Wisconsin Climbers Association

Registration is now open for our annual Interstate Park Adopt-A-Crag Event - June 12th - 14th!

Four organizations. Three days. Two states. One great weekend.
The WCA is partnering with the Access Fund, American Alpine Club, and Minnesota Climbers Association for a climbing + stewardship weekend at Interstate State Park! 🏕️

Here’s what’s in store:
🔥 Campfire, s’mores & beta sharing
🍳 Breakfast
🪨 Climbing
🌿 Stewardship
🎤 Presentations

Come for a clean-up, a day, or the whole weekend — however you show up, we’re glad you’re here. Limited camping available so registration is required.

More info + registration:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/interstate-park-climb-camp-and-clean-up-registration-1987559199068

Questions? Email [email protected]

Learn more about Interstate: https://dnr.wisconsin.gov/topic/parks/interstate

What does the WCA do? This 5-minute video shows you one of our stewardship projects in action! WCA represents climbers across Wisconsin and our mission focuses on climbing access, stewardship projects, and connecting the climbing community.

Thanks so much to John Seal for making the video and to Nic VZ for organizing the graffiti cleanup at Rib Mountain State Park last weekend! Thanks to everyone who pitched in!

Rib Mountain Graffiti Removal | Pyxis 12k Took my new Pyxis 12k on an impromptu shoot to test out it's capabilities in the wild! Shot entirely with a Canon 50mm T1.3

📣 Stewardship opportunity this weekend!! 💪

Come help us out for a workday at the Quarry at Rib Mountain State Park.

What: Graffiti Removal and Trash Clean-Up
When: Saturday May 16th, 9am-5pm
* 9am-11am - clean & scrub
* 11am-2pm - power wash & rinse
* 2pm-5pm - climb
* Meet/Park on Grouse Lane at 9

What to expect: Hike to quarry, locate graffiti and apply solvent, scrub with wire brushes, spray off with pressure washers/sprayers.

Materials: Wear old clothing and shoes you don't mind getting dirty.

🧗 Annual Interstate State Park Stewardship Event - June 12th - 14th!

Four organizations. Three days. Two states. One great weekend.

The WCA is partnering with the Access Fund, American Alpine Club, and Minnesota Climbers Association for a climbing + stewardship weekend at Interstate State Park! 🏕️

Here’s what’s in store:
🔥 Campfire, s’mores & beta sharing
🍳 Breakfast provided both mornings
🪨 Climbing on both sides of the river
🌿 Stewardship clean-ups (Sat & Sun)
🎤 Presentations from all four orgs

Come for a clean-up, a day, or the whole weekend — however you show up, we’re glad you’re here. Limited camping available at West Pines Group Campground.

More info + registration:

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/interstate-park-climb-camp-and-clean-up-registration-1987559199068

Questions? Email [email protected] 📩

Looking to lend a hand at your favorite climbing areas? Our friends over at Devil's Lake State Park have two stewardship opportunities this week. Tomorrow, help out with an Earth Day cleanup! On Friday, partner with Devil's Lake Climbing Guides and the Friends to plant trees for Arbor Day! It's not too late to give back to our favorite crags. Sign up for the Arbor Day tree planting here: https://www.devilslakeclimbingguides.com/rsvp/arbor-day-2026

Come out to the lake this week and get your hands dirty!! 🤝💪

🌎 Work Play Earth Day Volunteer Event 🌎

🗓 Wednesday 4/22 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Let’s give back to the park we love by cleaning up the NEWEST part of Devil's Lake State Park! We'll be cleaning up part of the new 100-acre addition. Come ready to get your hands dirty and make a difference! All are welcome — bring gloves, water, and a positive spirit! Please RSVP online by end of day Monday.

🌳 Arbor Day Tree Planting 🌳

🗓 Friday 4/24 | 8:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Join the Friends, Devil's Lake Climbing Guides, and Heartwood Tree Company with an annual Arbor Day tree planting at Devil’s Lake State Park! This year, we’ll plant around 100 trees at Devil’s Lake State Park and check up on trees planted in previous years. Not only are we helping plant the trees, we helped fund these trees!

