Johnson Elementary third-grader Lilli Blakeslee was all smiles as she grabbed her last hand hold, reached the top of her route on the climbing wall and rang the bell of success.

“I can’t believe I got to the very top!” said an excited Lilli. “That’s my first time all year!”

Every Tuesday morning as many as 30 Johnson Elementary students meet before school to participate in the Climbing Club, an extra-curricular enrichment opportunity for third- through fifth-graders. Students equip themselves with harnesses and choose one of the Rock Climbing Wall routes, which range in difficulty and are all manned by adult volunteer belayers. Fun hand and foot holds like ice-cream cones and letters that spell the name of the school help the climbers as they maneuver themselves to the top.

“You can set your goals as to where you want to get on the climbing wall. You keep trying and trying until you reach it and then you can set more goals,” said third-grader Delaney Unter, adding that the climbing compliments her other athletic activities. “It strengthens my arms so I can do more sports. I also do dance and soccer.”

Catie Caywood, Johnson art teacher and coordinator of the Climbing Club, says climbing gives students confidence and an opportunity to learn a new skill.

“I see kids two feet off the ground frozen and scared. Then, after a couple of times, they feel really comfortable,” said Caywood. “This is a brand new skill for many of them who haven’t had this exposure. They get to try something new that they’ve never done before.”

“They learn how to put on their own harness, they learn the vocabulary of the equipment and important climbing skills and techniques,” she added.

Of course, students also benefit from the physical aspects of climbing and they enjoy cheering each other. “They learn teambuilding skills. It’s neat to see how they encourage each other,” Caywood said.

Despite all the benefits that climbing offers, many of the kids climb simply for the fun of it. “I like getting up early to have fun at school. I think climbing is fun,” said Luke Cunning, fifth-grader. “I like having challenges in life.”