Among the many unique and popular clubs at Cal High, one is catching the attention of people who love the outdoors and want to help preserve the environment: the Climbing Club.
Started by junior Paloma Jackson Kimball, the Climbing Club aims to combine outdoor climbing and hiking with a dedication to cleaning the environment and preserving nature.
“I first had the idea freshman year with a few friends, but I started [the Climbing Club] junior year when I had found many people that were interested in climbing,” Kimball said.
Kimball was first introduced to climbing her freshman year, enjoying how she could connect with nature in a fun way.
“My mom first suggested that I try out climbing, and I was hooked ever since,” Kimball said. “I started watching climbing documentaries and learning about the techniques behind it and it can be a really addicting thing.”
Kimball recommends climbing to others for the pure joy of the sport as well as the passionate and caring community that surrounds it. She said everyone she has met in the community is very supportive and love what they’re doing.
This is a sentiment that junior club vice president Sylvia Heloin shares and a big reason that she committed to climbing.
“One of the reasons that I found climbing so fun was that everyone we would meet and interact with was so excited to talk about climbing and the environment,” Heloin said.
While she found the sport exhilarating, Kimball realized she could use climbing to explore her passion for the environment and preserve natural habitats, a principle she and her board members applied to their club.
“One of our biggest goals as a club is to participate in environmental projects and clean up nature around us,” Kimball said. “So many beautiful environments are kind of left alone and not taken care of, and that is where we want to help the most.”
With these goals in mind, Kimball began to look for other passionate people to help start her club and spread the message of both the joy in climbing as well as the importance of the environment.
First she contacted Regina Lyon, an English 10 Global Studies teacher and fellow climber, to be the club adviser.
“I have been climbing for a while, so I was excited to work with this club,” Lyon said.
Kimball also brought in her longtime friend Heloin and junior Eynav Laron, who serves as the club secretary. Heloin had prior experience climbing and has a preexisting passion for the outdoors, which made her an obvious choice for the club and an ideal partner for Kimball.
“I have been rock climbing for a long time, and when I met Eynav a year ago we were able to really bond over rock climbing,” Heloin said.
Laron always had a passion for rock climbing and was eager to find people at Cal who shared her interests.
“I have loved rock climbing for as long as I can remember, and I always wanted to find like-minded people here so that I could form a little community with,” Laron said.
Laron recommended rock climbing because of the pure enthusiasm it can bring out in people, but also the challenge that it provides.
“Rock climbing is kind of a lot of fun problem-solving and experimenting, and it makes the experience more challenging and rewarding,” Laron said.
Lyon also believes climbing provides a mental challenge on top of a physical one.
“Climbing is a lot of problem-solving and quick thinking, because every new rock presents you with a new challenge that needs to be solved in a unique way,” Lyon said.
With a core team of passionate board members formed, the Climbing Club was ready to gain new members and start engaging in club activities.
A typical club meeting includes discussions about climbing and techniques for how to climb safely, as well as recent developments related to climbing on both a local and national level.
The majority of the meetings, consist of physical demonstrations using ropes that provide valuable information about how to climb properly and safely.
“Mrs. Lyons brought in a bunch of ropes that we use to demonstrate climbing and knots,” Heloin said.
Members also watch videos relating to climbing that explore local venues for climbing and information about the benefits of the sport. From word of mouth and a popular interest in the unique club, many people signed up and continue to attend the meetings regularly.
“We have a solid group of people show up to each meeting, which is so nice because it shows how interested people are in the outdoors and the impact we could have,” Kimball said. ‘I am really glad the club has been so successful.”
The Climbing Club hopes to expand its environmental ventures and participate in projects that help preserve nature. Heloin said the club is planning a trash pickup on Mount Diablo some time in the future.
Kimball is optimistic that this upcoming event will expose more people to the environment and what they can do to help out. Additionally, she hopes to plan more projects in the future that will continue to impact the community.
“We want to connect with anyone interested and enthusiastic about having fun and bonding with others over the outdoors and community service,” Kimball said. “Our goal is to create a large and inclusive community of people that share a passion while also making an impact on our world.”
