Difference
Help us break down barriers to climbing by supporting the On Belay Community Access Program. Whether you donate, volunteer, or spread the word, your involvement makes a lasting impact. Together, we can foster a thriving, inclusive climbing community. Email us to connect.