Climbing, camping, and adventure with other teens are at the heart of the American Alpine Institute’s Leaders of Tomorrow Rock Climbing Camp. Designed for 15- to 17-year-olds, this program blends challenge and education while building confidence and independence in the outdoors.
Students learn essential outdoor climbing skills, including belaying, rappelling, anchor building, knots, route-finding, and risk management. The camp also covers movement techniques that are hard to practice in a gym — like crack climbing, jamming, and friction — helping both beginners and experienced indoor climbers transition outside successfully.
In addition to climbing instruction, participants gain hands-on experience with camping, outdoor cooking, and Leave No Trace practices while staying at a front-country campground near the crag. By the end of the course, students are prepared to set up and manage their own single-pitch climbs safely and independently.
Our instructors are among America’s most accomplished climbing educators. All AAI guides hold AMGA training and formal guiding certifications, bringing professional expertise and a passion for developing the next generation of climbers.tor certifications, hold Wilderness First Responder First Aid Certifications and have advanced mountain and high-angle rescue skills.
Curriculum
