ABOUT
What we are all about
Our mission is to create a safe and inclusive space where we can shatter glass ceilings of social expectations, to support one another and rise together through a shared passion for rock climbing.
OUR STORY
Rock & Rise, formerly known as the Treeline Community, was born in 2017 as a safe space for women, focused on promoting a healthy lifestyle through outdoor adventure sports. The mission was to empower women within the climbing community by highlighting skills and accomplishments of female guides and speakers, showcasing local female-led businesses and artists, and facilitating important conversations on topics such as mental health, belonging and self identity. The Squamish-based women’s festival ran in 2017, 2018 and 2019, and a smaller version ran in 2021 (within the restraints at the time due to the COVID pandemic).
After a few years off, the 2024 climbing festival has evolved to now serve not only women but also people of expansive genders. Furthermore, we recognize that gender stigma and oppression are only one factor of privilege and opportunity in outdoor sports, and we are committed to promoting further diversity, such as through minority representation among our mentors and festival team, and providing scholarship opportunities for those facing financial barriers. Like the festival, we too are evolving and growing and we will continue to do the work to support this vision.
At Rock & Rise, we encourage strength through vulnerability and aim to help shift the norms of what a climber “should” be like. We are inspired by the determination and resilience of women and people of expansive genders, from cutting-edge accomplishments that push the limits of our sport to stories of overcoming barriers to pursue a passion at any ability level. We deeply believe that everyone should feel safe and welcome within the climbing community, as we strive to make our sport more accessible and our differences not something to be ashamed of but something to celebrate!!
OUR TEAM
OUR VALUES
Respect and Compassion are paramount: At Rock and Rise we believe respect and compassion for yourself and others to be the single most important element in creating safer spaces where everyone feels warmly welcomed and supported.
The Power of Belonging: If we were to put why we created Rock and Rise into one word it would be “belonging.” Our mission is not to simply invite more folks to try this sport. No, our mission is much deeper than that. It’s to question what makes us feel (or not feel) like we belong in climbing spaces and create an intentional space that widens that door to welcome in as many new and unique folks as we can — a space where a wildly diverse assortment of humans can feel safe and able to express their true selves while connecting over a shared passion for climbing. Because community is important, and one can’t have community without a sense of belonging.
Climbing has No Gender: Climbing has nothing to do with your gender, the way you cut your hair or wear your clothes or the body you were born into. A gap in gender representation is due to the long history of men dominating in this sport and the deeply-entrenched patriarchal expectations and pressures, especially in our colonial western society. Rock and Rise is here to change that, and you can help!
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Trust and Vulnerability within a Climbing Partnership/Group: Climbing has inherent risks. To help keep everyone safe it’s important to communicate clearly with your climbing partner; be honest about your knowledge and abilities, as well as make space for each other to express apprehensions and/or needs. It can be a dangerous recipe when someone doesn’t feel emotionally safe to speak up and ends up feeling pressured into a position that they don’t feel comfortable with. Remember also that people and situations are dynamic: what may have felt good yesterday might not be in the cards today.
There’s Space for Everyone: We strive to make Rock and Rise accessible and welcoming to everyone, regardless of gender, background, race, body shape, sexual orientation, religion, perspective, age and ability, and expect you to be considerate in how you speak and act. We won’t tolerate discrimination or hate speech.
There’s Always Something to Learn: In climbing there are often many ways to perform a skill. Perhaps you did a heel hook, but for someone else’s body a toe hook works better. Maybe you made an anchor with a figure 8 in a sling, while they made an anchor with their cord as a quad. Always ask first before offering feedback or advice, unless it is a matter of safety for yourself or others, or expressing your own needs — not unsolicited critiques of your partner’s technique!
Shift Judgments to Curiosity: Rock and Rise may be a more diverse space than you are used to, especially within climbing and outdoors communities. You may see a lot of folks who have differences from you, whether apparent or less visible. If you notice yourself being judgemental, instead try to shift this judgement into curiosity: How might this person’s experience differ from yours? What would it be like in their shoes? Isn’t it beautiful how unique each human being is on this planet?
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No One is Perfect, Your Intention and Effort is the Key: We all make mistakes. We all have underlying assumptions, shaped by the world we grew up in. We invite you to set a clear intention to be as open and inclusive as possible. If you slip up, acknowledge the mistake and take it as a learning opportunity! At Rock and Rise there will be plenty of resources available, and knowledgeable folks who’d be happy to chat about this topic! It’s up to all of us to make this weekend a special one and, in doing so, be role models for the greater climbing and outdoor sports communities.