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The Climbing Wall Association's blog is a place for indoor climbing professionals to find useful and relevant information from industry and business experts. Stay on top of best practices, thought leadership, and trends by subscribing to our newsletter!

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How to Plan Activities for Groups and Teams During COVID
How to Plan Activities for Groups and Teams During COVID

As COVID-19 threatens the health of our global community, climbing gyms across the world are facing challenges unlike any we’ve seen before. As climbing gyms begin to reopen, operations cannot be business as usual. In this time of uncertainty and change, the indoor climbing industry has... Continue Reading

Date posted08/17/2020


What happens when someone at my gym tests positive?
What happens when someone at my gym tests positive?

Since climbing gyms have begun reopening this summer, gym owners and managers across the country have been bracing themselves for what feels inevitable: the news that someone who’s recently climbed at their facility has tested positive for COVID-19. It’s a tough situation, and... Continue Reading

Date posted08/17/2020


Projecting Anti-Racism: Asking for Free Labor
Projecting Anti-Racism: Asking for Free Labor

Developing anti-racist businesses, organizations, philanthropic ventures and so on, requires considerable long-term investments in labor and education. The nature of working towards a future without racism is complex, nuanced, place-specific, and emergent (ever-evolving). Companies that have... Continue Reading

Date posted07/16/2020


Considerations for Returning to Youth Programming
Considerations for Returning to Youth Programming

Climbing gyms in many parts of the US have begun to reopen or are making plans to. The policies that gyms have created around occupancy, sanitation, and personal protective equipment are great guidelines for users. However, returning to running youth programming while keeping young climbers and... Continue Reading

Date posted07/15/2020


An Open Letter to Congress for Further Financial Relief Measures
An Open Letter to Congress for Further Financial Relief Measures

The following is a letter written by the Climbing Wall Association to Members of Congress regarding COVID-19. The letter recommends the passage of high-priority financial relief measures that would help address the threat the ongoing pandemic poses to small businesses, including climbing gyms. A... Continue Reading

Date posted07/10/2020


A Review of Climbing Gym Reopening Policies – May 2020
A Review of Climbing Gym Reopening Policies – May 2020

While shaping the CWA's Roadmap to Reopening, we’ve been monitoring the various guidance that has come from many states, counties, provinces, and countries in response to COVID-19. We’ve also been speaking to a lot of gym owners and operators and surveying the industry to gain insight... Continue Reading

Date posted06/26/2020


Projecting Anti-Racism: Highlights from Flash Foxy’s Stronger Together Episode with Abby Dione
Projecting Anti-Racism: Highlights from Flash Foxy’s Stronger Together Episode with Abby Dione

As the months continue to pass, it is increasingly evident that our climbing industry is not likely to return to ‘normal’. For some, this might signal sadness and loss. For others, an opportunity has presented itself to finally address and change some very real and damaging aspects of... Continue Reading

Date posted06/24/2020


Climbing Gym Workplace Health & Safety for COVID-19 - Part II
Climbing Gym Workplace Health & Safety for COVID-19 - Part II

In Part I of this article, I provided information about the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requirements for the health and safety of employees and practical approaches to managing workplace health and safety. There are many unanswered questions and areas of legal concern, so... Continue Reading

Date posted06/18/2020


Adjusting to the New Reality: How to Avoid and De-Escalate Customer Conflicts
Adjusting to the New Reality: How to Avoid and De-Escalate Customer Conflicts

This post is Part II of a series on communicating with customers about the new realities of running a gym in the age of coronavirus. In Part I, we discussed setting up positive, proactive communication. Despite your best efforts, it’s still possible that you’ll have members and... Continue Reading

Date posted05/28/2020


Climbing Gym Workplace Health & Safety for COVID-19 - Part I
Climbing Gym Workplace Health & Safety for COVID-19 - Part I

Posted By Laura Allured, Thursday, May 28, 2020Updated: Friday, May 29, 2020 It’s an understatement to say that climbing facilities have a lot to deal with right now. In addition to contending with the financial implications of getting members and customers back, gyms have to think about... Continue Reading

Date posted05/28/2020


Adjusting to the New Reality: How to Communicate With Your Customers
Adjusting to the New Reality: How to Communicate With Your Customers

This post is Part I in a series on communicating with customers about the new realities of running a gym in the age of coronavirus. As the coronavirus outbreak took hold over the last few months, gym owners everywhere have been bombarded with big questions—from navigating payroll assistance... Continue Reading

Date posted05/22/2020


Member Engagement Series: Inspirational Content
Member Engagement Series: Inspirational Content

Posted By Emma Walker, Thursday, May 14, 2020 When a member walks into your gym, you have no trouble engaging them—whether it’s chatting about the great weather you’ve been having, asking what they think of the new routes, or, for members you know well, checking in about how... Continue Reading

Date posted05/14/2020