Courses
Learn More & Enroll in Our CoursesRock Climbing Trips
Top-rope rock climbing day exclusively for First Ascent youth ages 8 - 17 and their adult family members.
Camping options available either Friday, Saturday, or both evenings at Devil’s Lake State Park.
Kids under the age of 10 need an adult supervisor. There is a $20 spectator fee for anyone joining but not climbing.
How to Sign Up
Do not use Quantity field to sign up multiple climbers. Add one climber to cart at a time.
If you will be camping, you may add camping for each person here.
When finished, click the Cart icon to view your cart, confirm your order, and process your payment.
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Minimum Enrollment
***This trip has a minimum enrollment of 10 participants. If it fails to reach this minimum, we will cancel the event and you will receive a full refund.***
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Rock Climbing CAMPS
Saturday, September 12th, 2026 | 7:30 AM - 2:30 PM
Climb, grow, learn & laugh with a supportive group of Queer climbers on the beautiful boulders of Devils Lake. Instructors will bring the group to a variety of bouldering areas appropriate for group abilities.
Experience
We will teach pad placement and spotting technique to set the group up for success. Everyone will help with pad placement and spotting, switching out frequently between climbing problems.
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Prerequisites
You must be part of Queer Climb Madison to participate.
There are no experience prerequisites. We welcome & accommodate all experience levels. We provide all climbing gear, including shoes and pads, if you don’t have your own.
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This trip will not run if fewer than 10 people enroll.
Rock Climbing Courses
4:30 PM, Sun Jun 28th thru 4:30 PM, Fri July 3, 2026
Total tuition is $1,695. $500 deposit reserves your place. Outstanding balance ($1,195) due May 1, 2026.
All-inclusive outdoor rock climbing camp for adults 18 and over. Five days of climbing, bouldering, and technical training for new and establishing climbers, aimed at taking your outdoor climbing skills to the next level. Five nights of camping, outdoor living, and connection with like-minded climbers.
Includes instruction, campsite, meals, and any climbing gear you may need.
Placing & Evaluating Artificial Gear
Nuts, Hexes, TriCams & Cams (SLCDs)
Compound Rigging Systems
Focal Point Selection
Route Scouting & Guide Book Use
Rappelling
Complex Terrain
Skills Synthesis
Self-Assessment
Private Lead Climbing courses are available as one-day or two-day courses. If you have no experience with lead climbing or your technical skills are not sharp, we recommend a 2-day course to establish good theoretical and technical foundations. For quick learners or those with previous training, a one-day course may suffice. Feel free to call and discuss.
Pricing is based on length of course and number of participants. For solo learners, enrollment is $475/person per day. For groups of 2 - 4, enrollment is $215/person per day. In all Lead courses, the student to instructor ratio will never exceed 3 to 1.
Custom-tailored self-rescue curriculum based on your goals and experience. Available all season long, any day of the week (subject to availability).
Learn to identify ways to mitigate risk and a variety of techniques to solve common problems that arise in a bottom-managed (belaying from below) top rope setting.
Learn skills to solve common problems many climbers encounter when belaying from above, as well as efficient rappel tactics.
The American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) course is industry-standard training for rock climbing instructors teaching in single-pitch terrain.
2026 Schedule & Instructors
Mon Apr 27 - Wed April 29
Instructor: Elaina Arenz
Sat May 23 - Mon May 25
Instructor: Jon Richard
Fri Oct 2 - Sun Oct 4
Instructor: Jon Richard
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Attention: This course has mandatory prerequisites (see below).
Click “Enroll Now” to bring up the info form. After you complete the form, click the cart icon to pay and complete your registration.
Course Details
Four days of in-depth traditional lead climbing instruction and practice to develop the confidence and competence required to be a self-guided traditional lead climber. For adult climbers (18+ years old) who have completed our traditional anchor building courses, or have similar experience.
Climbing gear, instruction, and campsite included. Complete details here.
Cost
Total tuition is $1,195. A $500 deposit reserves your place. Outstanding balance ($695) due 45 days before camp.
Schedule
Daily instruction and practice from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Campsite available the evening before the course starts at 4:30pm.
Location
Daily instruction will begin at our campsite near Devil’s Lake State Park. Campsite information will be shared upon registration.
Minimum Enrollment
This camp has a minimum enrollment of 3 students in order to run. If a session does not meet the minimum enrollment 2 weeks before the camp start date, we will cancel the camp and issue a full refund.
Cancellations
Tradawan Camp is a special, limited enrollment offering. Tuition is non-refundable and non-reschedulable once students have paid their deposit, unless the camp has met minimum enrollment and another student can take their spot. This includes cancellations due to disrupted travel plans, injury, or illness (including COVID-19). We recommend purchasing trip insurance to protect your tuition investment. *If we cancel your course due to low enrollment, you may opt to transfer your enrollment to another session or receive a refund of your camp fees.
More Information
See our Tradawan Camp page for more details.
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Three days of outdoor climbing, bouldering, and technical training for new and establishing climbers, aimed at taking your outdoor climbing skills to the next level.
Campsite and fully equipped camp kitchen available for enrolled participants, as well as any climbing gear you may need.
AMGA Single Pitch Instructor
The American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) course is industry-standard training for rock climbing instructors teaching in single-pitch terrain.
2026 Schedule & Instructors
Mon Apr 27 - Wed April 29
Instructor: Elaina Arenz
Sat May 23 - Mon May 25
Instructor: Jon Richard
Fri Oct 2 - Sun Oct 4
Instructor: Jon Richard
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Attention: This course has mandatory prerequisites (see below).
Passing the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Single Pitch Instructor (SPI) assessment earns you industry-standard certification for rock climbing instructors teaching in single-pitch terrain.
2026 Schedule
Apr 25 & 26
Instructor: Elaina Arenz
May 21 & May 22
Instructor: Jon Richard
Sept 30 & Oct 1
Instructor: Jon Richard
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Attention: This course has mandatory prerequisites (see below).
Custom-tailored self-rescue curriculum based on your goals and experience. Available all season long, any day of the week (subject to availability).
Wilderness Medicine Courses
$1,100 total tuition (2026)
$250 deposit (non-refundable) enrolls you in the course
$850 balance due 45 days before class (or immediately if you sign up inside 45 days)
If you’d like to join the waitlist for a sold out session, please send us an email and indicate which course dates you are interested in.
*You must be currently certified in order to qualify for recertification.*
All courses take place at Hoofbeat Ridge in Mazomanie, WI. Bunkhouse accommodations & three hot, home-cooked meals/day included.
Tuition
$725 total tuition
$200 deposit (non-refundable) enrolls you in the course
$525 balance due 45 days before the first day of class (or immediately if you sign up inside 45 days)
Waitlist
If you’d like to join the waitlist for a sold out session, please send us an email and indicate which course dates you are interested in.
Need an Extension?
Regardless of whether your prior certification is from NOLS, SOLO, or WMA, you must contact WMA in advance to verify whether WMA will honor or provide an extension. Contact WMA if you have questions.
Keep the fun going at our group campsite within Devil’s Lake State Park. Campsite is available Friday, Saturday, or both evenings. $20/person per night, $35/person for both nights.
We will have a staff camp host on-site to help answer questions and facilitate a campfire. We will provide two large 10×20 canopies for shelter in case of rain. No food service is included.
Please register one person at a time. Add them to the cart one person at a time. DO NOT USE THE QUANTITY FIELD.
Camping equipment not provided. Campsite information will be shared via email after registration.