In December MetalMark Climbing + Fitness worked with Adventure Risk Challenge, an organization dedicated to empowering underserved youth through wilderness and literary experiences. “This is the second time we’ve invited ARC to come to MetalMark to climb,” said Manager Marie Garringer. “It’s a great opportunity for these kids to see our community of healthy and supportive members, as well as try climbing! I think we’ve got a few future crushers on our hands…”
Adventure Risk Challenge (ARC) was founded in 2004 as an outdoor education program dedicated to providing transformational opportunities for underserved and English Learner high school students.
ARC serves over 200 youth per year in the Central Valley with weekend and summer programming, follow-up mentoring, and in-school activities. The majority of participants come from families that live below the poverty line and speak no English at home. ARC youth are also overwhelmingly the first generation in their families to graduate from high school and attend college.
The MetalMark staff helped 10 students climb during this visit. After getting suited up in rental shoes and harnesses, each student took to the wall! “My rock climbing experience was awesome! said Brittney Gonzalez. “It was my first-time rock climbing and I didn’t make it to the top. However, I’m not sad about it because that climb taught me a lesson. No matter how far you climb, even if you don’t make it to the top, you still had the courage to start and get as far as you did.”
ARC offers a 40-day summer course in Yosemite National Park and a 25-day summer course in Tahoe. For more information, visit their website at www.adventureriskchallenge.org.
