Thrive

The Climbing Wall Association is thrilled to welcome our new Executive Director, Paula Horwitz, to our team. Paula joins the CWA team with an extensive background in executive leadership of non-profit and membership-driven organizations, particularly in niche, passion-driven industries. "I am... Continue Reading

Photo by Irene Yee This installation of Projecting Anti-Racism is a case study of the American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) and its implementation of affinity programming. As more folks challenge the outdoor industry to be intentionally anti-oppressive, the work goes beyond inclusion to... Continue Reading

In part one of this series, we examined behavioral management and different types of disruptive behavior. We’re continuing to expand on this while providing tactics for effectively handling these issues and proactively using empathy as a coach. While addressing challenging behaviors, it is... Continue Reading

Congress added another $1.9 trillion to assist with recovery from the pandemic with the passing of the American Rescue Plan earlier this month. But many climbing gym owners are wondering where the support is for their businesses. It’s still possible that another stimulus bill could be... Continue Reading

About a year ago, you were probably making some hard decisions. You were at least contemplating them, and the implications of what this new flu-like virus was going to do to your business, your family, and your community. Slowly, then painfully fast, the world changed, and we all came to realize... Continue Reading

Behavior management is a challenging skill to develop for coaches working with youth. It takes consistent practice and requires the coach to evolve along with their groups. Effective group management for youth teams includes a variety of tools that, when implemented appropriately, keeps the group... Continue Reading

It’s hard to believe we have been staying home, wearing masks, and social distancing for a year. As vaccines roll out, many of us may feel like we’re coming around the corner with the COVID-19 pandemic. Still, it is essential to remember that the pandemic’s effect on mental... Continue Reading

The CWA is excited to open recruitment for the Industry Practices Committee! This group of industry professionals will help rewrite the current “Industry Practices: A Sourcebook for the Operations of Manufactured Climbing Walls.” Despite the immediate troubles of the COVID-19... Continue Reading

In our previous discussion about the long term athlete development model, we reviewed the history that led to the creation of the program. The goal of the LTAD model is to ensure the quality of sport and physical activity, and to keep athletes and/or participants engaged in sports and recreation... Continue Reading

As the pandemic rages on, climbing gyms continue to be among some of the hardest hit businesses in the country, despite the help offered by the December 2020 COVID Relief Package. The CWA is working hard to understand how our industry is coping with continued government-mandated closures and... Continue Reading

For retail, the beginning of the year is my favorite. Your inventory has cleared out from holiday sales, so you have extra space for new products that will breathe fresh life into your shop. Timing is perfect, with spring pre-season orders starting to arrive and fall pre-season order deadlines... Continue Reading

Any relationship – belaytionship, friendship, or more – requires communication. Climbing is a wonderful metaphor for this, so we couldn’t miss the chance to tell you what’s on our mind. Whether it’s the first time tying in with a new partner or the 50th, everyone... Continue Reading