In Denver's booming RiNo Arts District, a new climbing gym is making sure the outdoor recreation revolution doesn't leave anyone behind. Ascend Community Climbing, which opened last fall in a converted warehouse on Brighton Boulevard, has launched a scholarship program providing free memberships, gear, and coaching to 150 young people from Denver's Globeville, Elyria-Swansea, and Montbello neighborhoods.
The program, called "First Ascent," targets youth aged 10 to 18 who wouldn't otherwise have access to climbing — a sport that, despite Colorado's reputation as an outdoor mecca, remains overwhelmingly white and affluent. Ascend provides transportation from community centers to the gym three times per week, along with all necessary equipment.
"Colorado sells this image of the outdoor lifestyle, but look at who's actually in the gyms and on the trails," says founder and head coach Tomás Rivera, a former competitive climber who grew up in Globeville. "I was the only brown kid at every climbing competition I entered. I want these kids to see themselves in this sport."
Rivera designed the gym with accessibility in mind. Walls range from beginner-friendly slabs to advanced overhangs, and the facility includes a bouldering area, a yoga studio, and a homework lounge where participants can study before or after climbing sessions. Two full-time youth coordinators, both from the target neighborhoods, manage the program.
The results have been striking. Participants report improved confidence, focus, and physical fitness. Three First Ascent students competed in their first USA Climbing youth regionals in January, with 14-year-old Sofia Aguilar placing fourth in her division.
"I was scared of heights before I came here," Sofia says, chalking her hands before a climb. "Now I'm scared of not going high enough."
Ascend is funded through membership revenue, grants from the Colorado Health Foundation and Great Outdoors Colorado, and a partnership with outdoor brands Patagonia and Black Diamond, which donate equipment. Rivera plans to double the scholarship cohort by fall 2026.