Afterschool Program

Maple Grove Elementary students in grades 1–5 are invited to join an exciting 12-week after-school adventure that combines indoor rock climbing with hands-on ecology exploration! Held every Thursday from 2:35–5:00 PM (Jan. 22–Apr. 9, no class Mar. 26), this program offers a perfect balance of movement, discovery, and fun.

Each week, participants will explore a new theme—alternating between climbing and ecology sessions led by our team of qualified instructors. During climbing weeks, students will learn essential skills such as belaying, knot-tying, and climbing technique on our brand-new indoor wall. On ecology weeks, they’ll dive into Colorado’s wild side, examining animal skulls and pelts, exploring bird ecology, investigating snow science, and even creating lightning with a Van de Graaff generator!

Students will be picked up from Maple Grove Elementary at the end of the school day (2:35 PM) and transported by the Colorado Mountain Club in a 15-passenger van to our Golden facility. Parents will pick up participants from the CMC at 5:00 PM.

This program helps students build confidence, curiosity, and teamwork while discovering what makes Colorado’s natural world so special. Spots are limited—don’t miss your chance to climb, explore, and learn with us this winter!

• Ages: 1st-5th grade
• Dates: January 22 - April 9 2026 (NO CLASS 3/26) (See full weekly schedule below)
• Time: Thursdays, 2:35pm-5:00pm 
• Location: The program is located at the Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) at 15605 W 32nd Ave, Golden, CO 80401. 
• Cost: $440 (Non-Member) $420 (Member) for 12-week session (Course fees include: instruction, shared group gear [ex: ropes], harnesses, helmets, shoes, any additional curriculum supplies, and snacks!)
  • Learn about all the benefits of becoming a CMC member. 
  • Please note, if you have an individual membership and wish to sign up your child, you will need to create a separate guest account with a different email. You can also choose to upgrade your individual membership to a family membership to be able to register your child on your account and receive the discount.
• AT CMC, WE BELIEVE THE OUTDOORS ARE FOR ALL. If you need financial assistance for our camps, click here to apply! If you would like to set up a payment plan to finance your next adventure, email us at staceyh@cmc.org.

Transportation Details

Each week the CMC Instructors will meet your youth at the Maple Grove Elementary campus for pickup. The instructors will transport the students in our 15 passenger van to the CMC Offices for the program.

• Pick-up @ Maple Grove Elementary Campus 2:35pm

Any students 7 years or younger MUST have a booster seat to ride in our vehicles. Please reach out to hanahamilton@cmc.org with any questions or to arrange booster seat drop off. 

Pick-up Details  

Pick up will be at 5:00pm from The Colorado Mountain Club (CMC) at 15605 W 32nd Ave, Golden, CO 80401. 

Registration instructions: 

If you would like to register your student, and you are not a CMC member, you will need to make a FREE guest membership account here. Once this guest membership is made for the adult (with the adults email) you will add your youth to your account. Each participant will need to fill out a Youth Form and Waiver. Only fill out the required items on the youth form. Health forms are required to submit this youth form but NOT to participate in afterschool programs. You can upload health forms if you have them or you can upload a blank placeholder document. Once this Youth Form is filled out, you can complete registration through this page.

Please reach out to youth@cmc.org with any questions about registration! We are happy to help.

Weekly Schedule:

• 1/22/26 (Week 1): Introduction to Indoor Climbing Safety
• 1/29/26 (Week 2): Colorado Mammals
• 2/5/26 (Week 3): Climbing Knots & Beginner Technique
• 2/12/26 (Week 4): Colorado Bird Ecology
• 2/19/26 (Week 5): Belaying & Beginner Technique Continued
• 2/26/26 (Week 6): Avalanche & Snow Science
• 3/5/26 (Week 7): Intermediate Climbing Technique
• 3/12/26 (Week 8): Colorado Rocks (Geology)
• 3/19/26 (Week 9): Free Climb Day & Belay Test-out
• 3/26/26 (Week 10): No Class (Spring Break)
• 4/2/26 (Week 11): Clouds & Lightning
• 4/9/26 (Week 12): Climbing Competition& Games/ Free climb

Refund/cancellation policy

This course requires a minimum of 6 participants. If this minimum is not reached, 1 week prior to the course, the course will be cancelled and a full refund will be given.