A group of adventurous students climbed on for three weeks with teachers Madi Lloyd, Ande Lloyd, Kyle Edmondson, and Adam Seery.
This Osprey Block adventured to local rock climbing sites like Sailing Hawks and Cascade Canyon as well as taking a camping trip to boulder and rope climb in Moab, Utah.
What was unique about this Osprey Block was that it not only brought experienced rock climbers together but also welcomed students who did not have a lot of experience rock climbing before, allowing them to discover a new passion for the sport.
Ande Lloyd stated, “Students learned about rock climbing—specifically rope climbing—developing skills like climbing technique, belaying, and anchoring.”
Throughout the three weeks, the students learned the fundamentals of rock climbing and engaged in service project work. Maily Lancaster spoke to the service project: “[We built] new stairs at the golf wall, a popular climbing area. It was an amazing experience. I learned how to build stairs and give back to the climbing community. It was extremely important because the stairs needed to be redone, and we got the chance to do that and get our names out into the Durango climbing community.”
What the teachers drove home was not only how to become a better rock climber, but to be positive contributors to the rock climbing Osprey Block as well as the Durango rock climbing community.
Ande celebrated the cultural impact of the experience: “Like any Osprey Block, the cross-grade mixing was a huge part of what made it meaningful. The leadership opportunities for older students were powerful, and younger students really benefited from their example. Going out and camping together—away from phones and the usual academic and social pressures—was also incredibly valuable. Community doesn’t just happen; it’s built. And in this block, students built community by forming new relationships and sharing transformative experiences together.”
