American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance - AAHPERD

Issue: February 2009

Rock Climbing: An Experience with Responsibility
Ken Hansen & Melissa Parker        

Abstract: Today's youths seem to be facing more obstacles and receiving less direction than ever before. Rather than just focusing on trouble prevention and deterrence, many youth development and preparation programs are striving to help youths develop the necessary assets, skills, and qualities to become productive and satisfied adults, as well as contributing members of society. This article describes a youth development program that uses rock climbing to teach responsibility, respect, teamwork, and trust. The article describes how this particular program was designed (specifically how the program goals, curriculum, content, and atmosphere were determined). It also discusses the various pedagogical methods that were used to teach rock climbing and the personal skills students needed to be successful. The interaction of character development curriculum, the content of rock climbing, and an empowering atmosphere allowed the youths to achieve goals that may help them to progress toward a productive adulthood.

Article category: Youth development