Arcadia New Zealand

For all you mad-about-rock-climbing people out there, University of Canterbury in New Zealand understands your passion so well that they have created credit bearing courses on Rock Climbing (see SPCO 226 Rock Climbing Contexts and Techniques). Elizabeth Raynor, one of our Bucknell students did SPCO 363 Rock Climbing Leadership (not offered 2020) and describes here what opportunities are available for rock climbing students like her. 

While studying at the University of Canterbury, I had many opportunities to go rock climbing. I joined the UC Climbing Club which gave me access to club climb nights at the UC bouldering wall in the Recreation Center and Boulder Fest. Boulder Fest is a mini bouldering competition held at the beginning of each term in the RecCenter and there are opportunities to win prizes. The club also has a weekly climbing night at either the Christchurch YMCA or outside when the weather is nice. Besides the Christchurch YMCA where there is bouldering, top rope, and lead climbing, Christchurch has a bouldering gym called Uprising and they recently opened a new and bigger location. Both facilities are really nice and have a wide range of routes for all levels. For outdoor locations to go rock climbing, there is Castle Hill which is known for bouldering and Cattlestop Crag in the Port Hills for top rope and lead climbing. Cattlestop Crag is where the university climbing course (SPCO363- Rock Climbing Leadership) took place. We learned how to run an outdoor top rope session for participants which required setting up top rope anchors, abseiling, and top rope rescue. This course was held in the second semester but there is a bouldering course during the first semester as well. Christchurch, the surrounding area, and the University of Canterbury have many opportunities for climbers from beginners to more experienced climbers. I would highly recommend anyone and everyone give rock climbing a try!