Bettie Course: Introduction to Outdoor Climbing

If you have climbed in a gym before and are ready to make the move to climbing outdoors, this might be the perfect day, and one you will never forget! Designed for beginner climbers or gym climbers ready to experience climbing outdoors, this course offers a welcoming environment for women to learn the fundamentals. Participants will cover essential climbing techniques, outdoor climbing ethics, and safety practices, fostering respect for nature and the climbing community. No prior outdoor climbing experience required.

Who: Women and femme folks ages 16 and up.

Program level: Moderate – Expect to travel 1 to 2 miles over the course of the program and to be on your feet for several hours at a time. Participants should be comfortable navigating both maintained trails and unmaintained meadows or grassy areas.

When: Friday, August 8, 2025 from 8:00am to 3:00pm

Where: Meet at the KMAC Office ( 1230 Big Thompson Ave, Estes Park, CO 80517) and travel together in Conservancy vehicles to the trailhead.

What to Bring:

• Comfy clothes
• Hiking shoes
• Lunch/ Snacks
• 2 Liters of water
• Sunscreen, sunglasses, hat
• Camera (optional)

Refund Policy:

Cancellations made more than 30 days prior to the start of the course are eligible for a full refund. Cancellations made fewer than 30 days in advance are not eligible for a refund.

Our programs proceed rain or shine, and participants should be prepared for inclement weather. However, should we decide to cancel a program due to unsafe weather or emergency conditions, we will notify participants by email and automatically issue full refunds.

If you have questions about this course, please contact the Field Institute by email at ZWR1Y2F0aW9uIHwgUk1Db25zZXJ2YW5jeSAhIG9yZw== or by phone at 970-586-3262.

These courses are offered through Rocky Mountain Conservancy, where scholarships are provided through the Magnificent Mountain Women Scholarship Fund. For more information about scholarships, please submit an application by completing the form here:

Please note that Bettie Courses are not eligible for member discounts.

Bettie Courses are inspired by the life and work of Beatrice “Bettie” Willard, who was a foundational instructor at the Rocky Mountain Conservancy Field Institute. Her research on alpine tundra ecology has been instrumental to mountain ecology, and her advocacy all throughout the state of Colorado has left a legacy for all women who value land stewardship and conservation. Rocky Mountain Conservancy's Bettie Courses focus on accessible programs that introduce women and those that identify as women to the outdoors through a variety of programs and topics. Courses emphasize science, ecology, and building the outdoor skills and confidence needed to explore and defend wild places.

Also check out other Trips & Adventurous Activities in Estes Park, Workshops in Estes Park.