“My name is Erin Johnson. I am a marriage and family therapy intern and I work at a counseling center called Coyote Coast located in Orinda, California. I work as a mentor with young men who are transitioning from intensive therapy programs back to living with their families. We do many different activities with the kids […]
On Aug. 12, 2004, two days before Terrance Kelly was set to leave on a full fide football scholarship at Oregon State, he was murdered in Richmond, California by a 15 year old with an apparent grudge. His Father, Landrin Kelly had been determined to protect Terrance from the city’s rough streets and to be […]
March is Access Fund Month at Touchstone Climbing! We’re excited to be working with the Access Fund to raise a whole boatload of money and a whole… bunch of awareness about climbing conservation and access issues facing our beloved climbing areas. Touchstone has been a platinum donor to the Access Fund for many years, and […]
Pipeworks recently partnered with a group whose aim is to provide life skills and work-related training to adults with developmental disabilities. The organization is called Futures Explored. “We work with people with developmental disabilities,” said instructor Terry Corey. “One of the biggest barriers I have seen in my 25+ years of working with this population […]
Camping Unlimited is a non-profit organization providing children and adults with Special Needs a full program of recreation, education, fun and adventure. Their program encourages independence, nurtures responsibility, develops competence and builds lifelong friendships in a warm supportive atmosphere of planned permissiveness. A group of campers visited Berkeley Ironworks in January for a day of […]
Free money to climb?? What?! Applications are now being accepted for the 2015 Live Your Dream Grant! Get yours in before the application period closes on March 1st, 2015! Dream a dream, show initiative, fill it the application, follow the instructions, email to the appropriate place, and you’re done. Boom. The American Alpine Club’s “Live […]
In January, Saint Matthew Lutheran Church visited Diablo Rock Gym in Concord. We received this write up in a thank you letter from Melinda, the youth director. I have taken both our high school youth group and middle school youth group to Diablo Rock Gym multiple times. It is a great event that my students […]
Ever wonder what happens to all of our retired top-ropes? While a small amount is reserved and repurposed by our gyms for things like belay practice/testing ropes & mock leading ropes; the majority of our retired ropes are donated to local non-profits, artists, and community organizations. Recently, Great Western Power Company donated several hundred feet of […]
January was National Mentoring Month, and Metalmark invited Bigs and Littles from the Big Brothers Big Sisters into the gym to honor the amazing mentors in their program. “We did many events during the month, but none were as exciting and unique as the climbing event at MetalMark Climbing Gym!” said a coordinator. More than 50 Bigs […]
In November, Shawn Benjamin brought 10 students to Berkeley Ironworks to try out climbing for the first time. Ms. Benjamin is the Principle at Leadership Public Schools in Richmond, a tuition-free public charter high school dedicated to preparing 100% of their graduating students for success in college and leadership in their communities. “99% of our students […]
