Wieuca Road Baptist Church

Climbing Pages Updated 7-10-08 (My Birthday)

Goodbye Wieuca: Sadly, since my leaving Wieuca to form Cliff Dweller, the powers-that-remain have not kept the momentum of the climbing program intact and have decided to take out the bouldering room IOT install the kinds of things that you could find in other places - fuse ball and air hockey, I hear. They will keep the climbing wall in the gym, so they will still be able to provide a climbing birthday party or the kind of experience you could get at a carnival. It seems the Wieuca program is now the latest example of what I mean when I say that facilities alone will not keep your program alive - you have to have professionally-inspired programs and instructors. I will keep the pictures of the bouldering room on this site (above right) as a memorial to a program that was once talked about coast-to-coast as an example of how climbing had made outreach and inroads into the community; and that had been responsible for turning a sagging camp program into a booming model of a Camp program with a long waiting list.

After I left to form Cliff Dweller, I probably tried too hard to maintain an influence there long after I should have. But I have so many good memories of the kids and staff from that program, that I wanted to remain a part of it somehow. But I don't feel any connection to what is(n't) being done there now, so I guess it's time. To all of you whom I got to know in the late 90's (I won't list any names for fear of leaving so many great people out) thank each of you for being one of the most significant people in my life...thank you for making me feel that I was making a positive difference.

In Memory of: As a climbing wall builder, Wieuca is where it all began for me. The first wall I ever built (pictured left), I built when I was the Athletics and Activities Director there (1997-2002). It was simple and took about an hour for me and Jeff Wingo to construct, but the Wednesday night kids would line up for it for hours. That's Jeff climbing it in the pic on the left, by the way.

When I started working at Wieuca, the Activities Committee asked me "what can our niche be in Activities Ministry?" I said (of course) "How about Adventure Sports?" They were supportive, and I soon built them a climbing wall; a Bouldering Room; a full High Ropes Course; and an Outdoor Climbing Tower.

All of this added greatly to Camp Wieuca (Summer Camp), and our enrollment soared. That spun off an After School Program too. When I struck out on my own as a climbing wall builder and programs consultant, Wieuca became my first contract.

Related Links

- My Rock Climbing Pages

- Cliff Dweller Inc: Climbing Walls and Programs Consulting

Contracted Rock Climbing Instruction

Ever tried to explain what climbing is to someone else? Ever needed it explained to you? That's why I put together this photo-illustrated, entertaining and informative (and how!), slide show. Feel free to send the link to friends; and climbing gyms feel free to use it as a patron orientation: Start the Rock Climbing Slide Show Now