2026 Undergraduate Research Showcase

Belay on: Interactions and Connections in a Rock Climbing Class

Document Type

Student Presentation

Presentation Date

4-24-2026

Faculty Sponsor

Dr. Aiden VanderStouwe

Abstract

The community-building process can be developed differently across different environments. One setting where this process happens in unique ways is in classes centered around specific types of hands-on learning. Using ethnographic methods such as participant observations and interviews, this research looks at the social dynamics and trust-building process in a university rock climbing class composed of 19 students and an instructor. While students join the class from different levels of experience, the foundation of their shared interest starts in the desire to learn rock climbing techniques and/or to reinforce their previous knowledge in a non-academic setting. Students in the class work to build trust through supportive roles with each other while in the role of rock-climber, taking guidance from an experienced instructor. This motivates the creation of two main roles in the classroom: students with a climber and emotional coach “persona” and the instructor with a guide role. While the students' roles seem to appear when they enter the climbing zone, the instructor’s role is present throughout the whole duration of the class. This research demonstrates how some communities connect through predetermined preferences (rock climbing) and the shared goal of practicing the sport.

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