For more details and to RSVP for these events, visit https://www.friendsofdevilslake.org/events/upcoming 🫶💪

📸: Devil's Lake Climbing Guides

🧊 Dry Ice Fest 2026 🧊

Calling all BIPOC climbers curious about dry tooling—this one’s for you! Join for a full weekend of climbing, learning, and community at Turner Hall in Milwaukee.

📍 May 1–3 | Milwaukee Turners Gym
Whether you’re brand new to tools or looking to level up, you can expect:

🧗‍♂️ Open dry-tooling (bouldering + roped)
🎓 Intro clinics with Team USA coach Marcus Garcia
❄️ Indoor ice wall
🎥 Films, discussions & community vibes
🍽️ Dinner provided Saturday

💥 $20 for the whole weekend (gear included!)
🛌 Free lodging in the gym
👥 Limited to ~35 spots

👉 This event is by and for BIPOC climbers, with Sunday open to the broader community for clinics + climbing.

Spots will go fast—don’t miss this unique opportunity to try something new and connect with an incredible community.

🔗 Learn more + register: https://forms.gle/uiG6b6rBh576jf378

🚨 WCA Grant Applications Are OPEN! 🧗‍♂️

Each year, we offer funding to support projects that strengthen our climbing community, care for our climbing areas, and increase access to climbing in Wisconsin.

This year we’re offering two grant opportunities:

🌿 Stewardship Grant
Have an idea that would improve or protect a climbing area? This grant supports projects like trail maintenance, erosion control, trash cleanup, graffiti removal, and other efforts that help keep Wisconsin climbing sustainable and accessible.

👏 Inclusivity Grant
As part of our commitment to Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI), this grant supports underrepresented climbers and groups with funding for things like guided climbing days, courses/certifications, gear purchases, or starting affinity programs.

📩 Apply by submitting a proposal on our website (link in bio).

Application Window: March 9th - March 31st
Recipients announced: Early May

If you have an idea that could support climbers, improve our crags, or grow the Wisconsin climbing community, we’d love to see it!

Learn more and apply: www.wiclimbers.com/grants

The results are in!

The Economic Impact of climbing at Devil’s Lake = $3.8 MILLION 💪

Our first-ever economic impact study just dropped, and the results are incredible:

* 27,000 climbing visits/year
* 32 jobs supported statewide
* $2.9M spent in Sauk County
* 60% of climbers stay overnight

This research gives us the evidence we need to advocate for climbing access, strengthen relationships with park management, and demonstrate our community’s positive impact.

To every climber who took the survey: THANK YOU. This data is a tool we’ll use for years to come.

Read the full report:https://static1.squarespace.com/static/612675d97486016d136a4fc6/t/69855a8f6832fe1637e7e078/1770347151378/Economic+Impact+Climbing+Devils+Lake+State+Park+.pdf

A HUGE shoutout to the for making this happen and also for their support and resources 🙌

🧗‍♀️ WCA Annual Member Meeting - this Thursday at 7:30pm.

Meeting Link: https://meet.google.com/znr-bzxg-nsi

Featuring special guests: the researches who conducted the Economic Impact Study!

2024 was big for Wisconsin climbing:

- First ever Quartzite Classic
- Economic Impact Study completed
- Major climbing access wins
- Critical stewardship projects
- …and so much more we’re excited to share

Join us this Thursday for our Annual Members Meeting to:

* Hear what your local climbing organization accomplished
* Hear from the researches who conducted the Economic Impact Study
* Learn about ongoing projects and how you can contribute
* Meet the candidates running for Board of Directors
* Help shape the future of climbing in Wisconsin

📍 Virtual meeting at 7:30pm: https://meet.google.com/znr-bzxg-nsi

Whether you’re a longtime member or just joined, your voice matters. See you there!

Want to contribute to your local climbing community?

Nominations are due tomorrow for the Wisconsin Climbers Association board of directors! See below for the timeline if you or a friend are interested in running. Both members and non-members are encouraged to nominate themselves or others to the board!

To nominate, e-mail [email protected] with the name and e-mail address of the interested individual. Note that if you nominate someone other than yourself, that individual will be given the opportunity to accept the nomination before officially being in the slate of candidates.

Contact [email protected] or any of our board members (link in bio) if you have any questions!