Indoor Climbing
Experience the thrill of rock climbing on our 40-foot climbing wall, the hub of the Pottruck Center. The wall features allow for a wide range of climbs, from beginner to advance. Climbers of all skill levels can challenge themselves, hone their skills, and keep in shape. Climbing wall programs include informal passes, introductory courses through advanced courses, and clinics.
Belay Certification
Climbing wall staff may not always be available to belay. Pass holders are encouraged to take the Intro to Climbing class, Indoor Climbing Course, or schedule a private class to learn to belay.
Top Rope Belay Certification ($ Free)
A demonstration of belaying competency is required in order to belay at our facility. People who fail will be encouraged to enroll in either the Intro to Climbing Class, the Indoor Climbing Course, or schedule a private class to learn to belay.
Lead Climbing and Belaying Certification ($ Free)
A demonstration of competency is required in order to lead belay and climb within our facility. People who fail will be encouraged to enroll in our Lead Climbing Class.
| Spring/ Fall Climbing Hours | ||
|---|---|---|
| Ropes and Bouldering | ||
| Monday–Thursday | 4:00pm - 9:00pm | |
| Friday | 1:00pm - 8:00pm | |
| Saturday & Sunday | 1:00pm - 8:00pm | |
| Summer Climbing Hours | ||
| Ropes and Bouldering | ||
| Monday–Thursday | 4:00pm - 9:00pm | |
| Friday | 1:00pm - 6:00pm | |
| Special Closures | ||
| TBA | ||
Free Climbing
Demo Days, and Stress Relief Week: Pottruck members can stop by the wall and try climbing during these special days. Free periods of climbing correspond with the beginnings of ends of the Fall and Spring Semesters.
Passes and Fees
A variety of climbing passes are available to Pottruck Center members. Equipment is included in all packages. Passes may be purchased at the Membership Services Office located in the Pottruck Center. Day passes must be purchased with exact change.
| Annual Climbing Pass | $100 |
| Semester Climbing Pass | $60 |
| ½ Semester Climbing Pass | $30 |
| Single Use (Day) Pass | $5 |
Climbing Instruction
Improve your knowledge and climbing skills by taking advantage of our beginner, intermediate, and advanced classes. Classes range from single day introductory courses, to multi-week curriculums that build your skills and ready you for outdoor climbing! Registration is available in the Membership Services office of the Pottruck Center.
To register online for a class go Here!
Beginner Climbing Class
Online Registration
No experience necessary. Equipment provided.
Intro to Climbing Class (Single Day Class)
This entry-level climbing package is designed to bring the novice up to speed on essential knots, belay techniques, safety, and basic movement. The 6 to 1 student to instructor ratio guarantees a high level of individual attention.
Indoor climbing Course
A multi-week course emphasizing climbing equipment, knots, belay techniques and rappelling. This course covers the same material as the Single Day Intro to Climbing and also includes rappelling and the use of a second belay device (the ATC). The multi-week format allows students to perfect their belay technique. The 6 to 1 student to instructor ratio guarantees a high level of individual attention. Participants will be certified to belay upon completion of the course. Includes a semester pass to the climbing wall. Non-members will not receive the semester climbing pass.
Intermediate Climbing Classes
Online Registration
Prerequisite: Penn Rec Belay Certification. Equipment provided.
Technique and Movement Class
Improve your technical climbing ability by focusing on footwork, dynamic movement, efficiency, weight shifting, sequencing, training, and bouldering safety. This is climbing distilled to its purest form.
Climbing Conditioning Courses
Push beyond plateaus and develop lasting changes in your climbing performance. Here at Penn you have the rare opportunity to be coached by certified personal trainers. This class runs you through dynamic warm-ups, cool down stretches, and an onslaught of pushing, pulling, and gut busting exercises guaranteed to leave you seriously pumped. Participants leave with a multi-week guide to develop long term goals.
Basic Anchor Course
So you want to climb outside? Develop the skills you need to know to set up your own climbs. The Basic Anchor Course is an in-depth study of top rope anchors including knots, carabineers, cordellettes, and webbing. We will focus on the skills necessary for establishing anchors on cliffs with easy access to the top utilizing trees, rocks, and bolts. Guaranteed to provide a solid foundation for a beginning outdoor climber.
Intermediate Anchor Building Course
Build up your arsenal of anchoring techniques to become self sufficient and confident when setting up top rope climbs and lead anchors. Experienced instructors will demystify the art, covering usage of cams, chocks, quickdraws, carabineers, cordellettes, webbing, and applications of knots and hitches. We cover the in’s and out’s of pre-equalized and self-equalizing anchors, edge safety, and a slew of natural and artificial pro and give participants a chance to put their skills to the test by climbing on their own anchors. Basic Anchor Course NOT Required!
Advanced Climbing Classes
Online Registration
Prerequisite: 1 year climbing experience, Penn Rec belay certification and ability to climb 5.8 comfortably.
Lead Climbing Course
Don’t just follow, learn to lead. This course is designed to improve a climber’s critical ability to make proper clipping decisions, route selection and body positioning. Our instructors will introduce you to the skills, safety, terminology, and equipment used to lead sport climbs. Practice clipping draws and receive technical instruction from experienced leaders.
Vertical Rescue Course
Learn what to do in a climbing emergency! Gain the tools needed to escape a belay, raise, lower, and haul injured climbers, and ascend the rope. After we teach you the necessary skills we will put you to the test by simulating some of the most common climbing emergency situations then let you show your stuff.
Private Climbing Instruction
To schedule a class call 215-746-8622, or email outdoors@pobox.upenn.edu.
Do you have a demanding work and school schedule? We can accommodate. The climbing wall specializes in technical climbing instruction. Private classes are available to improve technique and movement, or increase knowledge and use of technical equipment. Sessions are typically scheduled during open climbing hours. Unused classes expire at the end of each semester.